FYM ON THE LIST: RAYLAND BAXTER • LIVE AT THE CROCODILE • SEATTLE USA

To sit alone on stage with hundreds of eyes peering at you is terribly exposing. It’s pure, unadulterated scrutiny. To do so unwaveringly, with charisma, and still pull off an unfaltering musical performance is exceedingly difficult. This is precisely what RayLand Baxter brought to the Crocodile last Friday.

RayLand drapes melodic and longing vocals over deftly fingerpicked guitar licks. Lilting wails hint at whisky laden nights gone awry with images of lingering ladies now no longer lovers. Rife with Southern sentiments, Baxter artfully weaves a tapestry of images into his songs which invoke at times, for me, heartache, longing and a romantic notion of what might have been.

RayLand has a way with words and phrasing that translates directly to the strings of his Creston and back again, a gift many a musician would kill for.  For me, “Mountain Song” was a highlight of the show for me in particular, as I’m fond of the baleful moaning that frames the eloquent verses. “Willy’s Song” also stirs something in me; perhaps it’s that persistent need to “move on” inherent in anyone who has ever had a bit of wanderlust in them.

I also want to quickly point out that this show was well into a grueling tour of sleepless nights on a loud bus. Not only did RayLand show up, he showed up in top form. If you haven’t listened to his music by now, you had better start, you’re missing out. Written By: 'cooL' John KeLLey

Reserve your copy of RayLand's split Daytrotter vinyl with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals HERE.

Catch RayLand at Bonnaroo and the Newport Folk Festival this year... or a town near you... He will continue to tour heavily in 2013. Stay up to date, and listen to jams off his debut album HERE.



Listen/Watch "Bad Things" above. It's one of our favorite jams by RayLand, and a tune you are certain to hear on the road this year (not included on "Feathers & Fishhooks").

FYM ON THE LIST: FATHER JOHN MISTY • THE WALKMEN • SAN FRANCISCO USA • THE FILLMORE

Last week FYM had the pleasure of seeing Father John Misty and The Walkmen in an ideal setting... San Francisco's historic Fillmore. J Tillman (Father John Misty) kicked off the evening in style with Only Son of the Ladiesman -one of our favorite cuts off his brilliant 2012 release Fear Fun. Throughout the night J Tillman proved to be a definitive frontman.

His hypnotic posturing and hip shaking confidence is hard not to fall in love with. Multiple times during FJM's set J Tillman asked "Can I get some disco ball please?" -each request granted, adding to the magic/energy in the room.

The group ended their set with Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings which ignited a free love dance party in the corner of the venue. Father John Misty left us wanting more + inspired us to finally plan that spring road trip down to Los Angeles -to go on our own spirit journey.

The Walkmen were up next! These east coast indie veterans are celebrating their 13th year together in 2013. Three songs in, The Walkmen unleashed their marquee classic The Rat on a wound up Fillmore audience (personally being one of FYM's favorite songs of the past 15 years). Frontman Hamilton Leithauser continues to impress us LIVE. Hamilton commanded the stage with a sharp GQ presence that paired well with his soaring vocal stylings.

The Walkmen also preformed new favorites (We Can't Be Beat and Line By Line) off their 2012 release Heaven. We've managed to catch The Walkmen several times over the course of their career... here's to another 13 years of seeing these formidable talents live. Cheers, FYM. 

FYM ON THE LIST: METRIC • LIVE AT THE OAKLAND ARENA • OAKLAND CALIFORNIA ° USA

To say that Metric had a tough day before they came on stage at the Oakland Arena would be an understatement. They showed up to the Bay Area, only to learn that their gear from Miami the day prior, did not make it with them. One has to assume that Metric went into a pure scramble to figure out how to perform without any of their equipment at all.

Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw of Metric came out and completely pulled it off with an acoustic guitar, tambourine, and a piano!

The duo started off the evening performing 'Help I'm Alive' featuring Emily on the piano. With the lyrics I tremble, they're going to eat me alive, it only seem'd appropriate as FYM thinks they had to be incredibly stressed, coming out to play a set that was completely unexpected.

They even worked in a cover by Bob Dylan called 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right' because as Emily has put it, she's a hippie. To close out the evening, Metric finished with their single  'Gimme Sympathy' to an ecstatic crowd in Oakland. Metric acoustic was a special evening, although surely the duo would have preferred to have the whole band on stage with them.



Sometimes mistakes create something special and Oakland was privy to exactly that Friday night. Listen to Metric's latest release Synthetica above, or purchase HERE. Cheers, FYM.