Right here by my side

Dear friends,

1. Song dedication, part one


My friend Marta aka Marts is, to use her own words, a funny kid. She's perpetually amused by the antics of her friends. A chortler by nature; punching you lightly on the arm, rubbing the punch spot and saying "Aaaaw." She's also one of those people that gets lost in listening to others; she squints her eyes and nods slowly in time to some secret music she hears in what you're saying. This makes sense. She's a fine musician and part of her gifts is her ability to get lost in things but still follow. Yesterday was her birthday and while I know she didn't want no parade, I thought I'd throw out this song dedication to her since it is, in Marts-speak, "so EMO."

but first...

2. Song dedication, part two

Photo courtesy of Cracker-CAM

Justin of Crackers United fame and his lovely paramour Dana are taking off from NYC and retiring to the country. Okay, not really. Philadelphia. I hear there are trees there. The Monkey and I had almost arrived at their going-away party (we were at 6th Avenue and 14th to be exact) when my simian hit a wall and told me he needed to go home. I am sad I missed the chance to party with the Crackers crew but what can you do? I shrugged, gave the xylophone player in the subway a dollar and escorted my fellow back on the train. In dedication (and apologies) this song also goes out to another fabulous team D/J. Something to dance to perhaps? Eh no. Neo-shoegaze? Wrong again! Redhouse Painters covering Genesis, of course! Come on, what could be better than a sappy tale of l-u-v this rainy day?

So yeah, for Marts, Happy Birthday +1! and for Dana and Justin, Happy Moving! You are all lovely people.

Follow You, Follow Me/Red House Painters (mp3)

Mark Kozelek has a voice that is as plain as a brown paper bag but given the right setting, it works. The song's repetitiveness creates this lethargic, contented mood and when the muted caterwaul guitar enters the picture at the end, it doesn't seem out of place at all.

Buy Shanti Project Collection/Various Artists (Feat. Low, Redhouse Painters, Hayden).

Love, D

PS Justin and Marts, if either of you read this, you need to see this movie.