Below are the two most recently released Darwin Deez music videos from his new record titled Double Down. The first song below is titled The Mess She Made
Featured below is a retro funk/soul mix by former Detroit based digital-artist/remixer known as Recloose. He once moved to live life in the New Zealand music scene, but recently moved to NYC for yet, another change. Recloose's real name is Matt Chicoine. This song below is titled Danger Zone.
What can be said about Bettye LaVette that has not been said already? She is the ultimate indie. Even though she was best friends (like family) with the biggest artists of her youth, like Sam Cooke, and she has been on several major labels that included Motown and Atlantic, she always maintained her independent ways.
Today, she is with Anti- Records, a division of the indie label, Epitaph Records. Epitaph is not a place for dead artists like it's name might imply, by the way. Bettye is independent like their Anti- label portends. And in that independent spirit, Bettye LaVette's music has probably never been more excellent in recent years. No matter what stage she is on, grandiose theaters to humble small venues, she always delivers it the same. She digs so deep into her soul, you feel it and you believe it because it's real.
Below are some handpicked favorite performances and videos from this truly inspired authentic uncontrived soul/funk artist deserving of the highest honors for her longevity and adherence to keeping it real and never selling out. She is a gem who is way to far under the radar. She is refreshing to hear, at this time when bad art seems to be a trend of a society in free fall. And perhaps this is the best kind of success for real artists like Bettye, coming from the longer road less traveled. She gained and has maintained "street credibility" with musician's musicians. She is as tight and relevant today, musically and soulfully speaking, as she ever was. Her sense of the funk has not been diminished and has only increased, which is not the case for many of her peers, who for one reason or another, have been unable to maintain their chops and their stage hustle. Turn it up and enjoy!
This live performance featured below below is of a song she recorded for her most recent 2015 album titled Worthy, which is excellent in every way. Visit BettyeLaVette.Com to hear more and buy that directly from the source.
Bettye LaVette - Wait
Whilst, we would love to feature Bettye's new material here, we instead, hope fans will go straight to Bettye for that. Instead, we are going to flash back on some of Bettye's earlier material that is also worthy of a listen, again.
The next two songs below are lyric videos to songs from her 2012 album titled Thankful N' Thoughtful.
Bettye LaVette - I'm Not The One
Bettye LaVette - Everything is Broken
And here is a terrific live performance of a Pink Floyd cover. It was filmed by a solo camera operator.
Bettye LaVette - Wish You Were Here, Highline Ballroom, NYC
Here is a song that is one of my favorites. It was written in 1965 by Dee Dee Ford under her birth name, Wrecia Holloway. Bettye's 1965 recording of the song was very successful for her. This version below was recorded and filmed in 1990. She sings her heart out and has a slightly different edge to it than the original.
Bettye Lavette - Let Me Down Easy
Next, is a great Bettye LaVette performance at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors in honor of The Who, where she delivers her own interpretation of The Who classic written by Pete Townshend titled Love Reign O'er Me with her trademark style.
Bettye LaVette - Love Reign O'er Me (Kennedy Center Honors in honor of The Who)
Last, but not least, is is a fantastic full concert that was filmed for Canal+ TV in France ad featured five six excellent songs: Joy, How I am Different, Little Sparrow, Freedom, Sleep to Dream, and I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.
Back in April 2012, we wrote about and featured the music and videos of Sting's daughter, Eliot Sumner. At that time her act was known as I Blame Coco. Click here to view that post. A lot has happened since then.
Eliot Sumner has been paying her music dues the old fashioned way, through trial and error. In Part I, below, Eliot explains that with her previous I Blame Coco material, after it was released and she listened to it, she felt "no relation to it". That is part of the trial and error music journey she joined before her adult life began.
But if you were ever a fan of her father and his band The Police, you will see and hear a bit of the Sting gene in Eliot. But, she is all original and not copping someone else's groove, including her father's. And it's a real delight to listen to, both that material she has moved on from, as well as the present.
Most recently, director John Lindquist, in association with legendary i-D Magazine which is now part of the growing & influential Vice media network, followed Eliot in Europe where she is the supporting act for Lykke Li's tour.
Tracks featured in the three candid videos below include Come Friday, Halfway to Hell, Wobbler and Information. All are originals written by Eliot Sumner.
Eliot Sumner's bandmates are Nick Benton (guitar), Jan Blumentrath (keys) and Adam Gammage (drums). We don't have links on the first two bandmates, yet, but you can connect direct with Adam Gammage at facebook.com/AdamGammageDrummer and at adamgammage.blogspot.co.uk where he has all sorts of great music links.
Those who were part of the production with Director/DP/Editor John Lindquist include:
Director of Photography: Isaac Eastgate
First Assistant Camera: Joe Bird
B camera: Liboni Munnings
Editor: Tom Chick
Sound mix: Ania Przygoda
Additional dialogue interview: Scott Normand
Associate producer: Shabana Mansuri
Special thanks to Ellie Shaw, Gavin Maxwell (Backline tech) and Sarah Boardman.
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Was just about to give up on this Twitter thing until it helped us learn of a highly positive Reggae artist on the Reggae Livication Records imprint. His name is Zemroy Thomas, but he goes by Da Fuchaman. He has a really nice song titled I Feel Love from his most recent EP titled Rasta Will Be There.
Da Fuchaman - I Feel Love
Here is one more of his positive songs titled Don't Give Up. It was released a few years ago on his album titled Rise Up. It's great as a song, a statement and as a filmed medium.
Da Fuchaman - Don't Give Up
Da Fuchaman has also developed his chops as a documentarian/film maker. The description of his film reads: "Da Fuchaman returned to his homeland/Middle Buxton in the hills of St Ann's, Jamaica. Linking up with old friends, families and showing the beauty of the countrysides in the land of sunshine. Featuring pictures of Marhouse Boxton, Lower Buxton and Browns Town."
Following up on a lead took us to the following artist and companies in The Netherlands. First, we were led to Tin Ear Management. Just below is an act they handle that is on the Quadrofoon label/imprint. Their artist calls his act Man From The South.
Please click the play button of the video below and choose the
high-resolution & full screen options. When this music video
ends, it will automatically be followed by many more excellent curated music videos. Press forward to
skip any video or click the reverse button to replay or return to
previous songs. Or, exit full screen mode to browse pick a new video.
Man From The South - Before The Flood (Track #1 on his Paeonia Album)
Ariel Scherbacovsky and Sagit Shir are Hank & Cupcakes, a unique indie husband and wife duo that founded their act in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2008, eventually stationing themselves in Brooklyn, New York. They happen to be the first act I ever followed on Twitter. I first featured them in 2011 here and here. Their most recent record is titled CA$H 4 GOLD. They are in the middle of a U.S. tour. Please check the dates at the bottom of this post. Just below are the official videos from this most recent record that have so far been released.
Please click the play button of the first video below and choose
the high-resolution & full screen options. When the first
music video ends, it will automatically be followed by the other
videos, and several more hours of excellent music videos if you choose
to let it roll. Press forward to skip any video or click the reverse
button to replay or return to previous songs, or exit fullscreen to choose a new video.
Last month, it was announced that the original living Grateful Dead members would reunite to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Grateful Dead.
The reason for this post is because this weekend, a Grateful Dead story made the front page of the Wall Street Journal due to the strength and cosmic ethics behind the group's indie operation that is processing concert ticket orders for the shows through an old-school method of the U.S. mail. Fans decorate their envelopes that hold ticket requests, covered in hand drawn psychedelic art in hopes of sending the right impression that they are not part of a scalper network, but real fans. The fact that the story is newsworthy to the journal is a testament to the value of the indie spirit that Grateful Dead has always been known for.
Just below are some select songs recorded live on November 24, 1978 at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey, USA. Turn it up!
Please click the play button of the video below and choose the
high-resolution & full screen options. When this music video
ends, it will automatically be followed by many more excellent curated music videos. Press forward to
skip any video or click the reverse button to replay or return to
previous songs. Or, exit full screen mode to browse pick a new video.
Grateful Dead - Estimated Prophet / Shakedown St. / Fire On The Mt / Sugar Magnolia
Vitek is a very under the radar act out of Nashville, that has a good feel with real players that includes a horn section. The groups leader is Gabrahm Vitek, who also has been known as Gabe Vitek, on vocals & keyboards that includes a Fender Rhodes, an old Wurlitzer and other assorted pianos and keyboards that are featured in his videos.
When I say under the radar, I mean it. The various sites that link from Vitek's official YouTube page have all disappeared. I am talking about no more Facebook account, no more Twitter account and the domain name the band used is no longer.
Vitek recorded a song and made a conceptual video that has something about it. The video, directed by Annie Miller, might be better than the song, but the song is still all right. I came upon that video because of another a pretty interesting film take of them performing live in a studio environment. So here are both of those and one more, just below.
Vitek - Sunbird
The next one below is titled Devil, Don't You
And, here is one more from a bit further back, in 2010, titled No Look Dancing
UPDATE: WE JUST FOUND VITEK: He is now in a band in Nashville that is named "Kind". Connect direct with Vitek on Twitter.Com/GabrahmVitek and Connect with his new band, Kind, at facebook.com/kindnashville
When one looks at the depth of Bob Marley's life, music and beliefs, it is clear he was a true indie leader of the Rastafarian movement and the entire world of music, not just reggae.
He was also a pioneer and leader for the reform of marijuana laws in an era where people routinely were imprisoned for a joint or a seed. He believed, as the U.S. government already knew but failed to mention, that marijuana and it's cannabinoid byproducts have healing powers.
Bob Marley was the ultimate indie artist who stuck to his principals that guided his light and shaped his sound. His family has chosen to carry on his legacy, while building their own through music and the Movement of Jah People, which they carry on with integrity at every turn. Bob Marley's music lives on, possibly stronger than when he was alive.
In honor of the 70th birthday of the humble legend, Bob Marley, the The Indies Network of music sites are all featuring classic and current music films and love from fans around the world throughout this week leading up to and beyond February 6, 2015.
Bob Marley painting courtesy of Shawn Voelker - ShawnVoelker.Com
There was a 60 Minutes with Dan Rather special on the Rastafarian movement that was shot in 1980 while Bob was alive, and was broadcast after his death in 1981. It included a segment on the life and influence of Bob Marley on music, politics and religion. It seems clear that he and the movement was seen as a threat by many in "the establishment", meaning those politicians, religious and other powerful figures throughout the world who talk about freedom, peace and love, but actually back tyranny and war.
It is unfortunate to see that issues of justice and peace in third world countries that Bob Marley championed long before he was given a UN Peace medal, have been pushed to the wayside by the powers that be.
However, if Bob Marley were alive today, he would no doubt be pleased with the direction of the decriminalization of marijuana and how far his family has carried onward with the movement. The Estate of Bob Marley has joined with the U.S. based Privateer Holdings, to create the world's first global Cannabis brand known as Marley Natural as a result of the rapid decriminalization and end of the prohibition of marijuana in the United States. We are living in new times, indeed.
Now here are some handpicked videos. Please turn up the volume.
Just below is an excellent live concert film of Bob Marley & The Wailers performing Trenchtown Rock, live at the Rainbow Theatre in London, England. "One good thing about music, when it hits you fell no pain... So hit me with music, hit me with music, hit me with music now..."
Bob Marley and The Wailers - Trenchtown Rock
On April 30, 1976, Bob Marley & The Wailers released the Rastaman Vibration album. the next two videos, Positive Vibration and Roots, Rock, Reggae, were on that record. Newly remastered singles, as well as the entire record, are available.
BUY MUSIC & MERCH DIRECT FROM ARTISTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE :)
A big thanks to Shawn Voelker for permission to use his artwork featured above. Connect direct with Shawn at ShawnVoelker.Com or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Here is a act of substance out of Austin that we somehow never noticed until today. His name is Nakia and he has been around and has been paying his dues diligently. He has a whole story on the about page of his website.
I like this first live take video below and how director Jonathan Jackson captures, for the first few moments before the music begins, the vibe of the The Sahara Lounge, a music venue in Far East Austin, Texas. Appropriate for a song where Nakia shows off an undeniable Austin sound. Pieces and Castles was written by Nakia and Barry Goldberg, and produced in association with Johnny Lee Schell.
Nakia - Pieces And Castles
The next live take below was recorded during a Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill's during SXSW a few years back. Can't help but think of Joe Cocker a little bit.
Nakie - Parachute
And, here is one final live take that is a little reminicent of Chet Baker's vocal styling... Nakia sits down for for a recording filmed by Ehud Lazin with One On One during the Outlaw Roadshow.
Nakia - Get Hercules
A big kudos and thank you to Music Fog, Jonathan Jackson of One Point Pictures and Ehud Lazin of One On One for filming the above clips so well and making them available.
Off of the Silver Scream Records imprint is a interesting female bassist, composer, and singer named Olivia Anna Livki who also is known as LiVKi. She was born in Poland and raised in the Black Forest of Germany.
This first song below titled Dark Blonde Rises, is sort of an anthem song. The second song below which might be my fave, is titled Tel Aviv, hints at David Byrne and the Talking Heads meets Frank Zappa with Moon Unit. Instead, it's a cool girl with a bass.
Here is a great find out of Glasgow, England. The band is known as Casual Sex. Their members are Sam Smith, Ed Wood, Peter Masson & Chris McCrory. Just below is their music video to their song titled A Perfect Storm.
The-Indies is proud to present a sweet 2011 video of artist Benjamin Clementine busking in a subway station in Paris. It was filmed by Corinne Damas Sandiford with a Blackberry with no editing. (Since we first added this post to The Indes in 2015, Mr. Clementine's music career has received widespread acclaim).
Please click the play button of the video below and choose the
high-resolution & full screen options. When this music video
ends, it will automatically be followed by many more excellent curated music videos. Press forward to
skip any video or click the reverse button to replay or return to
previous songs. Or, exit full screen mode to pick a new video.
Benjamin Clementine - No Woman, No Cry (Bob Marley Cover)
The first Jonah Smith song I heard was titled "Tone of Your Voice" that he offered up for free on the old MP3.Com in anut 2000 or 2001. That song has a great feel that was sort of like Steely Dan meets Van Morrison. Have been following Jonah ever since and he constantly puts out great music.
This first video below is one of a vast series of live recordings dubbed the Cumberland Loft Sessions, shot in Brooklyn, NY in his apartment in front of a live audience way back in 2009. It features Jonah Smith, Carrie Rodriguez, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Doug Wamble, Leah Siegel, Andy Stack, Lucius, Maya Azucena, Rich Hinman, Christian Ver Halen and Ben Rubin. (production credits listed at bottom of post)
The second video below is a bit more recent,from a May 2014 post to his YouTube page. Jonah wrote this song titled The Umbrella for his album named In The Kitchen, which he made with fellow artist, Andy Stack. It was filmed, recorded and edited by Neil Fennel.
Jonah Smith with Carrie Rodriguez - "Stay Awhile" (from the Cumberland Loft Sessions)
Production Credits for Stay Awhile
Produced by Jonah Smith
Video by Nestor Rivera Jr., Mike Mongulla and Darryal Dashiell
Edited by Mike Mongulla
Audio by Dan Mechanic and Sean O'Brien
Mixed by Matt Agoglia, Kyle Ford, Zach McNees and Sean O'Brien
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Here is a obscure, but cool indie rock band out of Capriolo in Lombardia, Italy, known as The Credo. The group appears to have only been active for a short period in 2009, and then disappeared.... poof, gone.
From the independent On Repeat Records imprint, below is a far out video by the English electro pop act known as Little Boots, a solo project by Victoria Hesketh. The song is titled Taste It. It's track #1 from her 4 song EP named Business Pleasure.
Off the prolific U.K. based indie label Mr. Bongo is a tasty groove artist named Hollie Cook who self describes her music as tropical pop.
Cook is of extremely credible music industry lineage. Her father is Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. Her mother, Jeni, was a back up singer in Boy George's Culture Club, one of the most grooving soulful pop bands of all time. To top it off, Boy George is Hollie Cook's godfather.
Since about 2006, when she stepped into the music business, she has collaborated with a wide range of people, paid her dues and covered a lot of ground.
As a solo artist, she has released three albums on the Mr. Bongo imprint. The most recent release is titled Twice. The tracks featured below include the music video for the song titled Postman which is track #5 on the album, the music video to Looking For Real Love which is track #6 on the album. Featured last is the title track to the album, Twice, which happens to be track #8. There is no video for that one yet.
