A putting place

theawl: barthel: shitty: markrichardson: Sheila E doing...

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:42:29 -0400

barthel:

shitty:

markrichardson:

Sheila E doing “Glamorous Life” at the American Music Awards in 1985. This performance is bonkers. For the first third she sings lead while standing and also playing the lead percussion part. Then she takes the mic and dances around. And then the lights on stage go dark and she solos on drums in the dark with glow-in-the-dark sticks.

Two things occur to me watching this, and recently revisiting Sheila E’s first two albums. One, Prince in the 1980s was the kind of pop genius that comes along every 20-30 years, maybe. The amount of brilliant, boundary-pushing, but still accessible music he was responsible for, as both a solo performer or, as with this song, as a writer/producer, is simply astonishing. It’s honestly like talking about Albert Einstein in 1905, that’s how in the zone he was. It was a decade of a true and lasting genius by an artist at the height of his powers who was given all kinds of resources. A rare thing.

The second thing is what a talent Sheila E was (and probably still is, though I haven’t heard anything she’s done in some time). She had a few big hits, two good records, and came from a remarkable family of musicians (she had several first-call percussionists of note in her family). In the late 1980s she was Prince’s live drummer and also was also the leader of his backing band (you can see her considerable skills behind a proper kit in the Sign O the Times film). Imagine what it takes to be Prince’s musical director in those years, for him to hand over the keys.

Put down whatever you are doing and make sure you watch this video.

Also before the drum solo somebody comes out and puts a white fur coat on her.

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER.

America's Test Kitchen: The Terroir of Vermont Maple Syrup: If you think maple syrup just...

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:06:17 -0400

America's Test Kitchen: The Terroir of Vermont Maple Syrup: If you think maple syrup just...:

americastestkitchen:

The Terroir of Vermont Maple Syrup: If you think maple syrup just tastes like maple syrup, you’re letting down some folks in Vermont. The anthropologist Amy Trubek won a $45,000 grant from the U.S. Agriculture Department and convened a group of wine and cheese experts, a sensory scientist, maple…

cabinporn: The Floating Farmhouse in Eldred, New York. Restored...

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:07:29 -0400

cabinporn:

The Floating Farmhouse in Eldred, New York.

Restored by Givone Home. More photos.

Sigh.

Michael Pollan: Cooking for yourself is the real independence

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:41:45 -0400

Michael Pollan: Cooking for yourself is the real independence

natgeofound: Leaping skills make Doberman pinschers into great...

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:08:44 -0400

natgeofound:

Leaping skills make Doberman pinschers into great “police dogs.” Rushville, Indiana, December 1941.
Photograph by Willard Culver, National Geographic

Spring training.

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:08 -0400

Spring training.

natgeofound: A boy between two mounted lobsters caught off the...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:51:03 -0400

natgeofound:

A boy between two mounted lobsters caught off the New Jersey coast, February 1915.Photograph by Walter L. Beasley, National Geographic

America's Test Kitchen: The States Where It’s Easiest to Be A Locavore: These days, “farm to...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:48:24 -0400

America's Test Kitchen: The States Where It’s Easiest to Be A Locavore: These days, “farm to...:

americastestkitchen:

The States Where It’s Easiest to Be A Locavore: These days, “farm to table,” “eating local,” and “sustainable eating” have become ubiquitous descriptors of the American culinary scene. But where is it easiest to eat food that grows close to home? Fast Company did some research, relying on the…

Chhhhyeah.

Photo

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:25:49 -0400

Jill Farwell’s artist’s statement for her latest...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:57:23 -0400

Jill Farwell’s artist’s statement for her latest painting show in Brattleboro.

Attn: Ryan Cameron. (via Ted.)

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:30:00 -0500

Attn: Ryan Cameron.

(via Ted.)

"‘How are you going to keep from getting provincial?’ asked one of our friends quite..."

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:51:24 -0500

“‘How are you going to keep from getting provincial?’ asked one of our friends quite solemnly. It was such a sudden question, I couldn’t think of any answer, so I just let it go. But afterward I wondered how my friend, on his part, was going to keep from getting metropolitan.”

- E.B. White, ‘Hot Weather’

First Aid Kit - Emmylou Shmoop city, over here.

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:43:18 -0500

First Aid Kit - Emmylou

Shmoop city, over here.

2 Headed Dog - Little Maggie Shef and Serena sing a real nice...

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:04:05 -0400

2 Headed Dog - Little Maggie

Shef and Serena sing a real nice song for y’all. Heard this one for the first time in a clearing in the woods the other night and it really stole my heart.

Come to this art show! Opening July 6th in beeeeauuuutiful...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 10:09:35 -0400

Come to this art show! Opening July 6th in beeeeauuuutiful downtown Brattleboro, VT.

Julia, two views, West Chesterfield, NH, June 2011

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:32:45 -0400

Julia, two views, West Chesterfield, NH, June 2011

Sideways house, West Chesterfield, NH, June 2011.

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:20:23 -0400

Sideways house, West Chesterfield, NH, June 2011.

Monarch orgy, Guilford, VT, June 2011.

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:17:47 -0400

Monarch orgy, Guilford, VT, June 2011.

Hot dogs, Black Mountain, Dummerston, VT, June 2011.

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:15:00 -0400

Hot dogs, Black Mountain, Dummerston, VT, June 2011.

Ryan Power - I Don’t Care Alex, you could listen to this...

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:36:37 -0400

Ryan Power - I Don’t Care

Alex, you could listen to this today if you wanted to.