Published by
ejquinn on
August 25, 2008 in
Artist News, Festivals and OurStage@.
Tags: All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen, Bob Cilman, Brock Lynch, Dora Morrow, Fox Searchlight, Jack Schnepp, Jay Sweet, Newport, newport folk, Paste Magazine, Quinn Strassel, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Steve Martin, The Flaming Lips, Young @ Heart.
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Anybody who has seen Fox Searchlight’s documentary Young@Heart knows why I was looking forward to this interview. Watching them at Newport confirmed they are much more than a novelty act. Young@Heart is a great band, producing profound interpretations of modern bands like Sonic Youth, The Flaming Lips, and Radiohead (Newport organizer and Paste Magazine mogul Jay Sweet was in tears during their rendition of Fake Plastic Trees).
FYI: The chorus just released their new album, Mostly Live, this past week. I’ve listened to it and it’s incredible. Buy it here. Your life will be better if you do.
It was a pleasure talking with their leader Bob Cilman and chorus members Dora Morrow, Jack Schnepp, and Steve Martin. I’d also like to say thanks to Brock Lynch (chorus member not featured in the video) who introduced himself to me backstage and regaled me with several entertaining stories. He even sent me a number of great Y@H clippings in the mail. Thanks Brock!
More great coverage of Young@Heart at Newport can be found at Bob Boilen’s excellent All Songs Considered blog.
Published by
ejquinn on
August 2, 2008 in
Festivals.
Tags: Bob Cilman, chorus, Elderly, Flaming Lips, James Brown, Lou Reed, Newport Folk 2008, Newport Folk Festival, Northampton, OurStage@, Quinn Strassel, Sonic Youth, Talking Heads, Young @ Heart.
I’ve seen a lot of good shows this year. But I’m not sure if anything compares to the performance of the Young @ Heart Chorus at the Newport Folk Festival this morning. And it wasn’t just the novelty of watching a group of elderly people singing Sonic Youth’s Schizophrenia (though that was pretty incredible).
The fact is, the chorus displayed more musical range and emotional depth than any of the other performers at Newport. From a tear-jerking rendition of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” to the uproarious take on James Brown’s “I Feel Good,” Y@H left no melodic or emotional stone unturned.
Other standout performances included a bittersweet version of “All We Have is Now” (Flaming Lips), a stunning medley based around “Walk on the Wild Side” (Lou Reed) and a mischeviously fun interpretation of “Heaven” (Talking Heads).
Stay tuned later this week for a video interview featuring members of the chorus and their fearless leader, Bob Cilman.
