"If You Have A Question" homemade music video

My family and I are all having a great Christmas vacation in Upper Michigan and we're enjoying lovely long days with nothing to do but relax.

Yesterday I decided to use my free time to learn some new technological skills that I've been putting off for years:
+ shooting video on my little digital camera
+ playing with the iMovie software on my Mac laptop

After a couple hours of messing with the camera and iMovie, I was able to create this video, my first attempt at a career in cinema.

Decking the Halls with Nate Houge, Micah Taylor, and friends.

Last Friday I got to sit in on accordion for the monthly show by Micah Taylor and Nate Houge at the Bean Factory in St. Paul.

We played Christmas carols...highlights included "Good King Wenceslaus," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Each Winter As The Year Grows Older," and "The 12 Days of Christmas." Here was our take on "Deck The Halls" with some accompaniment from fun kids Tom and Asher.

Nate blogged about this gig and others and his insights are always...well...insightful.

Let's hope Micah and Nate continue their monthy gigs into the new year!

Christmas giving opportunity in the Twin Cities via the Salvation Army

Some friends of mine work for the Salvation Army in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, and they've asked me to post a blog about an opportunity for giving in these next couple days.

Through December 23rd, a generous donor has agreed to match all gifts in the Twin Cities area. CLICK HERE for details.

Drop some cash in the kettle when you're finishing up your Christmas shopping!

Metromix review, and 400 Bar recap

Two nights ago I wrapped up my little series of CD release shows with a gig at the 400 Bar in Minneapolis. Here's what the local entertainment publication Metromix had to say:

Local power pop veteran Jonathan Rundman keeps a pretty low profile on the scene, gigging sporadically even as he grabs great press in high profile places (Paste, Billboard). Tonight’s gig at the 400 Bar serves as the CD release party for Insomniaccomplishments, an album the stay at home dad worked on in the wee hours while tending to a newborn baby and battling his own sleeping problems. For music crafted in the dead of night, Rundman’s latest batch of tunes feature remarkably bright and sunny melodies, with a nice balance of acoustic and electric instrumentation that recalls similar top shelf heartland songwriters like Freedy Johnston.

The show was electric and loud, and despite the horrible weather (it took me an hour to drive to the venue) we even had an audience! I had a great band:

me: electric guitar, vocals
Justin Rimbo: bass, vocals
Graham Peterson: drums
Nate Houge: lap steel, mandolin
Mark LaForest: lead guitar

Here was our set-list:

I'm Alive and Sleep Deprived
I Thought You Were Mine
Nothing Downtown
List of Things To Do
Daniel & Peter & Thomas
Get Behind The Wheel
Out Behind The Old Hotel
I Saw Greenland
I Love You With All Of My Mind

Obviously, the set was full of strange and rarely-played songs, which was great fun for me! My faves were "I Thought You Were Mine," "Get Behind The Wheel," and "I Saw Greenland" which was the riskiest but ultimately the best song of the night! Thanks to my talented musical friends who played with me, and to everyone at the 400 Bar for hosting us!

Best albums of 2008

I love year-end "Best of" lists! In the past I've included lists of my top movies and albums of each year in our family Christmas letter, but recent years I've tried to do it via the blogosphere instead. Last week's issue of The Onion featured their best music of the year list, and as I read it I just felt old. The only album in their list that I have enjoyed was by Flight Of the Conchords, and absolutely nothing else interested me at all. I just can't grasp this indie rock stuff. I'm a fussy old suburban Dad who'd rather be listening to Glen Burtnik, Danny Wilde, and David Baerwald (there's a sentence that's never been typed before).

When I released the Insomniaccomplishments album this month, I wondered if it might be too late to squeeze on to any lists (or, more likely, if it was just too strange to be deemed worthy of any). I was happy to find one such place online....earlier this year I was contacted by a Canadian writer named Anthony Easton who had discovered my new album, and I just read his "Best of" list for 2008, which includes me along with Jenny Lewis and Kellie Pickler! Anthony writes:

10. Jonathan Rundman - Insomniaccomplishments
This Lutheran singer-songwriter, has been playing music, figuring out Jesus, and begging grace for two decades. This small and very intimate suite of songs done in the middle of the night while his children sleep, has a writing that is sophisticated, a music that is deceptively simple, and a discussion of issues that are vital but often forgotten.

I also made it onto Anthony's list of Singles, along with Beyonce, AC Newman, and Death Cab For Cutie! He writes:

Jonathan Rundman "Dialysis Carpool"
Mostly about the small graces that occur in the spaces between living and dying, manages to be heady w/o overwhelming grief, and catchy without being shallow--a nice balance.

Anthony conducted a really extensive interview with me earlier this year...hopefully it can find a home in a magazine or something somewhere. I'll keep you blog readers updated.

Anyway, here are my picks for BEST ALBUMS OF 2008 with some commentary.

1. JOAN OSBORNE - Little Wild One
I really loved the first couple Joan albums and her collaborations with my huge musical influences Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman (of the Hooters). For this album Eric and Rob have returned as co-writers and producers and it results in my favorite record of the year. These songs are all ridiculously melodic, with hooks galore, lovely and varied instrumentation, interesting and memorable lyrics, and of course Joan's awesome vocal performances. Each song is different, each song is interesting, each song is beautiful, and they all hold together in a beautiful whole. A true album, like you would have heard in the 1970s. The title track is slinkily delicious, built on a lo-fi drum machine. "Light of This World" is anthemic and brave and sounds like some lost standard. And my son loves loves loves the mid-tempo rocker "Sweeter Than The Rest," and Paavo has golden ears. He can pick a hit.

2. RODNEY CROWELL - Sex & Gasoline
I mentioned this one a couple posts ago. A killer band, plus Rodney's wise and crafty lyrics combine to form an Americana masterpiece.

3. TODD RUNDGREN - Arena
I just picked up this album a few days ago (I'm on a big Rundgren kick lately), and with each listen it grows on me more and more. What is this guy...like, 60 years old or something? He's playing all the instruments, singing amazing harmonies, and rocking like never before. This is what I want to be like in twenty years. "Gun," "Panic," and "Today" are killer, and the lyrics on "Mountaintop" are unlike any I've heard from any other band, except maybe Todd himself on earlier albums. Weird, passionate, and incredible.

4. JULIANA HATFIELD - How To Walk Away
Juliana's work in the past decade has been consistently awesome, and with this one she eases into a chilled out mature phase with the help of perfect-choice producer Andy Chase of Ivy (another of my favorite bands). We get great grown-up pop like "This Lovely Love" as well as brilliant riff-rock like "Now I'm Gone."

5. SHERYL CROW - Detours
After a kinda-lame "Soak Up the Sun" album, and the too-moody Wildflower, Sheryl re-teams with her breakthrough producer Bill Botrell and turns in her best album in a decade. But what the heck are the A&R folks at the label thinking? They picked the lamest song as the single, and ignored sure-fire smash (and topical) hits like "Gasoline is Free, "Peace Be Upon Us," and "Out Of Our Heads." Hey Sony....call me, and hire me on your A&R staff. I shall deliver the hits (with Paavo's help).

6. SAM PHILLIPS - Don't Do Anything
Sam's first record without T Bone Burnett at the board. I miss him, but Sam is such a good writer that she still delivers a great album. Still, it's one of her most challenging records, and requires a few listens to catch. The title track is a theological mindblower, and she sings her own "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" which was popularized by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.

7. RICK SPRINGFIELD - Venus in Overdrive
The media buzz was that this was Rick's best album since 1981, which is not even close. Rick has had a lot better albums than this, including his last two. BUT, it's still a pretty cool album, with some great singles, including "What's Victoria's Secret?" (Of course, that song concept was first explored a decade ago by Lisa Germano in her song "Victoria's Secret"...a great song itself). The lyrics get a bit immature and silly sometimes, and who knows why they clumsily add auto-tune to such a good vocalist...but heck, it's Rick, and he's gotta feel pretty good about this album. It's fun.

8. KING'S X - XV
This metal/prog/funk/pop trio is experiencing a bit of a musical renaissance after a series of weaker albums a few years ago. This one is still not as good as the previous Ogre Tones, mostly because Ty Tabor didn't bring in enough of his own melodic goodness. But Dug Pinnick turns in some great stuff here, especially the moving "Pray For Me," "Alright," and the thrilling "Go Tell Somebody."

9. LUCINDA WILLIAMS - Little Honey
I've been wanting to like this one more than I actually do, but there are a few tracks here that rank with her best stuff, including "Real Love," and "If Wishes Were Horses." Very cool that she has Butch Norton (formerly of the Eels) on drums!

10. NICK LOWE - Jesus of Cool (reissue)
This probably shouldn't be on the Best of 2008 list because it was released 30 years ago. However, the packaging, remastering, extra tracks, and the sheer brilliance of the original album require that I mention it. I've learned a lot about songwriting and pop music from listening to Nick Lowe and his bandmates in Rockpile, and these songs and recordings are Grad School level. Oozing with coolness (the title does not lie) and without any boundaries, this great music zips all over the map, all with a wink and a sly grin.

Christmas/CD release show recap and press coverage.

A couple nights ago I played my first Twin Cities concert since the Summer. Here's a photo of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN (yes, it's a Lenten photo...ignore the paraments), a cool congregation who have been very supportive of me over the years. Pilgrim hosted the show, which was a combination Christmas/Advent performance, and CD-release party for my new Insomniaccomplishments album.

I was very pleased to find out last week that I got some nice press coverage in the local media...and both from publications that hadn't written about me before!

The local edition of The Onion called me a "cheery popster," and music critic Chris Riemenschneider at the Star Tribune had this to say:
"Americana singer/songwriter Jonathan Rundman, who collaborated with the Silos on his 2004 disc Public Library, shows plenty of cleverness beyond the album title on his new CD, Insomniaccomplishments, with tracks ranging from the Christian acoustic ditty 'Little Bible' to the sludgy rocker 'Nothing Downtown,' which will surely resonate with suburban Twin Citians."

I'd never thought of my song "Nothing Downtown" pertaining to Minneapolis, but when I think of the vacant storefronts around Block E, it's pretty accurate! And I love it that I've been credited with writing a "sludgy rocker," which it is! Sometimes you need to rock sludgily.

Anyway...back to the show at Pilgrim. I had a GREAT band that night, besides me on acoustic guitar:
John Kerns: bass and vocals
Joel Setterholm: piano, accordion, recorder, and vocals
Jimmy Olson: drums
with special guests Tangled Blue (Joel and Aimee Pakan): guitar and vocals
It was especially cool to have Jimmy in the band, since he performed the drum part for the song "If You Have A Question" on the album! My long-time friend and collaborator Joel played accordion for the first time, and that was another highlight.

My goal for this show was to keep it moody, acoustic, and quiet. Here was the set list:

Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
Narthex
Each Winter As The Year Grows Older (from ELW)
Cold But I Don't Mind
Four Candles
Out Behind The Old Hotel
Gospel Verses
Glory In The Highest
Forgiveness Waltz
Bethlehem Tonight
If You Have A Question
Her Lip Balm
I'm Alive and Sleep Deprived
Kuortane
Minneapolis
Daniel & Peter & Thomas
Second Language
Lost In The Night (from ELW)
Go Tell It On The Mountain (from ELW)

Speaking of media coverage, last week some Luther Seminary bloggers wrote a post previewing the show, as well as the Tangled Blue CD Release concert held on Friday (which I was very pleased to attend!). Nina, the blogger, wrote how it seems like the Twin Cities are like a "Lutheran Rome"...a religious and cultural epicenter for Lutherans in America. Of course, folks like Garrison Keillor have been joking about this for years, but there's a serious truth to it. For me it's exciting and encouraging to be surrounded by so many important and influential people and events within my own tribe.

Thanks to the band, the audience, Pilgrim Lutheran, Chris at The Onion, Chris at the Strib, and Nina at Luther Sem for contributing to a wonderful musical evening! Everybody is encouraged to come out tomorrow (Tuesday) night to hear me play loud and electric at the 400 Bar!

Daniel Levitin, Rodney Crowell, and a shout-out on Minnesota Public Radio

Two mornings ago my phone started ringing and my email box filled up with messages from friends telling me "I was just listening to NPR and they were interviewing some author and he mentioned you!"

A nice way to start the day! Turns out that Minnesota Public Radio was interviewing my friend Dan, who has released a brand new book called "The World In Six Songs."

Daniel Levitin is a neuroscientist, musician, and professor at McGill University in Montreal. He's pioneering research about the brain and how music contributes to development. It's very interesting stuff, and his books are written in such a way that the layperson can really dig into this information and come away with "new ears" for the music that surrounds us. My wife Dawn has some good comments regarding Dan's books at her blog.

You can listen to Dan's radio interview by visiting the MPR Midmorning radio webpage and clicking on the "Music and the Shaping of Humanity (program audio)" link in the upper right corner of the page. If you want to hear Dan giving me a shout-out, you have to listen all the way to 49:45.

And don't forget to buy yourself a copy of "The World in Six Songs". It also makes a great stocking stuffer for the music nerd or brain scientist on your Holiday shopping list!

Here's a photo of Dan Levitin and me, about ten years ago (the stamp on the picture is incorrect...it was not 1987!), during one of my stranger gigs. I played a concert on the sidewalk of Melrose Avenue in Hollywood and Dan happened to be in town. Dawn and I met Dan way back in 1992 at grad school at the University of Oregon. Dawn and Dan were both in the psychology department, and we discovered a common love of music. Each Thursday Dan had a group of folks over to his house and we would listen to music together. Dan was just transitioning from a career in showbiz where he'd been a session musician, record producer, and exec at Reprise Records. He'd worked with a huge list of artists from Santana to Stevie Wonder to kd lang, and he was (and is) a walking wealth of showbiz and technical knowledge as well as the sheer wonder and joy of music.

At the time I was a 21 year old with a high school diploma, and I had never done any hanging out with record producers or neuroscientists before, so Dan was a huge influence on my own musical development as a listener and a performer. I remember sitting in Dan's living room with a group of U of O grad students and professors, listening intently to the hi-hat parts on Steely Dan records. I remember comparing the different sounds captured by producer Chris Thomas on two different Pretenders albums. One night some brain researchers from Russia were in town so we went with professor Don Tucker to hear his daugher Corin Tucker's punk band Heavens To Betsy play a show at a local art gallery (Corin would go on to form legendary trio Sleater-Kinney). Thanks to those Thursday nights in front of Dan's stereo, I discovered one of my favorite songwriters, Parthenon Huxley. My wife Dawn may have been in grad school for psychology, but I was in grad school for rock and roll.

You can read more about those musically formative days of mine in the liner notes for my Best of the 20th Century album, written by none other than Daniel Levitin. I'm very pleased to join Julia Fordham and Stevie Wonder in the list of folks who have liner notes by Levitin!

Dan's new book "The World in Six Songs" features amazing insights from many great musicians including Joni Mitchell and Sting. Another main character in the book is Rodney Crowell, and I just so happen to be on a Rodney kick these days. It started a few years ago when I went to my mailbox and found a package from Amazon.com. I hadn't ordered anything myself, but I opened the envelope to find a gift sent to me by Dan...a CD of Rodney's The Houston Kid. I didn't have any of Rodney's albums at this point, so it was a great discovery for me. Since then I've followed him through his recent series of brilliant career-reinventing albums Fate's Right Hand (my favorite, I think), The Outsider, and now his brand new one Sex & Gasoline. I shall close this post with some holiday shopping advice: buy some Levitin books and some Crowell CDs as gifts for yourself this year!

And thanks to Dan for the music and fun and education and the shout-out on the radio!

Interview and Review of Insomniaccomplishments at HickoryWind.org!

The fine Americana music blog Hickory Wind has posted this review of my new Insomniaccomplishments CD, as well as an interview with me! I haven't had an interview published for awhile, so it was great fun to answer questions from writer Hal Bogerd. He was very observant and sniffed out many of my musical influences just by listening to the album...even obscure favorites of mine like Tonio K! We talked about the early production work by T Bone Burnett and how those albums had such an impact on me as a teenaged music nerd. I even got to share a list of my weirdest gigs.

Thanks to Hal and Hickory Wind! Please visit their blog regularly!