Los Angeles’ own Morgan Nagler, aka the frontwoman for The Whispertown 2000 and a solo artist who performs under the name Whispertown (Morgan Meyn), has given us a mixtape! The mix features Morgan’s “Top 10 Songs That Make You Feel Like You’re Driving” and includes tunes by Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams and Benji Hughes among others. And did I mention that she was also the first signing to Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch’s label Acony? Not a bad pair to have in your corner. Morgan is playing tomorrow night, Tuesday, June 1st at the Bootleg Theater alongside Swedish sisters First Aid Kit and Oklahoma’s Samantha Crain. Ticket are $15 in advance (buy them here) and the show is highly, highly recommended! She’ll also be singing a couple of tunes at our Beach Boys Tribute on June 19th at HM-157. Check out her mixtape and a Whispertown 2000 track after the jump.

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Dennis Hopper passed away on Saturday at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer. He was an intensely creative spirit who found outlets as an actor, filmmaker, photographer, painter and poet. I was trying to think up the proper way to pay tribute to ol’ Hopper when I found these two videos of him performing on the Johnny Cash Show in 1970. The first video features Hopper and Johnny Cash singing Kris Kristofferson’s “Pilgrim Chapter 33.” In the second video, Hopper recites the poem “If.”  Enjoy the clips and RIP Hopper.

Johnny Cash & Dennis Hopper- Pilgrim Chapter 33

Dennis Hopper- If

Stornoway – ‘Zorbing’

Here’s the Oxford, UK band Stornoway with the tune “Zorbing” from their just released debut album Beachcomber’s Windowsill (out now via 4AD).  I wasn’t quite sure what to think when the song started, but when the surprising background vocals came in at the :34 second mark, I was sold. Add to that some masterful trumpeting and this is definitely a band worth keeping an eye on.

Vinyl Picks: a weekly column were we recommend three vinyl records that any When You Awake reader should own. This week, we are focusing on Beatles-related LPs. First up, we have George Harrison’s 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass. This one may seem like a no brainer, but I was recently chatting with a friend who’s a huge Beatles fan, but had yet to hear Harrison’s solo masterpiece.  The auction, which includes the vinyl and original poster (if you buy this album anywhere, make sure it has the poster!) is set to end on May 29th and currently has zero bids at $9.99. Click here to check it out.
MP3: George Harrison- Awaiting On You All

Next up, we have Badfinger’s 1970 record No Dice. It was released on the Beatles’ label Apple Records and includes their hits “No Matter What”, “Believe Me”, and “Without You”, which Paul McCartney once described as “…the killer song of all time.”  They have the Buy It Now option set up (no bidding required) for $9.99. Click here to check it out.
MP3: Badfinger- Without You

Lastly, we have, Ram, Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 record. It’s the only record credited to the pair and recently received a redo by a number of Los Angeles bands for Aquarium Drunkards’s Ram On LA (click here to listen to the tribute record). If bands like The Parson Red Heads, Broken West and Bodies of Water covered the tunes, you know the original thing has got to be good.  The auction is set to end on May 30th and currently has zero bids at $0.99. Click here to check it out.
MP3: Paul and Linda McCartney- Eat At Home

Bruce Springsteen – I’m on Fire

Bruce Springsteen singing his tune “I’m On Fire” live in Paris in 1985. I made a Bruce Springsteen Goes Twang mixtape back in December that included covers of “I’m On Fire” by AA Bondy and Shakey Graves. Since then, I’ve found a couple of new versions by Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. Check ‘em out below!

MP3: Waylon Jennings- I’m On Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover)
MP3: Johnny Cash- I’m On Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover)

Steve McQueen and a trout in 1972.

Things Can Get Out Of Hand is Those Darlins’ brand new 13 minute documentary. The flick, which was filmed at this year’s SXSW down in Austin, Texas, features interviews with the band, behind the scene antics and live footage from their SXSW shows. You can watch it in its entirety below. The band, which recently had to cancel a string of Australian tour dates after Nikki Darlin broke both of the bones in her left forearm (click here to donate to help pay her medical bills), is currently gearing up for a US tour starting mid-June. You can check out their complete tour dates after the jump.

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Frank Fairfield at the Old Time Social

Concert Goer at Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Festival

Style roundup from the Old Time Social on Friday, May 14th and the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest on Sunday, May 16th. All photos by Daiana Feuer.
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Lefty Frizzell- I Love You A Thousand Ways/ I Want To Be With You Always

Lefty Frizzell performing his tunes “I Love You A Thousand Ways” and “I Want To Be With You Always” on the Mike Douglas show.