Summer A is freaking done. I don’t know what to do with myself, except post, since I haven’t in like 2 weeks. And because I’m sick and twisted, I’m posting something from school.

Wait, wait! Don’t run away! It’s not bad. Ever heard the song Strange Fruit? Well, I hadn’t until this semester when my history teacher, with an obvious love of blues, posted the lyrics to it in the course packet. So I checked out the song. Creepy. Why did my history teacher bring it up? Because its about lynching the blacks in the late 1800’s. Pretty fucked up. People used to dress up in the Sunday best and smile in pictures next to the dead bodies. How horrible.

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

 Billie Holliday - Strange Fruit [3:12m]: Play in Popup | Download

So, today I listened to this song roughly 27 times at work.  I failed to count, but doing the math it comes out to about 27 times.  I mentioned a bit more about this over at my normal blog, but seriously: “Maggot Brain” my be my new favourite instrumental.  Ten minutes of the most visceral, emotive guitar soloing I have ever heard.  It’s worth taking some time out and putting on your headphones, don’t deny yourself this chance.  I cannot stress this enough.

 Funkadelic - Maggot Brain [10:20m]: Play in Popup | Download

I freaking LOVE the beginning of this song. That’s all. Peace.

The Cosmic Game | Thievery Corporation

 Thievery Corporation - Sol Tapado [3:58m]: Play in Popup | Download

Even though Damon and I agree on a lot of our shared music tastes, this doesn’t mean I always listen to the music associated with his posts. Which has bitten me in the ass, sort of. A few months ago he did a post on an SLC show he attended, in which the Cold War Kids performed. He even attached the mp3 I like to it, and I didn’t listen.

But I firmly believe that I love this song NOW, and if I had heard it a few months ago, maybe I wouldn’t have fallen in love with it so hard? Perhaps. Anyways, here it is. Thanks to Sirius AltNation station, I’m in another love affair.

Cold War Kids // MySpace // Buy Robbers & Cowards

 Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry [3:39m]: Play in Popup | Download

I recently got an email about the Langerado Music Festival. Do I need to say how excited I am about this?

If you read our recent post, you’d have discovered that LovetheMusic is based out of Tampa (and SLC, but thats Damon), and this Langerado festival is like, hours away. Not plane rides and hotels away, just a couple of hours in the car. And because its only hours away, that means me, the special boyfriend, and more of my friends can come this time. It will be awesome. There will be camping in Florida in March, when it hasn’t quite become balls hot yet. And I’ll get to see more of the Sunshine state, and this is in an area I’ve never been to before.

Nothing but positive vibes and goodness here.

 L I N E - U P

Beastie Boys • R.E.M. • Phil Lesh & Friends • 311 • Matisyahu • Thievery Corporation • The Roots • Gov’t Mule • Ani DiFranco • Ben Folds • G. Love & Special Sauce • Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood • Built to Spill • The National • Les Claypool • Umphrey’s McGee • The Disco Biscuits • Mickey Hart Band • of Montreal • Robert Randolph & the Family Band • The Wailers • funky Meters • Citizen Cope • Antibalas • !!! • Dark Star Orchestra • Ozomatli • Sam Bush • Minus the Bear • Ghostland Observatory • Arrested Development • Blind Melon • Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars • The New Deal • Benevento Russo Duo • Perpetual Groove • Railroad Earth • Martin Sexton • The Avett Brothers • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • The Walkmen • Dr. Dog • Indigenous • State Radio • Vampire Weekend • The Bad Plus • The Felice Brothers • Pelican • Yard Dogs Road Show • Brett Dennen • Earl Greyhound • The New Mastersounds • Dan Deacon • Josh Ritter • Pete Francis • Ryan Shaw • Blitzen Trapper • matt pond PA • The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker • Bassnectar • Balkan Beat Box • The Lee Boys • Shout Out Louds • Golem • The Wood Brothers • Busdriver • RAQ • Will Hoge • Spam Allstars • Phix • American Babies • The Heavy Pets • Backyard Tire Fire • The Postmarks • Steel Train • Hoots and Hellmouth • Jonah Smith • Pnuma Trio • Awesome New Republic • That 1 Guy • Trevor Hall • American Bang • School of Rock All-Stars •

Do you see the Beastie Boys? Thievery Corporation? Ben Folds? G. Love? Ani Difranco? Roots? Yay!! And Les Claypool. I’ve heard so much about this guy, this will be a real treat.

T I C K E T S
• A limited number of tickets will be priced at $169.50
• When these sell out a limited amount will be priced at $184.50
• When this allotment sells out, tickets will be priced at $199.50

• Ticket price includes access to all four days of the Langerado Music Festival and on-site camping for the duration of the event.

• All regular (non VIP) tickets are General Admission.
• Price does not include service, facility and shipping charges.
• Guard your tickets carefully - Just like cash! There will be NO REISSUES for lost or stolen tickets!

More updates will come as Langerado draws near. I hope you guys are willing to check it ou, looks like a crazy Bonnaroo in South Florida. We’ll see!

 Lebanese Blonde - Thievery Corporation [2:18m]: Play in Popup | Download

Check out this video of John Butler playing with Keith urban on guitar and Michael Barker and Shannon Birchall doing rhythm for JBT’s performance of Funky Tonight on the Australian Arias. Pretty sweet, I say. Not Butler’s best performance of the song, but the dueling guitars at the end is pretty kickin’.