2010

Mix Tape

Classic Rock Orgy III

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We go way deep in the 60s & 70s once again, so you don’t have to. Yes, for a third time the Impound does what gutless program directors in the Classic Rock realm won’t. Some obscure entries this time, and some nifty cameos – that’s Jerry Garcia working the pedal steel on both the Nash and Crosby tunes (Joni Mitchell, Bill Kreutzmann and Phil Lesh also play on “Laughing”) and The Band’s Levon Helm drums on the John Martyn selection. We also offer you the grittiest Joni Mitchell cover ever and a bit of magic from the man Led Zeppelin saluted by name. May you enjoy this mix as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

If you experience playback problems, pop over to the 8tracks mix page and it should play fine.

track listing

Impounded Inquiries

Jesse Elliott

These United States

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These United States by Sarah Law

Inquiry comes in many forms – a child’s raw pawing, the studied examination of academics, the bluster of politicians, the curved funhouse wisdom of pop culture figures. It’s an intrinsic part of the American character, and sadly an aspect that’s being boot-stomped in the 21st century, where this country seems to increasingly delight in ignorance, distraction and blind tribalism. So it’s uplifting to find a band called These United States keeping this forward reaching pioneer spirit alive in their own rag ‘n’ bone way, bringing their tiny caravan to any city that’ll have them and shaking their moneymakers until a few kernels of wisdom and joy hit the collection plate.

In only a few years TUS have evolved into such a lovely unit – melodic yet rough edged, playful yet capable of tearful sincerity. They are the children of Dylan’s Rolling Thunder bunch, the late 60s Woodstock refugees and Woody Guthrie, yet also tempered by some very modern touches, not the least their honest POV on the state o’ things. There’s more than a little bardic about them, but the peels of pedal steel and gorgeously trundling drums help extend the ever-testing palm at the end of their collective mind, creating a thing all their own, a gift they give with wide arms to those willing to dream aloud by their side.

Their latest slab is called What Lasts, which niftily straddles the yawning abyss and winks at what’s staring back. Death is a tough dance partner and yet These United States take him for quite a spin, further streamlining their jangle into a sharp point that slips between our ribs, waking us up to the idea that “this life, right here, right now” is precious and good despite all the faults and failings. As they note, “There is no justice, just this occasional grace,” and still there are myriad reasons to smile and stare skyward and let wonder have its way with us. That they make this heady ontology caper a jig and kick up sawdust is also wonderfully American and more reason still that they deserve their name.

Given what thoughtful guys they are, we wanted to see what TUS singer-songwriter-gad-a-bout Jesse Elliott had to say to our philosophical meander.
Walt Whitman passes out with joy!

Mix Tape

Poundings XIX

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Autumn is beginning to settle in. Here’s a sonic snapshot of the season as experienced out here on the California coast culminating in a gem from this week’s 7 Minutes guests The Old Ceremony. And there’s more Fogelberg on the way later this week. Don’t be scared, it’s a good thing. For now, enjoy this fat baker’s dozen as the sky cries and winds whips the yard around in a most hypnotic way.

If you experience playback problems, pop over to the 8tracks mix page and it should play fine.

track listing

7 Minutes in Heaven

Django Haskins

The Old Ceremony

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7 Minutes In Heaven: The Old CeremonyWe set the timer and snuggle in with our favorite new bands in the Impound’s version of speed dating with a killer-diller soundtrack.

The Old Ceremony is a rock ‘n’ roll band you should know, and well. Over the past six years this Durham/Chapel Hill, NC group has gone from strength to strength, steadily putting out records with a craftsmanship and aural precociousness that’s impressive in this fast food age. Listen a short while to this band and you won’t doubt they’ll be around for a long, long time. While comparisons to the likes of Joe Henry, Tim Bluhm, The National and Elvis Costello hold some water, The Old Ceremony carve out their own niche, a place of toe-tapping contemplation and clear-eyed storytelling that doesn’t pussyfoot around the warts and scars that dot most real world tales. In their hands, travails seem to dance or at the very least shuffle towards a weary smile.

Their recently released fourth long-player Tender Age is a bittersweet corker packed with songs about the risings and fallings of love and the days spent in between the bright spots. Perversely, tracks with titles like “Ruined My Plans” and “Gun To My Head” are the cheery ones, but that’s part of singer-songwriter Django Haskins’ gift, a sleight of hand with perspective that pours sunshine out of rocky places and finds shadows along a summer seashore. Without hyperbole, Haskins is one of the best young songsmiths going. His work, especially as aided by his fully engaged, empathetic bandmates, is the sort one returns to again and again because it keeps offering up rewards in its tuneful companionship and honest observations. The truth is always refreshing, especially when delivered in such a well composed and executed package like The Old Ceremony.

Read on to see what Django had to say in the Impound’s signature interview segment.
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In Your Eye

you gotta see this

Las Tortugas V

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The Impound just got back from the perfect music festival experience at Las Tortugas V – Dance of the Dead. Dennis rhapsodizes at length here, but we wanted to share these primo shots from John Margaretten, which go a long way in capturing the joy, energy and vibe of Tortugas, a beautiful annual journey outside the norm that renews one’s faith in humanity a bit.

Mix Tape

Poundings XVIII

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This week’s assortment brought you by some really dark thoughts peppered by the realization (again) that perhaps only love and real compassion will pull us through as a species. The recent U.S. elections also float around in this muck, but far wiser folks than me are stumbling to find the right words to describe a time when reason, facts and reasonableness have fallen to their knees. So, I dedicate this mix tape to the various messes we’re in and to the idea that we’ll one day extricate ourselves from the worst of them.

Proof We Listen: A number of folks have commented about the lengthy mixes we’ve been putting up lately, and in the interest of our time-starved readers, we’re trimming Poundings down to a manageable baker’s dozen most weeks to come.

If you experience playback problems, pop over to the 8tracks mix page and it should play fine.

track listing

Miller's Eye

Dengue Fever

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Miller's Eye: Dengue Fever

photo: Josh Miller

The sun was dropping quickly and the photo had to wait on few band members to change, or smoke, or do whatever Dengue Fever were needing to do that particular San Francisco afternoon. It came together and Golden Gate Park provided a nice eucalyptus and green background for the shot.