It was Josh’s birthday.
THANKS to Tris McCall for delivering this thoughtful review of HIGGINS’ Straight A’s for the NJ Star-Ledger:
Straight A’s
Higgins
(Serious Business)
Those familiar with the High Llamas will know what I mean when I say that “Straight A’s,” the new disc by Higgins, is to “Zs,” their last, as “Hawaii” is to “Gideon Gaye.” Kevin Fish, Higgins’ principal songwriter, will: He shares with the High Llamas an appreciation of the impressionistic side of the Beach Boys and the impish, provocative side of the Grateful Dead. “Straight A’s” lacks the splashy instrumental rave-ups that made “Zs” so much fun. But by sticking to Higgins’ true strength — subtly magnificent pop melodies, Beatlesque vocal harmonies and graceful arrangements that scream of perfectionism but never sound less than relaxed — the band has topped itself. Every detail is framed for maximum impact: the thumping piano on “Satch Lab,” the portamento synthesizers and fuzz guitar on “Easy Thing,” twinkling music-hall spinet and rich strings on “T and T,” rattling percussion and slow-decaying snare hits by imaginative drummer Brian Kantor on “Never Here.” The productions are grand, but quietly grand; Higgins lets the band’s craftsmanship speak for itself. If you’re the sort of listener who pays attention to detail — and has the patience to let an album unfold at its own pace — Higgins may be the group for you.
— Tris McCall
THE SERIOUS BUSINESS ROCK AND ROLL REVUE III: NYC
SAT MAY 26 2012 @ LITTLEFIELD
starring
BENJI COSSA, HIGGINS, ROCKETSHIP PARK, THE UNSACRED HEARTS plus special guests.
Get tickets.
At Littlefield on May 26, 2012, the collective of songwriters and musicians who rally under the proud banner of SERIOUS BUSINESS RECORDS will mount the third in a series of themed rock and roll revues, with this installment billed as celebration of the music of and about our fair metropolis, New York City, from the Brill Building to the Bowery, from the lights on Broadway to Rockaway Beach.
The program of entertainment for will draw from both the vast original catalogs of Benji Cossa, Higgins, Rocketship Park and The Unsacred Hearts and a meticulously curated syllabus of NYC classics spanning a century. Contributing extra spice to the gothamized brew of rock and pop will be a special coterie of musical guests and a post-revue NY dance party. Brooklyn artist Kara Smith will ovesee the visuals.
money doesn’t weigh that much, honey
but, it holds a lot of weight on me
so if you’re gonna be a broke little bunny
better get on the floor and dance with me
‘cause dancing’s free
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
BENJI COSSA: Annie Delia. 
This song is part of Benji’s forthcoming double album II. We recorded this a pretty long time ago now. It still rocks.
Love Benji Cossa the King of Song here:
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
HIGGINS: Build It Up
from Straight A’s. that sweet sweet string arrangement courtesy of josh kaufman (and performed on viola by Karen Waltuch).
fuck yeah @arossexperience
Secret Dakota Ring is the solo project of Andy Ross (OK Go guitarist/keyboard…ist?). ‘Cantarell’ is his second album and it was released in 2008. I’ve just discovered it after watching the video for the album’s first single, ‘The Fade To Black’, on YouTube. It’s quite a bit different from the…
The world rejoices!!! New Higgins record Straight As is available on Serious Business Records and Tapes! We’re all really psyched about how this one came out. Thanks Efrain for the sweet promo video.
Jack & The Pulpits - Francypants
Three beautiful stripped down songs by Josh and Annie that we put on the Free Music Archive in 2009.
Guess what?
It’s seven minutes in heaven.
(click through from your dash to stream)
too awesome to be true.
but it is true. it happened. look and see. Last week our own Josh Kaufman (Rocketship Park, Yellowbirds, Higgins, Benji Cossa, Dawn Landes, Josh Ritter, Balthrop Alabama, Caithlin deMarrais, Thieving Irons etc etc etc oofah etc etc) and our good pal Sam Cohen (Yellowbirds, Apollo Sunshine) jetted to California to participate in this event with members of The National, the Walkmen, Takka Takka and Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead. That’s right the Grateful muthafuckin Dead. Click the link above to learn more. Watch below to hear what it was. Josh was the musical director for this event.
Holy shit this is real
So, I grew up playing a lot of different kinds of music, but when I was in high school there was really only one band I wanted to be in (besides REM, The Band, and The Beatles) and that was The Grateful Dead. God damn they were awesome! So now, years later, I find myself flying out to Marin County, CA to play guitar with Bob Weir and my friends from The National. Anyway, i’m looking forward to it.
It’s all part of a benefit concert/HD broadcast for a voter registration organization called HeadCount.
Above is a preview video they made for the event… Worth checking out. I look kinda fat and Scott didn’t like hearing the sound of his voice but it’ll give you a good idea of what we’re going out there to do.
Also, if you’re in Brooklyn wondering how you can participate, wonder no more! Littlefield is holding a viewing party for the gig along w/ a live screening!
Just follow the linkleberries.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
the unsacred hearts (feat. jaymay) Don’t Disappear from The Honor Bar
