Photo byetsy

Something in music: the origin

One night at a 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 scribbled down 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’s about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those same terms could be applied to music: “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. And the rest is history…

‘Something’ in Music 435

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Destroyer” by the Brit rock band the Kinks. It was written by Ray Davies and originally appeared on the band’s 19th platter, “Give the People What They Want”, which hit the record racks in 1981. In the US, it was the LP’s lead single.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new track titled “Murders in This Town” written and recorded by South Carolina’s own singer, songwriter, and musician Don Merckle. It’s the newest number off his upcoming album titled “Same Devil New Skin” which drops on September 20th, 2024. (Keep your peepers peeled for a possible review of the new disc!)

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the 1962 song “Ring Of Fire” co-written by June Carter Cash and American songwriter Merle Kilgore. This noteworthy cover cut is by American singer-songwriter, and folk musician Lucy Kaplansky. It’s off her album “Over The Hills” which dropped in 2007.

If you’d like to see what Kaplansky is up to now, you’re in luck! She’s currently on tour! Check out this list of her upcoming shows next month!

Photo byLucy Kaplansky

Something Blue

Last but certainly not least, our “something blue” this time is the song “Deep River Blues” by American folk-punk fusion fingerstyle blues guitarist Sunny War. This performance is from 2008. If you’d like to see War play live and are in Texas, you’re in luck!

According to a recent e-communique, War will be performing at The Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation’s annual Welcome Home Fest on Thursday, October 10th through Sunday, October 13th, 2024 “at Quiet Valley Ranch, just south of Kerrville, Texas.” The event will mark over half a century of “Kerrville Music Festival heritage with a “genre-bending…lyric-focused, laid-back…concert and camping experience.” Amy Sue Berlin, the Kerrville Folk Festival organizer, has reportedly “preserve[d] the freewheeling spirit of its parent festival while drawing new attendees into the songwriter’s paradise.”

Photo byBroken Jukebox Media

It is set to be an “intimate weekend-long event” that features “younger, queerer, and more diverse acts.” The roster of entertainers currently includes War, Michael Hurley, Palehound, Kalu & The Electric Joint, Kam Franklin, Melissa Carper, The Blue Hit, Dan Bern, Laraaji, Possessed By Paul James, Little Mazarn, Devon Sproule, Matt The Electrician, Southpaw Jones, Sound Of Honey, and Raina Rose. For tickets and additional information, visit the official website.

Photo byThomas WilliamonUnsplash

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!