Category Archives: listen

Download: Jay Bennett and Edward Burch – August 14, 2002 (FLACs)

Jay Bennett and Edward Burch - August 14, 2002
Soundboard / README
Whispers or Screams / C.T.M. / Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen) (aborted) / Like a Photograph / Little White Cottage / No Church Tonight / Chain of Broken Hearts / Puzzle Heart / Venus Stopped the Train / Gorilla, You’re a Desperado (Warren Zevon) / Watching Junior Drive / My Darlin’ / Talk to Me / Shakin’ Sugar / Forgiven / Saturday in the Park (Chicago) (aborted) / Everything I Own (Bread) / One Too Many Mornings (Bob Dylan) / Drinking on Your Dime / Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets) (Neil Young) / California Stars / Link

Download: Jay Bennett’s Best Shows

3561245959_384f52b52a1As news of his passing spread across the Internet, many people made sincere and moving tributes to Jay Bennett, the polarizing but astoundingly influential former member of Wilco who died unexpectedly on May 24, 2009.

In the search for our own fitting tribute to Jay Bennett, we decided to round up some of his best live performances from the Wilco Archive and let his talent speak for itself. We polled members of Wilco’s ViaChicago fan community, and they obliged with eloquence. Continue reading

San Diegans: Win Tickets to See the Greycoats May 4 at Soda Bar (MP3)

The Greycoats
We at Owl & Bear love you. Sure, sometimes we treat you badly, or forget to call, or embarrass you in front of your friends, but that’s just our way, and it doesn’t mean we don’t care about you. And because we love you—and not because it’s your birthday, or Valentine’s Day, or any other obvious date—we got you something nice. Because that’s just the kind of art/environment/politics/San Diego-themed website we are.

On May 4th, Minneapolis-based quartet The Greycoats will be gracing San Diego’s own Soda Bar with their cinematic and harmonious brand of rock and roll, and we think you should be there. After all, you like Radiohead, Arcade Fire, and Sigur Rós—see, we do pay attention—and we think you’ll like these guys too. So, just because you’re you—and not because we’re admitting to being wrong or feeling guilty about anything—we’re giving away two tickets to see the show. Continue reading

‘We Got the Sky To Talk About and the Earth to Lie Upon’ (MP3)

Steve Earle - Townes

An understatement would be to say that Townes Van Zandt was troubled. Another would be to say that he wrote some of the greatest—and darkest—songs of his era.

Steve Earle has undoubtedly seen a dying Van Zandt reflected in his own mirror: while Earle claims to have kicked the drugs and avoided a painful, early demise, Van Zandt never managed to escape the self-destruction that defined his persona and made his music so sadly beautiful.

In honor of his friend, Earle named his son Justin Townes (if ever there were a namesake to not live up to), and now he’s recorded an album of Van Zandt covers, aptly titled Townes. Because these songs were written by Van Zandt, it’s possible that this might be Earle’s best release since Transcendental Blues—if not ever—but that’s beside the point (and I haven’t heard the CD). Continue reading