The Shins- Not So Simple

The Shins  became well known due to a line in the 2004 movie Garden State  when Natalie Portman turns to Zach Braff and says “this song will change your life”. That is a lot of pressure for any song, but “New Slang” gained a whole lot of new fans and exposure for this band. I will admit to not knowing a lot about this band until I heard the Garden State soundtrack. I have been a huge fan ever since. The front man and songwriter James Mercer, has created his own sound that combines great melodies and a refined production. They had not put out an album in five years until the newly released Port of Morrow. A lot of fans couldn't be happier to have them back.

The Shins were formed in 1996 as a James Mercer side project. They became a full time band in 2001 when they were signed to the SubPop  label. They released Oh, Inverted World the same year to great critical acclaim. The band moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Portland, Oregon and lost some members along the way. They recorded the much-admired follow-up Chutes Too Narrow in 2003. Between two highly regarded albums and the Garden State soundtrack, the band was at another level. The band then went back into the studio and recorded Wincing the Night Away in 2007. It was largely a solo James Mercer recording, for the band underwent some more personal changes. I loved this album. It was my favorite album of 2007 by far. It even got a well earned Grammy nomination. After touring the album the band went in different directions. Mercer teamed with Danger Mouse in 2010 and released an album under the name of Broken Bells . It was quite a surprise to hear last year that Mercer was putting more Shins music together with Port of Morrow, which was just released. He has a new backing band but the music is as incredible as it has always been. It was released on Mercer’s own label Aural Apothecary. Please enjoy the single from the new album “Simple Song”

I am thrilled that Mercer has decided to put out some new Shins music and I hope that the next record doesn’t take another five years. Many fans can’t wait that long. I encourage you to listen to the band “that will change your life”.

Update: One of my favorite bands and people, Harper Blynn has just released a new album. It is fantastic and available for free on their web site if you click the link on their name that I provided. Even though they are offering it for free, you should donate to the cause. They have just come off the road opening for Ingrid Michaelson and I am positive that they now have a whole new legion of fans.

Larry adds:   If you are interested in learning more about what is going through James Mercer's head as he crafts his songs check out this terrific article in which he explains his thinking regarding each  Port of Morrow song.

No One Listens to the Band Anymore- The Damnwells

My co-blogger Larry and I go way back with this band. We saw The Damnwells in 2004 just after they released their first full length album Bastards of the Beat. We were both immediately enthralled with them. For days we talked about how great they were and what an astonishing show we had witnessed. Alex Dezen’s songwriting was the best we had heard in a long time and the passion he brought to his songs with his vocal quality was inspiring. I have just had the privilege of working the merch table on a few dates for them and I want to assure you that the songwriting and passion continue despite personnel changes and having been knocked around a bit. It is a tribute to Alex for all he has gone through all and yet continues to write deeply personal and inspiring music. I still think he is one of the best songwriters out there, period.

The story of the Damnwells is one that could be made for a movie. Oh wait, it was!! Check out the amazing documentary titled Golden Days. It is one of the best movies about the rise and difficulties of a new band being signed to a major label. The rise shows this band being so committed to making music, that they recorded their first EP in 2002 in a Manhattan Mini Storage unit. It created a lot of buzz so they then recorded, on their own, their first full length Bastards of the Beat. Before they could put it out themselves, they were signed to Epic Records on the strength of the new songs they had laid down. The short story is it did well and Epic asked them to record a new album which became Air Stereo. The date of releasing the new album was continuously pushed back because the label wanted to give its full attention to two new bands The Fray and Augustana that they had also just signed and felt more commitment to. After a long delay they were dropped from the label and released the album with the help of Rounder Records, who then also later dropped them. The original Damnwells broke up and went their separate ways and Alex went back to the prestigious University of Iowa Writing Program to get his Masters degree.

You would think that all of this would have killed the band. Alex and the original bass player Ted Hudson recorded (with others) the new album that was recently released titled No One Listens to the Band Anymore. The album definitely refers to their dealings with a major label. It speaks to the perseverance of Alex in that these may be the best Damnwells songs yet. To make sure he could put his music out independently, Alex raised the money for the new album through his fans with the group Pledgemusic. This organization claims on their web site to: involve your fans-keep your rights-fund your music and raise money for charity. It is truly wonderful to hear these personal new songs. Please enjoy video of the song "Werewolves" from the new album. Great lyrics, voice, and tune. This should make you a fan.




In the realm of being a small world, the current touring edition of The Damnwells is Harper Blynn as Alex’s Damnwells. They open the show with their own Harper Blynn songs and then come back as The Damnwells with Alex fronting the band. It is a great version of what has become The Damnwells musical collective. Alex continues to write songs for other artists including some major players in the business. Both Larry and I encourage you to pick up the brilliant new album. You won’t be sorry. It will show you the story of resolve and determination in the ability to get music out to the world because it is great, not to be determined by a record labels analysis of profit margins only. Music should be heard because it is amazing and The Damnwells produce incredible and meaningful music.

Larry adds...  As Fletcher mentioned I am also a huge fan of the Damnwells.  Last October I caught an amazing live show that Alex put on at Cactus Records in Houston.  Alex kindly gave me permission to film the show.  Here is Alex and his sister performing "Golden Days".




Update: One of my favorite bands Portugal the Man has just released an excellent new album titled In the Mountain In the Cloud. They have been touring it and will continue to tour this Fall. It is a very strong album from this band. Pick it up!!!

Harper Blynn-Pop Goes With Harmonies

I walk through the backstage door and climb the 3 flights of stairs to the band's dressing rooms. I am excited to see and work merch for the band Harper Blynn again. I have worked for them two other times when they were known as Pete & J. I am greeted warmly and with excitement of old friends catching up again. Pete and Jason have always been very personable towards me and have always treated me like a band member. I get to catch up with one of my favorite people and a truly amazing drummer, Sarab Singh. I then meet their new bass player, Whynot (yes it is his name). My first question to them is why the name change? They said that the original name conjured up a couple of folk singers who traveled as a duo rather than as a full band and this makes sense to me. They show their humor and originality in that their new name is taken from Pete and J.'s last names, rather than their first names. It does give them a sense of a full band. However, I was most excited to hear their new music from the new CD The Loneliest Generation.


The band performed a month ago at the legendary Baltimore club The 8x10. This is my favorite club to see music in Baltimore. It is small (around 350), has a great sound system and visual sightlines, and a sprung floor so you are not standing on concrete all evening. I work a lot of shows here and enjoy the people I meet at this celebrated venue. While tonight's show features three bands, all of the music will be performed by Harper Blynn. They will perform a set of their own music and then will be the back up bands for both Cary Brothers and Greg Laswell. Cary is an indie rock singer-songwriter and Greg is more of a singer-songwriter. Both have had songs featured in both movies and TV shows. Playing these diverse styles should tell you a lot about Harper Blynn's amazing musicianship. They are chameleons when it comes to music and fit both of these other styles like a glove. Adding their incredible harmonies is a reason these bands all toured together. So I got to listen to Harper Blynn in all these different incarnations and they were successful at all three.

I like them best when they perform their own music. Pete and J. met on the first day of college and began performing officially in 2006. They were and continue to be based out of New York City. I am struck first by their amazing hooks and beautiful harmonies. Their harmonies remind me of Simon and Garfunkel and to be honest they look a bit like that duo. Their songs are more pop and rock oriented and when you add in the harmonies of the rest of the band, it can send chills up your spine. They write a lot of upbeat songs that are very catchy. Enjoy this live version of the title song "Loneliest Generation".


While I love this live video I encourage you to also check out their official video at this link "Loneliest Generation". It is sweet, strange, and shows their great sense of humor. You have got to love the dancing!!! I hope you love and appreciate their songwriting and tight melodic harmonies as much as I do.