DROP YOUR GUARD

After posting Ty Segall the other day, I got a message from the son of a couple I know. I go way back with this kid. It was at my apartment that his parents met, so that should give you an idea. I know he was brought up listening to good music, beginning at a very young age, and he pays attention to newer stuff much more than I do. I trust his taste enough to follow a lead. He recommended a band he thought I'd like, Parquet Courts. I know. You get one chance to name your band and you pick that? Right off the bat, I had a decision to make. Begin nitpicking or just listen to it with the ears of an eighteen year old. I chose the latter, and you know what? These guys make some respectable noise. There's all sorts of stuff I hear in there, not the least of which is guitar interplay that belies the era they're stuck in. The type of stuff that Dream Syndicate did when they were channeling the Velvet Underground and Everyone Knows This is Nowhere era Neil Young. Robert Quine when he stretched out on stuff with the Voidoids. Hell, even Jonathan Richman's playing on "Pablo Picasso". So, with the kid in mind, it's noisy guitar night over here,

A plug for tonight's suggester: His name is Reoh Darwell, and this kid is a fighter. Born with cystic fibrosis, he jumped head first into distance running, was on his school's cross country team, racked up awards and graduated high school with a 4.2 average. Hear me out. If you think this sounds like the work of some over achieving goody two shoes being pushed by smothering parents, think again, This was the work of one cool baddass kid. I've known this family since before they were a family. They're good people, that don't just fall into line. You know what I mean. They're like us. 

If you feel like helping out Reoh, and his brother who was also born with CF, and all others who suffer from the disease, donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. If you want to help Reoh get a scholarship, you can go to this site to vote for him (before September 15). Know this: I've never heard this family complain about the daily treatments Reoh and his brother require, let alone all of the medical costs. They didn't ask, or even hint about a mention here. After Reoh suggested the song, I just got to thinking about all the time I've spent with them over the years. They're a cool family, a very cool family. They are goofy and they have taste. You'd like them.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Parquet Courts - Stoned and Starving mp3 at Citizen Insane (?)
Scott & Charlene's Wedding - Rejected mp3 at The Mad Makerel
The Dream Syndicate - Halloween mp3 at The Mad Mackerel
Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso mp3 at DJNoDJ
The Velvet Underground - Sister Ray mp3 at Host A Library (?)
Fuck Cystic Fibrosis:
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Tell 'em Reoh Darwell sent you.
Abbvie CF Scholarship - Vote for Reoh (before September 15)