Geeky music lovers rejoice

Best. Concert. Ever.

If you are of a geeky temperament, you probably already know about Jonathan Coulton. If you’re of a geeky temperament and you don’t know Jonathan Coulton, you’ll want to pay attention to this post (it’ll make me feel better if people from the first group pay attention, too.)

Jonathan Coulton is best known for his ironically geeky songs that have become emblematic of geek and nerd culture. He’s played live at PAX and his beloved song “Still Alive” first appeared during the end credits to the video game portal. If none of that made any sense to you, don’t worry; you don’t need to be a card-carrying member of the geek crowd to appreciate Coulton’s style. His music has a rather folksy feel to it, but his lyrics are decidedly sharp and witty and tend to focus on computers and technology rather than the traditional country themes you might be used to.

Bond... James Bond

You know his name, you know his number.... but did you know you can get some great James Bond/007 music right here in the library?

It was 50 years ago... "Dr. No" premiered in 1962 with a then mostly unknown Sean Connery in the lead as Ian Fleming's suave British spy. The legacy of the Bond franchise is enormous, spawning countless films, spin-offs, books, parodies, and of course music. Wonderful music. Shaken, and stirred.

The latest James Bond film "Skyfall" opens in theaters in November 2012. To celebrate, I put on my tuxedo and took the Aston Martin (aka a run down 1990 Plymouth) for a spin and looked for James Bond theme songs and musicians for you!

New Orleans Music on TV: Treme

While today's music blog post is about a TV show, it is a very musical TV show.  HBO's Treme is from creators David Simon and Eric Overmyer, the same team that brought you HBO's highly successful drama The Wire.  Treme refers to a historically African American neighborhood in New Orleans and the show centers around musicians returning to the city following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  Having lived in New Orleans and been an active musician and music lover before, during (I evacuated and ended up on what my friend referred to as "evacucation" for several months), and after Hurricane Katrina, I can personally attest to the show's accurate depiction of New Orleans music and culture as well as the devastating effect the storm had on both.  Read on to learn more about the wonderful array of characters that make up the show, as well as the show's authentic and impressive commitment to the city's amazing music and culture.  Additionally, if this is a subject which interests you please consider attending the program, The Birthplace of Jazz and Much More: New Orleans Music and Culture in the Treme Neighborhood and Beyond, held at the Joel D Valdez Main Library on Saturday, October 27 at 2 pm.

Nicole Kidman sings....!

There seems to be a resurgence of musicals lately...Rock of Ages (starring Tom Cruise) got me to thinking  about Nicole Kidman, (the former Mrs. Tom Cruise) and the musical she was in, Moulin Rouge (2001). I remember seeing this movie when it played in theaters and being struck by how pretty Nicole's singing voice was, along with her co-star's, Ewan McGregor. I liked the music so much that I picked up the soundtrack not long after. I will admit the movie probably isn't for everybody...the first half hour seems rather crazy and confusing while the various characters are introduced and watching them break into song seems a little odd at first. The movie then settles down into a more conventionally told storyline though and the songs serve their storytelling purposes very well.

Tucson Meet Yourself

Calling all music fans (and food fans): Tucson Meet Yourself is coming up this weekend, on October 12-14! This should be an especially fun year for the festival, since it will overlap with the Tucson Zombie Walk and Pride in the Desert. Come meet everyone who "keeps Tucson weird" (as the bumper sticker goes), including many Pima County employees, who will mostly be gathered in the area near the sculpture in front of Main Library downtown. The Library staff will be out in force, and you may even get a chance to scope out the infamous Bookbike!

Everyday Should Be Halloween

 I love Halloween, horror films, and all sorts of music. They go so well together. To get in the mood for the upcoming month of Halloween, I will share my annual October custom of listening to music that correlates to Halloween, the macabre, the occult, ghosts, vampires, witches, the undead and downright spooky stuff. 

Light up your life with The Lumineers!

Name:  The Lumineers
Genre:  Folk Rock
Sounds like:  The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Of Monsters and Men, The Avett Brothers

Judging from the large number of holds on their self-titled CD and a sold out show at the Rialto Theatre this past Thursday, it seems that many people are as excited by The Lumineers as I am! One of my favorite new bands, The Lumineers are a folk rock band from Denver whose rapid rise to stardom is underscored by the simple beauty of their songs. As guitarists Jeremiah Fraites stated in an interview earlier in the year, "We're not reinventing the wheel...the ideas themselves are very simple." Those of you looking for blistering guitar solos might try a different band, but anyone who craves songs about hopes and dreams, loss and love, would do well to give this band a listen!