It’s New Music Tuesday, so here is even more music for you to love.

This morning on “Ask the MD,” I played a track from the band Parachute, from Charlottesville, VA. Fly Magazine defines Parachute’s sound as “blue-eyed soul, adult pop, Maroon 5-style faux-funk: it’s the Goldilocks of pop-rock, neither too hot nor too cold.”
Is this true? Listen in:

parachute
Parachute – She Is Love

I’m also posting a new track from Mason Jennings. It’s from his new release, Blood of Man, coming out in September. Mason’s stopping by Seattle again come August 15, so if you like this, you can check out his live show as well. Since our last Mountain Music Lounge with Mason, VP of Content Kat has claimed that he sounds like Bob Dylan (classic Bob Dylan, not current/scratchy Dylan).

This track is so new, we don’t even have a title listed for it.

mason

What do you think? Comment me below!

- Shawn

Today, I’m releasing another track from the new Pearl Jam disc. It’s called “The Fixer”…

pearl-jam-the-fixer

Pearl Jam – The Fixer

I’m originally from Minneapolis, home of The Replacements. Whenever anyone from Minnie is asked what the best Replacements song is, the standard answer is “every one!”

Is that the same way with Pearl Jam?

Speak to me, Seattle! What is the best Pearl Jam out there? Or is their entire collection inherently brilliant? Comment me below.

- Shawn

I spent a week with family In Ocean City, New Jersey. The beach is beautiful (although there are usually more people on it) . . .

There are unique local attractions, like Lucy the giant elephant . . .

There’s a Boardwalk, just like in Bruce Springsteen songs . . . .

And there’s lots to eat: East coast delicacies like cheese steak, salt water taffy, and Italian water ice, which does this if you get cherry . . .

A great week at the Jersey shore . . . but it’s always good to get back to Seattle and back in the studio. Big thanks to the one and only Dick Rossetti for filling in. Check out his band, Guns & Rossetti, playing soon at a club near you.

Yes, it’s that Madness. The same Madness that brought us “Our House” years back. Well, the band is set to drop their new release, The Liberty of Norton Folgate, in the US next month. It’s the first album of originals for the band in ten years and the single “Dust Devil” is definitely hitting my playlist for this weekend. Hear why:
dust_devil

Madness – Dust Devil

 Also on this weekend’s playlist is The Avett Brothers’ new single, “I and Love and You.” It seems like an odd title, but you’ll understand it after hearing the tune. Very clever.

It’s the first single from the album of the same name. This album should be sparking attention nationwide, as it was produced by Rick Rubin. They’ve already sold out the Paramount… and they’re on the up-and-up.

avettbros

The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

Happy Friday! Hope you enjoy some cool songs on this hot weekend.

- Shawn

This fall is certainly going to be Pearl Jam’s finest season. Our hometown headliners are releasing a new disc, Backspacer, and will be heading out for a nationwide tour shortly thereafter.

The follow up to Pearl Jam’s self-titled album doesn’t come out until September 20, but you may have heard a new song from Backspacer called “Got Some” on the first episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. It certainly rocks – as does the new artwork (see above).

The tour kicks off at Key Arena on September 21st, with Pearl Jam spending not one, but TWO nights with the hometown crowd.

Marty and Jodi will be speaking with Mike McCready early next week, and if you haven’t won tickets yet, don’t worry! We will have more Pearl Jam for you soon. Stay tuned for more info and your hookup to see Pearl Jam at the Key.

- Shawn

Earlier today, I played a track from Peter Gabriels album Shaking the Tree and thought, what does that really mean? Is he trying to be poetic, or does the expression have a particular meaning?

After searching fruitlessly for the answer (no pun intended), I finally received this response from a Mountain listener:

Hi Shawn: “shaking the tree” means harvesting fruit you have already grown, for very little effort. The fruit is on the tree, has taken some time and effort to grow, and the simple act of shaking the tree brings it all to you. So Peter Gabriel’s album title is a somewhat cynical comment on the process of making a “greatest hits” album. Poof! New album.

Gordon

This once again proves that Mountain listeners are smart! Pat yourselves on the back, brainiacs. You deserve it.

- Shawn

How amazing is this view! It’s the sight from Cave B, an inn surrounded by vineyards,  cliffhouses, and the Columbia River. I spent some time there this weekend before heading to The Gorge for the Coldplay show, and boy! It was worth it.

If this is any indication as to how the weekend went, it started with Lexi from guest services meeting me at my car and giving me a huge hug! And Cave B isn’t just people-friendly… they’re pet-friendly, too! Charlie got to enjoy the experience as well. It was a great way to get out of the last few dreary days in Seattle and enjoy the sun at The Gorge.

With beautiful food, an exceptional staff, and a private gate to The Gorge, Cave B was the perfect place to go before the show this past weekend.

Coldplay was incredible! They played a great mix of their older material, but found time to play nearly every track from Viva La Vida as well. Our seats were close enough to not only see Chris Martin sweat (!), but also to catch the projectile butterflies from their cannon blasts.

All in all, a great weekend. I will be heading back to do it all again at the earliest opportunity.

- Shawn

I’m taking part in this year’s Bike MS Ride on September 12 & 13 in Mt. Vernon. If you want to join me, here’s the scoop. I’m just starting my training — or I will when I get back from vacation — but here’s the guy who inspires me: His name is Jason Webb. He’s living with MS, and he could ride circles around me. (And he probably will, when we do some training rides together.) He stopped in when Tori Amos appeared in the Carter Subaru Mountain Music Lounge:

Tori signed his official Bike MS jersey:

and then he presented me with my own jersey for the ride.

I’ll be blogging about my progress over the next couple of months as I get ready for this amazing event. The cool thing about Bike MS is that there’s a course and a distance that’s right for you no matter what level of cyclist you are, from 20 to 100 miles each day. (I haven’t yet decided what I can handle!)

I really encourage you to at least check out the Bike MS website and think about joining us in September!

Did you just hear Tori Amos’ interview from the Mountain Music Lounge? What a great performance!

As you can see, we had to race Tori out of there so she could kick off her tour tonight at the WaMu Theatre. We had to settle for a garage picture and a short conversation on the way out the door!

On our way down the elevator, we got into a conversation about shoes, and I commented that Charlie (my dog) had, for the first time ever, enjoyed my footware as a snack.

Tori’s cure for canine shoe-eating: take this picture (above) and hang it where Charlie can see it. That way, my dominance as a superior being is established.

She also suggested (in a very maternal way) to remember to put my shoes away so this doesn’t happen again.

- Shawn

*** With regard to the previous post (Counting Crows), we are all out of tickets! The winners have been notified via e-mail. Thank you! ***