Verse 1
A long long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

{Refrain}

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Verse 2
Did you write the Book of Love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Do you believe in rock n' roll
Can music save your mortal soul
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm & blues
I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died
I started singin'

{Refrain}

Verse 3
Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the Jester sang for the King and Queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
In a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the King was looking down
The Jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Lenin read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
We were singin'

{Refrain}

Verse 4
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the Jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the Sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh but we never got the chance
'Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died
We started singing

{Refrain}

Verse 5
Oh, and there we were, all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack, be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devils only friend
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan's spell
And as flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing

{Refrain}
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play

  

 

And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
And they were singin'

{Refrain}Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levy
But the levy was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die

  

 

 

They were singin'
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levy
But the levy was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die

Note: I have used the lyrics from Don's own website, though I have never got full confirmation that these are entirely accurate i.e the Lenin / Lennon references etc.

This song is special, however, because it is deep and poetic and whimsical not only in its lyrical content but also in the feel of the music itself. When you listen to it, it feels like you're in a garden of flowers and fountains and sunshine.

Dog & Butterfly is one of the few songs you hear today that doesn't sound dated. Especially, if you're hearing it for the first time ever. Ann's voice is so mesmerizing. And Nancy singing in the background sounds like a butterfly trailing all around. Just like the album artwork.

This type of approach to music was lost in the 80's but was kind of revived in the 90's. It is simple, basic and poignant. A beautiful and timeless classic, I think.

Recently I discovered this Austrian band, Dust Covered Carpet. More bands are making the change to explore different instruments; the results are extremely fascinating to say the least. Dust Covered Carpet incorporates glockenspiels with clarinets and flutes along with the ordinary guitars and drums. One would think this is impossible to accomplish a descent tune worth listening to... how wrong you would be to think it. Dust Covered Carpet’s music by far is amazing to be called the new 21st century music for Folk Pop genres. Back in the early 60’s and 70s, this genre was experimented and it was a hit among the young culture, filled with peace, love, mind-harmony, emotional reservations, and fellow-friendship. By the mid to later 80's, it ran out of energy only to regain its power and be reborn in the millennium, a revamped Hippie Psychedelic.

I for one am a fan of Industrial, Industrial-Rock and Gothic Rock and I found myself adding Folk Pop to my list of favourable likes. When I first heard the track “You’ll See”, it was like a musical explosive of hip, pop, folk on a twist; the album is filled with many different feelings, exceedingly powerful. ‘You’ll See’, is an excellent ‘hey wake up and look around’ song; filled with transverse flutes, accordion and drums the flutes adds a special touch to the song.

‘Poison City’ like the other tracks on this album; it merges the previous 70’s and adds a modern touch (I suppose the best way to explain it) of what hippie folk would appear to be in today’s world. Throughout some of the tracks, I did detect Connor Oberst’s songwriting techniques… astounding!

‘Picture Of The Late Fall Sun’ sun-drenched beach with a young love wanting to spread his love to his long-life love only to be lost in the sands, waiting for; one day, to be discovered and hopefully hearts’ love will join in harmony for an everlasting journey.

Dust Covered Carpet music has something to offer all music genres…get in a lull spot in your mind and just listen.

Recommended tracks: ‘A Bridge Needs To Be Built’, ‘Picture Of The Late Fall Sun’, ‘You’ll See’, ‘My Flat & My Shadow’.

Track listings:
01. Picture Of The Late Fall Sun
02. My Flat & My Shadow
03. Pink Glasses
04. You’ll See
05. Peak Of A Feeling
06. Poison City
07. Don’t Forget Your Umbrella
08. On The Fields
09. Copy & Paste
10. A Bridge Needs To Be Built
11. DCC.

4.75/5

Volker Buchgraber - Vocals, guitars, lyricist, percussion
Julia Luiki - Violin, glockenspiel, percussion, flutes, BV's
Katharina Pfiel - Accordion, clarinet, flutes, percussion, BV's
Magdalena Adamski - Cello, flutes, percussion, BV's
Armin Buchgraber - Drums, guitars, percussion, BV's

For more information on Dust Covered Carpet:
http://www.beatismurder.com (CD is available for ordering)
http://www.myspace.com/beatismurderdotcom
dustcoveredcarpet@gmx.net

Interviewer: Hawk Chavez
mousagenrepromotions@gmail.com

Recently, I got the honour of interviewing this highly talented band from Austria, about their dreams and passion; hope you enjoy the read.

(Note- two questions were combined)

MG: How did the name Dust Covered Carpet come about?

DCC: Most of the songs were written and recorded by Volker on the carpet in his flat in Vienna. It is very dusty.

MG: When was your band formed?

DCC: The band as it is now, was founded in April 2007, but the whole project was started in 2003 with solo recordings and gigs and also with an ever changing army of background musicians, friends and family.

MG: What is everyone’s band position?

DCC: As of now Volker does the songwriting, composition and live he plays the guitar, mouth harp and sings. Julia is our violinist, and also does the glockenspiel, melodica and flutes. Katharina joins in with accordion, clarinet and transverse flute. Armin is our drummer and second guitar player. And last but very not least Magdalena plays the cello or flutes, though we are all very flexible with the order of using the instruments. Everyone sings background vocals, does percussions, whistles, stomps their feet, etc.

MG: How did you all the band members meet?

DCC: Volker and Armin are brothers, everyone else was found on the way.

MG: Have you guys played any shows?

DCC: Sure! Tons. But only close to home so far…

MG: What do you want your fans to get from your music?

DCC: We would like them to learn to listen closely and recognize the worth of little things (in life and music), and to realize the importance of feelings.

MG: How would you describe your music?

DCC: It is rather hard to describe but it could be called, melodic- dramatic- harmonic folk pop.

MG: In today’s music, who inspires you the most?

DCC: No one in particular, but the band tends to listen to all sorts of music from Indie Rock to old folk songs, musicals, experimental music in general, local bands and bands from our label (Beat Is Murder Records).

MG: What is the driving force and main storyline behind your music?

DCC: Everyday experiences, dreams, fears, love, boredom and friendship.

MG: On the band’s site, it is stated that the band’s line-up constantly changes; can you explain the purpose of the spontaneous changing?

DCC: As we stated before, the band has been going through some construction work with all the people that have been involved in the whole process of Volker's songwriting, composing and live performances. We are always open towards new ideas and people with a hand for any other instrument that has not yet been included in the band.

MG: What is your ultimate direction for your band?

DCC: Phew. Lots of things, but nothing to far in the future. Right now we are concentrating on playing more live shows but there are several plans for new releases in the nearer future. Soon we will bomb the record stores with a split 7'' vinyl with Liger and the next album is planned to come out in mid 2009. Also we have just purchased a band bus and need to spread our music by selling our recent album “Rerededust The Doubts I Trust” everywhere, and play more and more and bigger and bigger and bigger shows.

DCC: We had fun doing this interview.

MG: Thank you for the opportunity of letting me interview you all, it was fun indeed and the best of luck to you on your musical journey.

I remember hearing the song A Message To You Rudy and getting hooked on it immediately. Something about ska that's so cool, I guess. I don't know, I just love it.

I'll be featuring some more ska-influenced rock bands here soon. Should be fun.

Yeah, I knew but I guess I've forgotten.

Of course, we do know Stevie Wonder played all the instruments in the studio, back in the day. Yet, he's well-known more for his singing and songwriting chops than his instrumental mastery. But listening to his classics being aware this dude not only delivered the funk with keyboards and his incredible pipes, but also with the drums, and with just as much flair, is simply mind-blowing. At least, for me it is.

However, listening is one thing. Seeing the proof with your own eyes is another. I've been wanting to share this video I discovered awhile back but haven't had a chance to do so until now. So do yourself a favor and check out this old footage from a TV show. He's definitely rockin' it out with the best of them.

I will always be a romantic and I will always love bards, knights, and troubadours if only in my dreams. I definitely have been channeling my romanticism into Gemini Rising. It's a tarnished, even tragic, romanticism, but it's there. Turning naturally to fashion, as usual for this time of year, I've been coming up with some ideas for my fall fashion statement and I'm thinking about attempting this look. It certainly looks like high maintenance, but worth it. I'm already half-way home with the gray hair and I think I have a coat like this in my closet...hmmm add the eyeliner, throw in a little snow and a few baubles...I'm so there!

1976... it was the year I started collecting records. Vinyl records, that is. I was obsessed! I bought at least one each week depending on how consistently starved I was willing to be during school lunch breaks. Yes, I had to save the money using my allowance. There's no way I could've convinced my parents to buy me all these records from artists I'm just now beginning to discover (... thanks to Creem and Circus!). And with outrageous cover art and titles such as Welcome To My Nightmare, Destroyer, Sabotage and Cat Scratch Fever... uhh, you kiddin' me? Forget about it!

Alice Cooper's 1975 release, Welcome To My Nightmare, was one of the very first albums I've acquired. Though ironically, it wasn't because of Alice (of whom I am now a lifelong fan of), rock music or even the cool sleeve that I bought it for. It was because I've already heard it at my friend, Buddy's house (... or he may have loaned me the album, I forget.). And being the huge horror genre aficionado that I was (and still am, in fact), I was tantalized beyond words upon hearing Vincent Price's unmistakable voice that was used to bridge the songs Devil's Food and The Black Widow into one macabre epic. As if an angel whispered in my ear telling me how much I needed to get my own copy of the album, like yesterday.

If you're a horror buff yourself, how can you not be enchanted by Vince's monologue as a demented curator/host of an arachnid museum? From one display to the next, he educates his unsuspecting guests on the finer attributes of his priced collection. At the climaxing end, when his voice starts to rise to a crescendo, you can almost smell the chilling scent of his coat in the air as he reveals his true sentiments towards his beloved eight-legged pet. Or could it be, his master?

What a classic! Oh by the way, did you know he's a gourmet cook too? Cool! That actually just increased the creep factor a couple notches, for me!

After all these years, I can't believe I can still recite the whole thing word for word! Along with the appropriate facial expressions, of course.

There are very few genres or eras of music that don't show up on my "faves" list, but sadly, not too many tunes from the 'Me Decade' tend to be scattered across that list.  After tonight, I'm afraid I may have given 70's music just a bit of a bad rap.  Granted, the songs were given a little bit of an update, but still...these were beautiful, meaningful, fun, danceable notes and lyrics.  I had forgotten how many of Abba's  70's songs (gulp!) I had sung along to over the last thirty years...Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, SOS, Take A Chance on Me, I Have A Dream.  So, I humbly repent of my previous down-the-nose treatment I have given to the decade of music previously associated with disco, early punk, and Funk.  There is redemption in ABBA, Bob Marley, a little Bowie, AC/DC, Springsteen, and others.  I repent, yes, I repent.

Yet another side effect of seeing the triumph that is 'Mamma Mia'?  I now desperately want to live in the Greek Isles.  Beaches. Coastal caves. History. Archaeology.  Picture postcard beauty.  Why are you still sitting there, people???  Don't you feel those breezes from the olive groves beckoning?  Get off your tushies and join me on my Greek pilgrimage.  I vow to get there with or without you, so you might as well put the laundry down and come along, yes?

I had been a little disappointed with the movie offerings of the summer...some of which I had been really looking forward to (cough- X-Files - cough), but 2008 will now go down as the summer I was lucky enough to get to see Mamma Mia.  It was that good.  This has been a lucky week for musical-lovers, such as yours truly.  This past Friday a group of folks at my church got the privilege to see 'All Shook Up', a fun romp through many of Elvis' greatest hits, at the local playhouse.  It was truly entertaining, but pales in comparison to the smile that is emblazoned across my jaw tonight.

If you love, hate, or are indifferent to musicals, (wait...no one is really indifferent to musicals, are they? I just can't live in a world where people are indifferent to musicals, so don't tell me if you are, pretty please...) you still must go see Mamma Mia.  You simply must.  But be prepared to lay down a chunk of change afterward for that ticket to Greece.  You'll see...oh you'll see....

Hark to Rouall's white insanity
Clowns in drag concealing vanity
This is hardly Paradise
We’re still in search of petty scorn

Images so dead, in mourning
Clap and cheer the man performing
This is hardly Paradise
we're still in search of petty scorn

Couch my disease in chintz-covered kisses
Glazed calico cloth, my costume this is
Come to Pablo Fanque's in Indigo
We'll show you pastel Shades of rhyme

It's okay to laugh in harmony
See the white-faced Auguste's army
Come to Pablo's-Fanque's in Indigo
We'll Show you pastel shades of rhyme

Take a letter Ophelia, write
"Sorry Desdemona." bright
Peeking through the Nimbus covers
We see the twisted tale of Man

Catch us in the cornfield hiding
Me, Maryse and Moonbeams gliding
Peeking through the Nimbue covers
We see the twisted tale of Man

Careless, caress, curt up beside me
Visit, sleep and smile and drown me
March together, slay like Nero
Now we have something you understand

Oh! the clown, his stare is eyeless
Shall he make you laugh or cry.yes
March together, slay like Nero
Now we have sometning you understand

It is time to hide my body
Shall we start to speak of holly
I don't wanna be that Superhero
’Til you have something we understand

Heard they're moving Pisces into June
Shall we put together a platoon
I don't wanna be that Superhero
’Til you have something we understand. ©

It is a beautifully crafted song and the more you listen to it, the more you are drawn into what I can best describe as a surreal almost Kafkaesque world of strange transformations and bizarre imagery. If it were being made into a movie, it would be a David Lynch or better yet, a Terry Gilliam film!

In my opinion, Steve Harley is one of the greatest (and most underrated) songwriters of the last 35 years. He was big in the 70s but still enjoys enormous success and support today.

Okay, maybe I'm expecting too much from popular culture. I know I was spoiled during my 70's childhood and I never recovered from it. I realize I'm processing it. But there is a glimmer of hope. I saw this article in the NEW YORK TIMES this morning and I thought "Yes!" You have to do it yourself (make sure you watch the video along with the article). I love these guys! Get on the bus! Show some heart! Do it yourself! Fuck the corporate sponsors! Fuck the PRODUCT PLACEMENT! When GEMINI RISING is finally completed (when that will be who knows but I do have an ending in mind) my plan is to take it on tour in a KEN KESEY magic bus and show it all over the country. There has never been a better time for artists whether in music or film to Do it yourself. It's so cool that people are getting back on the bus, so to speak. It sucks that these guys end up $30,000 in debt at the end of their tour. That speaks volumes about the world we live in and economy this generation of young people are inheriting. A bus can't run on gasoline or vegetable oil or love alone. By eschewing the contamination of corporate sponsorship, funds have to come from somewhere. That's what everyone is trying to figure out now, including me. The model I'm working with now is what a lot of people are doing and I think it's a good way to start. Give away the product (music, film, whatever) and leave it to the fans and viewers to support it. If you like it, make a contribution (on our site you can do that by buying a very cool GR T-shirt) modeled by the gorgeous and talented PAM MCGARVEY :) who we are very lucking to have starring in GR. You can't make excuses, you just have to do it. Alright, Basta! I'll give PATTI the last word! Right on!!

Pulled out Samantha Mumba's Body II Body, something that brings back great tweenage memories of watching MTV (when Britney's sober and sane 24/7 and Justin Timberlake still has his ugly mop of orange hair) and drinking Britney-endorsed Pepsi on a hot pre-global-warming-hype summer day. Those were the days. Something jumped out at me, and instantly I could hear the strains of Ashes To Ashes in Body II Body. I wasn't particularly fond of 'Body II Body'. It dawned on me in a split second that I fell in love with David Bowie way before I discovered him amongst the glam rock gems of the 70s. Maybe, I'm an old soul at heart after all. And I'm proud to not have succumbed to the poorly conceived sounds of today. Yes, hit me, here's a music snob talking.