Song For Zula (2 Versions)

I have listened to Phosphorescent for a while now and saw him live at Lincoln Hall in Chicago a few years back so when I heard “Song For Zula” in 2013 off his album Muchacho it was immediately in high rotation on my iTunes.  Songs can’t stay in high rotation forever so when I heard a familiar song while drinking an Export Gold at the Blue Pub in the sleepy summer town of Methven, New Zealand this past week it grabbed my attention.  At first I couldn’t make out the song since it was a cover but as I listened to the lyrics (below) and searched my memory when I heard the line “And we race out on the desert plains all night” it clicked that I was listening to a cover of “Song For Zula”.  Not only was it a cover but a great one with elements that I am a real sucker for like steel guitar and harmonizing!  I immediately grabbed my phone to Shazam it but then realized I didn’t have internet and couldn’t get the wifi from the bartender in time to use the App.  So I had to go old school and write a note in my phone to search for the song later.  Once I had internet I did a search on Spotify and sure enough I came across “Song For Zula” by Ronnie Fauss.  Now that I am back in windy, snowy, and cold Chicago I keep listening to the Ronnie Fauss version and it takes me back to summer 4 days ago in New Zealand and our amazing trip.  I love it when music can provide the soundtrack for happy moments in life.

“Some say love is a burning thing
That it makes a fiery ring
Oh but I know love as a fading thing
Just as fickle as a feather in a stream
See, honey, I saw love. You see, it came to me
It put its face up to my face so I could see
Yeah then I saw love disfigure me
Into something I am not recognizing

See, the cage, it called. I said, “Come on in”
I will not open myself up this way again
Nor lay my face to the soil, nor my teeth to the sand
I will not lay like this for days now upon end
You will not see me fall, nor see me struggle to stand
To be acknowledge by some touch from his gnarled hands
You see, the cage, it called. I said, “Come on in”
I will not open myself up this way again

You see, the moon is bright in that treetop night
I see the shadows that we cast in the cold, clean light
My feet are gold. My heart is white
And we race out on the desert plains all night
See, honey, I am not some broken thing
I do not lay here in the dark waiting for thee
No my heart is gold. My feet are light
And I am racing out on the desert plains all night

So some say love is a burning thing
That it makes a fiery ring
Oh but I know love as a caging thing
Just a killer come to call from some awful dream
O and all you folks, you come to see
You just stand there in the glass looking at me
But my heart is wild. And my bones are steam
And I could kill you with my bare hands if I was free”

Phosphorescent Verison

Ronnie Fauss Version

Hard to pick a favorite here so I will just continue to enjoy both.

“Ghost Towns” by Radical Face

I discovered Radical Face when ESPN showed a commercial for the University of Oregon which featured “Welcome Home” by Radical Face. This was 3 years ago and I have been hooked by his music ever since. “Welcome Home” is a great song to hook you and make you want to discover more and believe me you will discover more great songs. “Ghost Towns” is one of them.

Deer Tick Live from The City Winery in Chicago, IL

What a great show! When Deer Tick started setting up last night it started to become apparent that they would have no drummer. I had read that their drummer had a death in his family but I figured maybe they would find a fill in but that wasn’t the case. So this show was a more scaled down acoustic type show which I was very cool with. Lead singer John McCauley even made reference to MTV’s Alice N’ Chains Unplugged as well as joking their show was sponsored by Mike’s Hard Lemonade’s new Blood Orange Flavor (which he bought at a gas station in Missouri and drank quickly before switching back to Budweiser’s). The crowd was very receptive to this pleasant acoustic surprise and when they opened with “Ashamed” it set the tone for a great show. They also played “Easy”, “Smith Hill”, “20 Miles”, “Dirty Dishes” (with all 4 members harmonizing), “Art Isn’t Real” and a John Prine cover of “Mexican Home”.   They sounded great and provided many “O Face” moments when they were singing (as pictured).  I would recommend City Winery for a show as well.  It’s not the cheapest place ($6 PBR Tall Boys, $6 Goose Island Matilda’s, and many wine’s to choose from) but the building and atmosphere are worth it!  Just have a few drinks at home before the show and you will be good to go.

The City Winery made a special Deer Tick vintage for the night!

Deer Tick Show Tonight!

I have seen Deer Tick twice but its been a few years. I’ll be checking them out tonight at the City Winery which sounds like a pretty cool intimate venue here in Chicago. Should make for a nice little Tuesday night. Concert review to follow. Here are a few of my favorites. Also click on picture to check out Deer Tick’s website.

Deer Tick “Ashamed”

Deer Tick “Smith Hill”

Deer Tick “Easy”

Lucero Live from The Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI

Last night Amanda and I went to our 6th Lucero show and our first show at The Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI. This charming little venue sits in the shadow of the capitol building on King Street in downtown Madison and is the oldest concert venue in town. It reminded me of a smaller version of the Vic Theatre here in Chicago. We were lucky enough to meet lead singer Ben Nichols before the show. He was hanging out in front of the theatre for a smoke and was nice enough to take a picture with us and chat. I had always heard he was a real genuine nice guy and now I know that to be very true. As for the show the band brought their A game. They played all the crowd favorites “Nights Like These” “Kiss The Bottle” “On My Way Downtown” “Chain Link Fence” and took a few requests like “Here at The Starlight”. They also played “Texas & Tennessee” and “The Other Side of Lonesome” off of their new EP. Ben played “Last Pale Light in The West” off his solo record which I can honestly say is one of my favorite songs of all time. Great show and and if you ever get the chance SEE THIS BAND LIVE!!!!

 

New Lucero EP “Texas & Tennessee”

One of my favorite bands Lucero (Not to be confused with the sexy Latin American superstar who shares the same name) just released a new 4 song EP titled “Texas & Tennessee”. Two of the songs I have heard live including the band playing the title track “Texas & Tennessee” twice at a January show at the Metro in Chicago. The song got a louder reaction the second time it was played which says a lot for a NEW song from a band with a loyal fan base and 7 Albums under their belts. Many times as fans we get a little jaded and roll our eyes when a well established band plays “new stuff” and if they played it twice we tuned it out. This was not the case at all and really never is with Lucero. I was lucky enough to find a video from the show on YouTube and convert “Texas & Tennessee” into a live Mp3 which held me over till this release. So check out the EP! It is streaming on Spin’s website and if you like it buy a copy. Better yet go see Lucero live. I will be seeing them for the 6th time tomorrow night in Madison and can’t wait to hear Ben & The Boys play the classics but also anything off this new EP.

Tour link
http://www.luceromusic.com/site/tour/
Click on the Album Art to hear the new EP