Review: Ribbonpigeon's "Young Lungs"

Ribbonpigeon's "Young Lungs"


**Editors Note: The band recently changed their name to The Only Sons with the release of their second album,

Murfreesboro is clearly a good spot to start if you want to be in an alt country band.

[photo by Andrew Morton]


From being introduced to the sound of a more rocking version of country music in the latter years of high school, via Ryan Adams, to moving to Murfreesboro and finding a love for bands like Lucero & locals Glossary- I dig the southern comfort feel. Be it the fact I can relate to what these artists are singing about, or atleast I can picture where their life is (possibly) set, I love it. Ribbonpigeon, being newer to the Murfreesboro/Nashville music scene has definitely caught my eye (and ears).


Kent Goolsby's vocals are similar to Ryan Adams ("Heartbreaker" era) & Ben Nichols of Lucero at the grittier moments, but still stay true being original. The very well executed usage of lap steel (played by Mike Burgess) and fiddle (played by sole female of the band, Rebecca Ryan) are some of my favorite parts of the album, which clocks in at nine tracks and just over 30 minutes.

After listening to the record quite a few times, on repeat a bit & picking it up again , a week or so later, I really, really dig it. Of course, it all seems to be one cohesive unit of music, not the 9 different songs. I can hear the songs separately but they don't separate in my mind.

That being said, I love the music and can't wait to hear it live very soon. If you are at all into the bands previously mentioned make sure to check out the Ribbonpigeon record. You can check out on their myspace and find tour dates for all kinds of venues around Murfreesboro, Nashville & beyond that are coming up soon.

Also, to get a taste of a live set, check out this video from the Basement:

SGRRC [Day One]

This year's day one of Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp went on amazingly from all sides that I can attest to.

The day started early, as usual, arriving around 8:30 am, changing into our sweet volunteer shirts [props to Screamin' Jacks member Heather Moulder and her amazing rockabilly inspired logo for our tshirts this year. She does love some Wanda Jackson you know...] and heading to the Sweet Hang [ie volunteer suite] for a redbull and coffee before cheering at Morning Assembly. Got together with the crew of ladies who showed up to lead the cheers [tomorrow starts the songs, too] that 'wake up' the girls. Morning Assembly wound up being awesome, seeing as the girls actually got up and did the cheers.

Yes.
I am H.A.P.P. YYYY.

After that I spent an hour and a half in the financial aid office [clearly not part of camp] & in a sour mood moved along afterwards to lunch at the cafeteria. Let's just say, putting 90 campers, plus all of the volunteers and directors, plus a few random MTSU people in the JUB cafe, well, it gets crowded. Made some new friends at lunch [pics soon. Also soon for morning assembly since they're disposable camera] and enjoyed meeting my new friend, Mia, one of the girls in our *SEVEN* piece band and some other volunteers.


After lunch the Screamin Jacks rocked it out and were amazing, especially their brand new song that I can't wait to hear again & again & again. It was also pretty cool to see some of the girls from last year singing along with the song they recorded during camp last summer [and thanks to Joshua Walker, drummer extrodinare, for playing drums for us during morning assembly, too!].


Heather rocking out

Later on we rocked out some intro to photography stuff in the workshop & got to know some of the new campers. They're way rad girls.

Then it was on to choosing bands, with everyone congregating in the huge room in the music building. Alexa and I planned to band manage together and found an interesting crew of 7 rockers who are already on an amazing start to the uber awesome song [it's a suprise til showcase! Guess you have to show up now...]





[working hard in band practice]


Afetr some time in practice and getting quite far for the first day, the day was over and I am currently exhausted.

Now it's time for bed and sleep til about 8 am. Woohoo.

As a bonus, here's also a photo of HT blowing some bubbles, her birthday officially commencing today, July 14th! Happy birthday, HT!





Check back tomorrow evening for another update on the awesomeness that is Rock & Roll Camp!

-jenny

SGRRC [pre-camp]

I am in Murfreesboro, awaiting Southern Girls Rock and Roll camp to start tomorrow, around 8 am. After chilling at mi amiga, Ht's, workplace for a while, head on over to Wright Music Hall for the pre-camp informational meeting. Saw quite a few old friends and new faces and learned our tshirts are purple, the guidebook looks rad, and we have 90 campers, with some on a waiting list, for both camps [there's also a Memphis camp later on this summer].

And now, with about 8 hours til camp in the morning, I believe it's time for bed. Spent a good chunk of the evening chillin on HT's porch, just taking it easy and talking with a few friends. Her birthday's coming up soon and the following picuture is after she opened up her bag of random goodies I gave her for this momentous occasion of her birth, in a few days...




Alas, keep an eye out for more daily posts about SGRRC & plenty more photos once camp gets rolling- I know it'll be over before I know it!

Shows & Camp Rock [real & fictional]

I just downloaded and installed a Lastfm. I know I'm about 20 years behind in just now doing so, but I figured I'd do something different than Mog, just because. Must say I am impressed with the new service, seeing as there was a page set up for an older, more obscure Jens Lekman song.

1)


My Morning Jacket is playing Nashville Riverfront on August 15th. Tickets are on sale, via the interwebs, now. They're a little steeper but look who the band is...I mean, they're kinda amazing.

[I won a pair of said tickets from Janet on Out The Other, a pretty rad show on WRVU, Vanderbilt's radio station. Rad stuff..]

For any doubters about how awesome an MMJ live show is, you can download their Bonnaroo set from this year over at You Ain't No Picasso.

Also, here's the promo video for their latest record, "Evil Urges". It's really well put together and has nice 8 mm shots, too. I've just been getting too excited about them. Don't fear, I will post plenty more about these gents between now and the show and afterward.

2) The Avett Brothers signed to American records and are recording with Rick Rubin. They have an official announcement up on their website Given what they have to say, these guys are in it for real and know where their hears and fans are, not willing to give that up. For that, I have the utmost respect.

3)

"Camp Rock" is a Disney channel film featuring Demi Lovato & The Jonas Brothers. Excuse my moment of being 13 again, but it's some good stuff.

As the name suggests, it is set at a summer camp for teenagers who are into music- all genres, which coincidentally brings to mind the highlight of my summer (See 4, immediately following this tangent).

I gave in and purchased the soundtrack to the film the other day and have been on a listening binge.

Those songwriters are genius.

The theme of being yourself and following your dream and passions pulled me in. So don't hate...just let the guilty pleasure take over.

It's all about the message, man.
"The louder we got the better we sound"

4) Speaking of rock camp, Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp is next week! I'm uber pumped to be helping in photography class, waking the girls up during morning assembly & asking the tough questions during artists/guest panel. Oh, did I mention I'm a band manager this year, too? It's gonna be crazy busy and crazy worth it.

I'm planning on posting daily blogs, filling everyone in on the amazingness that goes down, daily.

So until then, it's all catching up on sleep and thinking of stuff I need to pack.

For a taste of what's to come, you can check out my photo from last year's camp. Also, it's never too early to plan your attendance at the showcase, where all the girls rock out, taking what they learned from the week at camp. It's pretty much the stuff.

Review: Good Night & Good Morning's "Studentin"

Good Night & Good Morning : "Studentin" EP

Sometimes you want to rock out, sometimes you want to dance and sometimes you just want to chill. Giving Good Night & Good Morning's newest EP a spin is one of the quickest ways to achieve the latter.

The band hails from Champaign, Illinois & is comprised of Ryan Brewer [vocals & guitar], Pat Elifritz [piano/bells/visuals] & Roisin Maguire [harp/un-awkwardness] (band duties listed as stated on the their myspace).

After randomly hearing the tunes online, I had to let them know how blown away I was. A few weeks later, a copy of their EP "Studentin" hit my mailbox. The first time that I listened to the record I just lazed around in bed, taking in the calm, ambient tracks.

Overall, the songs are gorgeous and make full use of the skills these guys and gal obviously house. The lyrics are somewhat 'emo' at times (particularly the song "Lune") and get a little repetitive, but given the lush instrumentation, it is easily looked over.

These folks are currently on tour in the midwest and will hopefully venture more towards the southeast by the end of the year. The vibe they give off (and is seen by the friends they keep-Toby Foster, RedBear,The Awful Truth are in their top 8) point to the d.i.y. underground house show scene. As you might've picked up by now, it's one of my favorites. I love how they're just different enough from the typical acoustic guitar artists but they definately still fit in with that whole crowd.

You can check out some tunes by Good Night & Good Morning on their myspace, which has a few downloadable songs- I suggest you give them a listen. Then order a record. Particularly if you live in the southeast (then they'll have to come, right? Of course!).

The band recently did a video interview with smilepolitely.com. And for your viewing pleasure here is said video....