Tunes Tuesday: "Never Had Enough of You," Van William

I can't remember a show I've been to expressly for the opening act, until the Van William + Lissie show at 9:30 Club this past weekend. I got into Van William via his song with First Aid Kit (because everything they touch is golden), but I love his whole album. Particularly this song, creative interpretive dancing and all. He writes a good chorus, no? 

This is a two-fer post because Lissie is super talented too. She can sing like whoa, as I learned. Really loving this positivity anthem because we could all use that these days. "'Cause the best days of my life are coming for me/Waiting to be realized...I want more best days."

Tunes Tuesday: "Safe," Bay Ledges

Finally, warm weather in DC! I'm going to be picking blast-this-from-the-car-window summer tunes from here on out. 

Of course, my tastes are undeniably low key indie pop so your milage might vary. This song by L.A. band Bay Ledges just makes me super happy, from that simple opening guitar strum to the stutter-step beat. 

Plus there's the oh so Apartment Therapy-set design in the video and this chorus: "I don't to speak too soon, but I think I love you." Right back at you, buddy!

The #FountainTropical EP is out now!

Tunes Tuesday: "Yellow Eyes," Rayland Baxter

New album "Imaginary Man" available now iTunes ($7.99): http://smarturl.it/Rayland-IMiTunes Official Webstore (CD, Vinyl, Digital): http://smarturl.it/Rayland-IMWebStore Filmed at Southern Ground Studios in Nashville, TN http://vevo.ly/TgSXG4

Here's another song I've been listening to ad nauseam.... It's the most gentle revenge breakup song ever. At least that's how I'm reading it. Everything sounds mellow enough, until you realize that the lyrics center heavily on the phrase "I'll leave you lonely" with "Find the girl with yellow eyes/And go and break her heart" as the crescendo. The guitar riff is pretty sweet, though. 

Tunes Tuesday: "Sea of Clouds," Deer Tick

"Sea of Clouds" is from Deer Tick's album 'Deer Tick Vol. 1'. 'Deer Tick Vol. 1 & Vol. 2' out now: http://deertick.lnk.to/out-now Animation by: James Kerr / Scorpion Dagger http://deertickmusic.com/

Hello! I need to tell you about something that has greatly improved my quality of life. It's a radio station! WTMD.ORG!!!! 

For the past year, I've been watching MSNBC maybe six hours a day as background while I work. I have my favorite anchors and I started to think of Stephanie Ruhle as my co-worker (she's not.) I'm just marinating in a constant stew of Trump insanity and outrage.

When I wasn't working or reading/watching about the dissolution of our republic, I would keep refreshing reddit's Personal Finance thread. I dunno, I just got really into it. Hours of Trump talk x alarmist savings advice is not a recipe for wellness. 

Enter WTMD, a Towson-based radio station. Listen to this free stream and you're going to know exactly what's going on in indie music (particularly in Baltimore). There's an app too! I'm the biggest cheerleader for them. I know you're going to say but what about Spotify or Pandora but no, I need the human touch. It's the best substitute for my dearly departed WOXY from college. 

Here's my recent fav from WTMD, a newer Deer Tick tune. It's melancholy enough for these times, but that melody is just so pretty with the cascading choir of voices. You know the way a song you love makes you feel when the opening bars start? You can feel it in your bones almost. I've been missing that, the way music can transcend everything. I want to share the songs I keep hitting repeat on, so check back on Tuesdays! 

Tunes Tuesday: "What's That Perfume That You Wear?," Jens Lekman

https://jenslekman.lnk.to/lifewillseeyounow Directed, Photographed, and Edited by Christopher Good Produced by Andreina Byrne Styled by Sinjun Strom Costume Design by Brock Bryan Choreography by Kristopher Estes-Brown Production Design by Andreina Byrne Fabrication by Anthony Putzier Grip: Brandon Nemeth Production Assistant: Leea Lee Visual Effects: Eric Bacus Dancers: Dena'h Gregory, Cassie Wang, Kristopher Estes-Brown Starring: Jens Lekman, Andreina Byrne, Garrett Sprague, Aaron Braun, Bryan Koehler, Clint Martens, Uvone Powell, Jillian Gotfredson, Lawrence Burger, Brock Bryan, Leea Lee Thank you: Sean Bergman http://vevo.ly/ycoLsZ

Jens Lekman is one my all-time favorite musicians. We picked one of his songs for our first dance at our wedding! What I didn't know is that I could've hired the man himself — apparently he's picked up wedding singer gigs to supplement the dwindling financial returns of being an indie singer in the days of online streaming. Gah!! Jens, you an inordinately talented songwriter, musician, performer, and observer of life and I will always spend my money on your album or DC shows.

My advice: buy his new album, which includes this lilting song that makes you want to dance and cry, perhaps simultaneously. (No, I don’t understand the video at all). He just came to U Street Music Hall last week, and he ended his set with a tune penned after Obama won in 2008, but now it didn't seem as hopeful. "These are dark and troubling times," he said. "So be kind to one another and don't let anyone stand in your way." 

Tunes Tuesday: "Get Low," James Vincent McMorrow

This is the other song I constantly find myself humming from Kate Miss's excellent best-of-2016 playlist. I didn't know the artist, so I googled and found a podcast I wish was in my life years ago. It's called Song Exploder (there's 80+ episodes, most recently Solange and Metallica, so clearly I'm late to the party.).

Each episode consists of an artist breaking down how exactly how a song was created. Which is how I learned the genesis of Get Low's singer-songwriter-meets-minimalism feel and that call and response intro. Not to mention why it has a Lil Jon-esque title.