dc.

Bengal Billy... we can start this debate if you want... but put on some Mumford & Sons or some Dawes and tell me they aren't doing some fantastic things. Writing all their own music. Playing it all themselves. Quality song writing without being cheesy or overly cliched. And both, at very young ages, have written not only solid albums, but albums that span from anthems to slower quality 'drawls' for lack of a better word.

I clicked on this thread for the first time in months... knowing that THAT is what Spen wrote. I'm just surprised that there wasn't a video embedded. I owe Ken $10.

Streets of Baltimore is a fav of mine. I asked the O's to play it at games this year because I think it could be a great inter-inning anthem. Especially when he says "she swore the prettiest place on earth was Baltimore at night!" Gram Parsons does a great version as well. And Adam Duritz of Counting Crows has a version in Baltimore (Powerplant?) on YouTube I think.

Speaking of can't figure it out / stop listening... I love Dylan and his music, but he does some just plain wacky performances. I mean, I don't know if this is how he likes it to sound (as it sounds this way frequently) or if he was just high as a kite... but the way everyone else performing was so into it... and Dylan is just 'blah' is fascinating. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHX-JBHRk-8

Craig is out there... but I love it. It's all unscripted, ad-lib... I think all of his puppets are hilarious... The pig, which was winning the puppet vote off, dropped out of the race in Mark Sanford (governor of Georgia style)... He's just a goofball. My kind of humor, my kind of funny guy. And I also like that he does "serious" very well. He often makes very thought-out speeches about the state of our country or world, etc, and it's never blaming anyone in particular... it's just like, here we are, dammit.

Funny enough... I actually saw this performance on Dave before watching Craig Ferguson... The weird dancing girl was mesmerizing ... I don't know what else to say ... And yeah, it made me laugh like crazy... I just don't get it... but I can't stop watching... Also... I express this frequently... but I really don't like Dave. I especially hate just how clearly fake his "you were great" moments are. "Wow. Outstanding. Wow. Great. Just Great. Wow. Remarkable. Mmm... Edward Sharpe..." Every damn night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoaTl7IcFs8 Michael Franti and Spearhead... Say Hey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_02xJnMXDnc

Rain King by Counting Crows... live version where they transition into Thunder Road by Springsteen... A - MAZ - ING

Brett Dennen www.brettdennen.net Yes, he's 29 and looks like a 13 year old girl... and occasionally sounds like one too... but his music is amazing. Saw him at the Recher this weekend. Stellar.

I'll say what I said last time... Amos Lee. Swweeeeeet.