Appendix E-J

To me, there is not much better than when a musician’s voice is as good an instrument as the one they happen to be playing. You’d think this would come naturally, but it very often does not (names could be mentioned…but I don’t want to start any scuffles). Names that do fit the “voice is as good an instrument as any” category are Ryan O’Neal (Sleeping At Last), Matthew Perryman Jones, Nathaniel Rateliff (Born In The Flood), Karen Peris (The Innocence Mission), and Glen Hansard (The Frames). There are more, but I need to get to making my point.

Two whose voices are smooth like a nice glass of whiskey and warm my innards just the same are Aaron Espe and Gregory Alan Isakov. And looky here, they’re both playing at Everyday Joe’s on Saturday night:

I have been fairly giddy concerning this show for several months, as have you I am sure. To increase that excitement exponentially, our friends over at The Mountain Tempo have posted a new song by Mr. Isakov over on their fine, fine blog. To hear it, click on his lovely South African face below.

Further:

• The Mountain Tempo
• Aaron Espe on Myspace
• Gregory Alan Isakov on Myspace

Popularity: 68% [?]

There are things happening out there in that Nashville area of the country. They include but are not limited to:

• An alright housing market
• The old guard at the Opry being upset because “the performers these days go on stage wearing clothes that should be worn to mow the lawn.”
• The Extended Everyday Joe’s Family

A member of that extended family, Mr. Matthew Perryman Jones, has a new album coming out in August. He has been nice enough to put the entire album up for you to stream from the internets to your ears and heart. You’ll have to register for the site, but I have given it a listen and the registration was worth it.

Listen to Swallow The Sea, in its entirety, here.

Further:

• Matthew Perryman Jones Myspace
• Ten Out of Tenn Tour Myspace

Popularity: 23% [?]

Holy cow holy cow holy cow.

For some time now, I’ve heard whisperings and rumblings about a musician in Nashville who wanted to start a music-sharing service based on the idea of relationships and community. Art and community and relationships colliding…yes please.

Ladies and gentleman, please welcome to the information cloud: NoiseTrade.Com (celebratory trumpets).

“What happens when the generous, forward-thinking artist meets the generous, forward-thinking fan? They live happily ever after.”

Those are the words of NoiseTrade’s co-founder and Nashville musician, Derek Webb. In September of 2006, Webb decided to give away his album “Mockingbird.” As a result, he watched his fan base grow exponentially (were you watching, Radiohead?). This then birthed an idea in his mind, and that idea grew into the beautiful child that is NoiseTrade- where you download entire albums(!) and as a trade you either spread the word to 3 friends or pay a minimum of $1. That sounds alright by me.

So far, the choices are limited to a small handful of Webb’s musical friends (his musical friends, however are quite talented). But give the site a break. As of when this is being written, NoiseTrade is just about 35 hours old. When you were 35 hours old you were sleeping 18 hours a day. Artists up for download include several Everyday Joe’s alum (Matthew Perryman Jones, Katie Herzig, Sandra McCracken) and several others who we wouldn’t mind being Everyday Joe’s alum.

If you want to know even more about where NoiseTrade came from and how you can get your music on there, you can download the info sheet here. If you want to get to downloading so you have the proper amount of time to tweek that Fourth Of July BBQ Playlist, click on the banner below.

Further:

• NoiseTrade official site
• Derek Webb official site
• Grilling Tips

Popularity: 34% [?]