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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
What’s in a song? Three artists share the stories behind theirs
Jamie Foxx’s ‘Blame It,’ from his 2008 album ‘Intuition’:
“Chris Henderson from Detroit wrote the song. He’s not a big producer, and that’s what you like sometimes. It means a lot to that kid. When I heard it, I thought, ‘I’ve gotta do that song.’ My man Brion Prescott, who brought me that song, said, ‘You have to do it tonight, because everybody wants the song.’ So, we cut it exactly like the record. I wanted to use the autotune and keep it exactly the same.
“By doing that, we snuck in the back door. People didn’t even know it was me singing. There was no grading the record, it was just, `Wow, what is this? We rockin’ to this. We don’t care who it is.’ People found out that it was me, and we got a chance to put Ron Howard and Samuel Jackson and Forest Whitaker and Quincy Jones in the movement. It made it a lifestyle record. It burst at the seams.” - As told to Brian T. Atkinson
Jamie Foxx performs at 8 p.m. July 11 at the Erwin Center. Tickets are $59.75. 1701 Red River St., on the UT campus. 477-6060, texasboxoffice.com.
M. Ward, ‘Hold Time,’ on the recent release ‘Hold Time’:
“‘Hold Time’ was the first song I recorded for the record, and it was written on piano. I don’t write very many songs on piano, but it was written in about 15 minutes, and those tend to be my favorite songs. In my opinion the words come out of the chord progression and the chord progression comes out of the words and they’re just … it’s like describing a dream or something. It’s hard because I don’t understand how it happens, and nor do I want to. If the mystery was decoded, part of the appeal of the music would die. I’m drawn to those mysteries in music and how they’re related to bigger questions related to memory. I think that’s something I’m a little obsessed with. It happens automatically in the same way a dream will enlighten you about your own life or a really old journal entry could tell you something about the situation you’re in today.” - As told to Alex Hannaford
M. Ward plays Aug. 4 at Antone’s, 213 W. Fifth St. $20-$22. 320-8424; antones.net.
The Boxmasters, ‘Some of Shelley’s Blues,’ from the band’s 2008 self-titled debut:
Guitarist J.D. Andrew: “Michael Nesmith’s a huge influence on us as a band. We got to play with Mike at his Video Ranch. You play a show in front of a green screen, but they digitally put you in an amphitheater space where people can watch you on the Internet. We had this screen in front of us where we look at the people watching, who are more like cartoon things. They can comment and post things on the screen that we can see.
“It’s really cool. They’re all communicating with each other, and it’s this amazingly wild thing that he’s come up with. The night after we played, we got to watch Mike play. We got to hear him do his version of ‘Some of Shelley’s Blues.’ We learned the song off the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album (`Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy’), and I hadn’t actually heard Mike’s version. That was great.” - As told to Brian T. Atkinson
The Boxmasters played last weekend as part of the celebration of Poodie Locke’s life at the Backyard.
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Weekend picks: Power twang, Zen punk and a flock of free range bikes
FRIDAY
Li’l Cap’n Travis at the Continental Club.This is the perfect venue for this Austin crew, which subdivides power pop, country twang and roots rock as well as anyone this town has ever produced. They hit the stage at midnight. $10. — Joe Gross
Also recommended
- Bone Awl, Ashdautas, Volahn, Total Abuse at Red 7
- Ghost Knife at Trailer Space (6 p.m.)
- Indian Jewelry, Daughters of the Sun and many more at the Mohawk (both stages, free for 21 and over)
- the Chumps at Beerland
- CD release party for both Til We’re Blue Or Destroy and New Roman Times at Club DeVille
SATURDAY
The Yellow Bike Project presents the Invincible Czars at Wooldridge Square Park. The Czars present their version of Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812 Overture’ in its first Austin performance, along with John Philip Sousa’s ‘Noble of the Mystic Shrine’ and more. Expect a few Capt. Beefheart covers. The Yellow Bike Project will release a fleet of their famous Yellow Bikes into the wild. With them are Rebecca Havemeyer and Little Stolen Moments. Ninth and Guadalupe streets. 1 p.m. Free. www.austinyellowbike.org. — J.G.
Also recommended
- P.L.F. at Snake Eyes Vinyl
- 2009 Vans Warped Tour Party with Henry Rollins, more at Emo’s
- People Under the Stairs, Lowkey, Dred Skott at Red 7
- Jon Snodgrass (Drag the River), Joey Cape (Lagwagon), more at the Mohawk
- Mau Mau Chaplains at Flamingo Cantina
SUNDAY
M.O.T.O. at Beerland.One of the all-time-great long-running underground outfits, Masters of the Obvious is essentially Chicago songwriter Paul Caporino’s baby. A Zen master of bubblegum punk, his band always sounds fresh, no matter what sounds are in style. With Midnight Creeps, Ty Segall and Moonhearts. 8 p.m. $7. 711 Red River St. 479-7625. — J.G.
Also recommended
- Bill Callahan, Follow That Bird at the Parish
- the Calm Blue Sea at Emo’s
- Abdishment, Insidious Decrepancy at Room 710
- the Church of the Friendly Ghost presents Lady Friends part 3 with Sharon Crutcher & Michelle Waterman and more at the Salvage Vanguard Theater
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Delbert’s first studio LP in four years coming Aug. 18
Can producer Don Was do for Delbert McClinton’s career what he did for Delbert’s pal Bonnie Raitt on “Nick of Time”?
The Was-produced “Aquired Taste” (New West), which finds D-Mac doing what he does best, only with deeper lyrics, hits stores Aug. 18. The 14-track CD will contain a companion DVD with never=before-seen performances from his “Austin City Limits” appearances.
The CD also includes a guest appearance by McClinton’s friend since childhood, guitarist Stephen Bruton, who passed away in May from throat cancer.
“Acquired Taste” Track List:
1. Mama’s Little Baby
2. Starting A Rumor
3. Can’t Nobody Say I Didn’t Try
4. Never Saw It Comin’
5. Do It
6. I Need To Know
7. People Just Love To Talk
8. Until Then
9. Willie
10. Wouldn’t You Think (Should’ve Been Here By Now)
11. She’s Not There Anymore
12. When She Cries At Night
13. Cherry Street
14. Out Of My Mind
