Transitions are going down all over town and earth.  It’s that time of year and life.  Here are two all-time great songs that relay relevant perspectives.  Even if you’ve heard before, these are songs worthy of revisiting. Give a good listen you who are transitioning, and young and old parents.

First up is Tom Rush’s rendering of one of the best growing-up-and-moving-on songs ever written.  In Murray McLaughlin’s “Child’s Song,” a son tells his family it’s time to leave home.  The lyrics are at times devastating (we think of our own when Rush sings from the older son’s perspective: “little sister you’ll have to wait a while to come along”).  But proper perspective and lift are provided as well:

“Thanks for all you done it may sound hollow
Thank you for the good times that we’ve known
But I must find my own road now to follow
You will all be welcome in my home.”

Listen in.  Hate/have to let ’em go.

Tom Rush–Child’s Song

We wonder how much more difficult it became for Rush and McLaughlin to sing this song later in life when their parents were aged.  Be mindful transitioners, but all as well.

As a coda, Rush also timely performed “Child’s Song” recently on Prairie Home Companion (at 1:43:50).

The other song is our favorite performance ever by the great Frank Sinatra.  Forgot the swingin’, finger-snappin’, Rat-packin’,  upbeat Sinatra (though there’s a time and a place).  We’ll take Sinatra singing a slow, afflicting song any day.  Nobody has sung a song so well while conveying the matters of the heart.

Here, on September of My Years, an older Sinatra looks back on his life, and the remorse is palpable, though life’s resolve carries the day.

As Stan Cornyn captured well on the liner notes regarding the recording session for this record, “Tonight will not swing.  Tonight is for serious….He sings of the penny days….He sings with perspective….He looks back….He has lived through two lives, and can sing now of September.  Of the bruising days….September can be an attitude or an age or a wistful reality.  For this man, it is a time of love.  A time to sing.  A thousand days hath September.”

We have repeatedly had to pull ourselves back up after hearing Sinatra’s phrasing in the lines:

“As a man, who has never paused at wishing wells
Now I’m watching children’s carousels
And their laughter’s music to my ears.”

Every time we hear this song, we lament lost opportunities with children, family and friends.  Take heed.  We’re striving anew to reduce the lengthy list of possible regrets.

We sauntered down to Soho Thursday night in Santa Barbara to check out Melbourne, Australia’s Temper Trap band brought to you by Club Mercy.  Only time will tell this five-piece band’s long-term artistic merit, but as witnessed Thursday they clearly have the ability and drive to take over a venue and rev up a crowd as well as any young band out there.  The jury’s out though on a key question:  can this band develop its own voice and continue to captivate more discerning crowds long-term?

We were pretty worked from the workweek as we walked in the doors at Soho, but the band came on immediately, and our desire to flee for home fled.  Temper Trap and its Indonesian-born singer, Dougy Mandagi, soon Motowned their way into the college-crowd’s heart with Mandagi’s Smokey Robinson-esque vocals on Rest (from its only record, “Conditions”), while the band drove the song with its TV on The Radio (TVOR) sound.   Fader followed with its energetic, spot-on Ben Folds simulation.  And the crowd danced on.  The band then lit up with the very Arcade-ian Fire song Down River. Later, the Tempered ones dove into Love Lost, with Mandagi invoking Prince to deliver his message of loss via a Coldplay backdrop.   And the crowd raved on.  The band then segued into Resurrection (with its incessant TV on the Radio and Yeasayer affectations) before ending its set with its catchy anthem, Sweet Disposition ( heard on the “500 Days of Summer” soundtrack).  Unfortunately, Sweet Disposition entails the band’s most blatant sound reproduction, this time replicating U2’s sound circa Joshua Tree (albeit with stellar group-vocal attack by TT).  Needless to say, the crowd again went wild.

The band encored with torrid, tribal Drum Song, with Mandagi ably adding stand-up-snare rhythms and top-hat to drummer Toby Dundas’s attack.  As good as it was, if we looked away all we heard was fellow Aussie band Midnight Oil circa 1988.  And when we looked back we expected to see MO’s Peter Garrett banging on his snare while railing away on vocals.  But instead of a tall, bald-pated dude, it was Mandagi and his mates, and the crowd worshiped on.  Temper Trap brought its set to an end with Science of Fear, once again employing major TVOR soundings.

And the whole time, the crowd went wild.  And we admit that there is reason for the crowd to be enthralled since Temper Trap delivers its songs with verve and a multitude of musical and vocal talent.  This is a band that has serious, arena-size aspirations, which translates well to large festival and small club stages alike.  Make no mistake:  they have the chops and drive to be huge, and Mandagi in particular has Buckley/Prince/(pick your favorite singer) caliber pipes.

But as hinted at above (subtlety admittedly not being our strength), this is a band that’s going to have to quickly develop its own distinctive sound and step-away from its blatant aping of its musical influences.  From what we can gather from its first record, “Conditions,” the band has good and interesting things to say lyrically (Science of Fear‘s lament of the science-community’s derision of faith is particularly well-done).  But the musical derivativeness undermines at every turn, and our focus remains on the sounds of the originating bands, with Temper Trap’s good message getting trapped off to the side.  We will hope that the next round of songs (Conditions was released early last year) will transcend.

Yep, we have bemoaned this issue repeatedly recently regarding several young bands.  We hope this won’t continue to be the case.  While there’s nothing new under the proverbial sun, and much of rock and roll has been influenced by predecessors and contemporaries, the better bands have been less blatant about their borrowings and managed to significantly separate themselves from their influences (could this be the latest and most tangible totem of the “Everything is Free” music-generation?).

Perhaps we’re just yearning for a new revelation instead of obvious retreads.   Thinking back, we may just be craving more moments like the exact moment when we first recognized the power in the ravings of  Johnny Rotten as he vehemently decried the Queen’s fascist regime in God Save the Queen (’twas 1977, while driving through flooded Pacific Beach and watching kids run/wade across the street from Tower Records screaming and flashing their prized “Never Mind the Bollocks” records while Rodney Bingenheimer revved up the song on KROQ). And we may just be longing for other oracular moments (1991, driving onto the Bay Bridge via the 2nd Street on-ramp in San Francisco) like when we first heard Kurt Cobain’s vocals squalling full-on in Nirvana’s game-changing Smells Like Teen Spirit.  These were moments and sounds that were unique and grabbed you by the soul.

Incredibly high standards?  Yes.  You may not be the next Sex Pistols or Nirvana (look where it got them for heavens’ sake!), but please don’t just cut and paste  your influences onto your sleeves.  Give good thought and full measure to transcending (or at least differentiating from) those you admire.

So dear Temper Trap:  we agree with the merit of those who have influenced you.  But next time?   Visit a distant, ingenious island, and when you come back, come out swinging and set yourselves apart.  Otherwise there will be a lot of playing weddings in Melbourne.  And not much else.

But check ’em out and let us know:

As a post-script, we definitely laud the band for supporting and pitching (mid-encore) the malaria-prevention efforts of Buzz Off.  By donating a small amount at www.buzzoff.org, you can download a new song by the band.  Check it out.

Having fulfilled our responsibilities on Memorial Day, and after the clockwork-like arrival yesterday of Santa Barbara’s usual foggy “June Gloom,” we are now pining for the warm, blithe days of true Summer.  Unfortunately, we know the fog will not likely relent until July.  So in the meantime, here are a couple of sunny numbers to get you in the mood.

On Odessa we hear (from their latest record, “Swim”) Caribou’s post-modern, re-imagined disco (a la Hot Chip and Erlend Øye), with added squawking-vocal effects, scratch- guitar, and polyrhythmic triangle/cowbell/wood playing, all anchored by a bounteous bassline.

Caribou–Odessa

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Track17_Caribou_Odessa.mp3|titles=Track17_Caribou_Odessa]

Fuego is also a layered, rhythmic melange, this time from Bomba Estereo, a smokin’ five-piece Columbian band that mixes traditional Caribbean rhythms with a musical attack smacking of Kingston (we hear “reggae music” credits) and Rio, but ultimately its own.

Bomba Estereo-Fuego

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Fuego.mp3|titles=Fuego]

Memorial Day.  It seems at times but an open door to the warmth of summer.   Especially on a sunny, Central California day.   Though it shouldn’t, sometimes it takes the knock of a rainy or foggy Monday for us to answer the day as intended:  to recall and hold up those that gave us so much and then left (and often left far too soon).

The Leforts have been left with less and lost strength each time.  We remember each loss today with welling sadness, but gratitude for their gifts.  You too have many souls to recall and respect.

As we do throughout, we reach for music to amplify and comfort.  So we give you Elvis Perkins’ shattering Ash Wednesday and Clem Snide’s redemptive All Green.

Be mindful.

Elvis Perkins–Ash Wednesday

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/07-Ash-Wednesday.mp3|titles=07 Ash Wednesday]

Clem Snide–All Green

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/03-All-Green.mp3|titles=03 All Green]

After hearing huzzahs straight from the horse’s mouth (multitalented former Santa Barbaran and musician/producer, John Askew), and after major Hail Mary tosses, we ventured down to Muddy Waters in Santa Barbara to catch Portland’s harmonizing Hosannas last night.

The Hail Marys entailed last minute pitches to Mrs. Lefort for an impromptu drop-in to the Muddy to catch the Hosannas apres-dinner .  An early set-time and a hallowed day led to our harmonic convergence at the venue, and off we went to hear the Hosannas.

It was miraculous that the band had even made it to Santa Barbara at all after being assaulted in the afternoon in Oakland earlier this week, resulting in a broken nose for Brandon Laws and a visit to the emergency room.  In the tradition of the age-old mantra, “the show must go on,” the band played that night in the Bay Area and hasn’t missed a show since.   Sporting a black eye to go with his broken nose, Brandon nonetheless played with energy and aplomb in Santa Barbara despite telling Lefort he was scheduled for a “re-set” of his nose today.  Admirable.

The Hosannas employ an eclectic blend of passionate, harmonized vocals, cleaving and clever keyboards and effects, multi-participant percussion (anchored by Lane Harrington’s complex rhythms), and Brandon’s stellar Gang of Four-meets-Pinback guitar playing.  The net effect is avant-melodic, and a welcome change from more standard fare, recalling Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective at times, but with its own identity.  The songs vary from borderline-precious (in a good way) to epic, and often all on the same song (give a listen to the prodigious Hidden Tone below).

After a great set by raucous openers Boomsnake, Hosannas took the stage.  With great appreciation for dynamics, the band followed the good-loud Boomsnake with a stunning acapella read of Golden Girls.  The crowd stepped in closer to catch the talent-show and as a result, the band played to an enraptured audience for its entire set.

Photo:  Tad Wagner

We encourage you to pick up their “Song Force Crystal” recording from last year or their new, anthology-esque record, “Then and Now and Then.”  And then get ready for their John Askew-produced third record expected out in September.  Judging by the songs and talent in this band, and the Askew-add, it’s going to be epic.

Check out their song Hidden Tone below and the videos of the band performing live.

If you like what you hear and see, Hosannas will return from LA to play “Billy O’s” in Ventura Monday night (5/31).  Be there.

Hosannas–Hidden Tone

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/03-Hidden-Tone.mp3|titles=03 Hidden Tone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPrsKfFgpQA&feature=related

Photos:  Greg Lawler

We caught the young band, Freelance Whales, on Wednesday spouting off at Jensen’s.  The Whales are a talented, energetic group still in search of its sea legs, still evolving and looking for its own currents in which to thrive.  We look forward to their growth and next visit to Cali.

The band hails from Queens, NY, and carries with them an interesting pastiche of instruments (harmonium, banjo, glockenspiel, synthesizers, guitars, bass, drums, waterphone).  The five band members have crafted melodic indie-pop songs delivered with emphatic five-part harmonies, interesting rhythmic patterns, and an engaged group-vocal energy (just look at Doris Cellar above!).

They were at their best on Wednesday when wielding their indie-choral attack on The Generator 2nd Floor, Ghosting and Hannah (though on the latter and other songs, we wish leader Judah Dadone could be more mic-focused to better realize the lyrics’ effect).   The crowd really came alive on the much-played and popular Hannah, and then settled in for a solid set of sweetness.  The band played musical chairs well too, with each member seemingly relishing their turn at the glockenspiel and other instruments.

The Whales killed it on The Generator 2nd Floor, perfectly pitching its laden lyrics:

“And since you are my friend
I would ask that you lower me down slow
And tell the man in the black cloak
He doesn’t need to trouble his good soul
With those latin conjugations
And if it’s all the same to them
You should tell your gathering friends
Please not to purse their faces grim
On such a lovely sunday

Don’t fix my smile, life is long enough
We will put this flesh into the ground again”

Freelance Whales–The Generator 2nd Floor

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/12-Generator-^-Second-Floor.mp3|titles=12 Generator ^ Second Floor]

Like many new bands, however, the Whales wear their influences on their sleeves.  But the better bands are less obvious about their idols and manage to make the sounds their own, and this band will have to quickly evolve and find their own way in the world.  One hears heavy Death Cab (The Great Escapes, Kilojoules) worship, along with plenty of pangs for the Postal Service (Starring).  And with inclusion of banjo and glockenspiel, the band does not hide the pull of Sufjan Stevens.  Regarding the latter, the band has regretfully crossed the line on Broken Horse and directly copied Stevens’ melody and motif in Steven’s masterwork, Casimir Pulaski (listen for yourself below).  Come on Whales!

We trust the Freelance Whales will find their own waters to swim in before their next outing.  If not, they may find themselves breached on some barren beach.

Sufjan Stevens–Casimir Pulaski

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/10-Casimir-Pulaski-Day.mp3|titles=10 Casimir Pulaski Day]

Freelance Whales–Broken Horse

Photo:  Greg Lawler

Opening for the headliners were talented locals, Watercolor Paintings, above.   At Jensen’s the group set up casually on a side bench and soon had the crowd literally at their feet.   While Watercolor Paintings wear their Juno influences (Kimya Dawson, Moldy Peaches) on their sleeves, siblings Rebecca and Josh Redman manage to make their songs their own with inventive harp and baritone ukelele flourishes, Rebecca’s soulful lyrics, and harmonized delivery.  A group to watch, as can be seen in a video of their song Telephone Wires found at the link below.

http://vimeo.com/3000241

One of our fondest musical memories is catching the great band, Miracle Legion, at Slim’s in San Francisco circa 1992 as they toured behind their masterpiece recording “Drenched.”  At Slim’s, frontman Mark Mulcahy and band set the house ablaze with Mulcahy’s manic ravings and the band’s breathless jangle-attack.

Over the years the band went through seriously trying times with its label ultimately leading to the band’s breakup in the mid-90s.  Following the band’s demise, Mulcahy carried on with lauded solo recordings, led the band Polaris and did the music for the beloved kids’ TV show “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.”

Last year we caught news that Mulcahy’s wife, Melissa, had died in late 2008 unexpectedly, leaving him to take care of his three-year-old twin daughters.  We were reminded of Miracle Legion last September when an incredible lineup of indie rock greats got together miraculously to create, compile and release the record Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, a tribute album to Mulcahy and Miracle Legion that served as a benefit for Mulcahy and his family.  Amongst others paying homage to Mulcahy and his musical legacy were Thom Yorke, The National, Michael Stipe, Frank Black, Dinosaur, Jr., Mercury Rev, and Elvis Perkins.

Check the Miracle Legion sound out in So Good and Everything is Rosy off of Drenched.  After his wife’s passing, So Good‘s refrain is particularly haunting:

“And every day must I
wait on you hand and foot?
It’s on the way past I
there’s one time when you made me feel so good”

Miracle Legion–So Good

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/04-So-Good-1.mp3|titles=04 So Good 1]

On Everything is Rosy, Mulcahy dramatically and humorously lambasts unrealistically hopeful viewpoints.  One of the more humorous lines:  “And the KKK has changed their ways:  they set their own houses on fire!”

Miracle Legion–Everything is Rosy

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/05-Everything-Is-Rosy-1.mp3|titles=05 Everything Is Rosy 1]

And from the tribute record, Ciao My Shining Star, check out The National’s rendering of Ashamed of the Story and Thom Yorke’s read of All for the Best.  And then please go buy this record to support Mark Mulcahy and his family.

The National–Ashamed of the Story

Thom Yorke–All for the Best

Photo courtesy of Greg Lawler

We rendezvoused in Hollywood this past Saturday at the Wiltern Theater to see one of our faves, The National.  Once again the band and its deliverances demolished our expectations.  Singer Matt Berninger, the multi-talented sets of Dessner and Devendorf brothers, two horn players, and violinist/keyboardist Padma Newsome sauntered onto the stage with backdrop of moody, monochromatic lighting that perfectly fit the songs and band.

We have been listening to their new album, High Violet, nonstop since its release earlier this month, and are happy to report that these new songs made the show for us.  High Violet is the record of the year thus far and, as with most of their prior records, the depth and power of these songs continues to grow with each listen.

The National kicked off Saturday night’s show with Start a War and Mistaken for Strangers off of their prior, standard-setting Boxer album.  With double-horn and keys accompaniment, the sound was full and organic, and the band was striding a great mood.  Matt had his usual wine bucket and white wine in hand, and off we went for the National ride.

The show really began ti kick in with Bloodbuzz Ohio and Afraid of Everyone off High Violet.  Berninger’s repeated refrain in Bloodbuzz of  “I still owe money to the money, to the money I owe” captures both the current distressed zeitgeist, but also our nostalgia for less doleful times and and acknowledgment that we can’t sufficiently pay back what we owe to our blood and other deliverers.  “The floors are falling out from everybody I know.”  Indeed.  Too many have fallen.  And everyone felt it at the Wiltern.

High Violet was recorded with an impressive supporting cast (Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Newsome to name but a few), and throughout their set on Saturday, you could intermittently hear how the High Violet songs and delivery had been affected.  This was first heard on Afraid of Everyone during which the band has added high, mournful, spectre-ish vocals, which may have been borrowed from the band’s prior collaborations with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon (on the stellar charity-fundraiser record from last year, Dark Was the Night, and elsewhere).   The plaintive-vocal effect grabs you by the heart and can be heard throughout High Violet (e.g. on Terrible Love at 2:45, on Conversation 16 at :41, and Sorrow at 2:25, and on England).  Beyond those ghost-train vocals, the first ecstatic high of the evening came towards the end of Afraid of Everyone when Berninger added sibilant syncopation to powerful effect via the lyrics:

“Your voices all in my soul soul soul soul
Your voice is swallowin’ my soul soul soul soul
Your voices swallowin’ my soul soul soul soul
Soul soul soul soul soul soul soul soul soul soul”

Chills.  And more chills.

Then it was back to a bevy of Boxer beauties (including Squalor Victoria which was introduced by Matt as almost resulting in a career-ending travesty the night before), followed by more highs from High Violet, including one of our prime picks, Conversation 16. In this song the chorus insidiously intrigues: “I was afraid I’d eat your brains, I was afraid, I’d eat your brains, ‘Cause I’m evil, ‘Cause I’m evil.”  And interspersed is the alternately frightening and hilarious: “I’m a confident liar, had my head in the oven so you’d know where I’ll be, I’ll try to be more romantic.”  How could he be more romantic, we ask you!?  Afterwards, Berninger confirmed earlier reports and marveled that his wife had helped write the lyrics despite the subject matter.  At the Wiltern, the crowd screamed the chorus with vigor.  And it made us hope that the gang had not missed Matt’s intent:  an acknowledgment and lament for the darkness within.  We remain concerned that many of the attendees read it instead as a boastful platform.  The world deserves better.

After Conversation 16, it was back to the Boxer bailiwick for the well-wrought Apartment Story and Green Gloves before going deep for the always-enjoyable aggression found in the delivery and crowd-participation on Abel.   Sorrow and the mighty England followed from High Violet, before the band ended the set with the assured, heartening masterpiece, Fake Empire.

In between all of these fine deliveries Matt continued to brandish his always-full wine glass, with progressive aggression aimed towards the bottle and ice bucket, ultimately leading to the spilling of the bucket, and ice and water strewn over the stage, making for dicey footing and peevish looks from other band members.  Despite the challenge, the band and Matt managed to navigate the float and flow well through to the finale.

The encore was majestic and featured three of High Violet’s strongest songs (Runaway-on which the horns sang with abandon, Lemonworld and Terrible Love), interrupted with the obligatory, anthemic wonder, Mr. November. The last time we saw The National at the Wiltern, Berninger came out into the crowd and tight-rope-walked a wall to exhort the crowd, which responded in kind.  While this version couldn’t possibly match those heights, Matt gave it his all and then some, and the crowd roared on.  Not to be missed.  Berninger lives and dies these songs to great emotive effect.  The entire band takes the recorded songs way beyond.  Do whatever you have to do to catch this band live.  And see ’em soon, ’cause you never know.

Our one criticism was the glaring omission of two of our favorites from the night’s set:  All the Wine and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks. We have seen the band on its last three tours and each time they have managed to omit their finest anthem, All the Wine, and its various hilarities.  And though we heard Vanderlyle last year, it is amongst their finest songs and was sorely missed.

Regardless, The National has established themselves as one of the great American bands live.  The next time they head out on tour, make sure that you’re in the audience and ready to get Nationalized.  You can thank us later.

To make up for the above-referenced omission, give a good, close listen to Afraid of Everyone and Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.

The National–Afraid of Everyone

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/05-Afraid-of-Everyone.mp3|titles=05 Afraid of Everyone]

The National–Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/11-Vanderlyle-Crybaby-Geeks.mp3|titles=11 Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks]

Photo courtesy of Greg Lawler

Wiltern Setlist:

1. Start a War
2. Mistaken For Strangers
3.  Anyone’s Ghost
4.  Bloodbuzz Ohio
5.  Afraid Of Everyone
6.  Brainy
7.  Baby, We’ll Be Fine
8.  Slow Show
9.  Squalor Victoria
10.  Little Faith
11. Conversation 16
12. Apartment Story
13. Green Gloves
14. Abel
15. Sorrow
16. England
17. Fake Empire

Encore:

18. Runaway
19. Lemonworld
20. Mr. November
21. Terrible Love

Sure, we missed catching that other Smiths show at the Palladium in ’86, had to skip that 2nd Radiohead show at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2001, missed that game-winning, high-arch shot and were properly goated and haunted by that hoops game at Jonata Junior High in 1971, and the list goes on and on.

And now we have a couple more regrets and missed shows to add, all relating to one performer:  Brad Mehldau.  We at Lefort love jazz music, and Mehldau plays seemingly every year at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theater, including this past year when he and his able band showed on January 22nd.  Due to circumstance, circular logic and failed circumspection, resulting in unintended circumvention (and thereby assuring accusations of circumlocution), we have not attended any of Mehldau’s concerts here in Santa Barbara or elsewhere.  Oh where does the time go…?

Speaking of Radiohead, Mehldau has notoriously covered various Radiohead songs.  He’s done Everything In It’s Right Place on his “Anything Goes” record, Knives Out on “Jazzthing: Nonesuch,” Paranoid Android on “Largo,” Exit Music (for a Film) on “Songs:  The Art of the Trio, Volume 3” and still others live.  The man clearly knows whose compositions are worthy to frame his frequently stunning jazz-musings on piano.  In turn, Thom Yorke has said that Radiohead has been honored to have their songs covered by Mehldau.

And it’s not hard to understand this mutual respect.  Just listen to Mehldau’s recording of Everything in Its Right Place below.  Mehldau sets it up and leads off with the beautiful theme of the song, and then from the 2:30 mark until the 7:00 mark, takes the song into serious jazz flight, eventually touching back down into the song’s theme again at the 7 minute mark.  A great composition given a ravishing read by one of the great jazz piano players of his generation.

Radiohead wrote the song for Baz Luhrmann’s 1995 Romeo and Juliet film, and it played during the closing credits. The moment in the film when Claire Danes (Juliet) holds a Colt 45 to her head was the actual inspiration for “Exit Music.”  Thom Yorke also had the 1968 version of the film in his head:  “I saw the Zeffirelli version when I was 13, and I cried my eyes out because I couldn’t understand why, the morning after, they didn’t just run away. The song is written for two people who should run away before all the bad stuff starts. A personal song.”  Hence the song’s lyrics:  “Pack and get dressed, before your father hears us, before all hell breaks loose.”

In Mehldau’s interpretation of the song, from minute 2:30 to minute 7 of the track, one possibly hears Mehldau encouraging the lovers to hasten their packing and to give flight, and then all hell breaking loose.  Regardless, great playing.

Also, check out the video of Mehldau and band’s stellar rendering of Radiohead’s Knives Out.

Brad Mehldau–Exit Music (for a Film)

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/07-Exit-Music-For-A-Film.mp3|titles=07 Exit Music (For A Film)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C3A-ml85B8&feature=related