Two Shout-Outs

First, my friend Toby's band Kayodot just played Phoenix on their current US tour, and it was great to see him, Mia, my good buddy Terran, and the rest of the band. They sound better than ever, and if they're coming to your city (their schedule is on their myspace page), I urge you to consider going to their show (and bringing earplugs). You'll be supporting some true artists in the nearly impossible dream of performing music that no one expects to hear.

I don't know how to describe their music at all anymore, and certainly not without stringing a lot of words together. "Metal chamber music dreamscapes" is the best I've come up with so far. I was astounded by the show they played here.

Second, I've been listening to my good friend Michael Daves' solo record for a SOLID MONTH on my commute- I've probably heard it fifty times now- and let me tell you, this man is a legend in his own youth. I'm serious. His singing on this record took me a few listens to get used to- it's very evocative, but hard to understand the words at first- but once I'd heard it a few times, I couldn't imagine it sounding any other way. He makes the old time/bluegrass tradition sound new all over again, in our time, and it's beautiful.