(Note: this series was originally published elsewhere.)
Something in music: origin
One evening at a hot, trendy L.A. nightclub on a rare solo outing, yours truly found himself standing alone at the bar preparing to review the upcoming act. Before he had taken more than a few notes, however, he was bookended by a pair of vivacious vixens who insisted on engaging your rockin’ writer in cozy conversation. Strangely, the subject of “marriage” arose.
One of the young ladies noted that when a gal is about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those very same terms could be applied to music too: “Something old” or classic, “something new” or recently released, “something borrowed”, a cover, and “something blue”, a blues song or a song with “blue” in the title. The rest is history.
‘Something’ in Music 277
Something Old
Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” written and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Neil Young. This acoustic tune was recorded live in 1978 in San Francisco. It’s off his 1979 platter titled Rust Never Sleeps.
Something New
Our “something new” this time is the new single “Bits & Pieces” written and recorded by American singer-songwriter and musician Malcolm Holcombe. It’s off his new, upcoming disc titled Bits & Pieces. The new album drops on June 23, 2023. According to a note on social media: “All noise making [is] by Malcolm and [producer] Jared [Tyler].” (Keep your peepers peeled for a full review of Holcombe’s new album.)
Something Borrowed
Our “something borrowed” this time is the song “I'm a Believer” written by Neil Diamond and recorded by The Monkees in 1966 for their platter More of the Monkees. This funk cover of the classic cut was recorded live circa January 2023 by Scary Pockets and Los Angeles-based American singer-songwriter Kenton Chen. It includes Lemar Carter on drums, Jack Conte on keys, Ryan Lerman on guitar, Sebastian Steinberg on upright bass, and Chen on lead vocals.
If you’d like to hear more of Chen’s singing and you’re in the area, you’re in luck! Chen will be performing on Friday, April 28th as part of The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s popular Music at the Odyssey series. It will be hosted by bassist and music director John Snow.
The performance will focus on the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. According to a recent email message, the event will also include such singers as Ken Marshall, Carolyn Mignini, Bella Hicks, Ren Martinez, and Taubert Nadalini. They will be backed by “a live four-piece band” featuring Nathan Heldman on piano, Zev Shearn Nance on drums, and Snow on bass.
The show starts at 8 p.m. at Los Angeles’ well-known Odyssey Theatre. Tickets are $30.00. Discounts are available for seniors and students.
Something Blue
Finally, our “something blue” this edition is the song “Blue Sky (Live)” by American musician Devon Allman, singer-songwriter and guitarist Duane Betts, and musician Chuck Leavell. The song was written by Forrest Richard (Dicky) Betts and was included on the 2018 disc Volunteer Jam XX: A Tribute To Charlie Daniels. If you’d like to hear more of Duane Betts work, his next tour stop is at Chickie Wah Wah in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 30th, 2023.
Did we mention your favorite “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”? If not, let us know. Don’t forget to send us your bride photos too!