I’ve been in the mood to listen to a little Howie Day, so I did a little searching to see what videos were available.  I found this good quality video of Sweet on Google videos.  If you’ve never seen a Howie Day show and get the chance, definitely don’t pass it up.  He puts on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen and his cover versions are spot on.  Of course his original music is great, too, but it’s amazing to hear him recreate another artist’s or band’s music.  Right around the 4 minute mark in this video, you’ll see the music take a definite turn as Howie uses his effect pedals to build the song in layers, looping his own audio tracks.

Howie Day performing Sweet:

No, the popular English singer hasn’t been jailed; he’s playing a free concert in Boston, sponsored in part by WBOS 92.9FM.  On Saturday, May 27, Boston’s Hatch Shell on the Charles River will play host to Earthfest 2006, a family-friendly, live, outdoor concert featuring James Blunt, Los Lonely Boys, Brandi Carlile, The Fray, and The Alternate Roots.  The Family Stage starts at 10:00am and the Main Stage begins at 12:00 noon.

For other free Hatch Shell events, see Massachusetts’s Department of Conservation and Recreation’s 2006 schedule (PDF).

Every once in a while I get in the mood to create a “mix tape”, an orchestrated collection of songs on medium.  I’ve made mix tapes of one sort or another ever since I first started listening to music on my own.  I remember putting together songs on cassette tape to play while I walked my paper route delivering the Evening News.  Of course there were also mix tapes given to junior high school girlfriends and some made after junior high school breakups.  I’ve put together mixes during the change of seasons and I’ve compiled mixes just out of boredom.  Maggie and I made a mix to honor our wedding.  Whatever the reason, it’s nice when I come across an old mix and can remember something good from that slice of time.

The seasons are changing here in New England.  Grass is starting to sprout up green.  Soon the trees will begin to bud, and sweaters and sweatshirts will be replaced by polo shirts and shorts.  Friday, motorcycles were everywhere.  Motorcycles are one of the first signs of the warmer clime as owners frustrated after months of cold, rain and snow rush to take advantage of any day above 65 degrees.  Next will come the tops: convertible tops, tank tops, halter tops, and belly shirts.  Spring time also smells different than the winter.  After the cold months, you start to notice the smell of things like fresh cut grass, bark mulch, barbecue grills, and skunks.

When the weather changes my musical tastes change.  I still like the same songs that I like at other times of the year, but I find that some songs resonate with me more in some seasons differently than in others.  For example, when the autumn comes, I tend to like music with a more acoustical sound; in the spring, I prefer jazzier songs.  I also associate hip hop, dance, and techno beats with spring and summer.  Thursday night, Maggie and I went to the Opera House to see Jamie Cullum perform.  He put on a great show and his fantastic piano playing, enthusiastic performance, and soulful lyrics really set the bar high for this summer concert season.  The show may only be matched if we manage Dave Matthews Band tickets at Fenway Park.

In honor of the Cullum show, I burned a new mix CD; here are the tracks I selected:

• Bad Day by Daniel Powter
• Name by Goo Goo Dolls
• Luka (live, acoustic) by Suzanne Vega
• A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
• Boston by Augustana
• End of the Innocence by Don Henley
• That’s Just the Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
• T.B.D. by Live
• Margaret by Seven Mary Three
• Summer by Buffalo Tom
• Shade by Silverchair
• Lucky Man by The Verve
• London Skies by Jamie Cullum
• Fa Fa by Guster on Lost and Gone Forever
• Blurry by Puddle of Mudd
• My Doorbell by The White Stripes
• Outside by Aaron Lewis, Staind featuring Fred Durst
• Daniel (live, cover) by Howie Day