In case you didn’t see, the post for July 4th was the start of something… Can you see?
I spent the holiday in a town I’d been too a few weeks back, Ventura. I was invited out there to meet some people and visit some venues to find places to play shows. While there I was stopped at one point and asked about my tattoos. I was asked what the meaning behind them was. The cool thing about it was the girl had a bunch of her own but really liked mine as they were different. That was the whole reason behind me getting them in the first place, I wanted them to be considerably different from any others out there.
Getting out of town is a good thing. It helps give perspective on where you’re at and what you’re doing. It’s also a great way to meet people. My friend Joni who was the one that asked me to visit the place was showing me around. We had a great dinner at a place called the Westside Grill. At least I think that was the name. They are looking to add music to their venue and after dinner we spoke with Amanda and the general manager Will. They’ll be booking soon.
It’s one of the few 4th’s of July where I actually missed the fireworks. A marine layer and a great dinner was the culprit for that. Oh well at least a new friendship was sparked.
Afterwards we tripped to the Good Bar to watch some of the California Music Festival. Saw a band from Seattle and another from Utah. Both of which unfortunately left a lot to be desired. The one from Utah really made a mistake in telling Michael Jackson jokes from the stage. Not only was the joke telling poorly timed, but distasteful as well. I like a good joke as much as the next guy, but a musician with so little regard for a huge star only shows how little he cares for his own career.
On the flip side when an artist covers the song of another artist it is the ultimate form of flattery if it’s done well. Which is where I come to today’s pick in Jennings. I’m not a fan of Rihanna, not in the sense that I’ve ever purchased a song of hers. It isn’t anything against her, but her music doesn’t speak to me enough to explore it. I am familiar with her hit Umbrella. The reason is, I had heard it.
Jennings has taken Rihanna’s Umbrella and made it something cooler. She’s taken an approach that maybe Imogen Heap would do, but nonetheless it’s Jennings that did it – a full a cappella version that actually makes Umbrella make sense. I like the arrangement she worked up. In fact, it’s such a cool idea that it makes me want to work up an a cappella version of a song, not this one, but something (who knows, I may do that for fun).
Either way I’ve got a new found interest in this particular song. Being able to hear the words done in this manner end up making them make way more sense than they do with a dance song. That’s the interesting thing with some art, it can change the whole meaning based on presentation. This is a prime example of how presentation makes a huge difference. Jennings has a smooth flowing voice that works very well for the style she is carving out for herself. Pay attention.
Go get it!