If the name Chandler Travis means anything to you, it means a combination of dazzling musicianship and fearless merry-making – in his many incarnations, the man has developed a fiercely loyal cult following… and with good reason. Sage-like and impish at the same time, he explores the terrains of love and life’s absurdities with rowdiness, tenderness and a sardonic faith in humanity that never wavers. Plus he makes a habit of wandering around in the audience, mid-song, which creates an aura that’s hard to describe: we’re witnesses and co-conspirators in something that feels magical.
Last Saturday, he brought his Chandler Travis Three-O traveling road show to Troy for an afternoon stop at the River Street Beat Shop followed by an evening performance at the Ale House.
Our dear friends Belinda and January Fairy at Bubbles in the Think Thank recently launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to raise funds so that they can release “The Petite 7 Inch Record“, a compilation to be released in time for Record Store Day 2012 which will feature tracks from Ray Mason, David Greenberger, Paulette, and [...]
The Catbirds: Chandler Travis, Rikki Bates, Steve Wood and Dinty Child
Review by Fred Rudofsky Photograph by Joseph Deuel
“Welcome to Rich and Denise’s Christmas party!” exclaimed Chandler Travis as he adjusted the microphone, strapped on his bass and smiled at his friends in the audience. It was time for the Catbirds to [...]
Chandler on Mountain Stage – photo by Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
The Three-O’s recent performance on the Mountain Stage Radio Show is now available on the NPR site. This is the full set from the performance, which includes one song not included in the Mountain Stage radio broadcast.
“Christmas Day” -so far, C.T. w. John Clark on bass and Rikki Bates on drums, recorded at Trout Towers by Chris Blood
This one got written last week -wrote the lyrics, such as they are, while driving up for a Cavalcade rehearsal in Boston the night before the Johnny D’s show, and debuted it at [...]
Well, first of all, merry Christmas n happy holidays n’ all… I perhaps should mention right at the top that this year’s mix is relatively silly even by my standards… also relatively filthy, as it features a couple of songs (which I’ve thoughtfully placed at the very end, to make them easy to avoid) that [...]
01 - Johnny 'Bowtie' Barstow - The First Noel - I’d have to say that Johnny “Bowtie” Barstow is the biggest new discovery on here, and you’ll know way before the first chorus ends on opener, “The First Noel”, that you’re listening to a special, special talent, one we’ll be hearing a lot from on future Christmas CDs, so gird your loins! This remakable singer was discovered by Norah Jones’s keyboardist Larry Goldings, and brought firmly to my attention by my keyboardist in the CTP, Spiff Cleanser (aka Cliff Spencer). You’ve got to have good scouts…[ 2:56 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (9)
02 - Billy Childish and the Musicians of the British Empire - Comanche (Link Wray's Christmas) - I have no idea who Billy Childish is, but this one, like, totally rocks, man![ 1:38 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
04 - Lisa Mychels and the Wondermints - X-Mass = Time - Probably the same Wondermints who sometimes backs up Brian Wilson nowadays. Kinda fun…[ 4:21 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
05 - Casey MacGill's Blue 4 Trio - Eggnog - I have no idea who Casey McGill’s Blue 4 Trio is, but I love when they all play that line together on the break… if you like this, you might dig Slim Gaillard… actually, you’d have to be dead or insane to not dig Slim Gaillard.[ 4:10 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6)
06 - Zoe Lewis - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Zoe Lewis is one of the universe’s (particularly the Provincetown part of it) most charming and delightful singer / person(s). This is just a quick demo she cut at home for one of the Cavalcade shows, but totally displays how effortlessly wonderful she always is. Reasonably good song, too, I’d have to say. There’s also a great version of this by Ella Fitzgerald, who Zoe occasionally reminds me of (and yes, no doubt about it, that’s a compliment.)[ 3:50 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (15)
07 - DJ Riko - The 12 Days of Mixmas - 12 Days Of Christmas has always been a really hyper song; this version expands that shortcoming into a full-fledged disaster.[ 3:03 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)
08 - DJ Riko and Tupelo G – Thank You (Santa) - I don’t know DJ Riko, but The Valet gave me a bunch of his Christmas mixes, and he always picks some good stuff, plus the rare cut he actually produces himself is usually a highlight. He should be googled: http://www.djriko.com/mixmases.htm[ 3:46 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
09 - Willie Nelson - Let Mankind Not Bogart Love - You gotta love ‘im! I’m pretty sure Stephen Colbert was in on this.[ 2:58 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (18)
10 - Bonzo Dog Band - Long John Hirsute - Hardly anything more Christmas than Viv n’ the Bonzo’s, our heroes from last year’s xmas mix.[ 0:21 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (14)
11 - Kermit Ruffins - A Saints' Christmas - Purty fun, tho it does go on a bit; still, sounds great, go Kermit![ 4:59 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4)
12 - South Park - Santa Claus Is On His Way - Hopefully about the right amount of Mr. Hanky[ 0:29 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10)
13 - The Smithereens - Christmas (I Remember) - New one on me by fellow Beach Boys homos, the Smithereens. Funny that the summer-y BBs should end up so associated w. xmas…[ 3:38 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2)
14 - The Wildebeests - Rudolph's Ruin - Nice Bo Diddley rip, great sound, whaddaya want?[ 2:19 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4)
15 - Johnny 'Bowtie' Barstow - Jingle Bells - He’s ba-ack! And I love that spirit, so confident![ 2:03 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5)
16 - The Christmas Jug Band - This Christmas Night - The Christmas Jug Band has a few albums of mostly original holiday songs, a lot of them featuring Dan Hicks, a lot of swell stuff, always use a cut or two, got one ear-marked for next year already. Hope I don’t repeat any (if you ever catch me doing that, please report it IMMEDIATELY)![ 3:42 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (14)
17 - Joe Walega and His Happy Hearts - Christmas Without Daddy - Paul Rapp and Ted Potrikus gave me a big bunch of great xmas stuff just a few weelks ago, including the 2 at the end and this, which I think is very powerful indeed. Step away - don’t get too close to the speaker on this one.[ 3:43 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8)
18 - ? - Let It Snow - My bride loves no band more than the Muffs, and this was pulled from a mix by their vocalist/songwriter, Kim Shattuck, who has done Christmas mixes annually for the last 5 or 6 years (tho I’m having trouble tracking the older ones down, unfortunately.) Don’t know who did this, unfortunately, but they’re smooth as can be, not quite what you’d expect a Muff to be propagating, but very swingin’[ 3:41 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (18)
19 - Arranged Marriage - Santa Just Crashed Into My House And He's Drunk As Fuck - Another from Paul and Ted’s Xmess; dirty title, but I haven’t managed to unearth any actual filth in the lyric, and the writing and arranging is actually pretty refined -wonder who these Arranged Marriage guys are?[ 3:22 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4)
20 - Merrie Amsterburg - Silent Night - OK, I LOVE this one. What a beautiful track / vibe / rolling rhythm / really smart arrangement by my good friend Merrie Amsterburg. She and her husband Peter have been Cavalcade regulars for years, and I just love ‘em… “Silent Night” is from a single Merrie put out last year; I got to sing on the other side, “We Three Kings”, with Dennis Brennan and Ry Cavanaugh, which was great fun. I’m a big Merrie fan, all her albums are great.[ 3:58 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (14)
21 - Mr Herman and Friends of the Casuals - Silent Night - I’m not sure what the hell’s going on here, but I suspect I would’t've run into this without PJ O’Connell, Cowboy Lawyer, and his frequent ‘Q cohort, Tom Ardolino. Tommy needs better luck, and we’re all rooting for him. PJ has a fabnew album out, “Join the Crowd”, that features great work from both Terry and Tom -you gotta hear “Inconsiderate”, for instance…[ 2:05 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (14)
22 - Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians - Medley - The Sleigh, Winter Wonderland (edit) - One of my favorite Christmas albums of all time is definitely Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians’ “The Night Before Christmas” -their insane Jingle Bells medley is an absolute crazy man soufle; this is modest by comparison, but still alternately nuts and real cozy.[ 3:17 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2)
23 - ? - Snowfall - Smooth, gorgeous. Embarrassed to say I’m not sure of the artist here, either (would love to know, and hope to track down this info soon, as soon as Richard and Buck return. Richard has my dream basement -tons of vinyl, odd toys, two vintage pinball machines, AND a kitchen… oh, jesus, kill me now…)[ 5:36 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (13)
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Pic of the Day
photographer unknown
Quote of the Day
The horn players howl, the rhythm section wobbles, and the boss pulls lions out of his hat…if you’re in favor of Vegas weddings, the Firesign Theatre, and the Bonzo Dog Band, you could have yourself a dada field day. — Jim Macnie, Providence Phoenix
