Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Birthday Coverfolk, Vol. 3: Tocayos
(17 Coversongs from Rouse, Radin, Ritter, Pyke, James and White)





Tomorrow, January 14th, is my birthday - my third, in fact, since beginning the musical journey we call Cover Lay Down. Two years ago, in celebration, we featured covers of and from musicians who shared my birthday, a list that included Allen Toussaint, Dave Grohl, LL Cool J, and T-Bone Burnett. Last year, we gathered in covers of and from a set of artists born in 1973, and that was fun, too: it’s hard to feel old when you’re the same age as Andrew Bird, Rufus Wainwright, and other luminaries whose careers are still gathering steam.

As a set of bonus party favors, I’ve re-upped the songs on those old entries. But don’t click through just yet. Because this year, in an attempt to continue the trend, I’ve decided to step out of the pseudonym a bit to feature artists who share my name.

Oh, I know: you know me as boyhowdy, a convenient pseudonym whose murky origins involve a series of band rehearsals and my own high tendency towards ADHD distraction. But in the meatworld, I’m known as Joshua: an old testament name, and - according to Wikipedia - “a species of arborescent monocot native to North America”. Due to its biblical origins, it’s a popular name, especially among Jews - until recently one of the top five male names in the US, in fact - and as such, it’s no oddity to find several beloved artists in my collection who share it.

Surprisingly, there’s no English word for “someone who shares the same name as you” - namesake is close, but despite what Wiktionary claims, it technically only means “someone named after”. But though I’m not so self-centered as to believe that fave singer-songwriters Josh Ritter and Josh Radin were named after lil’ ol’ me, and am reasonably confident that I myself was not named after early Piedmont folk-bluesman Josh White, to share a name with someone is to share a special kind of connection. And happily, there’s a lovely word for this coincidental soul-connection in Spanish - tocayo - suggesting that other cultures, at least, recognize this nombrelationship as valid and meaningful.

No matter; we’re happy to take our linguistics where we find them here at Cover Lay Down. Y, convenientemente, mis tocayos se incluido muchos cantautores increíble. Here, then, are some of mis tocayos.


I was lucky enough to see Josh Ritter at the Green River Festival way back in 2003, before he graduated to the festival mainstage and beyond; I even plopped down next to him on the lawn to check out Redbird, with Erin McKeown alongside us both, once his set was finished. Ritter is a few years younger than I am, but he exploded onto the scene young, thanks in part to some attention from Glen Hansard, and a knack for backstory-rich songsmithing which resonated with audiences here and abroad; trivia buffs may also note that Ritter was recently married to Dawn Landes, whose gorgeous voice has been featured in these pages several times before as well, so clearly, the guy’s doin’ alright for himself.

These days, in fact, Ritter is huge; his recent Symphony Hall show was well-blogged, and it’s hard to imagine topping any show where the first Poet Laureate of the United States opens for you. But I’ll always think of him as the kid with the goofy grin, the slow vocal drawl, and a talent for earnest, down-to-earth lyrics and well-crafted love songs that ache with authentic adolescent longing. I’d been holding out for a full feature on the lad, but we dropped his great cover of Leonard Cohen’s Chelsea Hotel a few months ago, and today’s theme just wouldn’t be complete without a few favorites, so what the hell: here’s five.



I first heard of Aussie singer-songwriter Josh Pyke a few summers ago, thanks to an incredibly well-textured folkpop Kate Bush cover on No Man’s Woman, a collection of male Down Under artists covering their female counterparts’ signature tunes. Since then, Pyke has come out with a sophomore album that seems to have spawned several singles, but to be perfectly honest, I’m cribbing off Wikipedia here. It’s not just me, either: Pyke charts high back home, and he’s won several ARIA industry awards in the adult contemporary category in his native land, but although the streams on his website are deliciously McCartney-esque and soundtrack-ready, and despite regular airplay on “national youth broadcaster” Radio Triple J, which coverlovers know well for its ongoing series of cover challenges to the musicians they host, he seems to be relatively unknown in the States. Perhaps these two vastly different covers will help raise some well-deserved consciousness.



Ohio-based singer-songwriter Joshua Radin is prone to that slow, delicate echo-and-hushfolk that tends to accompany those maudlin Scrubs montages in which Zach Braff’s character stares morosely into the distance; sure enough, he was one of the Grammy-winning Garden State soundtrack compiler and indie music champion’s proudest discoveries, and his list of television and movie soundtrack appearances puts most other, older folksingers to shame. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with that: in his element, Radin is one of my favorite indiefolk artists, capturing the inner life of ache and winter longing in a low whisper and soaring, perceptive lyrics.

We featured (okay, buried) Radin’s totally emo pianofolk take on the Sesame Street theme a few months ago, and it seemed pretty popular. He also does a killer eighties cover. Here’s two, to prove it.



I wrote about mid-western alt-folk singer Joshua James recently in passing, and posted a newly-found tradcarol (Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel) from his holiday sampler to boot. But since then, I’ve been slowly falling in love with the empathy he wrings from his strained, half-broken tenor, most especially the way it wraps around the subtle banjo and guitar strains of his recent Daytrotter session. I don’t usually use Dylanesque as a compliment, but it fits perfectly here, especially in his rhythmic sense, and his tough treatment of tragedy; there’s shades of Neil Young’s darkness, too, though the voice is easier on the ears. And Paste loves him, but we’ll let you make your own call.



Josh Rouse’s new album El Turista is due to drop in a few weeks, so he’s closer to the top of my mind - and my stacks - than most of the other folks on today’s list, if only because I really haven’t spent the time I should have to get into his good works. Partially, that’s because the harder-edged alt-country side of folk tends to get short shrift in my collection anyway, what with my preference for true-blue folk and pop harmonies. But it’s also because his cover work tends almost exclusively towards the slow and maudlin, while the rest of his songstyles range widely - which makes them easy to collect piecemeal, and a bit easier to rummage through outside of the usual old-school full-album format, but ironically, makes them a bit less cohesive as a full playlist altogether.

But what Rouse does, he does exceptionally well: his perfectly radiopop 2005 album Nashville, especially, has had its fair share of play and replay in my collection, both for its dreamy-to-alt-rocking diversity and its catchy guitar hooks; his quiet bedroom cover of The Clash, from a mag sampler released the same year, is a personal favorite. And the man is terribly prolific, with over a dozen albums in as many years, and more if you count the deliciously intimate ongoing self-released Bedroom Classics Closet Archives subscription series he’s been running off his website, which so far have included great live concert recordings, in-studio sets with string quartets, and the below Mother Love Bone cover.



Finally, turning back the clock a bit, my archives reveal a few old tracks from pre-revival folkie and “Singing Christian” Josh White which would have fit in just fine with last Sunday’s Subgenre Coverfolk feature on the Acoustic Blues. White spent the first wave of his career doing the blues gospel circuit, and it shows in his vocal mannerisms: there’s a bit of Nat King Cole or Sam Cooke’s croon here, coupled with the faintest post-transition crack and yodel. Laid over a barely audible laid-back acoustic guitar, it’s the real deal, sad with the fields, ready for the folk-world fame that never truly caught up to him before his 1969 passing, though his early years were thankfully flush.



Thinking it’s time to give something back? Donations are always nice, but all I really want for my birthday is a comment and some good wishes. How ’bout it, folks?

Category: Josh Pyke, Josh Ritter, Josh Rouse, Josh White, Joshua Radin, Joshua james

38 Responses to “Birthday Coverfolk, Vol. 3: Tocayos
(17 Coversongs from Rouse, Radin, Ritter, Pyke, James and White)”

  1. carol
    January 13th, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    Josh…Joshua….Boyhowdy….my wishes are the same no matter what the name.
    Happy Birthday, my friend!!
  2. Josh W.
    January 13th, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    Hey, I’ve been enjoying your blog for a looonnng time (it’s my favorite cover blog) and had no idea you were a “Josh,” too.

    So, an extra happy birthday to you!

    -Josh W.
  3. Kevin Lampe
    January 14th, 2010 at 1:26 am

    Happy Birthday!!

    You rock! (my cover version of a line used by Randy Mulvey my fraternity brother)
  4. Berni
    January 14th, 2010 at 1:46 am

    Happy, happy birthday!!
  5. Maine Character
    January 14th, 2010 at 4:57 am

    I caught Josh White Jr. at college - three nights in a row - so much obliged to hear his father as well.

    And Smiths and Clash covers are always cool.

    Happy Birthday!
  6. Ryan The Robot
    January 14th, 2010 at 6:45 am

    Happy Birthday! Mine is Saturday, the 16th and I was also born in 1973. You have given me the soundtrack to my party! Cheers!
  7. Ken
    January 14th, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Happy b-day! (and that’s short for “birthday” rather than a reference to those fancy french water fountains.) Thanks for the great tracks and thoughts….
  8. Susan
    January 14th, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Hey, Joshua ~

    Happy birthday! - thanks for the great songs and the gorgeous prose you share with us on a regular basis. I always look forward to your at-least-twice-a-week offerings, knowing there will be many new discoveries as well as a few old favorites - wishing you a year of boundless joy and unlimited music… <3

    P.S. The House at Pooh Corner was written by Kenny Loggins (of Loggins and Messina), not Nitty Gritty Dirt Band…
  9. Holly
    January 14th, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Thank you so much for this post. I’d been noticing how many Josh/ua’s were climbing onto my playlists but it was a treat to have them all collected here, plus some new ones to check out. Happy Birthday, thanks for the present!
  10. boyhowdy
    January 14th, 2010 at 10:35 am

    Thanks for the ongoing wishes, folks - keep ‘em coming!

    Oh, and Susan: though Loggins wrote HAPC, in discussing coverage, “original” refers to the first released recording - and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded and released their version the year before Loggins released his. I know - I was surprised, too!
  11. Susan
    January 14th, 2010 at 10:55 am

    Hey, Joshua ~

    Then, by those standards, Urge for Going would be orig. Tom Rush (not Joni Mitchell)… and Calling the Moon would be orig. Richard Shindell (not Dar Williams) - very confusing!
  12. Rolf
    January 14th, 2010 at 11:09 am

    Hi Josh,
    what a nice occasion to say thank you for the great songs you’ve been playing these three years. I’ve beeen reading your blog and listening to your selection of music for more than a year now - inspiring; that’s what it has always been and no doubt will continue to be!
    Thanks again, all the best to you!
  13. bigstevie
    January 14th, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    Many happy returns!

    and many more to come.
  14. Nosila
    January 14th, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    Happy birthday!
  15. boyhowdy
    January 14th, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    It is a bit confounding, Susan - but by definition, a “cover” isn’t the same as “a recording of someone else’s song”, so that’s how it works. Part of what drives this is consumer expectations - I get “corrected” if I do it the other way. See, for example, comments in some recent posts where I got it “wrong” by naming the songwriter, who had recorded the song early, but not early enough. Or, for another example, see Sunday’s entry, in which I noted the origin of “Well, Well, Well” - popularly thought of as a Dylan song, but not recorded by him until LONG after Maria Muldaur recorded it - as “orig. Maria Muldaur; written by Bob Dylan/Danny O’Keefe”.

    That said, having HEARD Dar’s live versions of “Calling the Moon” first, I will always think of it as a dar cover when Shindell does it. And I suspect Shindell does, too.
  16. Susan
    January 14th, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Hey, Joshua -

    Sorry to make you do an essay question test on your birthday - you should be eating cake!

    I appreciate your informative, and informed, response - I remain confounded by the situation, which in no way affects my total enjoyment of the songs. Thanks, as always - I count myself lucky to be your fan… and friend… <3
  17. last year's girl
    January 14th, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    Happy birthday Joshua - I’m glad I didn’t get online too late for it still to be the 14th in my timezone.

    Hope it’s been a beautiful day xx
  18. Cuidado
    January 14th, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    Another Capricorn. Happy Birthday and all the best. My birthday was last week. I guess I’ve commented as my info comes right up so I’ve probably said this. I love your blog and drop by often. We have similar taste - rootsy, and I love your writing. Have a fabulous birthday.
  19. Auntie Knickers
    January 14th, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    I’m a little surprised to learn that I’m just about old enough to be your mother (my eldest is 2 years younger.) One of my college roommates planned three boys named Jeremy, Joshua and Christopher (only had a girl as I recall). I saw Josh White (Sr.!) at Staples HS in Westport, CT during a summer vacation while I was in college. I’ve been enjoying your blog for a few days and learning about a lot of new artists while rediscovering the old familiars. Happy birthday and many more!
  20. barry
    January 14th, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    Happy birthday and all the best. It’s also my birthday. Not many musical “Barry’s”!
  21. Nik
    January 14th, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    Happy Birthday Josh - big fan here on the snowy South Coast of UK!

    Fantastic blog bringing me some fantastic artists, I’m rasing a glass to you at I type, it’s still JUST your birthday here!
  22. boyhowdy
    January 14th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

    Actually, Barry, I can think of several musical Barrys…and though most are Pop or R&B - must be something about the name - I’ve heard covers of each of the following:

    Barry Manilow, Barry Gibb [on of the Brothers Gibb], Barry White, Barry Jenkins [of the Animals], and Barry Mann, who with Cynthia Weill wrote for the Pointer Sisters and several others…

    …also, folkies Barry McGuire, Barry McCormack, and Barry Shears do some tradfolk stuff…and our recent featured songwriter Barry Louis Polisar, of course!
  23. Birgit
    January 14th, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    Birthday Greetings from Germany
    and many thanks for your great blog
  24. Flo
    January 15th, 2010 at 9:49 am

    Well, missed your birthday, but sincerely hope you enjoyed your day.

    I always enjoy dropping by from time to time and checking out your blog. Folk is enjoying a renaissance here in the UK, so it’s great to check out artists not necessarily known this side of the pond.

    So thank you!
  25. Peter Nagle
    January 15th, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    Cover Lay Down is one of my favourite places on the net. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into the blog!

    Peter
  26. Chris
    January 16th, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    I missed the day, so a belated very happy birthday from the Tiwi Islands in far north Australia. I have been following your blog for most of the three years (is it only three?) and keep coming back for the great music and the interesting notes. Born in 1955, 1973 was my first year out of school, my first year of adulthood, my first love, my first car, my first broken heart…
    Good luck to you and keep up the great music
    Chris
  27. michiganDAN
    January 16th, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    happy belated b-day. 1973? You just got here!
  28. JoeG
    January 16th, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    Not to mention “Billie Jean” by Josh & Arnold; “Imagine” by Josh Groban; “Eye of the Tiger” by Josh Joplin; “Fidelity”, “Losing My Religion”, “Waltz #2″ and “Radio Cure” by Josh Millard; “Agoraphobia” and “Daniel” by the Josh Reichmann Oracle Band; “Long May You Run” by the aforementioned Josh Ritter; “A Forest” and “It Don’t Matter to Me” by the equally aforementioned Josh Rouse; “Halo” by Josh T; “When I Paint My Masterpiece” by Josh Turner; “I Wanna Be Adored” by Joshua English; Josh Groban & Carlos Santana assisting Angelique Kidjo on “Pearls”; Josh Millard teaming up with Brian Rozendal on “Woke Up New” and “How to Fight Loneliness” and; Josh Pike & Neko Case singing “Long Time Gone” (some of these songs likely pilfered by me from your very own site). The world is full of talented Josh’s (I josh you not). Happy (belated) birthday!
  29. indierocker
    January 17th, 2010 at 10:31 am

    happy birthday!
    …and nice pic that of the joshua tree… and, you deliberately neglected U2, right?
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  31. Agnes
    January 17th, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    Happy birthday Josh!

    Love this post. I’m an Aussie and I saw Josh Pyke play a small festival gig ‘before he was famous’ and although he’s well known in certain circles here in Oz, I wouldn’t say that he’s really hit the mainstream just yet. Which is probably a good thing I guess.

    I hadn’t heard of his cover of Wuthering Heights and I’m very keen to have a listen! Thanks for the tracks.
  32. Mark Ferrie
    January 19th, 2010 at 5:52 am

    Happy birthday Josh. Thanks for your support and the great job you do broadening everyone’s musical horizons.
  33. James
    January 20th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    I love your blog. I also love Josh Ritter. Hes got a new album on the way, definitely keep an eye out for it
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