SOUNDTRACK: GREGORY PORTER-Tiny Desk Concert #550 (July 18, 2016).
Gregory Porter is a soul singer. For this Tiny Desk Concert, it’s just his voice and a piano played by Chip Crawford. It’s odd that in the middle of July he’s wearing a suit and what looks like a balaclava, but whatever.
The first song, “No Love Dying” is a slow piece and Porter doesn’t really get to show off his power too much. But his voice sounds great. When it’s over he says he likes to think of that song in times of trouble, and we are welcome to take it into our houses in time of trouble as well.
“Take Me To The Alley” is about the backstreets and forgotten places and how we treat the people who are in those alleys. This is also a slow, pretty song.
The final song is a warning, and we’ll know what’ its about when we hear the lyric: “Don’t Be a Fool” that’s all you need to know. It, too, is a mellow piece, full of love and offering advice to not be a fool.
I didn’t know Porter before this, and I was pleasantly surprised by his songs.
[READ: November 18, 2016] The Tiny Wife
Back in 2014, I ordered all 16 books from Madras Press. Unfortunately, after publishing the 16 books they seem to have gone out of business (actually they are switching to non-fiction, it seems). They still have a web presence where you can buy remaining copies of books. But what a great business idea this is/was
Madras Press publishes limited-edition short stories and novella-length booklets and distributes the proceeds to a growing list of non-profit organizations chosen by our authors. The format of our books provides readers with the opportunity to experience stories on their own, with no advertisements or miscellaneous stuff surrounding them.
The format is a 5″ x 5″ square books that easily fit into a pocket.
Proceeds from Kaufman’s book go to Sketch— Working Arts for Street Involved and Homeless Youth.
This has been my favorite story from Madras Press so far. It was suitably weird but it followed its own internal logic and was really funny/intense at the same time. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 