Video Release: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings "I Learned the Hard Way"

"I Learned the Hard Way" -- Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Some of us never really "learned the hard way," or at least won't admit it if we did, but this video makes you feel like you may want to. Can Lee Fields and Sharon Jones act or what? I mean, what can we say about Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings? The woman/band is a smash. After releasing 100 Days, 100 Nights to much critical acclaim, Jones immediately returned to Daptone Studios in Brooklyn and began cutting her newest effort. "I Learned the Hard Way" is the title track from recent her Daptone Records' release which dropped on 4/6. The album sold almost 23,000 copies first week making it to the #15 spot on the Billboard Top 200. Needless to say, among all the pop, rock, and rap acts that don the Top 200 every week, injecting a bit of genuine R&B soul is a fresh musical respite. Join Jones & Company on 4/30 for their album release performance at the Apollo Theater in NYC. You may even learn how to dance from an audience member -- happened to us the last time we saw Jones and the Kings!

Full national tour dates after the jump.


4/15 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
4/17 - Live Oak, FL - Wanee Music Festival
4/22 - Lafayette, LA - Festival International de Louisiane
4/23 - New Orleans, LA - The Howlin’ Wolf
4/24 - Oxford, MS - Double Decker Festival
4/30 - NYC RELEASE PARTY @ The Apollo Theater – SOLD OUT
5/1 - New York, NY - The Apollo Theatre
5/6 - Richmond, VA - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
5/7 - Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head Onstage
5/8 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater
5/9 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
5/11 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
5/12 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
5/13 - Atlanta, GA - Center Stage Atlanta
5/14 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
5/15 - Nelsonville, OH - Nelsonville Music Festival
5/17 - Newport, KY - The Southgate House
5/18 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
5/21 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
5/22 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
5/23 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
5/25 - Toronto, ON - The Sound Academy
5/26 - Montreal, QC - Le National
5/27 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
5/28 - Hartford, CT - New England Dodge Music Center
5/29 - Hartford, CT - New England Dodge Music Center
6/20 - Vancouver, BC - The Commodore Ballroom
6/21 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo
6/22 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
6/25 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
6/26 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
6/27 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern


After the jump.

More Than a Few Things to Get Excited About

After watching two excellent American Masters episodes last night on Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, we were depressed first off, but knew that we needed to post on the new Sharon Jones record I Learned the Hard Way coming out May 4th on Daptone Records, of course. The press release promises big things, and if it were anyone but Sharon, we wouldn't believe it.

The record drips with warmth and spontaneity rarely found since the golden days of Muscle Shoals and Stax. Sharon's raw power, rhythmic swagger, moaning soulfulness, and melodic command set her firmly alongside Tina Turner, James Brown, Mavis Staples, and Aretha as a fixture in the canon of soul music.

[mp3] Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore: "Something, Somewhere, Sometime"

Vince caught word of Ben Sollee during his Nashville Scene tenure a few years ago. Ben has since made some good decisions, and partnered with Sub Pop's talented Daniel Martin Moore and producer Jim James (yeah that one) to record a stellar new record Dear Companion (Feb 16, Sub Pop). We say "good decisions" as Sollee's solo work showed flashes of Appalachian-style brilliance, but also tended to stray into dangerous Amos Lee territory. Dear Companion focuses on the former songwriting talents, especially as the album is a tribute of sorts to both artists' Kentucky home, and explores the awfulness that is mountaintop removal coal mining. A portion of the proceeds from Dear Companion will benefit Appalachian Voices, "an organization devoted to ending mountaintop removal and finding a better way forward."

Lastly, we have the cover for the new Dum Dum Girls record, which we've been spinning pretty incessantly since it's arrival yesterday afternoon. We caught the new Dum Dum's line-up during CMJ, and take it from us, the Vivian Girls have now become the poor man's Dum Dum Girls. I Will Be comes out March 30th on Sub Pop.

Dark was the Night - Radio City Presale

The National "So Far Around the Bend" mp3

Starting now - presale tickets are available for the May 3rd Radio City Dark was the Night concert extravaganza featuring confirmed guests the National, Sharon Jones, My Brightest Diamond, Feist, Dirty Projectors and David Steik. There is some speculation on Grizzly Bear, Sufjan and David Byrne. People are also reaaallly hoping for MMJ, but no reports seem to suggest that. AMEX presale and Internet presale (Password - oksana or HEDARK). Via BV.

Dark was the Night - Charity Compilation - 2/17

Even though the blogosphere has been alight for the past several weeks regarding this blockbuster compilation, enough can't be said about how all-around great it is. I'm sure there will be much debate over the "greatness" of all the artists, but you can't expect names like Wavves to sell this record. At least not yet. (No hate to Wavves here.)

We've been able to peruse about 3/4ths of it since it arrived yesterday, and what we've heard so far has been excellent. Not only does the tracklist feature a veritable who's-who of major indie rock artists of the past decade, but all of the proceeds of Dark was the Night go to the Red Hot Organization. This is the 20th Red Hot release, and the 20th anniversary of the Red Hot Organization. The organization is an international charity dedicated to raising money and awareness for HIV and AIDS through popular culture.

Much more info and an mp3 after the jump.

Dirty Projectors and David Byrne "Knotty Pine"

The first disc of the two features darker more haunting versions of folk themed songs (some covers and originals). Highlights here include Antony's cover of Dylan's I Was Young When I Left Home, the reworked Grizzly Bear track Deep Blue Sea and the Dirty Projectors/David Byrne collaboration Knotty Pine (mp3 above).

The second disc brings forth a brighter collection of tracks, the "morning" to the first disc's "night" if you will. Personal favorites so far are the My Morning Jacket track El Caporal and the Sharon Jones cover of Shuggie Otis' Inspiration Information.

BUY this record February 17th via 4AD. Remember, charity people, don't be a torrenting asshole. Lots of great listening here. Tracks from the comp have been streaming for awhile HERE.

THIS DISC

1 Knotty Pine - Dirty Projectors + David Byrne http://www.4ad.com/audio/darkwasthenight/knottypine.mp3

2 Cello Song (Nick Drake) - The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez

3 Train Song (Vashti Bunyan recorded, written by Alasdair Clayre) - Feist Ben Gibbard

4 Brackett, WI - Bon Iver

5 Deep Blue Sea - Grizzly Bear

6 So Far Around the Bend - The National (arrangement by Nico Muhly)

7 Tightrope - Yeasayer

8 Feeling Good (popularized by Nina Simone) - My Brightest Diamond

9 Dark Was the Night (Blind Willie Johnson) - Kronos Quartet

10 I Was Young When I Left Home (Bob Dylan) - Antony Bryce Dessner

11 Big Red Machine - Justin Vernon Aaron Dessner

12 Sleepless - The Decemberists

13 Stolen Houses (Die) - Iron and Wine

14 Service Bell - Grizzly Bear Feist

15 You Are The Blood - Sufjan Stevens



THAT DISC

1 Well-Alright - Spoon

2 Lenin - Arcade Fire

3 Mimizan - Beirut

4 El Caporal - My Morning Jacket

5 Inspiration Information (Shuggie Otis) - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

6 With A Girl Like You (The Troggs) - Dave Sitek

7 Blood Pt 2 (based on original song "You are the Blood" by the Castanets) - Buck 65
Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)

8 Hey, Snow White (Destroyer) - The New Pornographers

9 Gentle Hour (Snapper) - Yo La Tengo

10 Another Saturday (traditional song) - Stuart Murdoch

11 Happiness - Riceboy Sleeps

12 Amazing Grace (traditional song) - Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues

13 The Giant Of Illinois (Handsome Family) - Andrew Bird

14 Lua - Conor Oberst Gillian Welch

15 When the Road Runs Out - Blonde Redhead Devastations

16 Love vs. Porn - Kevin Drew