Absolutely Nothing - Next 22 Miles

I'm goin out on the highway
listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin out on the highway
listen to them big trucks whine
White freightliner
won't you steal away my mind
Ah, New Mexico ain't bad, Lord
and the people there they treat you kind
and the people there they treat you kind
Well, it's bad news from Houston
half my friends are dying
Well, it's bad news from Houston
half my friends are dying
Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble
till I get back to where I came
Ah, Lord, I'm gonna ramble
till I get back to where I came
I'm goin out on the highway
listen to them big trucks whine
I'm goin out on the highway
listen to them big trucks whine

Townes Van Zandt White Freight Liner Blues

Tall Tall Trees - Debut Album

The last time I was in the US, I had the chance to take a few clawhammer banjo lessons with Mike Savino. I took banjo lessons in his flat in the Morningside Heights / Harlem area and in Central Park. It was good fun. You know, I've been listening to that song, "Cindy" for almost 5 years.... and I've eventually learned to play it on the banjo. I remember when I was living in the industrial north-east of France and in the UK, I used to play that song on the guitar. It's an old trad song played by everyone from Nick Cave to Ricky Skaggs.

Anyway, Mike and his crew have a new album out. I'm not sure how to describe it, but I sure enjoy listening to it. It has 12 songs, mostly played on the banjo but it's not old-time or country music - it's rather a kind of mix of trendy mellow indie song with a country twist. Not sure this means anythin, but you can check him out on his myspace and his website.

Georgia O'Keeffe at the Whitney

I went to the Whitney Museum of American Art this wednesday. It's my third time there. I've always been a little bit disappointed about this museum. It actually is the place where you expect to see a lot of paintings of E. Hopper, J. Johns, ou T. Hart Benton and you don't see much of them.

Anyway, the current exhibition : Georgia O'Keeffe : Abstraction is amazingly interesting. You don't get the chance to see many of her paintings in Europe, so it was a real treat to discover her art here. I did not know that many of her male couterparts (including Hopper) had been so hard on her, accusing her of mainly painting "pretty" things. I did not know either that she was mostly famous for the erotic pictures her partner (a NY galerist way older than she was) took of her.

The good point about this exhibition, is that it was focused on a unique trend in O'Keeffe's painting : abstraction. From her earlt work to her last well-known pictures she's always been interested in abstraction. This exhibition is really worth going.

Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
New York, NY 10021

The Ukulele

Two days ago, I was walking on Amsterdam avenue between 107th and 108th and I saw a uke and a small guitar in the trash bin. I looked at them and saw (thought ?) that I could do sometinhg with the uke. The next day, I went to Sam Ash Music Store on 48th and bought some strings (light gauge) and a fancy uke plectrum. Las.... That shit does not work. Too bad. This could have been trendy : I mean playing a ukulele found in the bin is hip, right ?

The Felice Brothers

I am in New York since a couple of days. I never thought I would write again on this blog, but J. just flew upstate, so I have a couple of hours to spend alone.

About 6 months ago, I met an Irish girl who gave me good tips about music. I always thought : "If i'll write in this blog again, I'll have to post about the Felice Brothers". These men are from the Catskills Moutains and - as the name say - they are brothers.

They play acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, accordion....

I guess you could say it's just another "americana-weird folk" band, and I guess that is just right. Howewer, I enjoy their music. I think they may have 3 records out. I have the 2nd one (The Felice Brothers) and the 3rd one (Yonder Is The Clock). I guess you can pay attention to these guys.

The Felice Brothers : Myspace

The Girl On The Top Of The Building

F. Will be here in fifteen minutes. I am listening to Metric (thanks to Mr Tigermilk) and playing my brand new open back banjo (thanks to you know who). 

We are playing a show tonight at Le Kibele, 12 rue de l'échiquier, Paris. I'll start around 9h30. I'll sing a bunch of songs and then Fred will play on. 

It should be nice, I am in a good mood. I'll sing songs about rooftops, women, whiskey, New York and Ireland. It's gonna be nice. 

Le Kibele 

12 rue de l'échiquier 

75010 Paris

9.30 - 7 €

The Shangri-Las

I know this post is a last minute thing. Howewer, if you are in Paris this thursday, Orouni will play a show at l'OPA Bastille. Never been there myself, but it should be a small venue in the south-east of Paris, next to the Bastille métro station. 

Mr C will play the drums, Mr M will play the electric guitar, Mr Woo will play the keyboards, Miss E will sing, Mr O will sing and play the guitar and I'll play the 5-string bass... 

It should be fun 

Orouni + Captain Kid + You and You 

L'OPA Bastille 

9, rue Biscornet

75012 Paris 

France 

20 pm - Free