Introducing ... Hiatus Kaiyote !!

OK, so in 7 months of doing the newgazzi playlist, I've featured 94 songs by a bunch of great artists, and the stars have aligned in such a way that 3 of the last 4 bands I've written about are from Australia. Them Swoops were featured on Monday.  San Cisco were featured on Tuesday.  I thought that was a funny coincidence, until I just read that Hiatus Kaiyote are also from Australia.  Their debut album just became available on iTunes on July 12th.  I love their sound, and this album art is bad ass !

Take a few minutes to visit their website ...

Official Website of Hiatus Kaiyote















Here are two versions of track one from their debut album (the first is the studio version, and the second is acoustic).  It's called "Mobius Streak", and is the newgazzi track of the day !  Check back on Friday, August 23rd to hear this and 14 other great songs on the newgazzi playlist, Volume 7!

Introducing ... Sam Morrow !!

If you're a long time fan of my blog, you know that my inspiration for creating the newgazzi playlist was really to entertain myself.  I've never been a fan of Milwaukee radio.  There's really only one station I listen to, as I've been getting most of my new music from Paste the last 7-8 years.  When Paste folded as a print magazine a few years ago, I stuck it out with them for a year and a half, but wasn't crazy about the format of the new samplers.  So back in February, I decided to start making my own samplers.  That month, I listened to anywhere between 200-300 new songs, and created a playlist with the 15 songs I loved the most.  Didn't really think to share the results until a few weeks later, and now the newgazzi playlist is the most read feature on my blog.  These are songs and artists that I would play if I owned my own radio station.

I found Sam Morrow's music on NoiseTrade right after I completed newgazzi Volume 6.  I bought his EP "True North", and have listened to it about a dozen times since then.  This is exactly the kind of artist I have in mind when creating these playlists.  This is music that is honest, has heart, and will be great 30 years from now.  Check out his website for more information on how to find him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Official Website of Sam Morrow


The song I would like to share with you is from his EP "True North" and it is called "War" ...




And here is the first installment of "Daddy and Gracie Each Have One Question for ... Sam Morrow"

Most influential album? ... "Mean Everything to Nothing" by Manchester Orchestra

What kind of food do you like to eat after a concert? ... Whataburger

Which reminds me ...

This is Brilliant

Why is Anthony Weiner holding this weiner ??

Introducing ... San Cisco !!

I just realized that Them Swoops and San Cisco are both from Australia.  I'm sure there is another really good band from "down under" thinking they are going to be featured on Wednesday ... but I'm sorry, that will not be the case.

How did I discover the music of San Cisco, you may ask?  Remember The Get Togethers, from Volume 3?  I can pretty much thank The Get Togethers, Marriage and Anna Vogelzang for making Volume 3 the most viewed newgazzi playlist ever, not to mention the 3rd most viewed post in the entire history of the blog (simply because they shared the post with their fans).  They played a show with San Cisco recently, so I thought I'd check them out.  I instantly liked what I heard. Their first full length record just became available on iTunes.

This song is called "Fred Astaire"...

Introducing ... Them Swoops !!

Welcome back, loyal newgazzi readers, and if you're here for the first time, thank you for checking out newgazzi !  For the past six months, newgazzi has been providing a new music playlist at the end of each month.  We usually feature 15 new songs, and the newgazzi playlist has quickly become the most popular feature of the newgazzi blog.  So we've decided to change the format of the playlist.  Rather than have you wait a full month to be introduced to the 15 songs, starting today, we will be unveiling one song a day, every Monday through Friday, for three weeks.  Then, one week after all 15 artists and songs have been introduced to you, we will culminate by creating a playlist, featuring all 15 songs.

And the first band I would like to introduce to you in this exciting new format is Them Swoops !  To quote the band themselves, they describe their sound as "sharp, fuzz guitar-psych wig-out explode-pop".  Hell, that sounds like fun to me!  Their debut EP "Glimmers" is available for purchase on iTunes, and I highly recommend it.  The song I'm featuring is called "Work Around It", and the EP features two versions of this song.  

Check them out on youtube ...  Them Swoops are on YouTube !
And their official website ...  Official Website of Them Swoops

Let's Play the Feud!

My daughter loves Family Feud, and wants to play with you!  Enter your guesses as comments on this site ...

FOUND IT !!!!

Ken Patera murders a promo by rland1987

I love Okerlund

Sometimes you wake yourself up in the middle of the night from laughing at old clips of "Mean" Gene Okerlund losing it during promos ... is it just me?  And it's a crime that the clip of him and Patera from 1987 has been pulled from you tube, that is the greatest clip of all time ...

What I love about this one ...  this show wasn't live, Wendi Richter murders a promo, and they made no attempt to edit it ... when Okerlund cracks up, she looks pissed that they basically buried her.

Don Muraco was an interesting heel.  He would create heat by eating donuts during promos.  This Patera clip is good, but not the one I was looking for.

Again, they could have reshot this, Orndorff looks like he was about to laugh, too.  

Christmas Shenanigans

What do you think this microphone looks like?  Personally, I think whose ever taking the photo is whispering, "look what Joey found!! oh cute, he thinks it's a microphone!"

Fla Fla Flowley

I don't know what I love more.  His hair, the use of the word "lover" or the standing ovation at the end.

You're Just Like Everybody Else

Lyin' Fraud

I've heard Ryan Fraud.  This morning I heard Lyin' Braun for the first time.  I like combining the two.  After all, Ryan Braun as you all know and love him, is lost and gone forever.  So Lyin' Fraud it is ...

I found out the news yesterday from my brother and nephew.  The three of us had tickets to the Padres/Brewers game last night, and I sometimes like to get to the stadium around 4:30, and lose myself in my ipod and a good book as I sit on a bench near the Yount statue.  "It's Ryan Braun Appreciation Day here at Miller Park!", Mike said sarcastically.  I hadn't heard the news yet.  I knew it was coming, with all the stories out there of all the overwhelming evidence there was against him.  And it didn't really hit me until I saw his statement, and had time to take in all the different opinions out there.

It's simple.  Ryan Braun is a liar.  He is a cheater.  He is a fraud.

Remember this ?




I bought it.  A lot of us did.  Now I feel stupid.  And his statement was arrogant and not very genuine.

"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in a statement. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country.  Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love."

Again, a huge difference between "not perfect" and blatantly lying to your team, teammates, friends, family and fans.  And if he thinks this is "behind him once and for all", he's got another thing coming.


Look, I'm gonna be 38 years old in a little over two months.  It's been a long, long time since I thought of entertainers as role models.  Let's look at all my favorites for a moment.  The '82 Brewers?  Drunks.  The '86 Mets?  Drug Addicts.  Billy Joel?  Too many things to mention.  I used to have life sized posters of Lenny Dykstra and Bernie Kosar hanging in my room, and look at what they've become.  I know and understand that nobody is perfect, but that line doesn't fit in this case.   We don't want, nor do we expect Ryan Braun to be perfect.  But there is a big difference between not being perfect and being a lying fraud.

What I don't understand is .... don't these players that continue to use steroids see what Jose Canseco has become?  Did they not see the Lance Armstrong interview with Oprah, and realize that his legacy is ruined?  Don't they understand what effect steroids had on our perceptions of players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Ken Caminiti and Alex Rodriguez.  I guess I'll never understand.  And it's not just superstars.  Minor league players are using steroids in an attempt to make the big leagues.  Bench players are using in an attempt to become starters.  Good players want become great players, and great players want to become elite.  Ryan Braun isn't the first, he certainly won't be the last, as long as the penalties are so weak.

Braun got a 65 game suspension, in what was his worst season thus far (.298, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 4 SB), while his Brewers are 20 games out of first place and in last place in the NL Central.  He'll lose about $3.2 million dollars.  You think he gives a shit?  He has a guaranteed contract that will net him roughly $122 million over the next 8 years.  And I honestly don't think most players of this generation care about the hall of fame, either.  Ryan Braun took steroids to get the big contract.  Knowing what we know about the players I mentioned earlier, the players continue to cheat, get the big money and cross their fingers.

I feel bad for the guy he threw under the bus back when he got off on a technicality in Feb of last year. I feel bad for Aaron Rodgers for trusting and advocating for Braun.  And I feel bad for the kids who look up to him.  I was with one last night.  I'm sure his dad did a great job explaining that there are bad people that do bad things, and to not let this ruin his love for the game.

And this news will not ruin my love for baseball.  The game of baseball is my life.  My mom shared it with me, and I will continue to share it with my daughter.  But my days of being a season ticket holder, seeing 20-30 games a year, spending big $$ on jerseys, those days are gone.  I will continue to listen to Brewers games on the radio, I will continue to follow the Mets and the rest of major league baseball on my MLB.TV subscription.  And yes, I will take in a game from time to time at Miller Park.  I will still plan baseball trips, and one day, I will see a game at Fenway.  But the days of shelling out big bucks for Opening Day are over.  No more season ticket packages.   I have a team in Mequon comprised of college kids, all dreaming of one day making the bigs.  Parking is free, the concessions are reasonable and the atmosphere is great.   I no longer want to support MLB to the extent I was did, not until the game completely rids the sport of PEDs.  One failed test should be a ban for the remaining games of the year, plus all of next year, and two failed test should be a lifetime ban.

So this Friday, as I pick up my daughter on our way to Kapco Park for our first Chinooks doubleheader, I will talk to her about Braun.  A few weeks ago, we were looking at my 1987 Topps set together, and she was asking about the players.  When we got to Canseco, she asked what he was good at.  I said he was the first player ever to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season.  She said, "WOOH!  That's a world record!!"  Then I told her he took drugs that helped him play better, and that he cheated.  I told her that he is no longer respected in baseball history, and that his use of drugs have ruined his legacy, something he has to live with every day.  Now we have to have the Braun conversation.  I know how it's going to end.  She will simply say, "Ugh ... well, time to pick a new favorite".

Like I said, the game will always be the game.  I will always love it.  It's just time for someone else to pay the big bucks for it.  Gracie and I will be at the Chinooks games.  Hey, if Matt Harvey's weaving a no-no, text me !!

newgazzi Vol 06

It's what I do.  It's all I know.  Behold :  your monthly installment of the newgazzi playlist ...


1.  "I Want You" by Sky Parade (from the LP "Broken Hearts Will Kill Us All")

These guys have been around since 2004, and I stumbled upon them about 3 weeks ago.  A lot of you have asked for more "rawk", and I hope this whets your appetite.

Listen to it here ...  "I Want You" by Sky Parade



2.  "Love Has Come For You" by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell (from the LP "Love Has Come For You")

Yes, the idea for newgazzi was to give exposure to newer artists and their music, but at the same time, I wanted to feature any new music that I thought was good, no matter how established the acts were.  I may be alienating some readers by featuring 3 multi-millionaires this month, and no, I don't expect Steve Martin to share this post on social media like a lot of the bands have done the past six months.  But I was really drawn to this song, and hey, my daughter is excited that the guy that sings "Late For School" is on newgazzi, and isn't it really about the kids anyway?  Check out their recent appearance on The Today Show below ...





3.  "Home Again" by Elton John (from the LP "The Diving Board")

I've gone on record for years, saying that Elton John was the definitive album artist of the early to mid 70's.  He probably has 8-10 solid albums from that period, and in my opinion, only one great one since then (1995's "Made In England").  Most of his 80's albums weren't good, and I haven't really enjoyed anything since Made In England.  This is probably the most excited I've been for an Elton John record in my life, since I became a fan in 1994 (right around the time he started touring with Billy Joel, I started buying the early records).  On this record, he goes back to his recording roots of piano, bass and drums, and what I've heard so far, I love.  This song is one of his best in years, and I can't wait for the album to drop in September.





4.  "St Louis Gal" by Cecile McLorin Salvant (from the LP "WomanChild")

This was the first artist I chose for this volume of newgazzi.  I've been on a huge jazz kick lately, and I love this rendition.  Buy it, or come to my home and listen to it, then buy it.  It's hard to find audio for it, but here's 30 seconds to enjoy ...

St Louis Gal (30 seconds of goodness)



5.  "Uninvited (Storm)" by The Franklin Electric (from the LP "This Is How I Let You Down")

Back in April, newgazzi history was made, as one artist opened and closed the playlist.  This was unheard of in the three month history of newgazzi.   Well, The Franklin Electric would like to share their newest video for "Uninvited (Storm)", and guess what?  They'll be back later to close the set!  Guys, this is the record of the year in my opinion.  I know we have half the year to go, but this is what I've been spending most of my time with as of late.  I'm not going to make comparisons, they are their own beast, and I hope they are around for a long, long time.

Check out the video for "Uninvited (Storm)" here !   Uninvited (Storm) video



6.  "Janey" by Foy Vance (from the LP "Joy of Nothing")

I discovered Foy Vance on the Paste samplers back in the summer of 2008, with a song called "Be With Me".  Instantly loved it, and the first time I heard this song, "Janey", I knew that this record would be a must purchase.  It comes out August 27th, and I'm already waiting in line.  If the rest of it is anything like this song, then The Franklin Electric vs Foy Vance could very well be in the Main Event at the Album of the Year wrestling supercard in my mind ... Check out this performance, and show the proper respect to this man's moustache.



Also, you must visit his website, and watch the documentary, "Recording Nothing".  It's 22 minutes, and documents the making of the new record.

Official Foy Vance Website



7.  "Heart Beats" by Johnnyswim (from the "Heart Beats" EP)

What can I say?  I'm a sucker for the guy/gal duos.  She & Him, The Civil Wars, and the what not.  Add Johnnyswim to the mix.  I'm really digging this song and video ...





8.  "Varsity" by Smith Westerns (from the LP "Soft Will")

Smith Westerns were one of the first bands I discovered when Paste's mPlayer started in the summer of 2011.  Their record "Dye It Blonde" is one of my favorite of the past few years, and when I read about their lastest LP, "Soft Will", I was excited to hear what they had in store for us.  This record does not disappoint.  I've found that this has become one of my favorite bands to listen to in the car.





9.  "I Won't Be Long" by Beck (single)

I've been craving some new Beck for a while, and now I'm hearing rumors about TWO new albums in the near future.  Beck has been dropping singles here and there for a few months, and I really enjoy this new one.  I haven't really shared his catalogue yet with my soon to be 8 year old, so when she heard this, and told me she liked it, you should have seen her eyes light up when I showed her the folder of all the old records.  I can't wait to share them with her ...





10.  "Fowl and Foe" by Old Monk (single)

I say it every month.   I'll say it again.  The idea of newgazzi has bands like Old Monk in mind.  Never heard of them before a few weeks ago, found them in iTunes, sampled a few tunes, and instantly loved what I heard.  I hear a little bit of Belle & Sebastian, a dash of Pavement and a whole lot of ear candy.  Check them out, they definitely have a new fan in me!

Read about Old Monk and listen to "Fowl and Foe"



11.  "Best Friend in Town" by The Mother Hips (from the LP "Behind Beyond")

Another band I just discovered goofing around in iTunes, but these guys have been around for more than 20 years.  They have 8 full length records out, and I look forward to becoming familiar with their back catalogue.  Their latest record was just released on July 9th, and sounds great.   While you still have time, go to their website and stream "Best Friend in Town", and the rest of the album ...

Official Website for The Mother Hips



12.  "No Moon at All" by Eldar Djangirov Trio (from the LP "Breakthrough")

This song was supposed to be included on Volume 4 of newgazzi, but I had so much great stuff, and already featured a jazz instrumental (Emily Bear), that I decided to delay it until now.  Don't be fooled, it's not a knock against this recording or the musicians, after all, if I didn't love it, I wouldn't have brought it back.  I actually have this entire record, and really enjoy it.  As I said earlier, I've been in a huge jazz phase lately (as you will hear again later), and really wanted to share this.  Mr Djangirov can thank The Features and Cayucas for being bumped two months ago.

Listen to it here ....  "No Moon At All"



13.  "Elephant" by Jason Isbell (from the LP "Southeastern")

I've always enjoyed when Paste has featured Jason Isbell, and this song really got my attention.  Don't play it for the kiddies, though.  Unless you want to hear them ask you, "What does fucked mean?".  Actually, that sounds like fun !!  I'm sure AFV would love it ...





14.  "Take It Easy, Baby" by Kiya Lacey (from the LP "Kiya Lacey")



I always have to remind people that this playlist I publish is not a ranking, and I try not to play favorites. Being song #14 does not mean this is my 14th favorite song on the list, in fact, in this case, this is one of the jewels of the playlist.  People that have been reading me since the start of newgazzi know how much time I put into the sequencing of this playlist, and if you know me at all, you know I love to start and end strong.  I knew very early in the month that I would be ending with this and my new pals from Canada, The Franklin Electric.  This album comes in around 24 minutes, which may make it pound for pound one of the better listens out there.  Ideally, I like albums to be around 40-45 minutes.  If it's much longer than that, you better not have a lot of filler, and if it's much shorter, each track must deliver, and this self-titled debut DELIVERS.  What a voice.  And what a bright future .... find it on iTunes, right now, and buy this record ...  and won't you enjoy this video of me sharing the song with you, with a visit from my daughter !

15.  "This Is How I Let You Down" by The Franklin Electric (from the LP "This Is How I Let You Down")

There can only be one closer this month.  This is my favorite song of 2013 thus far.  Enjoy ...




The Official Website of The Franklin Electric


Thank you for checking out newgazzi!  Starting Monday, July 29th, I will be featuring one new song a day, every Monday thru Friday for three weeks, then taking those 15 songs and creating the playlist for you all to enjoy.  No more waiting a month for new music!!

Joey

Summerfest !

Two artists featured on newgazzi will be playing Summerfest on the 4th of July !

Matt Pond will be playing the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage at 6:00pm.

The Features will be playing the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage at 8:00pm.

I've gone on record saying that "This Disorder" is one of the best songs of the year, and their recently released self titled album is awesome ...

Guster is also playing the Briggs & Stratton Stage tomorrow night at 10:00pm.  I might have to make this a triple header.