Harry Kalas - 1936 - 2009

I was stunned this afternoon when my son yelled down the stairs to me: "Harry Kalas died!" The words didn't sink in quite so fast, but then I started getting messages on Twitter and Facebook, as well as text messages. Harry Kalas passed away this afternoon after collapsing in the broadcast booth just hours before today's Phillies game in Washington against the Nationals.

Harry Kalas, was in my opinion, the greatest voice ever to call the game of baseball. The Hall of Fame announcer of the Philadelphia Phillies was "it." He had the goods. The best pipes in the business. His voice is embedded in my head, with Kalas and his trademark "Outta here!" home-run call. His voice uttering the name "Michael Jack Schmidt" every time Schmitty hit one out of the park. And most importantly, his voice calling the final out of the Phillies' World Series victory last season.

Kalas joined the Phils as an announcer in 1971, and was the voice of the Phillies for all but the first nine years of my life. You can look back at all the great players who have donned a Phillies uniform over the past 38 years. Schmidt. Luzinski. Carlton. McGraw. Utley. Rollins. Howard. But players, and certainly managers, come and go. Even the broadcast booth saw a bit of a revolving door, but for the past 38 years, Harry Kalas has been there, and in some ways, defined the Phillies. He was the constant...through all the lean years, as well as through the World Series Championship seasons of 1980 and 2008, and of course the "almost" seasons of 1983 and 1993.

I still get chills listening to his voice, and some of his trademark calls. I was fortunate enough to have met him on three separate occasions, one of which was a seminar called "Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Baseball on the Radio," which I moderated at the Museum of Television & Radio in NYC. The seminar featured legends, and local NY announcers, but Kalas was clearly the star of the panel, with the other announcers recognizing the talent in their midst.

As I write this, the fans at Nationals Park in Washington are observing a moment of silence for Harry. I'm merely a fan, and there is an empty feeling inside. I can't imagine what it must be like for Harry's colleagues to have to call today's game...or for the players to play the game. All I know is...Harry, you will be missed.

Welcoming Spring: The Weekend Music Game

First off, I apologize for not updating the blog lately, but things have been very busy and will hopefully settle down over the next two weeks.

But...I can't neglect the weekend music game for too long! I didn't have time to really come up with a theme, so we'll stick to the basics. Music player on random/shuffle, and list the first ten songs you come up with. Perhaps comment on them. And, as always, no skipping! And see if anything comes up that reminds you of Spring, because today IS the first day of Spring.

Here's my list for the weekend:

1. John Vanderslice - Parade - this is from a live Daytrotter Session. I love this song. Just really got into Vanderslice within the past year after seeing him at the Chameleon. VERY small audience, but a great intimate show.

2. Lovedrug - Happy Apple Poison - another band I saw for the first time at the Chameleon a few years ago. Quirky voice, but I like it.

3. Copeland - May I Have This Dance - whoa...I'm sensing a theme. Saw these guys at the Chameleon for the first time...and I think it was on the same bill as Lovedrug! Really pretty vocals and music.

4. T-Bone Burnett - Stunned - OK, I've never seen T-Bone live...let alone at the Chameleon. But I've been a fan of his music since about 1980. Great producer, but I love his solo discs.

5. The Lassie Foundation - We Are Kings - nice Southern Cali indie-pop band featuring the talents of Wayne Everett and Eric Campuzano, among others. Now this is the kind of music that would be fun to listen to in the car on a warm Spring day.

6. U2 - I Will Follow - this is the live version from Under A Blood Red Sky. 'Nuff said.

7. Always Sunday - Let You Down - One of my favorite songs from this band that is no longer together, featuring one of my favorite singers, Trent Dabbs. I've loved all of his projects and his solo stuff is great.

8. The Gloria Record - Grace the Snow is Here - Well...I guess this is NOT the kind of thing you want to hear on the first day of Spring. I'm not interested in any more snow, thank you.

9. The Violet Burning - More - I'm partial to earlier Violet Burning stuff, but this is still good stuff from the album Drop Dead. Love Michael Pritzl's voice.

10. Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused - Going REALLY old school here. Gotta love me some Zep.

And ten more quick ones for the road:

11. Future of Forestry - All I Want

12. Michael Knott - Deaf and Dumb

13. Mute Math - Picture

14. Mark Heard - She Don't Have a Clue

15. Fly Eagles Fly - Philadelphia Eagle's fight song - hmm. Wish I had a Phillies song!

16. Serene - Autumn

17. U2 - Shadows and Tall Trees

18. Robert Deeble - Blue

19. Van Morrison - Steppin' Out Queen

20. Yes - Starship Trooper

OK, now it's your turn. Add a comment with your ten songs for the weekend. And have a happy first day of Spring. And don't forget, that means it's Free Rita's Day!

Weekend Music Game

Well, due to the fact that I'm really busy, I didn't put a lot of thought into this edition of the Weekend Music Game. So really quick...down and dirty old school version. Music player on random/shuffle and list the first 10 songs you hear...no skipping! See what surprises you come up with.

Here's my list:

1. Brandtson - As You Wish - one of their older songs. Still enjoy this stuff.

2. Woven Hand - The Good Hand - I think this is from the first Woven Hand album (post 16 Horsepower), and I really love this song.

3. Bob Dylan - Jokerman - nice song from Infidels.

4. Glorybox - Sonic Ocean

5. Mute Math - Control - can't wait to hear more from these guys

6. The Juliana Theory - Love - has a bit of a Joe Jackson feel to it...

7. Brown Feather Sparrow - Sleep Well Child - nice and quiet beautiful song.

8. The Bird and the Bee - Because

9. Always Sunday - Great - another great project involving Trent Dabbs. Love his music and his voice.

10. Elvis Costello - Clubland - seriously catchy tune.

Ok...your turn!

Your Weekend Musix Fix

Once again, Central PA is bustin' at the seams with all kinds of great music (and other entertainment) throughout the area, so don't come whining to me if you can't find anything to do.

Ken's Picks o' the Week:

Pick #1: 3/6 - It's First Friday in Lancaster, and while the focus is on art, there is still plenty of music to be found throughout the city. You can check out 8-Track Radio at Building Character, or hop across the street to the new Progressive Galleries featuring music from The Greatest Funeral Ever. There is sure to be other music at other venues throughout the city as well. And don't forget the First Friday After Party in the Lizard Lounge at 10 p.m.

Pick #2: 3/8 - Local favorites Slimfit and Perkasie rock the house at the Chameleon Sunday night, along with former local Madi Diaz. A great showcase of what Central PA is able to produce in terms of music. This is an XPN Welcomes event.

Friday, March 6:

Adam and the Weight (Adam Kowalczyk of Live) at the Chameleon, Lancaster

The Thrives, Flatbed Ford, and Girls Like Cigarettes at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Irishfest featuring Wyndfall in the Brewpub at ABC, Harrisburg

The Irish Rovers at the Hershey Theatre

Carl Peterson at the Ten Thousand Villages Cafe, Ephrata

Saturday, March 7:

XPN Welcomes Penn's Mask & Wig Club to Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster

Irishfest featuring Fire in the Glen in the Brewpub at ABC, Harrisburg

Dakini w/ FDR & the New Deal at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Josh Blue (Last Comic Standing season 4 winner) at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

Capitol Bandstand - A showcase for undiscovered local bands at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, York

Spring Doo Wop Cavalcade at the American Music Theatre, Lancaster

Adam Blessing at McCleary's Pub, Marietta

The Reese Project and Indian Summer Jars at Bube's Brewery, Mount Joy

Stinging Nettles & 8-Track Radio at Quip's Pub, Lancaster

Sunday, March 8:

The Peking Acrobats at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

And that's what's going on. Feel free to comment with other events of interest.

This is Not Your Mother's Art Gallery: The Progressive Galleries

There's a new gallery on the scene in downtown Lancaster. While it has been open a bit for the past few weeks, the Progressive Galleries will have it's grand opening "Art Explosion" this Friday night, March 6th, as part of Lancaster's First Friday events.

The Progressive Galleries isn't your mom's art gallery. This isn't just a space for art to hang on walls. For the past two years the Gallery has had a presence in Harrisburg and is more event driven. Art installations combined with music and projections have been happening up there on about a monthly basis. The Gallery also has a presence in York with the White Rose Gallery Project. But they have never really had a home to call their own. Now all that is about to change. Partners Jonas Hair and Walter Diehl are opening over 2000 square feet of space at 323 North Queen Street (in the Keppel Building, or Candy Factory) which will serve as the flagship space for their tri-county operation.

This Friday's "Art Explosion" will feature artwork from local Central PA artists, as well as music from New Cumberland-based band, The Greatest Funeral Ever. There will also be projections by Justin Ayala and live painting throughout the evening by Sean Poole. 

Normal hours for the new gallery are: Tues - Thurs, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., though they will be open later on First Fridays.

Hope to see you all there this Friday night for the grand opening, as a bunch of us will be converging on the Keppel Building. And don't forget to join the Progressive Galleries Facebook group.

Weekend Music Game: Getting Ready for March

They say that when March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb...and vice versa. So with March around the corner, let's find the lambs and lions in your music collection. This will be a test of musical diversity of sorts. The lambs are the quieter, softer, perhaps slower, tunes, while the lions are the roaring, hard rockin', faster and louder tunes. 

So start shuffling through your music collection randomly and tell us about at least the first two lions and the first two lambs you come across. Just keep it random. This could be interesting. I'll probably do a few more than two.

My Lambs:

T0morrow - U2 - one of the quieter tunes from October, and a song that doesn't get much mention when people talk about U2. "Won't you be back tomorrow?"  Good song.

Set the Scene - Umbrellas - I love the sound of these guys. This is a laid back tune that isn't super quiet, but is definitely more lamb than lion. If you haven't heard them, check 'em out.

All Things End in Water - At the Close of Every Day - great indie rock band from the Netherlands, and most of their songs are more on the lamb side, nice quiet ambient, acoustic alt-rock.

Damien Dreams - Jeremy Enigk - beautiful quiet song from Enigk's last solo disc. Really showcases his amazing voice.

Can't Cry Hard Enough - Julie Miller - a very sweet and quiet lamb. Beautiful song. I can't get enough of her voice. She has a new album out with her husband, Buddy, but I'd love to get another solo record out of her.

My Lions:

Not I - Demonhunter - yeah, kick in the hardcore. I definitely have a loud side, too. This definitely isn't for everyone.

Bodyrock - Moby - wasn't sure where to put this, but it is more upbeat, so I'm calling it a lion. Great danceable, groovin' tune.

Here We Go - Brandtson - Not really all that loud, and certainly not their most lion-like tune, but they can kick up a nice beat.

Wild Wild West - Kool Moe Dee - oh yeah. This brings back some memories. Not really loud, but hey, I can't really call this a lamb, even though it is kinda laid back.

This is the Sound - Party People - distorted vocals, driving drum beat, and it builds to a nice hard rockin' tune. I need more music from these guys.

OK, so there's my five lions and five lambs. I had to skip a lot to get some of the lions, so I definitely have more lamb-like music in my collection. Now it's your turn! Comment here with your lions and lambs.

The Weekend in Music

Here's a quick rundown of some of the better shows happening around Central PA over the next several days.

Ken's Pick o' the Week:

Saturday night, 2/28, you should head on over to Building Character in Lancaster for a great evening of music. Headlining will be former Vigilantes of Love frontman, and singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee. Opening for Bill will be Lancaster-based St. Narcissus, showcasing the talents of Keith Wilson, formerly of Movies With Heroes. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and there is an $8 cover charge.

Friday, February 27

Cephas & Wiggins at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

Emily Long & Friends at Building Character, Lancaster

The Man in Black: Johnny Cash Tribute at American Music Theatre, Lancaster

The Green Onions & Aaron Daniel Gaul at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Thriving Ivory at the Chameleon, Lancaster

Mark DeRose Duo at the Harp & Fiddle Irish Pub, York

Landing Lane at The Art & Soul Cafe benefit show for local food banks, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Mountville

Saturday, February 28

Biodiesel and The Greatest Funeral Ever at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Slimfit in the Lizard Lounge at the Chameleon Club, Lancaster

Fire in the Glen at the ABC Brewpub, Harrisburg

The Buskers at ABC - Camp Hill

Alex Brubaker at Juice and Java, Mechanicsburg

They Blinded Me With Science!

More often than not I blog about music, but there are plenty of great non-music venues and events throughout Central PA. Here's a quick rundown of what you can see and do, with something for the whole family.

In Lancaster this weekend you might want to check out the North Museum of Natural Science & History. This Sunday, March 1st, is Family Science Sunday at the North, featuring Jack Hubley, the host of WGAL-TV's "Wild Moments." Hubley will be giving presentations on how to tell the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes.

The North Museum is also currently featuring an exhibit called Arctic Adventure (through May 15th), and interactive and artifact-based exhibit about the unique nature of the earth's polar regions. Permanent exhibits include a dinosaur gallery,  the Hall of the Cosmos, and a live animal room. And don't forget they have some pretty cool planetarium shows as well.

Newer to Lancaster is the Lancaster Science Factory, a hands-on, interactive museum that is especially appropriate if you have younger kids. Through April 14th they have a pretty cool exhibit called K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides.

And don't forget the Harsco Science Center at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg. This is the largest science center/museum in the area and has a great selection of temporary and permanent exhibits. Currently running is How People Make Things, as well as Forces of Nature. There are also plenty of permanent exhibits as well as the Select Medical IMAX Theatre. 

Always something to do in Central PA, so take the family out this weekend and get your science on!

Music You Should Know: Perkasie

I often ask my friend Jeff Royer at Fly Magazine to fill me in on any local bands that he's discovered and is really enjoying. About a year ago he mentioned the band Perkasie, and had them send me a copy of their EP. I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard from this Lancaster-based band. And I was hooked.

 

Now the band has a full-length CD out and I can't believe I've waited this long to review it. The self-titled disc, Perkasie, is, as the kids used to say, "all that and more." But that's just part of the equation. To really get a feel for this band, you MUST see them live. A Perkasie show is a high energy show characterized by a frenetic cacophony of ear-pleasing, foot-stomping "old timey" music. For a group of college kids they sure now how to perform; from Kate Foust's sassily sultry lead vocals to Alex Wash's devil-may-care assault on the piano (that guy can flat out play!), this is a band that loves to perform, and it shows. The live interaction and energy of their performance means Fun with a capital F. The band is rounded out by drummer/vocalist Dominic Billett, bassist Danny Sadler, and guitarist Ben Roth, all of whom contribute mightily to the whole known as Perkasie. Throw in some friends (Matt Kelly and Dillon Reichel) on washboard, mandolin, and a few other instruments, and you've got a musical melange that just won't quit. 

The CD is characterized by music that sounds as if it were from another time and another place, but still very fresh and relevant. Foust and Wash sound great on the slow-burning lead track, "Barstowe Station," as two young lovers rekindle an old romance. The band honky-tonks along with "Ginger Sobs," a musically happy tune that relates an ironic tale of loss. 

Foust then plays the pleading chanteuse on "Girl Upon Your Arm,"

To be the girl upon your arm, to be the one that gets to claim your love I'm so addicted to your charms, I'm so impossible, emotional.

Foust and Wash again trade lines on the steamy, "Down By the Riverside," with vocals that match up well. Then comes the wry and laid back "Beers and Grills," which sounds like something being sung from a front porch rocking chair.

The pace picks up again with the period-piece "The Fightin' 13th," with it's tale of young love and wartime loss. This is not the kind of music or lyrical content you would expect from a bunch of college students.

Oh poor girl you're all alone with no big man to call your own but backpacking he'll come back home and you'll sing glory hallelujah that day (AMEN!) but romance is a poison drop, and when those tears from your eyes stop, then down the drain the ring will drop, disgracing his memory.

Things slow down again with "The Dead Man's Prayer," on into the beautiful "Silly Girl!" displaying the bands versatility, both vocally and thematically:

love is the salt, it is the wound

and you burn me like you do

though i'm hurting, i'm still holding on to you

A bit of slow-moving old-school piano driven country emerges in "The Politeness Song," and the album then closes out with the duet, "Old Designs," a song of memory and regret.

This collection of music could easily be the soundtrack to a Coen Brothers film. It's difficult to make comparisons here, but perhaps the best I can do is that the "feel" of the music is akin to the Decemberists, but with more energy and less pretension. And even that doesn't even come close to hititng the mark. Thoughtful, yet playful lyrics, firmly nestled on a bed of well-crafted music. You might think that a disc recorded in a college studio (Millersville University's CRIS Studio) might lack quality, but this CD is a testament to both the talent of the musicians involved, and the music recording program at MU. A very professional recording from start to finish.

So contact the band and get this disc and enjoy it, but mostly you need to get out and see this band live. Your next chance will be on March 8th at the Chameleon, along with Slimfit and Madi Diaz. Hope to see you there!

The Mint: Local Music, Global Thinking

It's been quite some time since we've heard from The Mint, the Lancaster-based band that released Love is Vapor in 2007. Now it seems as though they are starting to surface again with a few interesting items. 

First off, the band has put together an interesting lineup for a show at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster on March 21st. In addition to The Mint, the show will also feature Philly indie rock outfit Jealousy Curve, an acoustic performance from D.C's Army of Me, and Ephrata-based Receiving the Ghost. (I recently received a copy of Receiving the Ghost's EP and I love their sound. I'll be reviewing it on here in the near future). All of these bands have gotten airplay on either XPN or Y-Rock (or both) and deserve a listen.

But this is more than just another concert at the Chameleon. It is a benefit for an organization called Love 146, that seeks to put an end to child sex slavery and exploitation. The Mint's Jonathan Decker tells me how and why the band got involved with this organization:

A  few years ago we played a show for them not really knowing much about them, and I was pretty blown away by what they do. Fast forward to this year when I became a Dad, and it made the issue of child sex slavery a bit more realistic in terms of comprehension. I see my daughter and her innocence, and then imagine children as young as her sold to the sex trade. Little kids sold to be violated for money, traded as a commodity, and have their entire lives be taken through hell. I'm by no means an expert on Love146, but I can't look my little girl and not get reminded of these children who are marginalized and abused.

Decker says the hope to raise at least $3000 for the organization, whose president will be on hand for the show to tell about the work they do. He also says that the band has been quietly donating to causes like Love 146 and the 1000 Wells Project, but he feels that now he needs to do something more:

Being in a band can be a cool thing, but at the end of the day it's music. If you can use a platform, however small it may be, to help change someones life for the better, that's what matters.

What a refreshing perspective on what it means to be a local musician in a world filled with pain and hurt. I hope to make it to this event, and hope to see you there. The concert begins at 7p.m. on March 21st. Tickets are $8 in advance, and $10 at the door. Let's pack the place out!

In other Mint, news, the band has been recording with John Wagoner at XAM Studios in Ephrata. Decker says they have a bunch of songs and hope to get some music out to radio and the public in the near future. He is feeling really good about the new material, saying they have had the time and resources to really experiment a bit more with sounds and lush arrangements, which he doesn't feel they were really able to do with Love is Vapor. I'm really looking forward to hearing their newest music.

Changing the Central PA Media Landscape: Daniel Victor

I grew up in a world where the media landscape consisted primarily of radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. When the Internet came along, it was something I had to "learn." I feel fortunate that I've been able to embrace and spend time with new media, and have spent a lot of time researching the relationship between old and new media. Sadly, the aforementioned "old media" have been slow to embrace "new media." In fact, it's not just a slowness that characterizes the attitude of traditional mainstream media; it is often a fear. And it is a fear, coupled with the opinion that the new media landscape (Internet, social media, texting, etc.) is a flash in the pan. I've heard more than one old-school newspaper/tv/radio person talking about things like Twitter or Facebook as "just a fad." It's 2009, folks. Get with it. I'm pretty sure the Internet isn't going anywhere.

One of the biggest factors leading to a fear of the new is the issue of monetization. If you want a newspaper, you go out and buy it at the local Turkey Hill, or subscribe and have it delivered to your home. Money changes hands, and you get your news in return. But traditional media has worried about just giving content away for free. While people are willing to shell out money for a hard copy of the paper...they generally expect to get things for free on the Internet. Traditional media is in bad shape, and they need to embrace new media and create innovative business models that allow for convergence and cross-platform content. Radio, Television, and magazines have all followed suit in this fear and slowness to embrace new media, and as a result, they are all hemorrhaging audience, revenue, and jobs. I'm convinced that those in the traditional media that DO embrace the new media ("new" being a relative term), will be the ones that survive and even flourish in this new cultural/economic/technological world.

Having said that, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Daniel Victor, a reporter for the Harrisburg Patriot-News who is trying to take his old media background into a new media world. A quick aside: when I call Daniel my friend, I need to disclose that he and I have only really met once. The majority of our interaction has been online via Twitter. He is a part of my social media community, and in the same way media is being redefined by the Internet, so is the concept of "friends." While we don't hang out and socialize in "real life" on a regular basis,  Daniel and I are a part of an online community of people that I would describe as friends. And I'm confident that if there comes the time when we DO get together, we'd be very comfortable in each other's company. Besides, we share a love of all the same sports teams, particularly the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. (Forgive me. That phrase still makes me giddy.)

Daniel Victor has been thinking out loud for some time about how to incorporate his use of social media, particularly his blog and Twitter, into the reporting process. And a big part of this concept is the democratization of the journalistic process. Daniel will be including his readers in the editorial selection of the stories he decides to cover. Back in January he blogged about his ideas for this type of reporting. Since then he has been given the go-ahead to move forward with his "community-direct" mojo reporting experiment. In effect, Daniel has been able to do what all of us dream about: he created and defined his own job. But you can bet he'll be under a lot of scrutiny from his superiors. I have no idea how this will turn out for Daniel, but while I'm sure he has some old-school colleagues that expect him to fail, I really would love to see this succeed. And I want to see it succeed to the point where newspapers around the country take notice. 

So WHY is Daniel doing this? The bottom line, he tells me, is that he wants to "see better stories in the paper, or stories that would have otherwise never made it." But that's just the immediate goal. In the long run, Daniel says, there is a lot more at stake:

There's a lot I want to accomplish or prove on the periphery, too. There are a lot of principles at stake here, things that are really going to determine what role a professional news organization will play in the future. Can a news organization really connect with readers on a genuine level? Can it not only acknowledge that readers have a lot to offer, but also gather, curate and present that value to other readers? Are we willing to do that?

If this works, it's a compelling case that readers can be an important part of the production of the newspaper, in a way that aids journalists, not threatens them. We could use that knowledge in a variety of ways in the future. And even if it doesn't work, we'll learn a lot from this.

Daniel is now on this journey, and I can't wait to see where it takes him. His latest discussion of what he is doing is in the Sunday Harrisburg Patriot-News and on PennLive.com under the title "My New Assignment Editor? You, the Community." 

If you are in Central PA and want to follow him on this journey, make sure you check out Daniel's blog on a regular basis, and follow him on Twitter (@bydanielvictor). Social media and blogging are central to this whole process (he'll soon be creating a new blog on PennLive.com specifically for this task), so hopefully you will become a part of the editorial process and have Daniel work for YOU, all the while helping him prove that this concept can work. I'll let you know when the new blog is up and running.

The Weekend Music Game: The Album Edition

There's a meme going around Facebook that I thought I would steal and use here for the latest edition of the Weekend Music Game. And you don't need your music player for this one, unless, like me, it helps jog your memory.

List 25 (or 5 or 10...I don't really care...whatever you have time for) albums that you would consider to be life changing in some way or form. The albums that stick with you and you never get tired of. Maybe they meant something to you at a particular time in your life, or in most cases for me, they changed the way you think about music. I know that my list certainly won't be exhaustive, but this exercise gives you insight into who I am, and might also give you some ideas of music to check out.

So here's my list, in no particular order:

1. U2 - Boy - Not my favorite U2 album, but their first one and the one that got me hooked. Still love listening to this. Amazing how well it stands up nearly three decades later. I could probably pick a handful of albums from U2 that were important to me.

2. 16 Horsepower - Low Estate - this album introduced me to the band and is still my favorite. Solid, minor key, apocalyptic rock from David Eugene Edwards. Now I love all his stuff.

3. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary - From first listen I was hooked and now I can't get enough of anything that Jeremy Enigk records.

4. The Fire Theft - The Fire Theft - speaking of Jeremy Enigk, this is a post-SDRE project that is just an amazingly listenable album. 

5. The Clash - London Calling - one of my favorite albums of all-time. These guys showed that you can be punk and be relevant, all the while producing melodic rock with attitude.

6. Mark Heard - Second Hand - Hard to narrow down my choices here, but Heard was a genius. So sad that he left us "All Too Soon." His influence opened me up to a whole world of new artists.

7. Vigilantes of Love - The Killing Floor - speaking of Heard, he co-produced this album (with Peter Buck of R.E.M), which is why I checked this out in the first place. Folk-punk with a southern gothic flair. Still my favorite album from a band that was my favorite band at one time.

8. Dire Straits - Communique - This album is passed over by many, but I love the seriously laid back, mellow sound of this disc. And some seriously great songwriting.

9. Bruce Cockburn - Humans - I discovered Cockburn a few years before this album, but this one really struck a chord. Came at an important time in my life while I was in college. I still think this is his best effort; great songwriting and mostly acoustic, right before he started going a bit more electric. I'm not sure I've heard another album with lyrics that touch me as deeply.

10. Tonio K. - Rome Unchained - Not many people know this guy, but his music is amazing. This is a collection of some of the most witty and biting love songs, and all very catchy and singable.

11. Andy Pratt - Motives - I discovered this guy/album while listening to my college radio station. The first time I heard it I was sucked in. Quirky piano pop with some great songwriting. I think he was at the top of his game on this one.

12. T-Bone Burnett - Proof Thru the Night - First discovered T-Bone when he was with the Alpha Band. This is my favorite of his solo albums, and he proves that he is a brilliant storyteller. 

13. Johnny Cash - American Recordings - I'm cheating here, because this is actually several albums, but I'd never really given Cash a chance until I heard this series of discs. I saw him in a whole new light and then went back and listened to his entire catalog. Wow.

14.  The Violet Burning - The Violet Burning - Dark and dreamy with lots of guitars. Another album that just sucked me in from the first song. 

15. Victoria Williams - Loose - For many, Vic's voice is an acquired taste, but I love it. And the cast she surrounded herself with for this album is amazing. I need to pull this one out more often.

Others:

16. R.E.M. - Document

17. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

18. Yes - Fragile

19. Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!

20. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta

21. Moby - Play

22. MuteMath - MuteMath

23. The Spirit That Guides Us - The Sand, The Barrier

24. Kelly Wingate - Are You Sleeping, Love?

25. Sufjan Stevens - Come On, Feel the Illinoise

26. Leslie/Sam Phillips - The Turning

27. Pedro the Lion - Control

And I could go on and on....

Post your list here. Feel free to tell us a little bit about some (or all) of them. And have fun!

The Weekend in Music

Ah yes, another weekend looms, and, as always...music is on the horizon. 

Plenty for you to check out on the local music scene, so don't even think about telling me you're bored!

Ken's Pick o' the Week #1: Music Friday

Since this is the third weekend of the month we have Music Friday in Lancaster. Lot's of great stuff around town. If I am able to make it down, I'll most likely be hanging at my usual spot, Building Character, where the Main Street Mystics will be belting out their jazzy sounds with my buddy Randy Bucksner on sax. 

Other highlights from Music Friday include a nice lineup at the Ad Lib Cafe hosted by Music For Everyone. Meanwhile talented young singer/songwriter Jordan Rast will be playing at Carmen & David's Creamery on Prince Street. (Haven't eaten their yet but have heard rave reviews from friends!). Meanwhile, The Cultivators will be at the Lancaster Dispensing Company, while The Reese Project plays at the Lancaster Arts Hotel. 

And the biggest show of the night is over at the Chameleon, featuring Lovedrug, along with York-based Kingsfoil.

You can get a full lineup for Music Friday over at Downtown Lancaster.

Ken's Pick o' the Week #2:

If you've been wondering where The Sleeping World has been, they've been holed up in a rehearsal space, breaking in a new line-up that I hear is going to be amazing. While the new version of the band won't be ready until April, Jessica Smucker will be performing with Jeff Bryson of the Vinegar Creek Constituency on Sunday, February 22nd at the Chestnut Hill Cafe in Lancaster. They'll be doing acoustic versions of songs from both of their bands, as well as some pretty cool covers. 

And now here's the rest of the weekend lineup throughout Central PA. Not exhaustive, but a good slice of what's going on.

Thursday, February 19th

XPN Welcomes the Neville Brothers & Dr. John to the American Music Theatre in Lancaster

The Sketties at Quips Pub in Lancaster

Friday, February 20th

The Two Man Gentleman Band at the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg

Midnight Spaghetti & the Chocolate G-Strings at Bube's Brewery in Mount Joy

And if you want to check out what else is going on in the area, or at your favorite haunt, check out the calendars at Fly Magazine, Spotobe, or PennLive, or my friend Sara Bozich's blog.