Newport Folk Fest - Live Webcast

In my search for songs to add to my own live acoustic repertoire, I've come to respect many singer/songwriters who happen to be of the folk genre. I've always loved Dylan, but I've since discovered the music that inspired him - from Woody Guthrie to the nameless troubadours whose songs live on, re-done by countless artists. There's few places to connect with folk roots like the Newport Folk Festival. I didn't act soon enough to get tickets, but I'm happy to learn that NPR will webcast most of the sets, including the Friday night triple bill, including Wilco, Blitzen Trapper and Megafaun.

I had whole-heartedly planned on being at Wilco's Saturday night performance in Cooperstown, N.Y., but that plan was nixed due to more wedding-related activities (wholy f**** shit). So I'll have to settle with a little couch tour.

Click here to watch it all go down as close as you can to actually being there.

Stony Creek Melody — Original

A choppy melody I recorded today on SoundCloud inspired by a recent trip to Stony Creek, N.Y. Mainly river, mountains, barns and cabins.

New Band of Horses

You may have heard Band of Horses' new one, "Knock Knock," on the radio recently. Here's a video to go along with it. It's a refreshing sound from Band of Horses. As always, there's some nice harmonizing, but the lyrics and driving beat are more in line with their more rocking tunes like Compliments, NW Apartment and Great Salt Lake. Loving the nature scenes (wish I knew where that trail was ... Idaho maybe?). Their new album, Mirage Rock, is due out Sept. 18.

A (Summer) Rundown

The blog is getting thirsty for new content, so here's a quick rundown of things I've been wanting to post but haven't gotten around to.

1. An inspiring illustrator, Jason Grube:

2. Nothing goes with a drive through the Adirondacks to my favorite trout stream better than some great "newgrass/jamgrass" music, like that of Minnesota's Trampled By Turtles. Lovin these guys.



Oh, and Old Crow Medicine Show has a new album coming out that you can stream here in its entirety.

3. I love the idea behind these iphone/iPod speakers that don't require electricity. Although, I say save your money and do what I do: Place your phone in a ceramic bowl you have in your cupboard. Your friends will be amazed ("dude ... that's freaking awesome") as the sound is amplified twofold.

4. I've been playing some music of my own and have a solo gig at a jazz bar every other Thursday. I also played a wild backyard bash this weekend (dubbed "Mustacio Bashio"). Ever tried riding someone else down a 25' inflatable water slide while drinking a beer? #thekidsarealright

5. Go Yanks. In first place yet again.

Other than that, I've been enjoying a great summer in the Northeast with my awesome and beautiful girlfriend Casey and our dog Abbey Road, barnstorming across the state, attending countless weddings and coming home broke but happy.

Here we are at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, NY. Gorgeous place if you ever get to visit.

Here's to hoping your summer is going as well as mine. Cheers to life, inspiration, music, PBR, freedom and the great outdoors. God Bless America. 

- J

Wilco + Cooperstown = Timeless

Looking forward to seeing Wilco at the Omegang Brewery in quaint & timeless Cooperstown on the 28th. I love the logo the band is currently using for its Facebook avatar.

Make It Rain

My thoughts and prayers go out to victims of Colorado wildfires. I don't know what I'd do if I had to watch my house burn or worse.

You can help by purchasing one of these T-shirts. Donate, dance, do anything to make it rain out there.

Happy Belated Father's Day, Dad

I remember going to work with my dad when I was four or five years old. Saratoga Springs was like Gotham City to me and he may as well have been Bruce Wayne, a reporter covering the police beat for the Daily Gazette newspaper. I recall the dusty smell of his office and stacks of old newspapers in every corner. Back then, manual typewriters were preferred over computers, and I can still hear the clink-clank-clack of keypresses and basket shifts.

He began his news reporting career in the late '70s, back when there were five people on staff for every section of the paper: A business desk, a crime desk, arts & entertainment, and, of course, a sports desk. Cigarette smoke filled newsrooms, phones rang off the hook and reporters hustled to make deadline before the early edition (back when there was an early edition). The way he describes it, it was like a scene out of the City Room.

More than 30 years later, in his late 60's, and he's still at it. One of the few reporters that city officials actually enjoy talking to. His objectivity and professionalism is often rewarded with breaking news directly from the mayor or chief of police.

It's becoming more and more rare to find reporters like him. The old-school reporters. The ones who write news like Dylan wrote prose. And, believe me, news can be poetic. I've asked him a few times why he doesn't write a daily or weekly column. Isn't that what older, experienced reporters do? Nah, he'd say. But I could have answered my own question. He'd rather keep his opinions out of it and let the facts do the talking; preferring a meaty front-page story over pushing some idealistic point of view.

I hope to one day get him to write a book. That is, if he ever retires. I know it would be great. He's met so many fascinating people and has so many interesting stories. That, along with his love of classic American literature and knowledge of nearly every great battle that's ever taken place, would make for one hell of a memoir.

Father's Day was last week, but I'm thankful for and proud of my dad everyday.

Check out his bio here:

http://www.dailygazette.com/staff/lee-coleman/