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Jerry is leading a double life.

 6cast 8: All the Better to See You With [7:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I guess I write a lot about music on crookedsixpence, but hey, it’s important. Music is possibly the most popular storytelling medium and certainly the longest lasting. People have been telling stories through music since before the written word.

Since I’m on the subject of history now, it’s probably a good time to pay tribute to some of the musicians responsible for modern rock. Without blues artists such as these, our music would have completely different sound. Considering what’s on the radio these days, that’s not saying much, but think about your favorites. I don’t even want to think about my music library without Cave, Waits, PJ Harvey, Led Zeppelin, and so on, but that sound just wouldn’t be without these guys:

Son House

A former Baptist preacher and one of seventeen kids in Clarksdale, Mississippi, he probably had a lot to sing the blues about. Even more so after doing time in prison for killing a man in self defense back in ‘28. You’ve probably heard House’s music before. He’s been covered and sampled countless times since his heyday in the ’30s and blues revival of the ’60s.

Robert Johnson

One of the biggest names in delta blues. So influential was he that bands like Led Zeppelin owe credit to him for their entire schtick. He lived a short life, though - poisoned with strychnine at the age of 27, legend has it, for spending too much time with someone else’s woman.

“Love in Vain” (Internet Archive audio)

Mississippi John Hurt

He started out playing ragtime but eventually became one of the greatest blues performers of all time. A humble man to his death (he worked as a farmhand for most of his life), Hurt never ceased to be amazed by the crowds numbering in the thousands who’d turn out to see him play. The strange thing was, he made his original studio recordings in the late 20s. By the time he finally got the audience he deserved, those recordings were already around 40 years old.

Blind Willie Johnson

…is just awesome. Even some of the old blues greats owe him thanks. Blind Willie wrote such classics as “John the Revelator,” “In My Time of Dying (Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed),” and “Dark Was the Night — Cold Was the Ground.” Despite his impact on the music world, he was dirt poor his entire life and died of pneumonia in his once fire-ravaged home.

MySpace page

To our younger ears, these guys may take some getting used to. Even if it ain’t your cup of tea, listening to it all just once is enough to give you new perspective on what you listen to every day.

P.S. - I just bought the new NIN disc. Somebody tell me to stop playing WITH the disc and actually play it or something.

Today I thought I’d give up some blog space to a couple of my favorite storytellers. They are masters of the dark, the weird, and sometimes the hilarious. You know… in that way where you probably wouldn’t be laughing if you were a better person. These are people I highly respect - the kind of folks I’d have over and whip up a skillet of red beans and rice for. (See, that’s how you know you’re special.)

You taking notes? Okay. Here we go…

Nick Cave
and the Bad Seeds

He’s like some kind of mad preacher from bygone days. He’ll tell you in a deep voice about hellfire and damnation - murder and heartbreak, too. If there’s a tale you’ve heard, he’s sung it in a way you’ve never heard it. And heck, maybe you’re not so sure you wanted to hear, but it’s too late now.

You’ll want to get yourself a copy of Murder Ballads - it’s exactly what the title says. You might take a shine to Henry’s Dream, too. Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus, Tender Prey and From Her to Eternity are other favorites of mine, and I’d be a liar if I said Let Love In wouldn’t be worn to nothing but scratches if it were on vinyl.

Have some videos:

Tom Waits

I’d love to sit and just listen to this guy tell me stories for hours on end. Have you ever seen him on late night talk shows? For someone who’s written such mournful ballads, he’s an awfully funny man. He’s like everybody’s favorite uncle - the one your mother warned was a bad influence.

It’s not just the sad songs he writes. He’s got a backyard shed full of creepy monologues, prison yard anthems, and tunes so down, rough, and dirty your hips will shake like the spirit has been drawn right out of you at some crazy revival meet.

It may be fashionable to like Tom Waits, these days, but there’s good reason, for once (and not just because he played Renfield in Bram Stoker’s Dracula). Check out Bone Machine, Mule Variations, Rain Dogs, Real Gone, and do not live out the rest of your days without having heard Swordfishtrombones. When you’re sure you’re up to it, help yourself to Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards.

Vids for the watchin’:

Mama Jess has a secret. From a poem I wrote a few years ago.

 6cast 7: Mama Jess [2:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

First of all, thanks, everyone, for listening to and commenting on the podcasts! I ‘ppreciate it, and I’m glad to hear ya like it.

And now I’m going to get political on your butts.

Seems the Copyright Royalty Board - at the behest of the RIAA’s Sound Exchange and others - has ruled in favor of nearly tripling the royalty rates on internet radio. This rates hike makes playing the music you love too expensive for many broadcasters. Worse still is that this ruling is retroactive to January, 2006, meaning that some of your favorite ‘net broadcasters are already bankrupt. Dead men walking as of May 15th of this year.

And this ruling effects everyone in the US - even the big guys like Yahoo and AOL. NPR and Clear Channel are fighting it, too. To say nothing of the smaller broadcasters! This also damages the artists. Without internet radio, major labels and indies alike are going to feel the sting.

Way to go, RIAA. That’s some smart thinking, there.

The CRB denied a rehearing on the matter, but we can still help. Visit http://www.savenetradio.org/ or click the banner below for more info. I’m, by the way, not associated with this organization whatsoever. I just really, really like Pandora and would be a cranky little bumblebee if it went away. I mean, internet radio is how I found some of my favorite artists, and these are people I’m never gonna hear on KROQ.

Help yourselves to some more info right here:

NPR

PC World

Digital Media Wire

Someone in Mr. Montclair’s house is laughing, laughing, laughing…

 6cast 6: The Laughing Woman: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The final recording of one terrified woman.

 6cast 5: Rust: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sorry, folks. 6cast will be late again, but should be posted Monday or Tuesday night. This is partly because I have no time and partly because the story for this next one has given me nightmares, and I don’t want to record it at night. Don’t tell anyone I told you that. I couldn’t bear the shame!

Hope everyone had a happy Easter!

Boredom’s a dangerous housewife.

 6cast 4: Eight Wide: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Howdy, every peoples. 6cast is obviously going to be late. I’ve just finished moving and unpacking and all that jazz, so I’ll post it tomorrow (that’d be Tuesday for the confused).