Sad to say that Frank, your favorite podcasting primate, is missing from our ceremony yet again. This has resulted in embarrassing monkey impersonations and much recrimination against Phoebe, who again forgot to bring him when we recorded this episode. Somehow in spite of this adversity, we managed to come up with yet another damn good playlist and podcast for you. A few returning artists, a bunch of new and obscure artists (though maybe fewer great videos this month?). It’s what we do for you.
Show notes from our September 2024 Spotify Podcast:
We started with Phoebe’s ten submissions and Al’s ten submissions, but our finished, 11-song playlist is put in an order that we think makes sense musically. Which is not same same order that we pick the songs during the picking ceremony heard during our podcast.
Song notes (Quotes are from song lyrics):
- “Say, I’ll stay awakening, say you’re coming clean, say it won’t keep hell again, take the numbers in again, that’s not the way that’s supposed to be going”
We love Juston Vernon’s vocals, but it’s Rob Moose’s strings that really drive this one. - “I’ll never get out, as soon as I do, I try to get back, I learned it from you”
Wye Oak’s “I Learned It From You” is sharp and strong and layered. We love it. - “The masquerade, strangers will come, when will they learn, this loneliness”
Cunning Folk likes referring to Cunning Folk in the third person. We like referring to Cunning Folk as spellbinding and awesome. - “Long way going to get my medicine, sky’s the autumn grey of a lonely wren”
Allison Krauss and Robert Plant’s version of Tom Waits’ “Trampled Rose” gives the song such a weird and mystical feel. - “And nothing hurts like crying on a long drive home, nothing’s worse than hiding in the dark alone, from the beautiful lights of a dangerous love”
We’re so happy to have Anna Tivel back for her second appearance. “Illinois” might be an even more lovely song than her previous “Astrovan”, and this is one video this month we really loved. - “Summertime sitting in your arms by the water, your hair in my mouth, asking the questions like who are you? Who am I? Are you the water? Am I the sky, slowly drifting?”
Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks bring us the light and delicate “Orange Peel”. - “So don’t be mad if I choose to spend my time down by the water, and I let my future flow out on and in her honor”
Jennifer Castle’s sweet “Blowing Kisses” is a great new Phoebe find. We love her bluesy voice and the piano in this one. - “Why would you think that you made me drink? I’m a drunk; reasons I don’t need, just like you”
Scout Niblett is a badass. We like her a lot. - “Pretty thing, I’ve got you, right where I used to be, we ride across this city, starting fires recklessly”
“Reckless Burning” might be our favorite song this month, and we hope we hear more from Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter. - “Honeybee, go and tell a starling to go and tell my darling to hurry home to me”
Take one of our favorite folk songwriters (Connie Converse), add one of our favorite bluesy singers (Cassandra Jenkins)… the result is this sweet version of “Honey Bee”. - “Golden boats float down a river of sighs, rain on the street is falling, tears my eyes”
Ed Askew’s “Moon in the Mind” is another great Phoebe find. We can’t believe we knew so little about him, and that he’s never been in our playlist before. Music like this speaks to the fact that there’s so much amazing music that exists under the radar. You gotta look for it!
Both our Spotify playlist and our podcast are updated and released around the first of each month. We’re recorded monthly in the warm and cozy hug of the OML Studios in lovely downtown Manchester, Richmond, Virginia.
Thanks to Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey for help in recording this month. Theme music is from “Red Eye” by E’s Jammy Jams, accordion music by Andrew Huang. Dino De Deus by Blue Dot Sessions. Lumber Down by Blue Dot Sessions. Trod Along by Blue Dot Sessions.
Featured image: Kill Devil Hills at dusk
If you have questions or suggestions, please drop us an email.
See you next month!
