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Marco Benevento's "Now They're Writing Music" Video by Michael DiDonna
Mike McKinley
September 19, 2009
This is a great song from Marco's latest record‚ Me Not Me‚ inspired by his circuit bent toys. I've admired Michael DiDonna's photography for a long time and it's apparent his video work is just as stimulating and creative. Check out the video for "Now They're Writing Music."

Marco's trio with Reed Mathis and Andrew Barr are out on tour - check the dates at Marco's.

Like Office Space, Only with Smooth Jazz
Matt Bushlow
September 15, 2009
Someone Sent Kurt Cobain to Work on Activision's Farm
Matt Bushlow
September 15, 2009
Lefsetz sent this out, so if you follow him, you've seen it. If you don't know the story, in short, the new version of Guitar Hero has a Kurt Cobain avatar who sings everything from "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy to "Fame" by David Bowie, and, yes, it's true, "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi.

Lefsetz opens fire on Activision, calling for a boycott if they don't destroy the game. Good luck with that one, Bob. Even though seeing Cobain lip-sync Flavor Flav's shtick is terrible--and disrespectful--Lefsetz is right on that the Bon Jovi lip sync is over the top. There truly couldn't be a less appropriate corporate-rock cock to put in Kurt's mouth.

And though Courtney Love has shown the world she's batshit crazy, it seems unlikely that even a sad, worn-out old fame whore like her would stoop so low. It looks possible that Activision decided to go forward with a breach of contract, knowing full well that it would cause a minor viral shitstorm, getting their name in the press at a time when Harmonix is dominating the news with The Beatles: Rockband. (Whether or not anyone gives a shit about the Beatles game is another question.)

There's a good round-up on The Guardian's website of Love's blathering reactions to accusations that she sold Kurt's likeness out for a huge check. She sounds just as loony as always. Get this: Who does she blame? Dave Grohl. Christ. Sure, I don't like the Foo Fighters much, but at least he goes out and does his own work. What the hell would his motivation be for approving something like this? And does he even have authority to do it?

What a shit show Cobain's estate has become. I feel like the only news that comes out is about fighting and, of course, that fighting is almost always about money. And Courtney's high-pitched shriek is always out front. I wonder what Francis Bean thinks of the way little mommy crazypants is handling her dad's legacy?

Anyway, here's the YouTube video. You get the idea pretty quickly.

Dose of Dylan - "Most of the Time"
Mike McKinley
September 13, 2009
I was joking around with some friends last week saying that I've been on this weird Bob Dylan kick lately… like for the last 18 years. Since those days when Bob's music first struck me like lightning‚ I've discovered the classics‚ the obscure‚ the b-sides‚ the bootlegs and so on. I realized early on that it was going to be a long road‚ and fortunately. it keeps getting better with age. There's no other musician that speaks to me the way Bob Dylan does.

Like so much of his discography‚ his last several albums have worked like a broadband connection to my soul. But still‚ in his massive catalog‚ there're a few albums that I just haven't gotten to yet‚ one of them is Oh Mercy. And I still haven't gotten to it. And by gotten to it‚ I mean, sunk my teeth in and let it become part of my blood like so many of his records. I've come to learn that one of the more popular tunes on Oh Mercy is "Most of the Time."

Well‚ being a bit oblivious to the tune‚ I heard a stripped down version of it on Tell Tale Signs -- the release from last year of alternate takes‚ b-sides‚ unreleased material from the Oh Mercy through Modern Times era‚ roughly 1989 through 2006. I highly recommend it -- it's fantastic. I remember Ben Knox-Miller of the Low Anthem telling us jokingly in an interview something along the lines of‚ "It's amazing that this guy's unreleased material is better than anything else that's come out in the past fifteen years!"

Yeah‚ there's some truth to that. This version of "Most of the Time" was my first experience consciously listening to this song and it's just Bob with guitar and harmonic. I feel like I've been listening to this song one to two times a day for the last two months. It really hits deep. Listen...



It's Dylan's poetic magic. When he says "most of the time" he's telling you everything else without having to say it. And unless you're not human‚ it's crushing. It's hairs-standing-on-end-eyes-watering-up type of crushing.

Of course a tune like this has some history. I was telling a friend about this version and how I can't stop listening to it. She was quick to inform me that this song is playing in her favorite scene from High Fidelity… interesting‚ I had no idea. Hmm... I wish I didn't. Maybe.

Liberate Music and Arts Festival: Win Tickets!
Mike McKinley
August 3, 2009
The winners have been picked, and this contest is now closed.

State of Mind wants you to come to beautiful Sheldon, Vermont on August 21 & 22 to celebrate Liberate Music and Arts Festival. We have two tickets to give away and two ways to win them.

First ticket: Just fill out the form below and a winner will be selected randomly on Friday‚ August 14th.

Second ticket: Go to the State of Mind Facebook page (become a fan!) and leave a comment on our wall telling us who you're most excited about seeing at Liberate. We'll select a winner at random on on Friday‚ August 14th as well.

Line-Up Includes:
The New Deal (2 sets!) & Ryan Montbleau Band
Orchard Lounge, Rubblebucket Orchestra, The Brew, Nate Wilson Group, Spiritual Rez, Dead Sessions, Roots of Creation, Twiddle, Strength in Numbers, Jeff Bujak, Greyspoke, DJ Monaco, WAGAN, Avi & Celia, The Human Canvas, Band of Gypsies (the Jimi Hendrix Tribute)

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