The Get Busy Committee: Little Razor Blades [Single]

Rhymers Ryu and Apathy do no play around. As vocalists for The Get Busy Committee, they bring such a direly needed sense of realism that i’s almost depressing. But, such is life at times. Thankfully pain and suffering can be playfully portrayed throughout bouncing beats with a light hearted feel. It’s almost hard to believe a line like “Choppin’ up a line up on the top of a toilet” could make you nod your head in enjoyment. And GBC producer Scoop Deville knows more about being an artist in the world of hip hop than Timbaland or Scott Storch could ever even imagine.

“Food stamps, government cheese, and some cocaine/ I never knew a single soul who owned a rope chain”. This line pretty much sums up the entire theme of “Little Razor Blades”. The 80′s were some fucked up times for black folks suffering under the Reagan dictatorship. Especially in the GBC’s homeland of southern California. If rappers like The Game or E-40 just don’t feel speak enough truth for you (which the regularly do not), then look no further than these group right here. “All that glitters ain’t gold, I promise” is a perfect description for the collection of images found in this video. This is the best and most humbly entertaining display of popular hip hop since it was new to say to say fuck the police.

“Little Razor Blades” can be found on the GBC’s debut album Uzi Does It available on CD, MP3 download, and an Uzi shaped USB hard drive (yes, this is for real) on their website.

Catherine Capozzi [Artist]

Photo by Kelly Davidson

Wow.  Just, wow.  I’ve spent the better part of my life critiquing (in one form or another) what I considered to be quality guitar playing.  Whether it’s sweet and solid folk chords, to full-blown metal riffs.  Or maybe a combination of the two, if at all possible.  Rarely it is, but dammit sometimes it happens.  And what do most of the legends of our time, and times before have in common?  They’re usually men.  Yet, here comes along a lady who can strum the electric musical sword better than damn near anyone I’ve ever heard.  I’ve never felt more like a sexist prick than I did before listening to Catherin Capozzi rip my rock and roll loving heart apart in her amazing instrumental group Axemunkee, and lead for the brilliant trio Darling Pet Munkee.

I absolutely hate to bring up the bullshit plaguing that is sure to follow Capozzi for the rest her days, but the elephant will always be in the room.  But, rest assure, all preconceptions and judgments are null and void.  When these crafty electric riffs, fused with a beautiful surf style slap you in the face with bloody finger tips, you just plain won’t know what to think.  I mean, who has the balls (pun, intended) perform an acid/fuzz/surf take on the likes of Django Reinhardt?  This badass will!  And then she’ll spit venom laced whiskey in your face for denying her!

Photo by Bill T. Miller

While her previously mentioned projects (Axemunkee and Darling Pet Munkee) are substational and brilliant works that deserve their own praise, it is definitely of the utmost importance to realize that Catherine Capozzi is a guitarist who shines in everything she does.  Everything she touches turns to awesome.  She’s the type of artist that speaks through her music, and becomes instantly recognizable by sound wherever she may roam.  To hell with gender recognition, I just want to rock.  And a talent as true and revitalizing as this one can truly make you feel as though you will indeed feel the joys and blunder of rock and roll deep within your heart and loins.  My how we’ve been lacking such traits these days.  Thank you Catherine.  Thank you.

To hear the manic amusement that is Catherine Capozzi, check out two of her amazing bands Axemunkee and Darling Pet Munkee.  Seriously, do yourself a damn favor and check them out.  And Psst….little secret, for a limited time, you can download DPM’s 7 track album Glows In The Dark for FREE!!  Of course, this is for a very limited time, so hurry the hell up and cop it before your latte and/or PBR money will have to cover the spread.

Robin Grey & Anja McCloskey: The Park [Cover]

Oh Robin.  Oh Anja.  Oh, my, you both equally amazing.  For those of you who have followed my existence as a music blogger (is there anyone actually out there who has done this?), you know both of these beautiful people as staples in my life, not only my work.  I first covered Robin Grey almost 3 years ago when I first heard his amazing EP, I Love Leonard Cohen.

I was just getting into the music blogging game, and was dabbling in the idea of covering artists who are willing to give away their art for free on the ever so fashionable interwebs.  This is where I discovered this amazing artist.  This would lead to the friendship we have today.  Robin Grey topped my list as the creator of the best album of 2010, with Strangers With Shoes.  I spent a whole summer in Qatar listening to his entire discography as I performed menial construction duties.  You really can’t appreciate the power of music until it is the only comfort you receive as your grout several shower stalls a day.  And someone like Robin Grey is exactly who you need serenading you in your darkest hours.

And Anja.  Sweet, sweet Anja.  Children of Mercy fans know her as a contributor, supporter, and curator for all European sales of the book.  But, beyond that, she is an amazing talent.  She plays the accordion like a mad woman stuck in a storm of genius and precession.  Her voice is phenomenal in ways we just don’t see enough these days.  Her solo work, as well as the multitude of bands she comprises herself with, is some of the greatest work being recorded and shared with the world today.  I seriously can not say enough good things about her.  I’ve written of Anja before, but I would be a fool to think that I could truly describe her brilliance in anything less than a full-fledged manuscript.

So, where does this lead us?  Well, it’s just plain magic really.  Anja and Robin both decided they shared similar interests, and should meet up.  They realized each other’s brilliance by both being a part of the Children of Mercy project.  Selfishly, I am very proud of this.  Selflessly, I take no credit for the brilliance they created when they decided to meet up in Robin’s respected region of England to record a cover of Feist’s “The Park”.  I imagine they simply wanted to meet each other.  And in which case, I am extremely happy they did.  And the fact that they dedicated this cover to me, is by far greatest compliment and gift I have ever received.  Especially since I am completely unworthy of such an honor.  I was completely surprised when I heard this track for the first time.  To know that I could have played a part in creating such an amazing collaboration was so entirely humbling I thought I could die the following day, and be entirely satisfied with my life.

I have listened to this track many times.  And it never gets old.  My love for this beautiful cover track has nothing to do with self indulgence.  These amazing artists have created something amazing and sensual when they took a Feist song, and made it so much more beautiful that it was probably ever intended to be.  Robin Grey and Anja McCloskey are two of today’s finest artists.  This is a simple fact.  Everybody on this earth should feel fortunate that they came together, even once.  And we can only hope they find each other once again.  I for one am willing to hold my breath until they decide to put out an album together.

To hear Robin & Anja’s beautiful cover of Feist’s “The Park”, take yourself on a journey of brilliance….right HERE.  (P.S.  You can download it for free!!)

Rocky Votolato [Artist]

Call me smitten, call me ashamed.  Prior engagements are deferring my eligibility to see the great Rocky Votolato (and accompanied by the equally amazing Matt Pond PA) as he passes along the dusty road here in Spokane.  I’ve been a fan of Rocky sense right around his solo inception.  His sultry vocals and splendid songwriting abilities are almost incomparable to most artists riding the indie folk storm these days.  His power and energy has a life all of its own as he strums his way through the battlefield of life.

It’s been a while since I first heard Votolato’s sensational single “Red River” (in which he name drops my fair city of Spokane, and still, I won’t be attending!), but the track has never left the eternal playlist in my mind.  And as he proves again on another city name-dropping track “Portland Is Leaving” that his words are derived from experience and emotion, rather than splendor and malevolence for the unknown or simply unfamiliar.  In this amazing track, he pronounces, ‘Love’s a train wreck”.  Hmm….sound familiar.  Purely coincide, maybe, but Rocky’s inspiration has been known to touch people over the years.  Which could likely lead to inevitably lifting of lyrics for a music showcase.  Maybe.

In a career spanning well over a decade, there has been nothing short of progress in the ways of Rocky Votolato.  He established himself as an indie sensation long before he signed to the esteemed BarSuk Records.  The revolution of sound since I first heard this cat back in 2003 on Suicide Medicine, to True Devotion in 2010 has been phenomenal and easily recognizable.  And as he hits the road this fall, right now actually!, alongside the likes of fellow indie sensation Matt Pond PA, it appears as though the love and devotion Rocky has put into his music is coming back two fold by the love and adoration from his fans.  A well deserved honor if you ask this train wreck’d society.

If you have missed the tour thus far, as I will inevitably do (sorry to mention it again, I’m just really disturbed by this), catch a greyhound or a west/east bound trolley car, and catch the man on the ending dates:

10/15 Sat – Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
10/16 Sun – Spokane, WA – Aclub
10/17 Mon – Pullman, WA – BellTower
10/19 Wed – Boise, ID – Neurolux
10/20 Thurs – Provo, UT – Velour
10/21 Fri – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
10/22 Sat – Kansas City, MO – The Record Bar

And pick up some albums, and find out more information about what Rocky has been up to at his WEBSITE.