SOUNDTRACK: CLEM SNIDE AND SCOT AVETT-Tiny Desk (Home) Concert #26 (May 23, 2020).
I’ve never given a thought to Clem Snide. Well, my thought is that he was a country guy that I didn’t want to listen to Turns out, Clem is not a guy but a band founded by Eef Barzelay, who had a solo Tiny Desk back in 2010.
I do know Scott Avett from The Avett Brothers (although I never really know which brother is which).
Barzelay and Avett not only maintained social distancing throughout their set, but also rigorously enforced it with the aid of a visible tape measure.
This is my favorite Tiny Desk Home concert so far since it is done in a barn–and the sound is great!
Recording a Tiny Desk concert at home naturally subtracts a lot of familiar elements…. But when Clem Snide (the three-decade-old project of singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay) and special guest Scott Avett (the Avett Brothers co-founder who produced and performs on Clem Snide’s latest album, Forever Just Beyond) performed together in Avett’s barn, they added a few new features you’ve never gotten to hear at the Tiny Desk — most notably a noisy flock of birds and the unmistakable cries of a nearby rooster.
We’ve had a few disruptive animals at the Tiny Desk over the years, from the occasional dog to Bob Boilen himself, but this had to be our first rooster.
Their voices blended warmly as they tackled three spiritually searching songs from the (great) new record, Forever Just Beyond.
For the “The Stuff of Us” they both play guitar. Eef’s is a full size while Scott’s is a smaller one (I can’t tell how many strings). Avett sings the rather impressive high notes.
After encouraging everyone to brew their own fermented ginger beer for the immune system.
He introduces “Jews for Jesus Blues” by saying “A doubtless faith is a dead faith.” The song from Clem Snide’s 2005 album End of Love, is a bouncy folk number. Avett plays banjo. The lyrics are interesting: “Now that I’m found, I wish I was lost” and “now that I’m saved, I wish I was dead.” When the song’s over, Eef says, “not too offensive.”
Before “Some Ghost” the roosters start crowing. Clem jokes, tell them chicken to shut the hell up. Avett plays a full sized guitar and even sings some lead vocals. Their harmonies are wonderful, too. As the song ends, the rooster crows: “chicken go it right that time.”
Clem picks up a different,smaller, guitar for “Roger Ebert,” a song based on Ebert’s actual dying words: “This is all an elaborate hoax.” Avett provides only percussion and vocals on this lovely song.
[READ: May 22, 2020] Five Years #8
Terry Moore seems like a very nice guy. He draws people in love so wonderfully. He draws adorable children and he specializes in a mischievous grin.
It’s easy to forget that he can be incredibly violent. Well, I don’t know about him personally, but his art sure can be.
This issue has two violent deaths in it. One is bloody, the other is not.
The one that is not is Stephanie. The woman who wrapped Katchoo up in the mystery. In several pages of wordless panels, Stephanie breaks into a secure building. She walks through a series of rooms activating secret panels.
She gets what she came for and heads out. But when she steps outside, an unkindness of ravens swarms on her.
She drops her satchel and one of the ravens picks it up and flies off. (more…)
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I have seen Trey Anastasio once solo at Newport Folk Festival (amazing) and with the Trey Anastasio Band (super fun). I didn’t expect him to tour so soon because Phish is playing in Atlantic City this summer. So it was great to see that he was going to do two shows this summer.
I Just Read About That... 