2015 Week 11: Weight of the World

I might need a hat.

On Wednesday I went to see Elvis Costello and Larkin Poe. Go read my review at FDRMX.  I got to meet the girls from Larkin Poe during intermission and I'm sure my awkward fanboy enthusiasm creeped them out, but it could be that "I will stab you in the face" is Megan's (the blond girl) go-to expression when approached by 40 year old dudes and I don't blame her. It should be, because I don't think every other dude in line was really that into the music (but who knows). I'd be proud if my daughters grew up to play like these two or at the very least, learn that "I will stab you in the face" look.  Anyway, these girls are fucking talented as hell and actually very nice too. I was pretty blown away by both of them, so go check out their stuff immediately. And don't take my word for it. It speaks volumes that Elvis had them join him during his encores.

WOOHOO!! ARTIST SELFIE!!

I don't know if Elvis is the greatest songwriter of his generation or whatever, but there's just something very complete about the way he approaches music and lyrics. I think the clearest example really is in "Allison," when he sings "Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking" and the music stops briefly at the word "stop." It's not the only song to ever do it or even the first, but it's well placed and is just one example of the sort of thing I'm talking about. Chords, rhythms, choice of words, all are carefully put together. And there's something about his lyrical alliteration that I can't put my finger on, but there are certain phrases he sings that sound very musical all on their own. I'm thinking of "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" where he sings "She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle Capital punishment, she's last year's model" and it sounds like a guitar in a way. That sort of thing blows my mind, maybe as a leftover from when I was young and thought I was a poet. 

Anyway, this week's playlist is about the daily struggle with society's pressure on us, mostly through work. It's an ode to the working man, the outcast, the bullied, but overall, the frustrated who have to just deal with it, day and day out with things we can't always control. It's about getting behind the mule every morning and plowing that field, no matter what. Let's just call it Weight of the World and leave it at that. Go listen when you have a hard week. Or any time, really.