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| Courtesy of the Web. (Trouble sourcing this one.) |
And so, yes, the spring soccer season has begun in earnest, and the Suburban Soliloquist will soon be fighting off gnats, dressing in layers for chilly, late night games, damp grounds, wet benches, or prepping with sunblock, and trying to avoid parents who pose as sideline coaches, screaming at their superstars: Behind you! Pick it up! Pass to your left! Shoot goddammit! and What the hell were you thinking? (seriously), on fields somewhere out in the green pastures of Massachusetts this weekend. Beginning, um, just about now.
She wishes she could spend more time with you this evening, but this being the case, she will leave you in the good hands (and voice and soul) of what the Suburban Soliloquist predicts (and she doesn't often predict, no, no, trained legal professionals do not predict, legal pros---not that she's claiming to be one--say only: it depends) will soon be one of the most successful bands in the music industry. She knows, high praise for a band who has yet to release their first album. But mark her words.
Goosebumps were the indicator.
This versatile, multitalented band, Alabama Shakes, whose origins began with a simple question posed by then high school student, Brittany Howard (singer/songwriter/guitarist), to a classmate who wore cool T-shirts: You wanna make some music?, has lately written a few handfuls of passionate and rockin' songs.
Howard's powerful and confident vocals summon Joplin, Cocker, Redding, even Winehouse. The toddler aged band's debut Album, Boys & Girls, will be released April 9th/10th, 2012.
They're on their way. Howard's sure to be a superstar (not just in her parent's eyes). The Suburban Soliloquist, though, dares not make predictions as to the outcome of this weekend's tournament. Most of it depends on...
My God! How totally refreshing. Howard is great, rare, and brings back memories of Joplin.
ReplyDeleteTotally, Rubye. She's getting well deserved praise. :)
DeleteI love Joe Cocker. I assume this is who you're referring to? In any event, sideline coaches scare me a bit. May more parents adopt your dignified demeanor, Jayne.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egaMwsb-TlI&ob=av2e
Yes, Suze, the one with the unmistakeable voice--Joe Cocker.
DeleteIt's a pity about the sideline coaches--makes for some tense moments, irritated parents. I feel bad for the poor kids, who often seem visibly disturbed by their overzealous and overbearing parents. Can't figure out why it is that the offending sideliners don't see it for themselves. Grrr.
Had a great weakend--very busy with games and traveling, but enjoyable. :)
I miss those days...My boys weren't MVPs but they had a lot of fun on the field.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot of fun to watch them develop, no matter what level the kids are playing at. It's a game, right?! We can't all be MVPs--that includes my kids. ;)
DeleteI hate to tell you this but Ms. Howard has already been touted a new saviour with of course all the hipster backlash that comes with it... but not to bad for a band that hasn't even released an album... i'll admit though i haven't heard them and haven't listened to the songs above cuz my favorite record store is going out of business (only to be re-opened, come to think of it i don't even think they're gonna actually close, on the same spot) but right now the whole place is half off so in the last 2 days i've picked up 8 new records, some new, some lost, some destroyed... and the I-Mac heads for the pitch soon, i tend to be one of those daddio's who sit back and watch and never make a comment, some of these parents kill me though, i wanna say: hey man these kids are 5 and 6 give it a break, i can imagine it only gets worse.
ReplyDeleteShe is getting a lot of attention, so I guess it's a pretty safe bet, huh, Kono? Too bad about the record shop--bricks and mortar can't compete with the virtual world--but at least your getting some steals.
DeleteAh, the I-Mac pitching and proud daddy looking on--that's a great picture. (He'll thank you, later, for not getting crazy at the games.) My kids go to a big hockey school, and parents have been known to become violent at some of the games. One father was actually killed by another out in the parking lot after a game--was beaten and hit his head against a rock. That is extreme, but it illustrates how crazy some people can get at these games. My kids don't play hockey and we don't go to any of the games, and I'm glad for that (it's a brutal sport to begin with--half the fighting seems for show). But the town sports can be just as brutal, vocally, anyway.
Good prediction! I get the impression that her talent is still raw, which makes it fresh and "real".
ReplyDeleteI could never embarrass my children that way. Show them how parents are supposed to behave, Jane. : )
Definitely the real deal, Leonora. And no, I can't imagine you being the sort of parent to scream at her kids from the sidelines (I'm always surprised by the amount of mothers who do). I'm pretty quiet at games, except for maybe a supportive "Good job" shout out here and there. ;)
DeleteLove Brittney Howard's voice! Such power-packed talent! In the first song I heard a combo of Joplin/Cocker. In the second song, I heard Redding - goosies on the arms for sure!
ReplyDeleteShe's a talented young lady, for sure. I tried to pre-order the album but couldn't--looked like they sold out! I'm sure there will be more available soon, though.
DeleteWow...sweet as a songbird and deep as a river...nice octave range there, I'm a convert!
ReplyDeleteYeah, damn sideline coaches...i remember fistfights between parents when I was a young football player...one of them was so crazy all of us kids got scared and stopped playing until the cops rolled up and dragged the 5 or 6 brawlers off to the klink for the night haha
Dan- yeah, lots of depth there, and hopefully lots of good things for and from this band in the years to come.
DeleteIn our town, parents were asked to sign contracts stating that they would refrain from yelling/coaching from the sidelines, etc.--good behavior kind of thing. That's how bad it gets--grown ups have to vow not to get too excited. Of course, it doesn't prevent it from happening. Really spoils it for the kids some times. The klink is a good place for those kinds of parents--hopefully it keeps them quiet for a while. ;)
What a knock-out voice! I hear the Winehouse, but, really, what I hear is this beauty of a voice. I'm with you on the prediction & do keep us posted. I love back story, too. Good luck fighting off the gnats . . .
ReplyDeleteGnats were not so bad, Susan. Maybe a bit too early for them--the weather was still a bit chilly, although, today, it is gloriously sunny and warm.
DeleteHoward's quite remarkable. :)
As soon as the skiing season is over (in about a month), the ball starts rolling. Same procedure every year >:)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
In about a month... not fair! Funny, it is the same procedure every year, isn't it? This spring, we have track for both kids, soccer for my son, and lacrosse for my daughter. Oh boy. :/
DeleteShe is the real deal for sure. Pure talent. And yes, I heard Otis in the second song. And yes, I got goosebumps. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGoosebumps, Hilary! Yes! I don't know how you could listen to her and not get goosebumps. ;)
DeleteGreat music. (Did you see their "Hold On," on Conan? Video here.)
ReplyDeleteI'm really sorta wishing the Soliloquist would start carrying a little video cam with her as she goes about these excursions in the outside world. Including her spontaneous narration, of course.
And how, oh how could she have written a soccer-season post without including the new "Suburbia" label? ;)
Watched it just now, thanks to your link, JES. She's fabulous--there's a certain lack of self consciousness about her that I find so refreshing--a natural.
DeleteHa! LOL--no kidding, I recorded a portion of my last excursion (the walk, not the weekend long soccer tournament), including verbal notes, and also some other bits with pretty birdsong and the sounds of the world around me. I almost posted one audio of my footsteps and the sandy roads, but a noisy car drove by and dirtied it up.
Ah! No kidding--soccer: the very essence of suburbia. Denial, JES, denial. (Ok, maybe I'll add it later--I'm sure I could add it to plenty others.) ;)
Soccer mom Soliloquist, making art on the chilly sidelines. Inspired by knobby knees, tangled hair, and the certainty that magic was in the making.
ReplyDeleteI remember the days when my daughter player high school soccer. The team was new, the enthusiasm high— even after two straight years without a win. I was proud that my girl stuck with it in spite of the stigma of being a loser. Those two years taught us both a lot about commitment.
Alabama Shakes...I'm in love!
Ha, Leah! You know what the best part of the weekend was?? Soul food in Worcester. No kidding. Sweet Ts--was excellent! I could write a review for them. Interesting characters working there, too.
DeleteI love the underdog, the bad news bears... my kids have been on a few teams like that--zero wins all season. But it is the heart that counts. Your daughter's resilient and has a lot of heart. Just like her mama. ;)
I hear you about the soccer. But with me, it's baseball. Games start this Friday.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, Susan, baseball. My son used to play until he could play no more. Oh lordy those were long, painful games! Hope yours are a little more exciting. ;)
DeleteMakes one truly believe in old souls, to hear someone so young sing the blues from the bottoms of her feet, the bottom of her heart. I think you are safe in this prediction. Are there enough hours in your days to add Talent Scout to your CV? xo
ReplyDeleteMarylinn- Absolutely. She does seem an old soul--her sound comes from another era to which she is undeniably connected. Yeah, I think anyone would make the same prediction--it's been made plenty. The scouts were there long before me. That would be a fun job, though, wouldn't it? :)
DeleteJayne, could be lost, now found tapes of Janis and big brother. The singer is well ahead of the band.
ReplyDeleteI re-read something I wrote before about sharpening your blade, meaning that you are very precise with your words. Something I could learn from. But I must apologize for not re-reading before I sent it. Auto correct in the fingers of a careless person is a dangerous thing. I am not sure what I was saying and I wrote it. Michael Paul
Michael- And how. Far, far ahead.
DeleteI was pretty sure that is what you meant about the blade. Funny you say this though--"something I could learn from"--as I'd like to be less precise and more poetic. I read your poetry and think/say the same thing. ;)
You are plenty poetic, having developed your genre. Like Gert Stein, you are not following a narrative line. It is cut accross the mental, physical landscape. Michael
ReplyDelete