Tonight, I get the opportunity to talk to former Concrete Blonde vocalist, bassist and songwriter, Johnette Napolitano. We talk about her new album, Scarred (Amazon link), her influences both then and now, and the covers she’s done. Here’s what’s on the show tonight:
Title (with link to iTunes, if available) | Artist (with link to the artists’ website, if available) | Album (with link to Amazon.com, if available) | Original Artist |
The Scientist | Johnette Napolitano | Scarred | Coldplay |
The Ship Song | Concrete Blonde and Steve Wynn | Still in Hollywood | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds |
Everybody Knows | Concrete Blonde | Still in Hollywood | Leonard Cohen |
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Granted, I should listen first. But a great coup for you. I saw Concrete Blonde a few years back so I’m really looking forward to hearing your interview. Thanks
Everybody knows that all my friends are going to get sick of listening to me Rave about this woman and her creative genius ! And let’s take a vote – Does Brian have the best job in the world ?
Awesome!
I agree that Brian’s got the best job in the whole world.
I have got to get this album. Anything darker than Concrete Blonde is definitely worth a listen… just out of curiosity.
Also amazing to hear John Trudell get mention from another artist I respect. If you’ve got questions about Trudell and -his- work, check out http://www.johntrudell.com. Trudell’s poetry and spoken word work is well worth the listen. He’s been producing work for… a long, darn time.
I saw Concrete Blonde at Bogart’s in Cincinnati back when I was in college. I was blown away that I was within 10-feet as Johnette sang “Bloodletting” and “God Is A Bullet”.
If you get the chance, go see Johnette live. Living in LA, I’m lucky enough because she comes in from Joshua Tree to play a gig every few months. I caught a show about 2 months ago and she was just friggin’ amazing. She brought up a guest or two, did a few covers (including Ghost Riders in the Sky) and just held us all in thrall. I’m hoping to go see her again next week when she comes through town as part of her solo record mini-tour.
Brian – thanks for the interview with Johnette. Great episode.
just revisted the Cohen version and noticed that he sings – Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
where-as she sings –
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their mamma or their dog just died
Can’t quite articulate why I find this intriguing but I do. Changing lyrics in a love song is a gender thing but why this one? I like her version but what do the guys think ?
re: Everybody Knows gender change… I always took it in stride, especially since Concrete Blonde truncates the song from Cohen’s longer original. Plus, the word “mama” coming out of Johnette’s mouth just sounds so natural…
I did, however, always wish that Concrete Blonde had left at least one more verse in the song. I’d really like to hear how Johnette would sing/phrase the next verse, the one that ends: “Everybody knows the scene is dead/ But theres gonna be a meter on your bed/ That will disclose /What everybody knows.”
WOW so cool dog!
I saw Concrete Blonde at Bogart’s in Cincinnati back when I was in college. I was blown away that I was within 10-feet as Johnette sang “Bloodletting” and “God Is A Bullet”.
I LOVE JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO. SHE IS WAY UNDERRATED.