Category Archives: swing

The Beauty of Music

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So recently, I found out about a band that I didn’t know of. And this led me to be reminded why music is so important. I overheard a new co-worker discussing Grizzly Bear with another co-worker. I interjected, as I had seen them live once. Five minutes of music discussion later, I got a nice compliment – “Man, you really know your shit.” Thing is, I don’t. Or at least I don’t think so. He brought up the group I am sharing today, and I hadn’t heard of them. Well, after a good night out with a few co-workers, we all eventually took a listen to these guys. Which I think we all do from time to time. We get excited about the music we like and want to share it with the world. I mean, isn’t that the whole point of this blog?

Anyhow, the group he wanted to share was Caravan Palace. Now, they’re a French band. Imagine if swing and electronica had a baby. There are some that try to say that Daft Punk is one of those influences on them, but i don’t hear it in the music they play. I’d say more with the idea that electronica can be incorporated into almost anything. This sound has been done before, though. As George could tell you, for example, I played a ton of swing-house in the years I DJed. I genuinely liked a lot of it. I even featured one of the Greens Keepers tracks on this blog a couple of years ago.

Well, these guys are less about sampling, and more about creating their own swing sound mixed with drum kicks and electronic goodness. The self-titled debut album of these guys produced the track I’m posting today. “Jolie Coquine” is definitely reminiscent of the Squirrel Nut Zippers female vocals – which is where James Curd sampled from – and is very frenetic and catchy. The video for this track is even quite creative. So enjoy! And remember that music is a very open showcase. You’re welcome to dislike music, but keeping an open mind about what is out there is very rewarding!

Click to Play Caravan Palace – Jolie Coquine

Fallout: New Vegas – The Music!

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Yes. I am one of those nerds. I loved the music from Fallout 3. I loved the music used in both Bioshock games. The classic songs that bring you back to a gentler, nicer time. Except, well, those games aren’t gentle or nice. They’re brutal, in fact. And that may be why I love them. Well, now with Fallout: New Vegas? We get more of the classic sounds. Hell, I was so psyched for this game when I saw the initial trailer. It features one of the songs we’re posting today. Check it out.

While the game can slog on for points, the pros heavily outweigh the cons, in my opinion. There are a few bugs and glitches, but nothing that really ruins the game experience for me. Hell, just do what people tell you you should be doing – SAVE OFTEN! This game is massive. There is so much to do, and even though I’ve been playing a lot since the game came out last Tuesday, I still haven’t made it onto the strip. Part of the reason for that is I’m more enamored with the Mojave Wasteland. I’ll get into the strip soon. I promise.

The music, however, is what I love the most. The trailer above features the track “Jingle, Jangle, Jingle” by Kay Kyser. His big band sounds are featured in this number. Those certainly were the days, eh?


Download Kay Kyser – Jingle, Jangle, Jingle

Now the next track is one people probably know. It’s hard to make a game about Vegas and not include some mention musically of the Rat Pack. Dean Martin is featured in the game’s soundtrack with one of his better known hits – “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head”. And it fits in the sense that when you start the game? You’re not kicked, but shot, in the head. How’s that for a shitty day?


Download Dean Martin – Ain’t That A Kick In The Head

Now this last one, I had heard before. Living in the South for a while, I guess I couldn’t help that. It’s not a bad thing. Being exposed to a lot of the old crooners growing up as a kid was a great thing. It helped get me into singers like Louis Prima, for example. Hell, getting to see Sam Butera perform twice (for free!!) while living in Las Vegas years ago was one of the biggest thrills for me. I only wish I still had the picture I took with him. :sadpanda: indeed. Anyhow, this song is one that’s featured prominently if you’re out in the wasteland. It’s by Marty Robbins, and the song is “Big Iron”. This is a guy that had the crossover appeal before the alt-country tag was there, I guess you could say. A lot of his songs were played on pop radio, but to be honest, pop radio then mixed genres moreso than it did now. Anyhow, this is a great tune, and it’s perfect for the times you’re trekking out in the middle of nowhere.


Download Marty Robbins – Big Iron

And speaking of Bioshock, have you guys seen the gameplay video for the upcoming Bioshock Infinite? I don’t know about you, but I am excited for this one, also. Also, go buy some music. Don’t be cheap!

A little of the old, and more of the even older

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So I was having breakfast in this diner I go to and I heard an artist I hadn’t really listened to in quite some time. The guy’s name is Louis Prima. Most people younger than myself don’t know who he is. It’s understandable, considering that he’s from the Vegas limelight of the mid to late 1950’s. However, some people may remember him through more of a pop culture window. Anyone that saw Disney’s The Jungle Book may well remember King Louie. Well that voice, my friends, was that of Louis Prima’s.

Well, he was one of the first big stars in Las Vegas. We’re talking just before the Rat Pack came in and took his crowd. He would pack the Sahara’s showroom every night with this mix of risque humor and swingin’ jazz. It was like New Orleans, but wilder. He had the help of a great sax player by the name of Sam Butera, and his band, The Witnesses. Here you get a good example of the craziness of what this guy could do. Here I’ve given you guys an instrumental cover of Love of My Life (O Sole Mio) as well as a massively energetic stomper in St. Louis Blues. Definitely check this guy’s catalog out if you’re into this stuff. It’s not all this frenetic, but just imagine watching a show that this guy put on!

[Download Louis Prima – Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio)]

[Download Louis Prima – St. Louis Blues]

Next up is a track from a somewhat forgotten band from the late ’90’s. They were the Amazing Royal Crowns and they hailed from Providence, Rhode Island. When I was still living up in the Boston area, I had heard about these guys, and am pretty pissed I never got to see them live. Tons of energy like you’ve never seen, and probably never will. They’re classified as “psychobilly” and this is the first track off of their self-titled debut.

[Download The Amazing Royal Crowns – Shiverin’ In The Corner]

Yep. The obligatory message reminding you to not be a leech and go buy this stuff! If you download and not support the artist? A kitten somewhere dies. Or a limbless kid contracts a venereal disease. I dunno. Just go buy this stuff!

Putting the "Swing" in "Swing State"!

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So I guess it’s fitting with the presidential election next Tuesday that I choose a certain theme of music. Ohio, you best be paying attention! To start with, let’s just all rejoice the fact that we now can count down the days to when this utterly incompentent man is out of office. We start the swing theme with a song that was once played as a representation of FDR in office. It’s by a man named Bel Selvin, and the song is “Happy Days Are Here Again”. We’re not sure, but let’s hope that the song is right, and happy days are truly here again.

However, I want to say that there is a theme to this one, as all the songs are swing songs in some form. One group that I think a lot of people forgot about is the Squirrel Nut Zippers. They had a grand total of one commercially played hit. Can you name it? If you did, then I’m impressed. It was the following track, “Hell”, off of their album Hot. Great tune, and I want to also pass on that the band is back together and touring! You can check out the tour dates here, and if they’re near you? Then go see them!

The following track is also from the same album, and with it, I’ve included a re-working of sorts by the Greens Keepers’ James Curd. Back in 2001 and 2002, DJ’s like Derrick Carter were championing this fresh sort of take on house by essentially sampling old – or in this case, new – swing and jazz cuts. It fell by the wayside eventually, but it’s still fun to hear every so often, and I’ve kept practically every record of this fashion. So first up is the Squirrel Nut Zippers with “Put A Lid On it”.

Now take that tempo and speed it up by about double, and you have James Curd’s take on the track with “Keepers Quiet”. It was on Mike Dixon’s now defunct G-Swing label, and featured Dixon also taking a crack at it.

As always, please do take the time to buy this music if you like it! Also, please vote on Tuesday, November 4th! You may think your vote doesn’t count, but if you don’t vote? Well, you have no right to bitch about what you perceive as problems! Every vote does matter, as the more votes they tally, the more these people know that you all have the final say on whether or not they get to keep their job!