…AKA Songs in the Key of Love.

Numbertime:

1. Gonna recreate the opening three song salvo from last night, Ray, Pete, and Dire Straits. Okay, so not actually Dire Straits, but a song of theirs. I played the original last night, but this one by The Killers is good enough (in my humble opinion)  that I could take either one of them. I really like Ronnie Vanucci Jr, the Killers’ drummer. One of those drummers who doesn’t do anything in particular to stand out, but you can tell he’s got good feel and good chops.

2. Here’s the great Neko Case with a version of This Tornado Loves You on Letterman. I will admit I don’t like it as much as on the record, I think this live version if too busy. And because of this, here’s something more stripped down, a performance of People Got A Lotta Nerve on Q. And I know it can be easily found, but here is her interview with Jian because it’s entertaining.

3. Because it’s my show, I get to feature Rick Danko twice in two weeks. Here he is at the Band’s famous farewell concert, The Last Waltz, singing It Makes No Difference. …Whoops. I meant to say It Makes No Difference. Anyways, there’s alot of talk about the instrumental tracks on The Last Waltz, and even whether or not Rick was even playing his bass, but one thing for sure is that really is his voice.

4. A Valentine’s Day anthem, Cocktails For Two.

5. From the documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, here’s Wilco playing I’m Always In Love. Not wanting to waste any numbers I don’t have to, I’ll also include an explosive version of The Bruce’s She’s The One live from the Hammersmith Odeon, and Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes. Not sure how I feel about the dancing.

6. Harry Nilsson didn’t perform live much, so there is no great video of last night’s Saddest Song In The World, Without You. But here’s the last tune of the night, an equally melancholy song, John Darnielle’s Love Love Love.

7. Not Valentine’s related, but tonight I have a few friends playing a CD release party up in Ottawa tonight. If you haven’t heard of New Teeth yet, you might as well get on the train now. Here’s a video of them playing This Body at the Cajun Attic in Ottawa. They’re semi-local talent too, since guitarist/vocalist Lucas is from Cambridge. And while Ottawa is a bit of a drive away, they’ll be in Toronto in March for two dates. Go see them.

I’ve decided that for the Reading Week show, I’m going to do my best to distract you from reading by playing the wildest, loudest, rockinist rock I know. From start to finish, it’s going to be big guitars and drums and basses and probably some keyboards too. Rock and Roll is simple, and that’s what next week’s show is going to be.

So tune in next week at 9pm, and until then have a great weekend.

Ian