Tabloid Rumors Are True: Rhiannon and Rolling Stone Are on the Rocks!

Let me pull out my soapbox for a second...

As stated in multiple previous postings, I've had a love/hate relationship with Rolling Stone since I was 13 years old...that's 15 years that we have been "on-again, off-again." I feel like I have put some serious time and commitment into this relationship.  But this time, I think we've run our course.

I realize that music and politics at times go hand in hand. Without political influence, we wouldn't have great songs like "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, or Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth." We wouldn't have "Imagine" by John Lennon. But in my humble opinion, that's where it should end...in the creation of great music.

I'm not a very political person. I have my viewpoints on important issues, but honestly, I could give a rat's ass what anyone else's view point is, or if they agree or disagree with mine. Who cares? Isnt' that the great thing about living in America? We can think and say whatever we want?

But here's where I have a problem: you're rights end when they infringe on mine. It's as simple as that.

So what does this have to do with Rolling Stone? Well, it shouldn't have anything to do with them, but it does.

I don't subscribe to Rolling Stone to read about their political views, or their stance on the war or whatever. I DON'T CARE (about their viewpoints, not I don't care about our country's involvement in the war, just wanted to make that clear). I read it because it is supposed to be a "music" magazine. If I wanted to read political information, I would subscribe to Newsweek.  I want to read about music, concerts, bands, anything dealing with that industry. Not politics.

Now, you may ask, "why don't you just skip the political section and not read it?" Simple enough, right? It should be. I wish I could tell you that I'm able to skip past it. I don't read it. But it's not just words printed on those pages. If I see one more headless, mangled, mutilated body, I'm done. The last 3 or 4 issues have had photos so utterly disturbing, they have kept me up at night.

I don't pretend for one second to be naive enough to think that this doesn't exist in our world and happen on a daily basis.  At this point, I don't even agree or disagree with our war. I just want it over and our troops home safe. I have a cousin in the US Navy that means the world to me and I couldn't be prouder. But I didn't join the military. I didn't sign up to see that.  And I should not be forced to view these horrendous photos when I am thumbing through my MUSIC magazine, looking for an article about the possible break-up of the Kings of Leon. There's no warning, no advance notice...just turn the page and there's a picture of a body blown into 1500 pieces. Forgive me for not wanting to see that.

I'm sure someone is reading this, thinking "oh, grow a pair." Or, "that's what happens in war, deal with it." I am fully aware that our troops and the people who live in these foreign countries see these things day in and day out. I know that our troops see these things in their daily attempts to keep me and the rest of my country safe. But what about that makes it ok to force me to see it? If I wanted to see that, I would watch a horror movie.

So, all I have to say is this...thank you Rolling Stone for providing me with images I can't unsee. When this current subscription runs out, that's the last you'll see of me. 

This Week's Song That's Stuck In My Head...

It's been more than two weeks since Grant and I saw The Decemberists in concert at the Ryman, and since then, more than one of their songs have been stuck in my head. I guess that's why I haven't been able to write my weekly posting about the one song that's on my brain, because I haven't had one...I've had 7.

I would have to say that without a doubt, that show was the best concert I have EVER been to.  And that's saying a lot considering all the concerts I have attended over the years. I have never had so much fun or had a band participate with the audience the way they did. To put it simply, we had a blast!

So, how about those 7 songs I can't get out of my head since the show...

They are: Rox in the Box, All Arise, The Chimbly Sweep, The Mariner's Revenge, Calamity Song, Oceanside and The Rake Song.

Rox in the Box, All Arise and the Calamity song are all off of their newest album, The King is Dead, which is pretty much ah-mazing. It has a slightly more country, folksy twist to it, but in the most fantabulous way. 

They started the concert with Oceanside... it is now my ringtone. 

After playing The Chimbly Sweep, someone in the crowd threw a tiny chimbly sweep doll on stage, which Colin Meloy graciously accepted and placed on a speaker box for the remainder of the evening.

The Mariner's Revenge was by far the most fun song of the evening! They acted the whole thing out and all of us in the audience swayed back and forth with the music. That is, until the pivotal point of the song where we all screamed out like we were being eaten by a whale. So theatrical and sooooooo fantastical! Take a listen to the song if none of that makes since to you...

And finally the Rake Song. Now, I never really cared for this song before because the lyrics are so utterly disturbing. But I have to say, after seeing it played live, and watching Sara Watkins beat the hell out of those drums turned me into a fan. It's now a favorite! Only the Decemberists can turn a song about killing babies into a worn out spot on my cd.

I'm not going to post the lyrics to all the songs because that that seems like overkill just a bit but I have included youtube videos for your viewing and listening pleasure. So now you can decide which you like, which you don't, but I bet you will be humming at least one later...

(all photos in this post were taken by me at the concert...my camera sucks.)

Caitlin Rose - An Introduction

Photo: Lance Conzett

My mouth hung open throughout the whole set. I looked over at my husband, and he had an equally awestruck look on his face.  With a voice reminiscent of Patsy Cline, the crowd was blown away when she took the stage...

Saturday night, Grant and I made our debut at the Ryman Auditorium.  It seemed almost ridiculous that we had never stepped foot in the historic church before that night, but we hadn't.  I was immediately transported back in time and I could almost feel the spirits of the previous artists who graced that old stage.

Sitting on the old church pews, in front of those old stained glass windows, was a total new experience. I felt "at home." Then the lights dimmed and she took the stage.

Armed with a guitar, a killer band, and a rhinestone "Opry" jacket, Caitlin Rose belted out the first few notes of her first song and I knew that was it. Instant fan.

We listened to song after song, each one better and better and mostly from her new album, Own Side Now. My personal favorites were Spare Me, Shanghai Cigarettes, and New York. That is until the finale. Caitlin stepped away from the mic and let her voice fill the auditorium.  She sang "Sinful Wishing Well" and I felt a tear come to my eye. "Beautiful" doesn't even come close to describing it.

So who is she and where did this girl come from?! Well, where else? Nashville.

Being both a big city, and a small town, I've actually met Caitlin before without realizing it. We were crammed together side by side at a Deer Tick concert at The Basement a few years ago and we briefly spoke about how great they are. That is, before she hopped up there and did a few songs with them and Jonny Corndawg! I still didn' realize it was her until I was flipping through old photos and saw one I had snapped of her singing with them. 

So, in conclusion, I'm calling it right now. This girl is going to be big! No, scratch that. HUGE! And where else for it all to begin but The Ryman, which fit like a glove. And in Caitlin's own words, "so did the jacket." Agreed.

This Week's Song That's Stuck In My Head...

The song I have in my head this week may have stemmed from my previous post...or maybe inspired it. Not sure which, but then again, which came first? The chicken or the egg? The song I can't get out of my head right now is Deer Tick's Baltimore Blues No. 1. 

It is hard for me to pick a favorite Deer Tick song. And while I wouldn't consider this one my favorite, it is definitely on the list.

Baltimore Blues No. 1 is on Deer Tick's debut album, War Elephant, and was also the song the band chose to sing when they made their television debut on Late Night with David Letterman.  It is a fantastic song and I know that if you give it a few listens, you will be humming it all week too!

Enjoy! :)

Baltimore Blues No. 1 lyrics                           

Kiss all your saviors goodbye
Offer them up to the dead
No kidding you know who's right
And whose got a price on their head

No doubt I'd sell you all out
For a pocket full of silver and gold
Way back when, when they made me one of them

Don't you know they're gonna' save my soul

I can't hang around with you like this my friend
Our time has come to an end

I can't play around with you no more
No, I'm seeing this open door

And I know you saw right through me
Afraid I'm taking you for a ride

But when you're dead you're dead
When you're gone you're gone
I got my conscience at both of my sides

I set out to disappear
And out there I found a new home
But listen Jack, you're on the wrong side of the tracks
At least now I don't have to walk it all alone

Can you hear the sound of the crawling flesh?
Now can you smell the burning desire?
This place is too small to hide
All the ghosts that's kicking around inside

What this town was entirely built upon
You can find it right between the eyes
Its a bullet hole that'll steal your soul
And roll you for your money and your diamonds

I set out to disappear
And out there I found a new home
But listen Jack, you're on the wrong side of the tracks
At least now I don't have to walk it all alone

The Greatest Band EVER...and You've Probably Never Heard of Them

My name is Rhiannon Green, and I'm a "tickhead."

They say the first step in getting help is admitting you have a problem. Ok, so I admit it. I'm obsessed.

Finding Deer Tick, well, it was a spiritual awakening of sorts. Now, I'm not comparing them to God. Far from it. But discovering their music did wake something inside me.  It was if I had found the missing piece of the puzzle to complete the 10,000 piece "Rhiannon" I had been trying to complete over 25 years.

I had just resubscribed to Rolling Stone after a long and messy break-up (if you have read my other posts, you know all about this). Towards the back of the issue was the "review" section. In it was a review of Deer Tick's album War Elephant. Intrigued by what I read, I went on iTunes and downloaded the album. To say I was instantly obsessed with them, however, is untrue. I mean, I liked them right off the bat. I liked them a lot, in fact, but no more than I did any other band at that time.

Throughout the following weeks, the more I listened to the CD, the more it grew on me...and not just one or two songs, but EVERY song. And then...they came to town.

Grant and I were scheduled to leave on vacation to Savannah bright and early the following morning, but somehow, I talked him into taking me to see the band at The Basement, a fantabulous seedy little basement bar in the back of Grimey's on 8th Ave in Nashville (www.thebasementnashville.com/).



The opening bands were Justin and the Cosmics (always puts on a good show) and Dawes. I had never heard of Dawes before, but when John McCauley of Deer Tick came out and sang "When My Time Comes" with them, I knew I was walking away a fan or more than one band that night.







Then came the main event...Deer Tick came out and it was like I had been living in a dark hole my whole life and had suddenly been exposed to all the bright colors of the world.  It was like the best possible acid trip and I was hooked and wanted more. And more I got. The band literally rocked the house on into the wee hours of the morning and mind you, we were leaving for Savannah at 6 am...



From that moment on, I was hooked. And I am just as in love with them today as I was 3 years ago! My friends and family will tell you that I drive them crazy with it. But I really don't care...it's a part of me! Their lyrics speak to me and John McCauley's "gravel and moonshine" voice is beyond unique (although I have to admit that I am slightly creeped out by the fact that he looks identical to my father in his 20's). 



The band is currently working on a new album (which I believe they are recording right here in Nashville) and I am awaiting it's release with great anticipation! If it is anything like its predecessors, War Elephant, Born on Flag Day and The Black Dirt Sessions, it will be nothing short of amazing.

McCauley is also currently fronting a side project band called Middle Brother along with Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit and the infamous Jonny Corndawg. That band has captured my heart as well. I pretty much think anything these guys do is genius.

So I hope this explains a little bit as to why I am such a Deer Tick freak and will continue to be until the day I die...