Music Monday #4: Catching Up

On Music Monday this week:
1. Introduction
2. Favorite Listings
3. Etta Cameron homage
4. Top 5 Most Played Songs on Music Player
5. Drop me a line.

Finally, I took the time to catch up on things.

First of all, I promised to do a Brocktour-themed Music Monday. The idea was really to round up the bands I remember from the Rock Services in Brorson’s Church – and given that it has been a couple of months since then, and the latest passed Friday was the last Rock Service of the season, not only is there a bigger number of bands to pick of – it’s a perfect occassion to pick up on it.

Second of all, I thought I’d do a little homage to Etta Cameron, who passed away in March.

Starting out with the Brocktour (Brorson’s Rocktour) theme, I picked from what I remember from the Rock Services and Tours throughout my two years in Brorson’s Church:

Five Brock-bands never escaping my memory
LIPS (www.myspace.com/thelipsdk)
This is one of the two first bands I remember experiencing at a Rock Service. Actually, it’s the first one I remember clearly – perhaps mainly because the activity coordinator at the time, Loa, who was also on my first Brocktour (which was last year), is the singer of the band. The present activity coordinator, Ulrich, who was on my second tour (which was this year), is on the keys in the band.
They have a sort of dance/disco-quality to their music – and in spite of not being too crazy about too much reminding me of the 1980’s music-wise (with very few exceptions – I think I’ve been environmentally damaged in both directions), I actually like it!

Niepoort (www.myspace.com/niepoort)
Niepoort was the band who joined us for the Brocktour in 2009. It’s the first time I remember experiencing the accesability of a band like I did, although I often sensed it at other Rock Services with other bands. You just seem to get a better sense of people if you spend more time with them, I suppose.
As for their music, I remember them using a tiny megaphone to sing through at one of the songs, which gave a pretty nifty effect. Besides that, I find that the lead singer (Gustav Niepoort – another Dane with a Dutch last name!, I love! ;D) has a voice I’m not really sure how to describe, although I love it. Take a listen – can anyone help me coin a description?

Black Rose Trick (www.myspace.com/blackrosetrick)
Black Rose trick was with us at our latest Brocktour – and how great it was to experience! I’ll never forget blogging, tweeting, sorting photos, or napping to the sound of Guitar Hero in the salon in the back of the bus.
Listening to their recordings, they sound more ambient than they do live; albeit still having an ambient-like sound even then. Also, they do have some good hooks in their songs – which we were more than likely to be singing along to every night.

A Road to Damascus (www.myspace.com/aroadtodamascus)
In the end of March this year, our activity coordinator was down with a concussion. Our usual Reverend was off duty for some reason. And the band which was supposed to play had cancelled. But we were in luck – we had a previous temp taking the place of the activity coordinator, Reverend Asser Skude (who is known for his work for homeless people and running for Bishop of Copenhagen back in 2009) to take Per the Reverend’s place, and a voluntary who had a connection to A Road to Damascus, who were able to bring their energy to the Church.
And what energy! During a Rock Service, the band is situated in front of the altar, which is on a raised platform with two steps down to the floor of the rest of the Church. Not only did they perform from the platform, but also jumped down in front of it. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so much energy from a band performing at any service in Brorson’s before!

Turnip Greens (www.myspace.com/turnipgreens)
I was really impressed with their sound – being really south state/R&B/country/blues-y; I never heard that in Brorson’s before, making Turnip Greens standing out in my memory for a long time to come.

Five songs never escaping my memory
White Pony: “Falling” (Watch @ YouTube)
I remember this song from the 2009 Brocktour. One of the volunteers couldn’t get it out of her head – especially the “There’s only one right side, and that’s the downside…” part – and she had to bless us by playing it out loud…
Black Rose Trick: “Black Water” (Listen @ MySpace)
This is one of the songs I was talking about in the space above – although some of us would by the end of the tour end up telling them to get the damn bird out of the water and get on with it.
The song is still on their page at the time this entry is published.
Black Rose Trick: “By the River” (Listen @ MySpace)
This one, though, I believe was the absolute favorite of the giv-et-år medarbejder (give a year employee) and I – singing along to the gorgeous “oo-ooh, a-ah-a-ah-ah, oo-ooh, aa-ah…”-hook. I still get into the spirit of the Brocktour when listening to it.
The song is still on their page at the time this entry is published.
Black Rose Trick: “On My Knees” (Listen @ MySpace)
Not only one, but two catchy “ooh”-based hooks was on the live version of this, as the lead singer had taken over the melody in the end of the song. But what caught me was the subject of being on one knees in front of a “Majesty” – which was the only word I caught of the song to start with, thinking of the higher powers as Majesties. And it still pops into my head for no reason whatsoever every now and then.
The song is still on their page at the time this entry is published.
A Road to Damascus: “Sweetheart” (Listen @ MySpace)
I have to admit that I was trying to find the song by Niepoort where Gustav was singing through the tiny megaphone – but couldn’t find it (so much for the song not escaping…). And again – ARtD to the rescue! This is not because they’re second to anyone – they are second to noone – they’re just that good (proven by the fact that I remember their energy and performance over the circumstances of the service they played at).
What strikes me about the song is that its vibe is opposite the vibe I got from the performance at the Rock Service – and yet it’s the one of the three on their MySpace page that illustrates their performing enery during the service.
The song is still on their page at the time this entry is published.

Etta Cameron Homage
Etta Cameron hat a decent part of gospel history in Denmark – even collaborating with one of the first idols of mine, Stig Rossen. Although I think I prefer gospel with her kind of voice, she did have a decent talent for jazz as well – proven in this video I found on YouTube.

There is a translation of what she says below the video.

“The music has been like medicine to me. I was so young when my mother died, and that was not that long after my father. And when I was very, very, very sad or scared, because I was alone, I just sang. No matter if it was jazz or it was gospel or blues or whatever. It’s something that I have always appreciated, and I always will. But it has meant medicine to me. Really. It was big, has always been big to me, the music.” – Etta Cameron.

Taped on Copenhagen Jazzhouse, aired on TV2 Charlie.

The Top 5 most played on my portable music player is as of right now:
1. “Slow Me Down” (Emmy Rossum)
2. “Teardrop (LP Version)” (Massive Attack)
3. “Come Around” (Timbaland feat. Mia)
4. “Walk This Way” (Aerosmith & Run DMC)
5. “Stay” (Emmy Rossum)

Got any reactions? Suggestions? Requests? Comment/reply away.