Richard Parsons

Richard Parsons’ bio is short and sweet: Likes dry reds and Jack Daniels, sweet harmonies, righteous chords and vinyl. With these clues, you might be able to extrapolate an idea of what his music sounds like—a little rustic, a little brooding, a little vintage. The Decatur, Georgia-based singer-songwriter comes across like a mix of John Lennon, Jeff Tweedy and Chris Cornell. Listen to “You Curse” and you’ll get a whiff of the Beatles’ airborne choruses flanked by dusty acoustic guitars and tambourine shimmers. Parsons’ music ambles along at an unhurried pace, taking its time to unfold. “Fall Back” is darker and sleepier than “You Curse,” but just as mellifluous. But the singer-songwriter knows how to get his rocks off as well, particularly with the awesome, alt-country psychedelia of “Light A Fire.” Parson’s love of righteous chords is apparent. If you love ‘em too, you’ll dig this.

Here at OurStage HQ, the summer has hit us hard. It’s too hot to move, but also too hot to sit still. What could be a better soundtrack for the stifling heat, humidity and restless energy of the dog days of summer than that classic Stooges track “I Wanna Be Your Dog”? A timeless testament to anger and alienation, “I Wanna Be Your Dog” still resonates with fans and musicians even 40 years after its release. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite versions below:

Sonic Youth – 1983′s Confusion Is Sex saw the band combining their noise-tastic original “Freezer Burn” with “I Wanna Be Your Dog.” There is only one word to describe Sonic Youth’s take: Vicious.The distortion and fuzz of “Freezer Burn” leads into the familiar riff and all hell breaks loose. Kim Gordon’s vocals are simultaneously intense, raw, sexy and terrifying. Sonic Youth definitely hold their own against The Stooges, which is no small feat. For the noise averse, I’ve included a “Freezer Burn” – less version in the video below:

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – From Tommy James and The Shondelles to Gary Glitter, Jett & company really know how to make a cover song their own. While it’s more polished than the original or the Sonic Youth version, Jett’s trademark vocals provide the necessary grit. Fun fact: The Stooges’ version of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” is the soundtrack to the infamous Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett / Dakota Fanning as Cherie Curry kissing scene in the 2010 movie The Runaways.

Ida Maria – This Norwegian indie import is no stranger to The Stooges — Iggy Pop himself duet-ed with the singer on a re-release of “Oh My God,” from her 2008 album Fortress Round My Heart — so it’s no surprise that Maria chose to cover “I Wanna Be Your Dog” as part of her 2009 Lollapalooza set. Fierce footage of Ida Maria stalking the stage below:

The polished and organic sound of Lelia Broussard caught my attention with her simplistic “piano and voice” re-realization of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark“. Her recognition that a great melody can stand on its own is mirrored in her latest single, “Scared to Feel“. Beginning with simple guitar strumming and personal lyrics, Broussard unfolds the song into an array of beautiful folk/rock instrumentation and a hint of angst. The fact still remains, though, that the message lies in the melody which easily floats above the accompaniment.

Broussard began her career early, moving to New York City when she was just 17. Her relentless songwriting and touring throughout the US landed her a publishing deal with Ronder Universal Music Group. She moved to Los Angeles, CA and began writing for her debut release On the 9, which was produced by Dave Trumifo (Wilco and My Morning Jacket).

Check out her song “The Grass is Greener” and listen to some more music on her OurStage profile.

Jesus has Christmas and Easter. The Great Pumpkin has Halloween. Even pancakes have their own dedicated day of celebration—so why not record stores? A group of like-minded vinyl enthusiasts felt the same way so they organized National Record Store Day to recognize the importance of the independent music retail shop. Every third Saturday of April, musicians, store proprietors and the customers who keep the brick and mortar shops alive, come together for a day of live music and limited vinyl releases. This year, artists like Bruce Springsteen, Citizen Cope, Tom Waits, Sharon Jones and hundreds more have contributed rare and exclusive recordings, pressed on wax, to be sold only on Record Store Day at participating retailers. So fire up the turntable, break out the rainy day vinyl fund and support your favorite record shop on April 17th!

Continue Reading About National Record Store Day

The Good

Erykah Badu in "Window Seat"

Erykah Badu bares all for “Window Seat” video

Nudity and social commentary are familiar bedfellows — just ask John and Yoko. So what’s surprising about Erykah Badu’s video for “Window Seat” isn’t the fact that she slowly disrobes till she’s stark naked; it’s the fact that she does it while walking around the grassy knoll in downtown Dallas where JFK was assassinated. The video ends with a shot ringing out and Badu collapsing on the ground. It’s supposed to be a statement about “character assassination,” but you don’t care about that. We had you at “naked.” Check out the video here.

The Bad

Hayley Williams covers Gaga

Gaga has birthday, covers ensue

Happy 24th birthday, Lady Gaga. Here’s your present: Two covers of “Bad Romance,” one from Paramore singer Hayley Williams (on piano to boot!) and the other from Jared Leto. Earnest, emo, melancholy, Catalano-esque … listen to both versions to figure out which is which.

MGMT in "Flash Delirium"

MGMT’s “Flash Delirium” video is weird

First there’s this mansion full of old people. Then there’s dancing … and puppets. And THEN, there’s a talking neck wound, an eel, an iron lung and an earthquake. In that order. Check out the video on the band’s Web site. Oh yeah … spoiler alert.

• Justin Bieber becomes youngest artist to top Billboard Charts since 1963
• Ricky Martin’s closet is empty
• Christina Aguilera finally releases “Not Myself Tonight”
• Nicki Minaj debuts first single, “Massive Attack”
• Ne-Yo rides a segway
• New LCD Soundsystem record comes out May 18
• Broken Bells announce tour
• Wilco does La Blogotheque
• Devendra Banhart breaks a leg on tour

The Good

David Byrne

David Byrne uses Philippine dictator as inspiration for new album
Rarely have the words “Imelda Marcos” and “good” been used in a sentence together, but we’re going to take a shot at it. David Byrne’s new concept album, Here Lies Love, is inspired by shoe fetishist/dictator Imelda Marcos, and it sounds GOOD. Byrne co-wrote the album with Fatboy Slim, and recruited a different female vocalist for each track. Among them are Santigold, Roisin Murphy, Sharon Jones, Alice Russell and Tori Amos. The album drops in early April. Read more about it here.

The Bad

Better than Nickelback?

Nickelback’s sour response to Facebook pickle group
If you spend any time on Facebook, you’ve probably seen news feeds for the group “Can this pickle get more fans than Nickelback?” The answer is yes. As of Wednesday, the pickle had 1,488,589 fans whereas the band had a mere 1,422,807. Well, singer Chad Kroeger didn’t like that one bit, and left a tart comment that read, “You’re page will be closing in 2 weeks.” Coral Anne, the creator of the pickle group, replied, “I still whooped your ass, Chad!” Yeah, no one likes a pickle puss, CHAD.

Whitney Houston

The Ugly

Whitney Houston angers Aussies with Brisbane performance
A “croaky” and “disoriented” Whitney Houston received dismal reviews for her performance at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Monday. According to multiple critics and fans, the 46-year-old singer appeared out of breath throughout the concert, coughing through some numbers and turning the epic high point of “I Will Always Love You” into a breathless coo. Houston has a handful of dates left in Australia before she heads over to Europe for more boos shows.

Miscellany

• New Britney Spears album on the way
• Kanye West “Coldest Winter” video beyond cool
• Interpol to tour with U2
• Wilco, Broken Social Scene, Sun Kil Moon to play 2010 Olympics
• New M.I.A. album possibly arriving in June

And The There Were Three: Half of Boston's Ferris Wheel

Not everything that goes on behind dorm room doors has to be shady. Sometimes it’s as simple and as serendipitous as a guy playing his cello. Such is the case with Boston’s Ferris Wheel, who recruited their cellist after overhearing him practicing his instrument at Tufts University. Little by little, through acquaintances and classmates, the three-piece project became a real band, seven members strong and spanning three universities.

But the real allure of Ferris Wheel isn’t their genesis, it’s their songcraft. Fans of the National, Grizzly Bear and Wilco will find much to like. On “The Wrigley Field Faithful” singer Josh Bolduc channels his inner Paul Simon, telling his story unhurriedly and unadorned. The elegiac tale of a cross-country pilgrimage is first painted in muted colors (acoustic picking and the woeful whinny of a trumpet) and then in bold dashes (the kick-start of drums, jubilant piano and an epic sing-along chorus). On the almost gospel “Lay Down,” singer Justine Bowe’s crystalline voice coats the song like treacle, while mercurial arrangements take listeners from dusty strumming to a grandiose chorus of soaring voices, stomping feet, clapping hands and shimmering tambourines. Theirs is a revival you’ll want to attend.

Welcome to our seventh installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.

Marnée

“Down In The Valley”
Solo Performance Channel
Singer/songwriter Marnee sings very mature lyrics belying her 11 years of age with sweet whispering, yet full and rich vocals.
RIYL: Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, Joan Baez
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/marneeaugust

Don DiLego

“Falling Into Space”
Indie Rock Channel
Playful alternative rock that unapologetically obeys straightforward chord progressions and pop mantras.
RIYL: Spoon, Beach Boys, Wilco
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/dondilego

Check in the Dark

“Complicated Lullaby”
Acoustic Channel
This acoustic jam’s older influences accompany clanging bells, drums and high-stringed guitar picking.
RIYL: James Taylor, John Mayer, Jack Johnson
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/checkinthedarkmusic

Courtney Leigh Heins is one name you’re bound to hear more of in the world of Alt. Country. The singer-songwriter from Indiana packed her bags for LA soon after graduating from Boston College to try her hand at being a full time musician. While in LA, she met her current songwriting partner, multi-instrumentalist Bryan Dobbs. Together, Dobbs and Heins write tunes inspired by the Heartland and Hollywood. This week’s free track, “The Great Divide” provides an insightful commentary on American politics in small town America in between twangy guitar solos and folky mandolin riffs. With influences spanning from Loretta Lynn to Wilco, Courtney is destined to win over a wide variety of listeners.

No Doubt

As live performances become more crucial to the revenue stream of the full time musician, more acts—old and new—are going on tour this summer. And you can bet your bottom dollar that this summer’s tour season is chockfull of great musical acts to blow your hard-earned recession pennies on. Sugar Ray is gearing up to tour in support of their first new album in six years. Nineties radio staples like No Doubt and Blink-182 are headlining reunion tours. If Blink-182 getting back together isn’t enough to satisfy your penchant for pop punk power chords, Green Day will be hitting the road this summer as well.

Eighties powerhouses Blondie and Pat Benatar are joining forces to co-headline a U.S. tour — with the all-girl punk rock band The Donnas as the opening act, it’s sure to be a quality girls night out for those of you lucky enough to score tickets.

Phish's Trey Anastasio

Quintessential live favorites such as Dave Matthews Band, AC/DC, Jimmy Buffet, The Black Crowes, Wilco and Phish are all on the road again much to the delight of their hardcore fans.

There are also plenty of up-and-coming acts and college radio artists playing shows that you can enjoy without taking out a second mortgage on your home. For Wolf Parade fans, frontman Spencer Krug’s other band — Sunset Rubdown — will be kicking off a U.S. tour in June. Still smarting because you didn’t get Animal Collective tickets? Sunset Rubdown’s Jagjaguwar labelmates, Pterodactyl, will be crisscrossing the country to console you. On the local scene, Boston’s soon-to-be superstar electro-pop outfit, Passion Pit, will be touring in support of their much anticipated LP, Manners. And finally, OurStage’s New York power pop rockers, Blameshift, are playing shows you need to check out before it’s time to go back to school.

Blameshift