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 292

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Long Time Gone” recorded by the folk rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash a.k.a. CSN. The song was written by David Crosby and the track first appeared on the supergroup’s premiere platter Crosby, Stills & Nash. It hit the record racks in 1969.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the song “I Can’t Tell”, the most recent single and video from the Somers Point, New Jersey-based act known as the Billy Walton Band. In a recent e-communique band frontman guitarist and vocalist Billy Walton commented on the band and its signature sound. He said: "The Billy Walton Band is a musical chameleon.”

He noted: "We take the rock/blues/soul template and add psychedelic jams, and also mix in New Orleans-style grooves. The Jersey Shore vibe is in there, too, whether it's the show, the saxophone, or the vocals. Wherever we go, people seem to get it. It just seems to resonate."

The current band roster includes Walton (Southside Johnny, Little Steven, Gary US Bonds), bassist William Paris, singer and guitarist Destinee Monroe, saxophonist Tom Petraccaro, keyboardist Eric Safka and drummer Daniel Gonzalez. (The music video features Tyler Chiara on drums.)

If you’d like to hear more of the band’s music, you’re in luck. The Billy Walton Band is on the move. The group will be performing live every Thursday at The Point in New Jersey from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Admission to this 21+ residency, a.k.a. “Rockin’ The Point”, is free.

Walton spoke of the event saying: "For our Residency at The Point, we'll dig into our back catalog, play some favorites, debut new songs, and jam on some classic covers. We even put our stamp on some more current songs. There's something for everyone.”

If you can’t make it to the band’s 2023 Thursday night Summer Residency at The Point, the group will be performing elsewhere too. the band will be playing at Havana in New Hope, PA on July 7th; the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 8th; the Angelsea Blues Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey on July 16th; and the Rye Bread Music & Arts Festival in Schaghticoke, New York on July 25th and 26th.

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” this edition is the song “Breathe Me” co-written by Australian singer Sia and Dan Carey. It first appeared on Sia’s 2004 disc Colour the Small One. This stripped down acoustic cover is by the New York City-based award-winning singer-songwriter, musician and producer LiLi Roquelin.

The 2016 audio adaptation also includes Lori M Shearer on piano. If you would care to see Roquelin perform live and are in the area, you’re in luck! In a recent post on social media, the French-American indie-pop artist announced she will be performing live on July 14th, 2023, Bastille Day, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gantry Plaza State Park, “under the Gantry Towers.” Roquelin will be singing in both French and English and playing the piano and ukulele.

Something Blue

Finally, our “something blue” this edition is the song “Further On Up The Road”, a.k.a. "Farther Up the Road”, first recorded in 1957 by Bobby “Blue” Bland. This early influential Texas shuffle is a blues standard and one of Bland’s best-known numbers. It was co-written by Don Robey and Joe Meadwick Veasey.

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!

(Images courtesy of Bespoke Bride, Lili Roquelin and Rock n Roll Bride respectively)