(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 305
Something Old
Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Promises In The Dark” by American vocalist Pat Benatar. Benatar co-wrote it with her performing partner Neil Giraldo. The song is the album opener on her third studio platter titled Precious Time which hit the record racks in 1981.
Something New
Our “something new” this time is the new song “Two-Faced” written and recorded by Stella Prince. According to a recent email, the song “ is her 8th single” and was “recorded ‘live’ at the Sound Stage and also features Nashville-based pedal steel guitarist (and Grammy winning producer) Steve Fishell —known for his work with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, among others.” Prince briefly spoke of the single.
She said: “It was an amazing experience—my first time ever recording with a full band. Actually this song specifically is the first ever song I recorded with more than just me. It was wild and incredible.”
Along with Fishell she was also backed by Ben Garrett (keys, guitar), PJ Schreiner (drums), Mike Dunton (electric guitar), and Father Phillip. If you’d like to hear her perform live, she will be on tour soon! Here are some dates!
Stella Prince on Tour:
8/10 Thu - Bozeman Taproom - Bozeman, MT
8/14 Mon - Paris West - Cheyenne, WY
8/15 Tue - Little Bear Inn - Cheyenne, WY
8/30 Wed - Parlour - Providence RI
8/31 Thu - Galactic Theatre - Warren RI
9/1 Fri - The Lily Pad - Boston MA
9/2 Sat - Daryl's House (3-5pm) - Pawling, NY
9/3 Sun - Club Passim - Boston, MA
9/22 Fri - The Falcon - Marlboro, NY *w/ Professor Louie
9/23 Sat - Silvana - New York, NY
9/24 Sun - Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 1) - New York, NY
9/25 Mon - The Bitter End - New York, NY
Nashville Shows:
8/20 Sun - All-female Folk/Americana showcase hosted by Stella - The Underdog - Nashville, TN
9/19 Tue - Special Folk/Americana Showcase as part of AmericanaFest - The Underdog - Nashville, TN
9/21 Thu - One Big Love Fest @ The Coliseum - Nashville, TN
Something Borrowed
Our “something borrowed” this edition is the 2015 song “FourFiveSeconds”. The single was originally recorded by former Beatle Paul McCartney, Barbadian singer Rihanna, and American rapper Kanye West. It was co-written by McCartney, West, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Dave Longstreth, Rihanna, Dallas Austin, Ty Dolla Sign, Kirby Lauryen, and Elon Rutberg.
This noteworthy cover is by American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist Jaime Wyatt and features American singer-songwriter Matthew Szlachetka. The exceptional adaptation includes Wyatt and Szlachetka on guitars and vocals, Kane McGee on drums and vocals, John Waynolovich on piano, Drew Allsbrook on bass and Ro Rowan on cello. Check out her live shows:
AUG 6 SUN
Public House @ 8:30pm
Crested Butte, CO, United States
SEP 6 WED
World Cafe Live @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Philadelphia, PA, United States
SEP 8 FRI
9:30 Club @ 6:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Washington, DC, United States
SEP 9 SAT
Gramercy Theatre @ 7:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
New York, NY, United States
SEP 10 SUN
Paradise Rock Club @ 7:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Boston, MA, United States
SEP 12 TUE
House of Blues Cleveland @ 7:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Cleveland, OH, United States
SEP 13 WED
XL Live @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Harrisburg, PA, United States
SEP 15 FRI
Saint Andrew's Hall @ 7:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Detroit, MI, United States
SEP 16 SAT
Park West @ 7:30pm
w/ZZ Ward
Chicago, IL, United States
SEP 19 TUE
Majestic Theatre @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Madison, WI, United States
SEP 20 WED
Wooly's @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Des Moines, IA, United States
SEP 21 THU
Fine Line @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Minneapolis, MN, United States
SEP 22 FRI
Madrid Theatre @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Kansas City, MO, United States
SEP 24 SUN
The Basement East @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Nashville, TN, United States
SEP 25 MON
Delmar Hall @ 8:00pm
w/ZZ Ward
Saint Louis, MO, United States
For tickets and more info check out her official website
Something Blue
Last but not least, our “something blue” this edition is the song “These Blues Are All Mine” written and recorded by Louisiana singer-songwriter and blues guitarist Tab Benoit. It’s off his 1999 album of the same name. If you’d like to hear more of his music, you’re in luck!
Benoit is heading out on his Summer 2023 Tour. His opening for part of the tour will be the Louisiana act known as The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. For further details check out his official website. Here are some current tour dates:
Aug 17 (Thur) - Solana Beach CA@Belly Up Tavern
Aug 18 (Fri) - Solana Beach CA@Belly Up Tavern
Aug 19 (Sat) - Santa Barbara CA@Lobero Theatre
Aug 20 (Sun) - San Francisco CA@Great American Music Hall
Aug 21 (Mon) - Sacramento CA@Crest Theatre
Aug 24 (Thur) - Portland OR@Aladdin Theater
Aug 25 (Fri) - Seattle WA@Neptune Theatre
Aug 26 (Sat) - Spokane WA@Bing Crosby Theater
Aug 27 (Sun) - Kalispell MT@Wacholz College Center
Aug 28 (Mon) - Bozeman MT@The Elm
Aug 30 (Wed) - Ft Collins CO@Aggie Theatre
Aug 31 (Thur) - Boulder CO@Boulder Theatre
Sept 1 (Fri) - Silverthorne CO@Rainbow Park
Sept 2 (Sat) - Englewood CO@Gothic Theatre
Sept 3 (Sun) - Santa Fe NM@The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing
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 Rock n Roll Bride and/or original owners)