Just saw Laura open for Sufjan Stevens. I like the songs and the arrangements, but the band was a bit rough around the edges -- like they hadn't played together for very long. Then I looked at the CD and realized that the same people on the CD are in her touring band. Still, recording a CD is very different from touring. I'll definitely check her out again if she comes back in a year or two.

Also, they reviewed her CD just this morning on NPR.

They did? I can't find it on the NPR site.

She's sounding a lot like Erin McKeown, honestly. They now share a producer -- Tucker Martine -- so that could explain the similarity.

Just saw Bebel Gilberto and Pink Martini with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl last night. A very fun show. Gilberto was incredible and hypnotic and moving, even though her style is not suited for huge venues. Pink Martini? PERFECT for the Bowl and had the crowd bopping.

Why not? They're "alt. country" after all.

Right - just not really the bluegrassy old school country vibe I was looking for in a packing-for-a-bluegrass fest mix. Uncle Tupelo is always good though really.

I love you.

Split Lip fan? (Of course you are - you're a Lawrencian, right?) You heard that Wayne left the band in June then I take it? Kinda sucks. But they used to be a threesome so it's not that weird that they are once again. They won't be at Winfield this year - and they weren't last year either. Also kinda sucks. I am excited to see Drakkar Sauna though - have you seen them? They play the Replay and Jackpot's a lot (or used to). They are not Split Lippian at all but they are fantastic.

I just finished listening to the Split Lip live album that was recorded at the Bottleneck on New Year's Eve 2003. I love listening to live albums that I was in the audience for - one of those noisemakers is me - I'm sure of it!

They did? I can't find it on the NPR site.

Sorry, it was actually this afternoon on Weekend America (near the bottom) [link]

Split Lip fan? (Of course you are - you're a Lawrencian, right?) You heard that Wayne left the band in June then I take it? Kinda sucks. But they used to be a threesome so it's not that weird that they are once again. They won't be at Winfield this year - and they weren't last year either. Also kinda sucks. I am excited to see Drakkar Sauna though - have you seen them? They play the Replay and Jackpot's a lot (or used to). They are not Split Lippian at all but they are fantastic.

Yeah, I heard about Wayne. It's a shame because I really liked the fullness of their sound with four (and how amazing it is that their sound is as full as it is without percussion). Haven't seen Drakkar Sauna. What're they like?

Didn't know they won't be at Winfield. That's a damn shame. I'm substantially less sure I'll go now (which was work-permitting in the first place).

Also, until a month ago I lived two blocks from both the Replay and Jackpot. Talk about location.

I just finished listening to the Split Lip live album that was recorded at the Bottleneck on New Year's Eve 2003. I love listening to live albums that I was in the audience for - one of those noisemakers is me - I'm sure of it!

I think one of my friends was at that show. He was certainly at at least one other Split Lip New Year's show. I keep meaning to get in on that.

and how amazing it is that their sound is as full as it is without percussion

Well - Jeff's stitchgiver (stand up bass made out of a gas tank for non split lip fans) helps a lot. But yeah, the speed and full sound is what make them so unbelievably good live. The worst part of losing Wayne isn't that they will lack a mandolin, but that they lost their best songwriter.

Drakkar Sauna. What're they like?

Kind of undescribable. They were my "stump Hec and Jon" band on our Buffistamix trade so long ago. They are like a vaudevillian old timey kinda rockin duo thing. You just have to hear it - there a lots of good mp3s on their lawrence.com page: [link]

Didn't know they won't be at Winfield. That's a damn shame. I'm substantially less sure I'll go now (which was work-permitting in the first place).

Winfield is SO much more than split lip. If you've never been - I can't recommend it enough. But if you're gonna camp get there early (Thur at least) or have friends save you a spot - it gets really crowded by Fri. night. Imagine 30,000 laid back folks camping and drinking beer along a goreous river and about 85% of them are really decent bluegrass musicians who just play 24/7. It's a guaranteed good time.

Also, until a month ago I lived two blocks from both the Replay and Jackpot. Talk about location.

Ah Lawrence. I lived in East Lawrence (10th and Rhode Island, 11th and New York) through most of my time there minus the two regrettable years at 14th and Tennessee. (yes RIGHT next to Bullwinkles - I was wicked poor).

Sorry, it was actually this afternoon on Weekend America

Aaah. Found it and heard it. And I agree with the reviewer -- it's not a very organic sound. And it's a little off-putting. If she were more organic, she would sound like Jolie Holland. If she could smooth out her voice some, she would sound like Erin McKeown. And while she doesn't and therefore is different and distinct, it's still off-putting.

I really want to like this album, I do. But at least I only paid $10.87 for it on iTunes, not the $20 Tower is charging nowadays for a DRM-crippled "CD."

(And look, it's not the DRM I'm mad about, it's the way the DRM destroys my fair-use right to rip the tracks to MP3 or whatever format and listen to them on my iPod.)

It's the DMCA that's a really piece of shit. I've got two CD players with Digital outputs and I have a ProTools editing system, so I can do a real time digital dump of even copy protected tracks and then compress them any way I please. However, with the DMCA since those CD's have copy protection on them, I'm breaking the law by using my digital connection to circumvent the protection. I think it's even a felony. Fair use doesn't even come into play. The DMCA is a steaming pile of feces that need to be torn down.

not the $20 Tower is charging nowadays for a DRM-crippled "CD."

I was able to rip the promo copy WMBR got....