Five For Friday: Time to dance!

What better way to start off the weekend than with your own personal dance party? Here's something to dance to. Have a great weekend!

Rediscover: Ben Folds

When I mentioned Ben Folds in my last post, it made me remember that I haven't listened to him in quite a while. I really enjoy listening to him and I think you will too. So without further ado, please enjoy some Ben Folds (and learn more about him here.)

PS: Fraggle Rock is awesome.

Discover: Crash Kings

Usually if you have a band consisting of keys, drums and bass, it's a Jazz band. And usually if you have a three piece rock band, it will have guitar, drums and bass... Neither of those is true of Crash Kings. A three piece rock band with no guitars is pretty fascinating. I know... I know... Ben Folds Five did it "first", but this music sounds like it should have guitars in it. Definitely worth a good listen or two!

Learn more about Crash Kings here.

Five For Friday: Things I Like

This week's songs are based on things that I like:

1. Coffee

2. Cereal

3. The ocean

4. Baseball

5. Star Wars (IV, V & VI only)

What are five things that you like?

Have a great weekend!

Rediscover: Ben Harper

Ben Harper, Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Ben Harper with The Blind Boys of Alabama, Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite and now Ben Harper with Ellen Harper? Yep. His most recent album is a collaboration with his mom. You never think about well known musician's parents also being musicians (unless, of course, you're talking about Jakob Dylan). I was interested to find out that his mother is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose parents and grandparents started The Folk Music Center and Museum in Claremont, California. You can read more about his most recent album, "Childhood Home" here and you can learn more about Ben Harper here.

Discover: Reignwolf

Reignwolf is a super dirty, hard hitting one, two or three piece band depending on when you catch a performance. Some might call it garbage but I call it greatness.  Regardless of which side of that fine line you believe Reignwolf falls on, you can't deny their energy. I personally love their sound and am looking forward to an album release (hopefully) soon.

Find out more about Reignwolf here.

Five For Friday: You've Got Me Feeling Emotions

This weeks five song set is dedicated to anyone and everyone who has feelings. That should include almost everyone... almost. I'm sure there's someone out there that is emotionless, but then again, they probably wouldn't enjoy music anyway so what does it matter?

And before you even ask, yes. I intentionally left Pharrell off this list.

Have a great weekend!

Rediscover: The String Cheese Incident

About 10 years ago, I used to listen to jam bands all the time, but then they slowly fell out of my playlist almost completely. Well, The String Cheese Incident recently released a new album so I have a feeling they're going to find their way back into rotation (though probably not as heavily as before). Their new album, "Song In My Head" is one of their better studio albums. I think they captured their live sound pretty well this time minus the excessive jamming. That was the problem I had with their other studio albums. They didn't translate very well to me and ended up being kind of boring, but this one is different and definitely worth checking out.

Find out more about The String Cheese Incident here.

Discover: Hurray For The Riff Raff

If you like folk music, you'll probably like Hurray For The Riff Raff. This kind of music makes me want to lie in a hammock and drink sweet tea while watching the sun set behind the pines... I can't remember where I first heard them, (NPR? Band of The Day app?), but I'm glad I came across them.

Learn more about Hurray For The Riff Raff here.

Five For Friday: Your Mom

This is a friendly reminder that Mother's Day is this Sunday. Don't forget to call or go visit your mom. After all, you wouldn't be here without her. No "Your Momma" jokes here; just songs about moms.

Have a good weekend and hug your mom!

Rediscover: Alabama Shakes

What can I say? Brittany Howard is freaking amazing! If their new album is anything like this new song, we're in store for some amazing music.

Find out more about Alabama Shakes here.

Discover: Little Hurricane

Any time I come across a two-piece band with a girl drummer, my first thought is, "Please don't be a White Stripes knockoff..." Nothing against The White Stripes at all. I love them. But fortunately Little Hurricane definitely isn't a knockoff and had I not seen them before I heard them, I wouldn't have had that thought to begin with. Good and gritty blues/folk/rock tunes coming from this duo. I'm looking forward to discovering more from this band.

Find out more about Little Hurricane here.

Five For Friday: Songs About Animals

Today's songs are all about animals.

Have a great weekend and get outside!