Go West
Go West
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/101492855″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]”There aren’t so many real cowboys left in America, just a lot of folks who dress like them,” writes Brendan Leonard. Maybe the cowboy is gone, but the tradition of going West to reinvent oneself has remained a part of our culture. Where does that desire come from? Is it a part the American Psyche? In Brendan’s case, it came from his father’s passion for the West. In small town Iowa, the only way Brendan and his dad, Joe, could foster the dream of red rock and sage was by watching westerns. Lots of westerns. Today, Brendan presents a story about mountain people and the dreams parents instill in their children. Go West.
Music:
All the songs from Brendan’s episode come from Seattle singer/songwriter Gabriel Mintz off of his new album Volume one. Here is a little bit about Gabe.
Capturing this sublime aridness, Mintz released Volume One this spring. It documents his first full-length foray and it’s an adventurous one. The expansive beauty of tracks like “Western Days,’ “Atom Bomb” and “Firefly” amble along the mental throughway like brush across a barren Texas highway.
These contemplative capsules were destined to accompany the open plains as seen from an auto on cruise control or the dew-tinted window of a passing train. The moods that reverberate on Volume One are many; from the gritty thump of “Safeway” to the 60’s pop harmonies of “Sofa Bed” where Mintz sounds like a cross between Roger McGuinn and Neil Diamond to the majestic “Desert Sky” whose stream-of-consciousness vocal sounds like a channeling of Jim Morrison from his epic ode “The End.”
Anchoring Gabriel’s visceral ruminations are Trent Moorman (Head Like A Kite) on drums and producer Geoff Stanfield (Sun Kil Moon) on bass who both recently joined him for a four-song live session at Seattle’s world-famous KEXP studios. The radio station’s Morning Show host/producer John Richards quipped “This new Gabriel Mintz is pretty stunning stuff, emotional & beautiful music.”
The Shorts — Dirtbag Resume
Dirtbag Resume
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/101492493″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]The M.O. was familiar–work hard at a series of bizarre jobs, make money and then hit the road to travel. During his twenties, writer and Diaries contributor Ryan Nickum went around the world and drifted across the Pacific Northwest. When it came time to settle down after returning from a Peace Corps stint, the economy tanked. Once Ryan finally wanted a steady job, it seemed impossible to get one. He authored standard resume after standard resume. The results were disheartening. Ryan pieced together whatever work he could–data entry, process server and ditch digging. He began to question whether his youthful wanderlust now impeded a more adult life. In a moment of frustration, Ryan decided to create his curriculum vitae on his own terms–Nickum style.
Music: Saanko jäädä yöksi? by Regina • Drive it Like You Stole It by The Glitch Mob • Gold in the Hills by Boy Eats Drum Machine
Music provided by IODA Promonet.
The Accidental Journalist
The Accidental Journalist
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/101492268″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]As a child, Freddie Wilkinson was fascinated by K2 and the adventure narratives from 8,000 meter peaks. It led to an incredible career as an alpinist seeking out difficult routes on obscure peaks across the globe, but his interest in climbing the trophy peaks waned. In August 2008, 11 climbers lost their lives on K2. The ensuing media frenzy was just that–a frenzy. Facts were hazy and right from the start people began making broad generalizations even though the details had yet to emerge. Something about it pissed Freddie off and stirred his curiosity. What really happened up there? Freddie started asking questions and in the process he found himself chasing an incredible story. You don’t need a journalism degree or a press pass to be a reporter. All it takes is a little New England “Can Do Spirit” and curiosity that won’t rest.
Music: Animus Vox by The Glitch Mob • Between Two Points (Featuring Swan) by The Glitch Mob
Music by The Glitch Mob provided by IODA Promonet.
Also, today we featured two songs from Wolf Parade off of the upcoming album “Expo 86.” I’m particularly happy about this album. Wolf Parade’s “Apologies to the Queen Mary” was one of the best albums of the last decade. It was so wonderfully different and yet still fist pumping and rocking, which is ultimately what I love in music. It also makes me think of chopping wood with Becca in Corvallis and drinking margaritas in our garage. Anyway, I’m pumped about the third album because the second album really wasn’t nearly as good. I’m glad to hear that these guys are back rocking.
The Shorts — Yosemite’s Next Top Idol
Yosemite’s Next Top Idol
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/101491927″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]Yosemite has always been a crucible of hard climbing and big egos. Every year the sport’s stars, die-hard dirtbags and hungry youngsters flock here to throw themselves at the big stone. Only the great will become legend. There is Surfer Bob, Mr. Magoo and Platinum Rob. James Lucas had dreams of rock stardom. He wanted to cast a shadow longer than El Cap. He wanted to live forever in camp fire conversation. He wanted to be Yosemite’s Next Top Idol. What would it take? He would have to chisel his body into a granite monolith, learn to suffer through storms and develop swagger. He turned to the legends for advice and they welcomed him with open arms. Turns out nobody can resist sandbagging a young hungry climber.
Music: Vacation by Beach Fossils • She’s Wearing That Costume by Head Like a Kite • Director’s Cut (Featuring Tilson) by Head Like a Kite
Music provided by IODA Promonet.
The Pugilist
The Pugilist
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/100375814″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]”Fantasies happen from a safe distance. It’s one thing to say you want something, even convince yourself of it. It’s another thing all together to stand under a 3,500-foot nightmare you’ve feared for 15 years and try to actually climb it,” writes climber and writer Kelly Cordes. At a quick consideration boxing and alpinism have little in common. Ponder if for a second and you might see the similarities. After years in the ring and even longer in the vertical life, Kelly certainly does. Each challenges its practitioner to accept fear. A boxer’s opponent can deal out pain and defeat and when you put it in that light, a mountain isn’t all that different. Today Kelly presents a story about the biggest fight of his life and embracing the mythic choss pile that has haunted him since his early days of climbing.
Music: Skulltaste by Mux Mool • Lying Around by Magic Bullets • Kites by Geographer • Song of the Night by ZLOX
Music provided by IODA Promonet.
