As noted earlier this year in our review of Caravan Château, Alex Izenberg is not afraid of his influences. For this installment of the Lagniappe Sessions, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter digs into the pathos of Plastic Ono Band’s “Love”, and “Living Without You” — a cornerstone of Randy Newman’s 1968 debut long-player. A warm blanket in the ever-bizarre autumn of 2020.
Category: Lagniappe Sessions
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Austin McCutchen
For his first ever Lagniappe Session, Liberty Hair Farm-based Austin McCutchen decided he’d look towards the sky. Recorded in quarantine and produced by Dan Horne, McCutchen’s takes on Jim Sullivan’s “UFO” (ft. Horne) and J.J. Cale’s “Cajun Moon” (featuring the Western Stars) offer us all a little respite from a weary world.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Dirty Projectors
Dave Longstreth’s Lagniappe Session emboldens and broadens his homage to Gilberto. Performing two tender ballads from Stan Getz and João Gilberto’s seminal self-titled album, “Corcovado” and “Para Machuchar Meu Coracao,” Longstreth sings entirely in Portuguese, accompanied by only a nylon string guitar and the warm noise of a tape machine, in tribute to a bright and brilliant man and his all-embracing musical influence.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Eamon Fogarty
Eamon Fogarty’s 2019 lp Blue Values brought a jazzy, art-pop sheen to the songwriter’s cryptic and charmingly esoteric words. A winner from start to finish, it’s lingered on the turntable for quite sometime. For his very first Lagniappe Session, Fogarty teamed with drummer Ryan Jewell (Solar Motel, Ryley Walker) and his selections veer into the unexpected, covering Pacheco & Alexander’s “Since I Was Born” and Carole King’s “A Road to Nowhere.”
The Lagniappe Sessions, Vol. 2
Record Store Day (August 29) sees the vinyl release of Volume 2 of Aquarium Drunkard’s ongoing Lagniappe Sessions. The 13 performances gathered here on wax all have one thing in common: they’re all bursting at the seams with love and appreciation for the power of song. We’re in a blessedly irony-free zone here; even if the song choices may occasionally seem unusual, there’s not a trace of mockery to be found. There are ghosts in the grooves here, as well. But don’t worry — they’re friendly…
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Sven Wunder
… two vibrant, cinematic interpretations of traditional Japanese songs. “Tōryanse,” a children’s song typically played as crosswalk music, is reimagined here with a Yamasuki Singers-style choir over a lush and propulsive arrangement not dissimilar to the music on Wunder’s excellent Wabi Sabi LP. “Sakura,” which is customarily performed during Cherry Blossom season, finds the enigmatic maestro going wild on the harpsichord amidst swelling strings, traditional instrumentation and one of his signature breakbeats.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Sessa
Atenção! An outsize portion of our 2019 listening was dominated by Grandeza, the debut album from São Paulo–born artist Sessa. As such, the follow lagniappe session is something akin to the sound of the inevitably. This, the first installment of a two-part session, begins with Sessa’s delicate rendering of Helene Smith’s soulful “I’m Controlled By Your Love”, a cover deftly employed to audiences while in LA earlier this year. Next, the artist pays tribute to fellow countryman, and Tropicália pioneer, Jorge Mautner — taking on 1976’s “Samba Jambo”, before closing out with Haitian composer and guitarist Frantz Casseus’s “Yanvalloux”.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Sunny War
This week’s installment of the Lagniappe Sessions catches up with DTLA troubadour Sunny War (née Sydney Lyndella Ward). In contrast to her roots gigging in punk bands, War’s approach as a solo artist (a clawhammer infused amalgamation of blues and folk) has more in common with Joan Armatrading, and Joni Mitchell than Joan Jett. Though influences do die hard (see: War’s stripped down take of “Fragile”, via Wire’s perennial debut, Pink Flag).
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Lola Kirke
For her first ever Lagniappe Session, singer/songwriter/actress Lola Kirke takes to interpreting R&B, pop, and country classics by Irma Thomas, Madonna, Gary Stewart, and Samantha Mathis.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Omni (Second Session)
Just prior to the lockdown, Omni recorded their second entry for the Lagniappe Sessions. While their 2016 initial set paid tribute to ‘the best Alice Cooper song you’ve never heard’, here, the Atlanta trio take on Billy Joel’s FM radio-ready paean to the shadow self — “The Stranger.” Next up… some 10cc!
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Julien Gasc
For this week’s installment of the Lagniappe Sessions, Gasc chose a fitting selection of tunes that feels something like a stripped-down companion piece to his debut lp, ‘L’Appel de la Forêt’. Now at Aquarium Drunkard, the Toulouse, France based troubadour covering Marie Laforêt, The Who and Michel Delpech.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: M. Ward
For his debut Lagniappe Session, Ward decided to dig deep into the historical archives to rework some classic standards—one jazz, one classical—using some heavy guitar strings and the rustic hum of vintage Americana.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Black Lips
Prior to the release of their ninth record — the incredibly apt titled Sing In A World That’s Falling Apart — Black Lips touched down in Los Angeles for a secret show at Gold Diggers in East Hollywood. The following Lagniappe Session was cut just prior in the studio out back. Having morphed in both personnel and sound in recent years, drummer Oakley Munson runs us through the band’s cover selects, below — from drawing inspiration from Hank Williams to long lost VU nuggets …
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Ilyas Ahmed
One of the underground’s most reliable figures for the past decade-and-a-half, Ilyas Ahmed isn’t an easy artist to pin down…for his debut Lagniappe Session, Ahmed doesn’t bother digging out obscurities. Instead, he offers awesomely fresh spins on classics from the Rolling Stones, Joy Division and the Velvet Underground, turning these well-worn tunes inside out and revealing new colors.
The Lagniappe Sessions :: Ben Watt
“Shed a skin, it’s no big thing,” Ben Watt sings on “You’ve Changed, I’ve Changed,” one of the 10 songs that makes up the Everything But The Girl co-founder’s new album, Storm Damage. Watt’s long career has demonstrated his ability to shift approaches, but no matter the format—glistening electronic music or autumnal Britfolk—his thoughtful voice remains constant. For his first ever Lagniappe Session, he brings two gorgeous covers of Sharon Van Etten’s “Comeback Kid” and Ten City’s “That’s The Way Love Is.”