Day 18 – A Song You Wish You Heard On The Radio
Burning The Bowery – Jesse Malin
Another radio-related category, so I’m up against it right away. As discussed yesterday, as a very infrequent music radio listener, I don’t have much of an opinion on this one. What that means is that I will use today to spread the word about one of my favourite artists, who I suspect is hardly ever played on the radio in the UK, in other words a song I think ought to be played on the radio!
This is the first track from Jesse’s latest album, released last year, featuring his new band “The St Mark’s Social”. While I don’t think it’s his best album overall, I love this particular song. In fact I love pretty much all his material. New York born and raised, with a punk background, his songs are intelligent and memorable. His live show is also fantastic. Seen him twice in Birmingham, an acoustic show a couple of years ago and with the band last summer in the small bit of the O2 Academy. As well as his singing and playing, his shows are known for the storytelling – he is a born raconteur and his musings are highly entertaining. He did a bit in the show last year where he came into the audience, sat down and got everyone sitting down around him, while he told a story then launched into the next song, before returning to the stage part way through it. A great singer/songwriter and a great live performer.
And if they played more music like Jesse, I may listen to the radio more!
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