(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 309

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “James Dean” first recorded by the American rock band Eagles. The song was co-written by band members Don Henley and Glenn Frey, singer-songwriter and musician Jackson Browne, and songwriter J.D. Souther. The track originally appeared on the 1974 Eagles platter titled On the Border.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new song “Room 720” by the Los Angeles-based Cambodian and American rock band Dengue Fever. The group roster includes songstress Chhom Nimol, guitarist Zac Holtzman, keyboardist Ethan Holtzman, horn player David Ralicke, percussionist Paul Smith and bassist Senon Gaius Williams. This is another new single off their upcoming sixth studio album titled Ting Mong.

In an e-mail, Williams talked about the release. He said: “We gave ourselves parameters recording Ting Mong, but we smashed the rules we created for ourselves on past albums. The songs' sole purpose was to let our lead singer Chhom Nimol’s voice soar.”

He concluded: “It was our mood or perhaps the mood of the world that gave us focus on the sublime and the melancholy. We purposely left the frenetic energy and noise to yesterday.” (Keep following this column for a possible review of the new work dropping next month.)

If you’d like to see the band perform live, you’re in luck! Here are some upcoming tour dates. Check ‘em out:

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” this edition is the 1967 piece “Expressway To Your Heart”, co-written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by the Soul Survivors. This cover cut was performed by the American rock band Melvin Seals and JGB. This live performance was recorded on July 22, 2023 at the Gratefulfest in Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. If you’d care to see the group play live, they will be performing at the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival in Sandy Point State Park, in Annapolis, Maryland on Saturday, September 30th, 2023.

The festival is actually a two-day event held on both Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st. It runs from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. According to a recent email this “event will host 14 bands across two alternating stages.”

Saturday headliners are Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and Keller & The Keels. The Jon Stickley Trio, The Dirty Grass Players, and Geraldine will perform during the day.

The Sunday line-up includes Melvin Seals & JGB, Fruition, Cabinet, Cris Jacobs & Smooth Kentucky, Arkansauce, Wicked Sycamore, The High & Wides, and Lindsay Lou (artist-at-large). Both days of this family-friendly “conservation-focused musical event” will also include “scrumptious local foods, and delightful cocktails and mocktails.”

Single Day Tickets, Two-day VIP and GA Passes are available. Ten percent of the “proceeds from ticket, food, beverage, and merchandise sales will go to Maryland-based non-profit organizations including Watershed Stewards Academy, Oyster Recovery Partnership, and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.” Visit the official website for more information about ticket options, “heavily discounted nearby lodging” and shuttle passes.

Something Blue

Last but not least, our “something blue” this edition is the song “Unemployment Blues” written and recorded by American singer-songwriter and guitarist Tret Fure. The song appears on her 2018 album titled Roses in November. If you would like to see Fure perform live and are in the area, you’re in luck!

Fure will be performing live at Sing OUT!, a benefit to support the non-profit organization Human Rights Campaign at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in Topanga. According to a recent e-communique, this “evening of music and social justice” will also include singer, songwriter, humorist, and lecturer Peter Alsop, and the activist American folk music duo Emma’s Revolution featuring Sandy O and Pat Humphries. The show will take place on the outdoor stage and “streamed live for global access.”

Ticket prices range from $20.00 to $40.00 and are available online. The email reports that all the “profits from donations and ticket sales will go to support Human Rights Campaign, a non-profit organization at the forefront of the fight to end discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people.” Additionally, refreshments will be “available at the venue, and patrons are welcome to picnic in the gardens before the performances.”

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 Lux Rock Liz Morrow Studios and/or original owners)