For the latest edition of our Twang Series, we pay tribute to the great JJ Cale. The mix features covers of Cale-penned tunes by Eric Clapton, Leon Russell and Waylon Jennings among others. Who should we feature next in our Twang Series? Let us know in the comments after the jump.
(more…)
Chris Ziegler from LA Record just did a mixtape for his site that we had to post because he included a Delaney and Bonnie track in our honor! Here’s Chris in his own words: “Long Beach has a legendary soul/funk night called GOOD FOOT at a club called Que Sera that Dennis Owens has been doing for coming up on twelve years now. I got to DJ their tenth anniversary for a few meaningful minutes and Dennis asked me back to DJ this Friday. Since I do a night of psych/funk/soul/punk/outlaw/etc… in Eagle Rock with DJ Short Shorts called BIG FREAK, I decided to combine a little of everything for… BIG FOOT! So here are some classics, some crazies and some Delaney and Bonnie specifically for When You Awake.” Thanks Chris! Check out his mix after the jump.
(more…)
Justin Gage, the man behind Aquarium Drunkard and Autumn Tone Records, has made a mixtape for us! I am very pleased to present Midnight Radio: “Twelve tracks inspired by driving through the New Mexico desert after midnight on a surreal, starless night. Clocking in at just over thirty minutes the following tracks, mostly vinyl rips, should complement any weird, late-night dance party, séance, etc… Very hoodoo.” Needless to say (this is Justin we are talking about after all), it’s an incredible mix that features tunes by John D. Loundermilk, Screaming Lord Sutch, Elder Charles D. Beck and many more. In addition to Aquarium Drunkard and Autumn Tone, Gage also hosts a weekly, two hour radio show on Fridays on SIRIUS/XM satellite radio’s XMU (channel 26), and XM radio (channel 43). Noon-2pm EST. I highly recommend tuning in to his show and making Aquarium Drunkard a daily read. Check out the mixtape and details on his SXSW parties after the jump.
I was really swamped around Valentine’s Day and though I tried my best to put together When You Awake’s annual Music For the Morning After mixtape, I just didn’t come up with anything good enough to post. So I thought I’d get away with not doing one this year, but the uproar in my inbox has proven otherwise. So without further ado (hey, a week late is better than never, right?), I would like to present When You Awake’s Music For the Morning After: Volume Three. The theme is inspired by my favorite part of Valentine’s Day. It’s not the flowers, boxes of chocolates or candlelight dinners that gets me. It’s waking up in your lover’s arms the morning after and just feeling happy and content to be there with them (without any of the pressure of V-DAY looming overhead). If you missed the previous mixes, be sure to check out Music For The Morning After Volumes One and Two.
(more…)
Israel Marco from the Barcelona, Spain band Cuchillo has given us his “Top 10 Songs From Here and There.” The mix features tunes by Uruguayan singer/songwriter Eduardo Mateo, Moroccan violinist Adessadek Chekara and German band Popol Vuh among others. Marco is currently in Los Angeles where he’s mixing the follow-up to Cuchillo’s critically acclaimed 2008 self-titled debut record. Among other honors, it was chosen as one of the Best Albums of the Decade by premiere Spanish music mag Rockdelux. The new EP is set to be released this spring in Spain via Limbo Starr and boasts two songs on Side A and a 15-minute improvisation on Side B. Check out a video of Cuchillo performing their song “It Will Be Ok” as well as Marco’s mixtape after the jump.
Eric D. Johnson, lead singer of the Fruit Bats, has given us his “Top 10 Gentle Songs of Devotion and/or Heartsickness.” The mix is inspired by that little ol’ holiday known as Valentine’s Day and features tunes by Van Morrison, Big Star and the Gosdin Brothers among others. Just pick your Valentine some wildflowers, make dinner from scratch, put on this mix and you are good to go for an evening of eternal love and a guaranteed “makeout sesh.” Consider it Eric’s and my Valentine’s gift to you. And don’t forget! Eric will be playing at When You Awake’s Two Year Anniversary Show on February 26th at the Bootleg Theater. Pick up your tix now!
British singer Findlay Brown has given us his “Top 10 Songs For Driving Nowhere.” The mix features Swedish psych rock by Pugh Rogefeldt, Peruvian tropical boogaloo by Charlie Palomares and a track from the pseudo-Japanese concept album by French production duo Jean Kluger and Daniel Vangarde (aka Yamasuki) among others. Brown will be performing tonight at the Henry Fonda Theater with Nouvelle Vague and headlining tomorrow at the Echo with Pizza!, Superhumanoids and the Cobra Lillies. He is touring in support of his latest release, Love Will Find You (out now via Verve Forecast). Check out the video for the title track to the record and his mixtape after the jump.
When Eric Steuer of the hip hop/electronic duo Meanest Man Contest approached me about doing a mixtape, I was completely intrigued. Needless to say, we don’t get too many requests from hip hop groups wanting to share their love of country music. Add to that that he’s the Creative Director of Creative Commons, an organization devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share, and a writer for Wired Magazine, and I was ready to see what this man had to say. Of course, what Eric came up with was one of the most creative, unique and brilliant mixtapes that we’ve had thus far on When You Awake. Without futhur ado, I’d like to present Eric Steuer’s Other Countries Mixtape, which features foreign language covers of country classics like “Stand By Your Man”, “A Boy Named Sue”, “Harper Valley PTA” and many more. Check out the mix and Meanest Man Contest’s latest video after the jump.
Lexington, Kentucky and Washington, DC- based band These United States have given us their “Top 10 Songs Worth Fighting (Bandmates) For (in the Van)”. The mix features tunes by Bob Dylan, David Crosby, Gillian Welch and Son Volt among others. You can catch them at SXSW this March were they will be performing in support of their third full length release Everything Touches Everything (out now via United Interests). Check out their mixtape and a video of them performing “What Do You Want With My Heart” after the jump.
Los Angeles, California (via North Carolina) band Hi Ho Silver Oh has given us a Guide to their favorite North Carolina and Virginia-based bands including The Great White Jenkins, Des Ark and Phil Cook (best known as 1/3 of Megafaun) among others. You can catch Hi Ho Silver Oh, who just released their debut full length record Put It All In One Place and Burn It, tonight at L’Keg in Echo Park where they will playing alongside White Arrows and Superhumanoids. Check out their mixtape and additional LA-area gig dates after the jump.
