Tag Archives: music

and i’m back…

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While I was gone…

I visited some new-to-me thrift stores.

Got a zillion-and-a-half bins of vintage washed, mended and priced.

Worked on Mighty Swell’s flower-filled window display. It’s shaping up to be absolutely adorable.

Took a little road trip with my love. It was a heavenly break.

We paid our respects to Dave Dudley at his grave just outside Danbury, Wisconsin.

After that, we went to see George Jones perform, our third casino show in as many months. I’ve become fond of taking pictures of the impressively awful carpeting found at casinos.

So far today is shaping up to be a coffee-and-cleaning-to-the-Carter-Family kind of Sunday. I’ll be off to the shop in a bit to hang and steam more vintage, then indulge in a jucy lucy and pitcher at Matt’s with my Pop. I hope you’ve had good weekends, as well, m’dears!

Hugs,

Meghan

the cherokee cowboy

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Hey all!

Just a few photos from Sunday I’m a little late in posting…My man and I went to Treasure Island to see Ray Price perform. For being 85-years-old, he sounded great, and although his set was fairly short, he sang a lot of the hits we were hoping to hear. He even stuck around the lobby afterwards, signing people’s records (or, in our case, our tickets) and posing for photos. All in all, it was a really fun day*.

*Up until about 10 p.m., when I came down with an horrible bout of food poisoning. Kind of a bummer way to end such a good day, but what can you do? Avoid casino buffets, that’s what!

xo,

Meghan

how to: clean your thrifted jewelry

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Hey lovelies!

I’ve had some great luck thrifting jewelry lately, so I thought I’d do a little how to post on cleaning it up so it’s sparkly and ready to wear. (Thank you to the lovely Hannah Kuhary, for sharing this DIY recipe with me!!)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

♥ Liquid dish soap
♥ White vinegar
♥ A toothbrush (softer is better, but any kind will do)
♥ A lint-free rag or cloth
♥ A smallish bowl
♥ ♥ ♥ This method is safe for cleaning gold, silver, platinum, diamonds and hard stones. It is NOT SAFE for pearls, opals or jewelry with adhesives or loose stones. ♥ ♥ ♥

HOW TO

1. Place jewelry in a heat-proof bowl.
2. Heat 2 cups of water almost to the point of boiling.
3. Add a couple drops of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar and mix to combine.
4. Pour the solution over jewelry, swirl it around a bit and let it soak until the water is cool.
5. Brush jewelry with a toothbrush under running water and leave to air dry on lint-free rag or cloth. And…voila! Your thrifted accessories are sparkly and clean!

Hannah wanted me to mention that this method is perfect for people with skin allergies or sensitive skin—many drugstore jewelry cleaners have ammonia in them which can be irritating and harsh.

I hope you all are having wonderful Wednesdays so far! It’s snowing like crazy here and I’ve got a long day of editing and interviews ahead. But tonight, I’m trekking to Dinkytown to see this band play, so I can’t complain too much not going to see Warpaint because they are snowed in. So excited sad!

xo,

Meghan

 

vacation planning: music studio tours

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A few afternoons ago, my man and I sat down for what’s surely the first of many road-trip planning sessions. Most of the must-sees this trip are music-related, including a couple studio tours. Poring over the Stax, Sun Studio and RCA Studio B websites got me thinkin’ about other studios that’d be fun to visit someday.
Consider this, my bucket list.

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

Shown above is Tony Joe White, Donnie Fritts, Kris Kristospherson, John Prine and Dan Penn in front 3614 Jackson Highway, in Sheffield, Alabama. A million-and-a-half artists recorded here, including The Staple Singers, Eddie Floyd, Canned Heat, Bob Seger, Tony Joe White, Albert King, Aretha Franklin, Traffic. Check out a gallery of albums made there here.

Gold Star Recording Studios

Here’s Phil and Ronnie Spector, in this famed Los Angeles studio. This venue hosted artists like Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran, The Beach Boys (a portion of Pet Sounds was recorded at Gold Star, including “Good Vibrations”), Buffalo Springfield, Duane Eddy, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, The Ronettes, The Righteous Brothers and Herb Alpert. This studio was also the recording home of ABC’s TV primetime show “Rock & Roll Shindig.”

Hitsvillle U.S.A.

It’s so crazy  to think of how many songs were recorded in this little home studio. Motown greats, like The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson And The Miracles, Diana Ross And the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves And The Vandellas, Mary Wells and the Jackson 5 all recorded here.

Dodd’s Studio One

Pictured above is Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, the owner of Studio One label, with a very young Bob Marley. Lots of Jamaican artists, including Toots & the Maytals, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Bob Andy and Skatalites, recorded at Dodd’s.

Olympic Sound Studios

It was a sad day in 2008 when this mecca for classic rock lovers closed down. The Troggs recorded “Wild Thing,” Led Zeppelin made Physical Graffiti, the Rolling Stones recorded six consecutive albums there between 1966 and 1972 and The Who recorded their classic albums Who’s Next and Who Are You.

RCA Studio B

I cannot wait to visit the “Home of 1,000 Hits,” including Bobby Bare’s “Detroit City,” Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors,” Waylon Jennings’ “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” and a slew of Elvis smashes, like “Good Luck Charm,” “Little Sister” and “Are you Lonesome Tonight.” So. Pumped.

Are music studios hallowed ground to you as well? Any in particular you’d like to visit?

xo,

Meghan

 

hump day soundtrack: bubblegum pop c/o girl germs radio

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{Clockwise from left: The Shangri-Las, Vivian Girls, Little Eva, Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino}

Pop music gets a bad rap. I’m not just talking about the Britneys and Biebers of the world, either. Whether it’s silly or heartfelt, pop is often overlooked or shrugged off as novelty by people who consider themselves serious music lovers. But the influence of bubblegum, power pop and girl groups can be heard in the heavenly harmonies and jangly guitars of modern genres like shoegaze, psych rock and garage. This mix is a brief tour of some of the classic artists who originally brought us dreamy pop (including The Shangri-Las and founding Os Mutantes member Rita Lee), as well as some of the bands who have been influenced by these sweet sounds (Peach Kelli Pop and Best Coast among them).

If you want to hear even more of these musical gems, come on down to the Red Stag Supperclub Monday, March 14 for TV Party with Girl Germs. We’ll be screening episodes of “The Mary Tyler Moore” show and DJ Travis Ramin, an expert on bubblegum and power pop, will be on hand to spin tunes starting at 9 p.m. And watch our blog for a new podcast to be posted soon!

TRACK LIST

1. Peach Kelli Pop – “Doo Wah Diddy”
2. The Breeders – “Divine Hammer”
3. The Shangri-Las – “Sophisticated Boom-Boom”
4. Dum Dum Girls – “Heart of Stone” (Raveonettes cover)
5. Vivian Girls – “Can’t Get Over You”
6. Best Coast – “Bratty B”
7. Rita Lee – “Corista de Rock”
8. Little Eva – “The Loco-Motion”
9. The 5678’s – “Dream Boy”
{Check out Girl Germ Radio’s other mixes, made especially for y’all, here and here!}

style magic: rita coolidge

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Happy Saturday, y’all!

In preparation for tomorrow’s show, I’ve been listening to a *lot* of Kris Kristofferson, including some recordings featuring his former wife, Rita Coolidge. I wish some celebrated rocker wives would emulate Rita’s effortless, natural ’70s style and just say no to Botox and boob jobs. Behold the prettiness…

{Click the image to link to original source!}

xo,

Meghan

the old grey whistle test

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Do you know what can happen when a zillion inches of heavy snow fall? Both your Internet and television can go out. Which forces you do desperate things…like raid your DVD collection. Which is exactly what my honey and I had to do last night, when faced with a TV/Internet-free household. I’m not whining, because we wound up watching one of our favorite bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd perform on “The Old Grey Whistle Test.”

For those of you not familiar with the program, don’t feel bad. I hadn’t heard of it either until my boyfriend, musical genius that he be, introduced me to it. The show, usually abbreviated as TOGWT, was an influential BBC2 television program that ran from 1971 through 1988. The focus was on “serious rock,” rather than whatever pop-y was topping the charts at the moment. Shoestring, would be the best way to summarize the show’s budget. Bands played in front of bare-boned backdrops on simple, non-glitzy sets. (Fact: The entire studio was 32-by-22 feet!!)

Despite the modest set, artists were stoked about the show and many crazy awesome acts of the era appeared. Like, for example, Bob Marley and the Wailers. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Yup. Who else? Um, well, Judas Priest. Steely Dan. AC/DC. THIN LIZZY. Ramones. ZZ Top. Steppenwolf. Electric Light Orchestra.
I could go on and on and on and on and on and on.

Enough rambling…here are some of my favorite clips.

“Rocker,” AC/DC

“I Ain’t the One,” Lynyrd Skynyrd

“American Girl,” Tom Petty

“Reelin’ in the Years,” Steely Dan

“Don’t Believe a Word,” Thin Lizzy

Anywho, if you’re into classic rock and if you are on-board the Netflix train, you might be happy to know that you can get compilations of “The Old Grey Whistle Test” (Volume 1, 2 and 3) mailed right to your door. How sweet is that? Very, I’d say.

Big hugs,

Meghan

heads up: brynn andre at the aster cafe

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Hi lovelies,

I’m popping in to say “hello” and introduce you to this lovely girl, Brynn Andre.

She’s playing at the Aster Cafe tomorrow night, and if you’re a fan of pretty piano music and sweet singing, I’d encourage you to go. (Swear to goodness, her voice sounds so close to Lisa Loeb’s! Side note: Raise your hand if you listened to “Firecracker” obsessively in junior high!! All right, I’m not the only one!) I sat down with her this past weekend to to chat about her music and thrifty ways over cupcakes and coffee.

About her music…

Me: Describe your sound (short & sweet).

Brynn: My sound is piano-led songwriting. I write songs about boys and how much I hate to like them.

Me: Fill in the blank….If you like (blank), you’ll like my music.

Brynn: Boys, brooding, singer-songwriters, champagne.

Me: Tell me about the show on Wednesday.

Brynn: The show starts at 9 p.m. with Lisa Keith. I go on at 10 p.m. It will be a stripped-down set with just me, my keyboard and my strings player, Cassidy. I’m thrilled to be playing at the Aster. It’s such a gorgeous venue. The atmosphere is very warm and the sound is excellent for singer-songwriters. I think it is a perfect cozy place to be on a Wednesday night.

Me: Are you a fan girl for any local artists?

Brynn: I’ve been falling in love with all the talented musicians in the cities. I am obsessed with Alicia Wiley. I love Greycoats sound as well. And my friends French Films About Trains (a husband/wife duo) write breathtaking music. Cole Allen is another new discovery. He sounds like Jonny Lang and could make any girl swoon.

About her thrifty ways…

Me: How’d you get into thrifting?

Brynn: No one likes a deal more than my mom. She has a great eye for vintage clothes and furniture. For a long time, I hated when she would buy me and my sisters “second-hand” clothes, but then I got the bug. My room and apartment is furnished with mostly Goodwill furniture. I love how social thrifting is, too. I have spent some fun days with my best friend Kristen at thrift stores. You either find something totally fabulous like an old purse or something hilarious like an old PlayGirl workout VHS. And yes, I did buy that.

Me: Where are you favorite spots to hit around town? Any remarkable/favorite finds?

Brynn: I have to credit my little sister for introducing me to Up Six in St. Paul. And right around the corner is Lula which has the prettiest dresses. I found a killer oil painting at Succotash on Raymond Street. I splurged and spent $35 on it, but I secretly feel really sophisticated to have real art hanging in my apartment.

Me: This dress you’re wearing? Was it really 25 cents?

Brynn: The dress is something my mom bought for me from this store called Wise Penny in my hometown of Williston, North Dakota. It was 25 cents and my mom altered the sleeves slightly. I’ve worn it to so many events including my college graduation, my 26th birthday and a wedding. And I love it because it makes me think of my mom. And she’s pretty great.

Me: Any thrifting tips to share?

Brynn: I would say shop both “vintage” stores and Goodwill-type stores. About a month after my mom found me the 25 cent fabulous dress, I actually found the same dress at a vintage store in Minneapolis, but it was $40. Another tip is to check out Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie’s websites in their home decor sections. They have a real thrift/vintage vibe and I always get good ideas. Then I go to the thrift, and try to recreate a similar look with cheap things I get from there.

Brynn is playing at the Aster Cafe tomorrow night, February 2. Admission is $6 and proceeds go to Kids Against Hunger. You can listen to her first LP in its entirety here. Get deets regarding the release of her forthcoming record (recorded last month in Nashville!) by following her on Facebook and Twitter.

And with that, I’m off to tackle some laundry!

xo,

Meghan

sunday soundtrack: ladies to watch in 2011 c/o girl germs radio

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Hello, girl (and boy) germs!

I’m back with a new mix for you; this one is a combination of up-and-coming female artists and female-fronted bands (as well as some pretty well-known artists) that will no doubt do amazing things in 2011.

If you’re a hip-hop fan and you don’t know about Psalm One, stop what you’re doing and go to her Bandcamp page. She’s a multifaceted (chemist by day, rapper by night) and prolific lady who self-released three free EPs in 2010. She also holds her own as the sole female artist on the local Rhymesayers label, and will put out a new album this year. We featured her recently as a “Lady You Should Know About” on the Girl Germs blog.

We’re also looking forward to long-awaited releases from Minnesota native Anni Rossi, Eternal Summers, La Sera (a Vivian Girls side project) and Midnight Masses in 2011, and can’t wait for artists with new material to tour.

You’ve probably noticed that ‘90s fashion is back, and a similar phenomenon is happening in music. Laetitia Sadier, the frontwoman of Stereolab has a new solo album, and her band just released one, too. Finally, we almost peed ourselves a couple months ago when we heard Wild Flag existed. Members of Sleater-Kinney and Mary Timony of Helium? Yes, please. No word on an album yet, but in the meantime enjoy this live version of them covering a Standells favorite.

Happy 2011, and don’t forget to stop by the Red Stag Supperclub tomorrow night for TV Party with Girl Germs: Golden Girls. We’ll be showing classic episodes, playing some music for y’all and enjoying some sweet happy hour specials. Hope to see you there!

P.S. Like this soundtrack? Check out last month’s mix by Girl Germs here.

 

guest post: snowy sunday soundtrack by dana from radio k’s girl germs

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If I had to choose one group of sexist stereotypes that I hate more than others (take your pick, right?), it would have to be the ones surrounding women in music. Even the independent music business—which you’d think would be more evolved—doesn’t always know what to do with a lady artist who doesn’t fit neatly into the “girl with acoustic guitar,” “angry feminist” or “sultry singer” boxes (apparently you just file under “sounds like Sleater-Kinney” and move on).

As women working in the music industry, my friends Anna, Jenny and I became disillusioned with this attitude and created Girl Germs, a radio show that airs on the University of Minnesota’s Radio K. We wanted to create a space for talented female artists who have been overlooked or written off—maybe because they’ve broken new ground, created art on their own terms, produced or distributed their music D.I.Y. style or simply challenged the connections we often take for granted between femininity, sexuality and style.

This playlist is a sampling of what you’ll hear on Girl Germs: groundbreaking women playing and singing everything from ‘60s yéyé to modern Italo Disco to 1930s-era Appalachian folk music to L.A. synth-pop, all selected on the premise that supporting women’s creativity is itself an act of solidarity. Plus, you know, there’s the simple fact that these beats are the JAM and these women all have serious style. I hope you’ll make this playlist your new soundtrack to getting pumped about your own creative pursuits. Enjoy!

Girl Germs airs Tuesday nights from 9-11 p.m. on 100.7, 106.5 and 104.5 FM in the Twin Cities and online at radiok.org. To check out playlists, listen to past shows and read more about female artists, visit our blog, and find us on Facebook and follow us Twitter. And, if you’re free tomorrow, cruise on down to the Red Stag Supperclub for a screening of “My So-Called Life” that we’re hosting, too. Details here.