Ropeadope

This was my first taste of The Clash that was not one of their bigger songs.  I heard it as a cover that had me singing the chorus for days.

This song just makes me say wow, it's so well written and just got such a great feeling to it.

I heard this one day on XPN Funky Friday on my way home from work.  I began to believe in music again.

A year ago today I left the east coast for Eugene Oregon, moving my brother back to his home. It took two weeks, with a week stop in Denver to visit my other brother, on the way across country I met The Devil Makes Three.

RIP Banzai. Enjoy.

"As you float up, see the river skins the valley and strips the sleeping sediment of memory". Not a recent release, but one that makes me happy. For Ropeadopers I hear both Clay Ross and La Otrabanda in it.

"I know everyone would want me to say that I'm not afraid to be alone/ I'm gonna live I'm alright, I'm gonna die it's alright I'm okay".  Everyone keeps talking about this album and it is for good reason.  I hold a special place in my heart for these guys, growing up listening to them when I was 14 or 15, they grew up in the town down the …

So like everyone else I had to get these songs the second they came out.  It had been far too long to get new music from Arcade Fire and it was worth the wait.  I bought my tickets for August and I can't wait.  

So on May 1st I experienced quite possibly the greatest concert experience of my life and I want to bring it to you. My Morning Jacket at Merriweather Post Pavilion with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, as the opener and joining them for the end of the show.  The show, like any MMJ show, left me in complete awe, but this one in particular because it was so perfect in such …

Just let my itunes play on its own and it picked this wonderful version of Rebel Rebel from Life Aquatic, a song I'm glad I found.

When I first saw this band setting up and saw that they had 3 members just there to add hype I was alittle skeptical.  But once you listen to this song you will be singing the Woahhhoohhhohhh all day long.  One of my favorite local Philly bands right now. Go get them Ponies, I'll be seeing you at Pilam.

One of the BEST new music finds I've had in awhile.  Oddly enough, all I can think of is Tom Hanks.  Speaking of Tom Hanks...The Pacific WHOA!

The song is perfect for the nicer weather we've been having recently, it would nice to just throw some headphones on and take a walk listening to it

A few weeks ago at 2am I found The Devil and Daniel Johnston on TV.  It was amazing, frightening, sad and beautiful all at the same time.  Here he is at one of his finest moments.

the song reminds me of a slower, less rocking Silversun Pickups.  Don't count these guys out as another rock band, there is something special here, and his voice despite leaving me wanting more out of him is great. Reminds me of a rough version of The Stills.

Sometime during this past summer, between Iowa and Utah I fell in love with Townes Van Zandt, probably one of the best places in the world to discover him. The song is so clever and sad, much like Townes himself. The knocking is my favorite part too.

Last night was one of the greatest concert experiences of my life and it all happened at the last minute and was a giant risk.  Muse has taken a spot at my (like they are to most of the world) top live bands ever.  I didn't realize how amazing it all could be until they started and were 20-30 feet in the air on rising towers (to get an idea go …

I will say this. I LOVE everything this man does. His vocals, his rhythms, everything is addictive and just puts me in a great musical mindset. Clay's voice is not your average voice type, as you probably know, but it is wonderful! I know I couldn't say no to Clay.

To Be a High Powered Executive was probably the first band I found at Ropeadope that I truly fell in love with (I know some of you may hate me for that), but WOW these guys I wish they will still together. The pieces and layers of their songs... so many bands emerging today have a similar sound and I can only hope they know TBAHPE.

Thank Louis for this blast from the past. I know that for as long as I ever hear Otis Redding I will remember sitting at the Ropeadope fake office learning how important Otis Redding was to the world. This may be my favorite of all his songs ( that I have found so far). The guitar part is wayyy before it's time, the horns make me wish I played saxophone more …

When I listen to these guys I get a somewhat reminder of The Extraordinaires (turns out Old Canes includes members of Boys Life and The Appleseed Cast!). But the comparison is only the beginning of talking about this band. The drums are my favorite part. It's kinda hard to pick out the vocals they are definitely pushed back to blend into the mix, not the foreground like most bands (and I …

So I've been hearing about Japandroids from all angles in the last week.  Finally did something about it and got their album, it's nice to have new music.  Such a good feeling about them, seeing them do these songs live would be such an experience.  It's amazing two guys can make such a presence.

My music guru Steve has been OBSESSING about these guys for as long as I can remember.  They are alittle heavy to handle the first listen, there really is so much going on, it just makes your brain want to melt.  I promise if you power through your first listen and try it again, it'll all be worth it.

I love when I can actually listen to the opening band without hating them, which doesn't happen too often. Meet Say Hi the project and workings of Eric Elbogen and a rotation of musicians they kept me way beyond entertained and rather happy they were the opener.  And like a good music fan I looked them up when I got home.  Enjoy.

When I saw David Bazan a few weeks ago he let the crowd ask questions in between songs.  One of the questions stuck into my mind more than any other, "What was harder to give up religion or drinking?"  To which he responded religion, because his parents weren't disappointed when he stopped drinking.  And that's what I love about him...honesty.  It may not be pretty, but it's the