My Flight of the Conchords Interview

Posted by Michael on May 13, 2008 under Personal | 2 Comments to Read

I love Flight of the Conchords, and because I don’t have HBO, I haven’t had a chance to start watching the series until recently. It’s funny, and dead-pan, and I would say it amounts to the first successful piece of Musical-Theatre television yet. I also love their clear affinity for Musical Theatre performers with Sutton Foster and Luther Creek having appeared over the course of the first four episodes.

It’s great as well, as I had a chance to interview them before they hit really big at SXSW in March of 2006. In fact, I just noticed that they used footage from that interview in their documentary, “A Texan Odyssey”. And in fact, a portion of that was used in their “best Of” YouTube Clip.

Here is the YouTube clip, and you can catch me (in my Next Big Hit T-Shirt) about 4:34 into the clip.

It has been fun watching their rise.. their HBO success, and the fantastic #3 debut of their CD on the Billboard Album charts. I look forward to more great and funny things from them!

Classic Track of the Week – Sycamore Leaves

Posted by Michael on May 6, 2008 under Reviews | Be the First to Comment

Okay, Americans have been living in a box, and pretty much think A-Ha stopped recording after “Take on Me.” The truth is the group has released tons of albums, and still sells very well in Europe. One of my best friends has stayed a true fan over the years, buying all their import CDs, etc…

Back when I was in college, I was of the opinion of most people, namely, “Why should I still CARE about A-Ha”… well, “Sycamore Leaves” changed my opinion instantly. Funky guitar lines, and rock with a touch of pop, not at all what casual fans of their one hit would expect.

The song also shows another side of lead singer, Morton Harkett’s voice, and he continues to amaze me to this day as one of popular music’s BEST voices.

My friend called me up almost two years ago, breathlessly announcing that A-Ha was going to their first and only performance date in the US in 20 years in New York, and promptly flew in from Seattle and dragged me to the concert. (Well, not dragged… I bought the tickets)

Morton Harket STILL looks like a teen heartthrob pinup… the past 25 years have been kind to him, and should radio ever give a chance to them again, they have AT LEAST as much more life in them as Aerosmith did with their big comeback.

Anyway, you owe it to yourself to check out “Sycamore Leaves” and heck… get the whole album, “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” which is easily one of my top ten albums ever.

Check out a live performance of “Sycamore Leaves” on YouTube