My Lover's Name is Music » Folk

I Dream of the Parlours

Amanda Davis — Tue, 24 May 2011 19:07:57 +0000

Last night I found the perfect excuse for watching a ridiculous amount of TV – the Parlours. My husband and I were watching the season finale of a show called The Chicago Code, which if you don’t watch you need to get on it, and then it happened. We heard the Parlours and they changed my life. Seriously, I mean I don’t even like Chicago that much and now I’m itching to go. You will know what I am referring to when you listen to their song “I Dream of Chicago.”

Such a sweet, enchanting and inspiring sound I could listen to all day. A little pop, a little folk, a little more indie – the perfect combination. And I love that they are so harmonious that they can sound like a duo one minute and then a band the next.

When you listen to them, life will be better. I promise you. They are playing with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in a couple months if that tells you anything. If they keep this up, they could climb the ranks in the Amanda-meter with the likes of The Weepies. It could happen. I can’t wait to hear them more.

I dream of Chicago. I dream about you. I dream I could go and say all the things that I never said to you.

Parlours

2011 Grammy’s were Redonkulous

Amanda Davis — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:23:23 +0000

Perhaps it was just me, but the Grammy’s were pretty darn awesome this year. Besides Taylor Swift not being there of course. Arcade Fire won album of the year?? Their performance was both weird and awesome at the same time. Best new artist was not Bieber, but Esperanza Spalding?? Where did this awesome gal even come from? These Grammy organizers really know what’s up. But BY FAR the best performance of the night was from Mumford & Sons and The Avett Brothers. I felt like I was seeing them at a local bar. Loved the stage set up. If you missed it, check it out…

2011 Grammy Performance: Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers

You Can Catch Me If You Try

Amanda Davis — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:08:23 +0000

Jamie Nichole

You can definitely tell from the first note that comes out of Jamie Nichole’s mouth that she was influenced by Jewel. Not necessarily a bad thing. It would be if she was forcing it, but I don’t think she is. I think she really just sounds a lot like her, probably due to years of playing and playing and playing again jewel cd’s. It happens. But I mean, who doesn’t love Jewel? I think her next cd will be the one to hear, and I really love Catch Me. Oh, and P.S. I found her through MojoStockIndy, which is an festival I went to last weekend where I also saw Midwest Hype whom I love. I also love that one of her influences is Patty Griffin who I’ve been meaning to talk about. Why did I only discover her a couple months ago? Where has she been all my life? She has probably influenced most of the female singers I love and for some reason I’ve never heard about her. If you haven’t heard her either you need to check her out because she is ridiculously talented.

Patty Griffin

Underneath this beating heart

Amanda Davis — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:56:54 +0000

Rosi Golan

I’ve written about Rosi Golan before, but she is so good I think she deserves another post. And another and another. You get my point. There is something very soothing and uplifting about Rosi’s music. This album of hers is one you can play no matter what type of music you might be in the mood for. When I saw her at Radio Radio back in July I fell in love. Not many people are that good live and she is hands down the best. Most of her songs are about love and all the impatient, tiring , confusing and hopeful emotions that come with it. If I may bravely say so, there have been so many acoustic folk chics coming out of the wood work these past couple years that it’s hard to really care to listen to anymore. But that is not the case with Rosi. Her very intimate debut album just came out and I’m dieing for the next one.

In about a week, Rosi will be at my house performing a house concert for me and my friends which is still too much to take in. I promise to take lots of video so look forward to more Rosi posts. In fact, here’s a video below with a new song of hers she recently performed in MD. It sounds like she’s got more good stuff on the way. Yay for talented people who are brave enough to share themselves with us!

New Song from Rosi Golan

Antebellum Queens

Amanda Davis — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:02:59 +0000

I was listening to Rosi Golan radio on Pandora a couple of days ago and I ran across a song by Rachael Davis and it floored me. If you’ve ever heard Alison Krauss and been left with goose bumps than get ready for Rachael Davis. She has an amazing voice and when she gets into her high range it is simply ridculous. Her songs have such a great folk blues flavor to them that make you feel all warm inside. And apparently she’s quite the songwriter. She uses many music instruments in her songs, but her voice is by far the best instrument she owns. Please listen to her!!

http://www.myspace.com/rachaeldavismusic

Unsigned Bands at Leeds Music Festival

Amanda Davis — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:17:46 +0000

So Leeds Music Festival is going on as we speak in the UK. I am so jealous. White Lies, a UK band I saw at Lollapalooza who rocked it, along with a bunch of other well known and unsigned bands are going to be playing there this weekend. I haven’t gotten to listen too much to the bands playing at Leeds since I just found out about this maybe an hour ago, but what I’ve heard so far I like. Take a listen!

Leeds Music Festival

Bear Hands

Airship

Milk White White Teeth

Kinch

Enjoy the afternoon! If you want to go to a music festival in Indy this Saturday full of unsigned and local artists check out Knollfest. And thank you to http://www.theunsignedguide.com/ for introducing me to these bands!

Chicks Rock!

Amanda Davis — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:24:34 +0000

I’m sure if you like to watch independent films, tv dramas or romantic comedies you have heard of Ingrid Michaelson, Imogean Heap and/or Colbie Caillat. Well, all three of them have new albums coming out next week on August 24th/25th. Ingrid Michaelson has been releasing a new song everyday on all of her websites up until the release next week of Everybody. So you should check it out. Very good stuff. Very very. Imogen Heap, as always, puts out music you won’t hear anywhere else. And Colbie Caillat fulfills my pop needs with her pretty little voice and catchy tunes.

If you like these artists, I have suggestions for you…

Meiko - Meiko is very real and cute and romantic. She looked very innocent, upon first glance but not so much. She doesn’t mind cussing to get her point across more fervently and her songs are about life situations, funny or not. Although, when she cusses she does so very sweetly.

Lenka- Her branding scheme looks like a little kid’s attempt at “artwork” and it works for her because her music is a little like that. It is very naive, but imaginative and funny and I love it. Very Regina-Spektor sounding.

Ashley Brooke Toussant- I met someone at Lollapalooza who told me about Ashley and I was surprisingly impressed. Her music is very relaxing and umm french. Even though she’s not. Or so she says.

April Smith and The Great Picture Show - April opened up Lollapalooza this year. If you like the circus April is your gal. Very vampy and gives off a warm vintage feel.

Sia - She might have a crazy life, as shown through her lyrics, but I love her. Her smoky voice combined with a wide variety of moods and vocal stylings she expresses in, Some People Have Real Problems, make life that much tolerable.

Good Winter

Amanda Davis — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:36:47 +0000

A mean hacker deleted my site last week so I am back with a new look! No one can stop Mr. Domino (Playstation reference)! Anyways, you may see some minor site changes within the next couple days, but I hope this will be the last of changes for a while. Soooo back to Lollapalozza bands. Today, we salute Bon Iver. It was funny observing the crowd for Bon Iver versus the other bands at Lollapalooza. Everyone just shut up and focused when they got on stage. People were getting pissed at others for obstructing their views with umbrellas and talking too loud. All the overly dramatic people were annoying, don’t get me wrong, but I found it amazing that everyone wanted to experience Bon Iver in peace and quiet. It was a nice break from all the rock bands we heard that day. The lead, Justin Vernon, has a nice high range and soft voice and the beautiful harmonies between him and his band members pull at your heart. He gives emotion in all the right places of every song and he makes me want to find the good in life. There was one point during his performance where everyone just starting singing along with him. It really is a beautiful thing hearing thousands of people join together at the same time for the same purpose: loving music. Please download his cd. Bon Iver deserves all the praise in the world. Much love to my good friend Aaron for introducing me to his music.

Bon Iver

http://www.boniver.org/

Bon Iver – For Emma (A Cappella)

Download on iTunes

Hard to Know

Amanda Davis — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:37:02 +0000

When I was a sophomore in college, my friend handed me Mindy Smith’s debut album One Moment More. Instantly, I fell in love with her soft voice, folk harmonies and spiritual lyrics. Her music has a way of getting to the heart of things and it really affected me emotionally. That is why I got really excited when I recently found out she has her fourth album coming out August 11th, Stupid Love. To be honest, her other 2 records didn’t grab me as much as her first. Still, she is definitely someone you want to hear and not just because of the pretty sounds she makes, but because her music can change how you live your life. If you truly embrace it.

http://www.mindysmith.net/

“Hard to Know”

Well, you should’ve heard the way
I’ve been talking to myself
Treating her like common trash
On the side of the road

And you should’ve seen the ride
I was taking straight to hell
Handing my soul
To the likes of the devil

Sometimes it’s hard to know
That you need to be saved
‘Til you hit the bottom
And rattle that cage
Sometimes you just gotta keep
Digging awy
Until you break through
To the light of day

I really didn’t care
‘Cause I was trying to hurt myself
A sticky situation
I’m still trying to work it out

And I didn’t want to know
That I was the one to blame
Pointing my finger
Tryin’ to push all the blame away

Sometimes it’s hard to know
That you need to be saved
‘Til you hit the bottom
And rattle that cage
Sometimes you just gotta keep
Digging awy
Until you break through
To the light of day

I don’t wanna die this way
I don’t wanna die this way
I don’t wanna die this way
I know Jesus is alive
And He’s saving me everyday
It just took a little while
To figure out I had to pray

Sometimes it’s hard to know
That you need to be saved
‘Til you hit the bottom
And rattle that cage
Sometimes you just gotta keep
Praying away
Until you break through
To the light of day
The light of day
The light of day

I Don’t Wanna Wait

Amanda Davis — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:24:18 +0000

A couple months ago I was searching the online music directory from the tv show One Tree Hill.

http://www.cwtv.com/music/one-tree-hill

I know, a little juvenile, but that show has amazing music. Anyways, I found what I now claim is the most mythical music I have ever heard . Her name is Rosi Golan, born in Israel, and her voice and music can put you into a dream-like state. I listen to a lot of music that sounds the same, but Rosi has a unique sound and style with words that are so simple and real. If you have the honor of seeing her live, she will leave you mesmerized. Listen to her ENTIRE cd and I promise you you will get a much more than $10 in return. My personal favorites are:

> The Drifter & The Gypsy

> Come Around

> Think of Me

> Hazy with William Fitzsimmons

> Been a Long Day

Ok, I think that’s enough favorites.

http://www.rosigolan.com