Megan's Top 70 of 2010: #61 - Blood Feathers

Why I Decree it to Be So:

Hail, hail rock & roll. These little movers and shakers and rattlers and rollers from Philly known as Blood Feathers have delivered a record full of rock & roll reverence and sass, and damned if it's not oh so mighty fine. They've studied the beautiful beginnings of rock & roll quite well, and their forefathers would be so very proud. It's as though they want nothing more than to get your blood pumping and your shimmy shaking, and listening to this record it's hard not to fall victim to their delightful master plan. Surrender now, my friends, because resistance is quite futile.

mp3: Don't Know You At All (Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious)

Wish You Were Here #4: Blood Feathers

Those Blood Feathers boys sure do get around, don't they? I guess it's what happens when you're out on tour. In any event, looks like they've been getting up to no good. I for one am looking forward to their Daytrotter session, not to mention the debauchery next time they swing back around DC.

mp3: Sugar In Bed (Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious)

Wish You Were Here #3: Blood Feathers

Seriously, y'all, have you added a little Blood Feathers to your life yet???? Because, in addition to being seriously killer on record, and quite possibly even better in the flesh, they're super, super nice dudes. And who doesn't love nice dudes? Well, actually, some of us tend to run away from nice boys and go for the baddest of the bad boys, but that's neither here nor there. The point here is that Blood Feathers is a fantastic band. And you should obviously love them. That is all.

mp3: The Same Mad Part (Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious)

Wish You Were Here #2: Blood Feathers

I love me some Blood Feathers. I'm pretty sure they're my favorite group of Philadelphians, and they make some seriously funky/twangy/rockin/rollin/get down music. Luckily for you, they're fond of touring, so get ready for a few dates with The Walkmen next month. Fun will be had.

mp3: Don't Know You At All (Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious)

The Untitled Interview #41: Starring Ben Dickey (Blood Feathers)

I recently discovered that I kinda sorta love Blood Feathers, thanks to a mucho fantastico live performance at the Black Cat a few weeks back. They've got sass, my friends, serious sass. The Philly supergroupers impressed me not only with their saucy onstage demeanor but with their music, too. Hey, it's not all about stage presence, friends. It helps to make good tunes, at least in my humble opinion. And happily, Blood Feathers know how to concoct some damn fine songs. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. Pick up a copy of their record, Goodness Gracious, or even better, get the record and then go see them live. You'll love 'em.

Ben Dickey (otherwise known as Feather Dickey) kindly sat down with some questions, and below are his answers. Ben wins major points for his diplomatic answer to my most pointed question (see Beatles vs Stones). Sure, we root for enemy baseball teams, but I still think Ben is the bee's knees. But look out, Ben, the Nats are gonna win it all in about 100 years. Just you wait.

Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
Ben Dickey: Pretty darned good I suppose.

LET: What was the last song you listened to?
BD: “DW. Washburn” by the Coasters.

LET: Playing music is: __________
BD: Playing music is not quite a disease, but there ain't no cure and it's terminal. But it feels just so mighty fine!

LET: What album most made you realize you wanted to make music?
BD: Bo Diddley (1957) & Go Bo Diddley.

LET: Beatles or Stones?
BD: Steatles.

LET: Top 5 albums (of now, of this month, or of ever):
BD: Jeez, for now, 5. Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Vol. 1. 4. Howlin' Wolf, Moanin In The Moonlight. 3. Hank Williams, Moanin' The Blues. 2. Bob Dylan, Love & Theft. 1. Jimi Hendrix, Electric Ladyland...but that's just today, and that's just me.

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
BD: Hard Days Night.

LET: Half-full or half-empty?
BD: Full dahlin', full.

LET: Which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
BD: We really dig what Jack White does as a musical force all round. I'm always interested in what Radiohead will do next. Some of the best song writers around are our friends, Dr. Dog, Mazarin (or Black Stoltzfus), Walkmen. Love what they do. The best music? Raphael Saadiq is makin' some damn good music. Don't know bout best, sorry.

LET: What’s the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
BD: Does the ol' Tanker Dog (my dog) need to go outside yonder?

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
BD: Princeton Record Exchange is pretty good.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
BD: Shaken baby.

LET: If you weren’t in a band you’d be:
BD: A fighter pilot.

LET: Your boots were made for:
BD: Lovin'.

LET: If you were so inclined, whom would you form a tribute band in honor of?
BD: Fats Domino.

LET: Little-known Blood Feathers fact?
BD: Not a one tattoo in the band.

LET: Springing forward-falling backwards: thumbs up or thumbs down?
BD: Give me mo' light and I will grin with delight.

LET: Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers: who do you root for?
BD: Phillies fo' sho'.

LET: Best song ever written?
BD: There’s that word best again. For the purposes of the question, how bout “O' Holy Night”, oh those majors into minors into majors.

mp3: Caterpillar (Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious)

100 Shows of 2010 - #2: Seas/Blood Feathers/Tough Shits @ Black Cat, 3/4/10

This show had been on my radar for quite some time, and I had pretty high expectations for the bands. I was initially concerned that my expectation of a fantastic show might lead to disappointment, but happily, this wasn’t the case. The Philly contingent and the local lads definitely made good, and had me contentedly beaming all evening.

MINI RECAP: Tough Shits = a very pleasant surprise! Blood Feathers = oh my heavens! Seas = extremely expectation-exceeding! Overall score: A!

The first of my DC shows of this series definitely had to be at the Black Cat. As I always say, it’s my bar away from home. I’ve seen countless bands play here, and I enjoy seeing bands in the smaller backstage area, because it feels like you’re seeing bands on the verge. And I think I saw a few of those Thursday night.

I saw the members of Tough Shits wandering around the bar before the show, and I wasn’t totally sure about them. But once the Philly guys got going, my mind was put to rest. They were pretty darn good, and charming…in their own special way (I have the image of a red bandanna burned into my brain). Despite declaring exhaustion after just one song, the Tough Shits unleashed their jaunty rock’n’pop on the ever-larger crowd backstage. They’d quite possibly hate my saying so, but the entire band is so adorable that I just wanted to pinch their cheeks. I have no idea why I hadn’t already heard of them, but I totally dug their streetwise, sarcastic, and dare I say almost sweet (at times, these guys aren't into soft rock) tunes. And bless their little hearts, they looked stunned when the crowd wanted an encore. Really good stuff.

After the Tough Shits, the crowd really started pouring into the small room that is the backstage. It was time for Philadelphians #2, Blood Feathers, or the “local hipster supergroup” according to my spies in Philly. Fitting six people on the stage is asking a lot, but the band seemed to have no troubles and got right into their performance. I sure don’t think of Philly when I hear them, but hot damn I was instantly impressed. They’ve got great stage presence (yay banter!), and the songs are pretty good, too. How can you not love a band that introduces a song by saying, “We love dance music. We do our best to provide dance music. Sometimes it requires maracas.” If I didn’t love them already, I did from that moment forward. Blood Feathers sound like a honky tonk, Philly style. The sound is rich, very danceable, and as is a hallmark of good bands, even better live than on record. I’m officially hoppin on the Blood Feathers bandwagon.

After the rambunctious rollicking of Blood Feathers, there was still more good music to be had. Seas, signed to a Richmond friend’s label (Decoration Day), is the brainchild of DC-ite Ben Green. I’m way into the album Now My Home is a Beech Tree, and had the highest of high expectations for the live show. Armed with an acoustic guitar and with a little help from some friends, Ben held court masterfully. Seas’ set was superb. This is beautiful, effortless music. It’s so warm, so rich, and so very lovely. The couple sitting at the table in front of me rested their heads together at one point, an action I think sums up the feel of the set rather well. There’s a fantastic quiet confidence in Seas songs, delicate and powerful at the same time. For his part, Ben is affable and totally likeable, unassuming and pleasant, a genuine troubadour. Seas is definitely a DC act to keep your eyes on, and I know I sure will be.

mp3: The Buried Ranges (Seas from Now My Home is a Beech Tree)

mp3: King Cotton & The Little Star (For Bo Diddley) (Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious)