Robot Folk

Hello 2010.

2010-01-13T23:35:00.004-07:00

Where have I been? Last post in Summer!? Lame. Here's a quick recap of recent months.

- That puppy that you see in my last post is now 70 lbs and grown up. Maybe I'll attach an updated picture. Look below.

- I got to play a show at Slowtrain in SLC - which is my favorite record store in SLC. Check back for video from this show within the next few days.

- I had a very intense day in October that literally involved running after a runaway moving truck. Probably my best story. One bystander described it as "amazing". I thought it was awful.

- I spent Halloween night in Boston, which involved getting soaked in an intense rain storm and watching frozen pumpkins getting tossed off a skyscraper. I also heard a lot of jokes involving Math - which is what they laugh about at MIT.

- I attended a taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in New York City with Brooke. It was the episode where he does a pretty great segment imitating Glenn Beck (the November 5, 2009 show).

- Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years came and went without a great deal of excitement. And now we are here in 2010. This year will bring trips to DC, Boston, and San Diego, as well as the completion of this pesky graduate degree and hopefully a less lopsided balance of science and music.

On a different note, be sure to check out the latest recording from Fictionist, due out at the end of the month. AND, check out Emily Hope Price's blog about her 365 project.

Puppy.

2009-06-09T11:02:00.003-06:00

This is Rooster. He is my new best friend. He learned how to sit and shake and is becoming familiar with his tennis ball. He growls when he goes down stairs and slides across concrete floors when he gets a running start.

Oh Big News - CD release

2009-04-08T15:30:00.013-06:00

So the album is done. I'm very pleased with how everything has turned out. There are a number of people who have made this process so much easier, for which I'm very grateful. Namely Jory Dayne and Stu Maxfield

As for what the album is like - it's 12 songs, it's called Bird Wings in the Bleak, it's a lot clearer and a slightly bigger than previous recordings, and I like it. The tracklisting is given below. You'll notice that there are three songs that some of you might be familiar with from the old EP or from even older demo recordings. If you'd like a free mp3 of a song send an email to libbielintonmusic@gmail.com. If you have a blog and would like to blog about the album, also send an email if you want any additional info. Any blogging is very much appreciated. Go to my MYSPACE to listen.

1. edith sings for us
2. dressing up for death
3. shackleton, i'm solid
4. lady
5. i am a stone
6. from the city to the sea
7. eventually you have to grow up
8. mother yes
9. a few things i've learned
10. rabbits
11. enduring a mugging
12. stolen pony

To provide a warm welcome to this new musical addition, there will be a release show on the USU campus. The new album will be available at this show for $10. Spread the good word.

RELEASE SHOW
April 23, 2009
Libbie Linton, Grafted, and Fictionist
TSC Auditorium - USU campus
7:30 PM
$3

Prior to the release show, there will be two shows this weekend - one in Logan, one in SLC

April 10, 2009
Fictionist, Paul Jacobsen and the Madison Arm, Libbie Linton
The Post Theater - SLC
8 PM

April 11, 2009
Fictionist, Libbie Linton, and Chris Merritt
WhySound - Logan
8 PM

There are more changes coming in the future, which will be announced shortly.

WhySound - Feb. 2, 2009

2009-02-04T15:24:00.002-07:00

What a fun show to play. So crowded - that is til the law stepped in and kicked people out due to fire code violations. Still, 'twas so much fun.

I'm Not Dumb, Just Want to Hold Your Hand

2009-01-28T14:56:00.003-07:00

Here are some shows worth considering in the upcoming future:

DeVotchka! - TONIGHT, In the Venue, SLC

The Mollies - 01.30.09, WhySound, Logan

Battle of the Bands - 01.31.09, WhySound, Logan
- I will be a judge at this event, so hopefully it'll be a good time!

Joshua James and Libbie Linton (Yes, I announce my own shows...) - 02.02.09, WhySound, Logan

The video below is of Emily Hope Price - who is not only one of the most talented musicians ever, but also the perhaps the nicest person you'll ever meet. She is in the process of releasing her debut album - check out her MYSPACE

Thanks to those of you who have been tuning to Robot Folk on Wednesdays. If you have requests or if you want your awesome band's music to be featured, send me an email.

The Alamo, I've Never Seen It

2009-01-21T14:35:00.007-07:00

Some good news for those of you who have things to do from 2-4PM on Wednesdays (when Robot Folk airs live each week) - we are in the works of getting the Fusion HD3 shows in Podcast form for your portable listening pleasure. More info to come on that. Here's this weeks playlist:

1. Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why
2. Andrew Bird - Sovay
3. Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
4. Faded Paper Figures - Metropolis
5. Au Revoir Simone - Sad Song
6. St. Vincent - Jesus Saves, I Spend
7. The Bird and the Bee - The Polite Dance Song
8. Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone
9. The Knife - One for You
10. Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - Vampires in Blue Dresses
11. Frank Black & The Catholics - San Antonio
12. Architecture In Helsinki - Maybe You Can Owe Me
13. Sufjan Stevens - For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
14. Simon & Garfunkel - So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright
15. Built To Spill - Else
16. Mirah - Person Person
17. Kings Of Convenience - Toxic Girl
18. Circulatory System - Diary of Wood
19. Feist - Mushaboom
20. Erin McKeown - Didn't They?
21. The Be Good Tanyas - Waiting Around to Die
22. Hot Chip - Hittin Skittles
23. Spoon - Paper Tiger
24. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
25. Pinback - Talby
26. Death Cab For Cutie - I Was A Kaleidoscope
27. Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
28. BC Camplight - Wouldn't Mind the Sunshine
29. Sondre Lerche - Modern Nature
30. The Shins - The Past and the Pending

Robot Folk Playlist - Jan. 14

2009-01-14T15:14:00.003-07:00

Robot Folk Radio is back up and running, airing every Wednesday from 2-4 PM. Listen to it live HERE. If you would like your music to play on Robot Folk - send me an email.

Here is a list of all songs played Jan. 14

Faded Paper Figures - North By North
The Bird and the Bee - Polite Dance Song
Vampire Weekend - Mansford Roof
Hot Chip - Hittin' Skittles
Fredo Viola - Friendship Is
Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why
Bon Iver - Blindsided
Pelle Carlberg - Oh No! It's Happening Again
Pinback - Fortress
Of Montreal - The Repudiated Immortals
Blondie - Heart of Glass
The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You
Simon & Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy in New York
Nick Drake - Place To Be
DeVotchka - Charlotte Mittnacht (The Fabulous Destiny Of...)
Au Revoir Simone - Sad Song
Jamie Lidell - Music Will Not Last
The Mollies - A Smile Gets You No Place
Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Iron & Wine - Sodom, South Georgia
Tom Brosseau - The Broken Ukelele
The Be Good Tanyas - It's Not Happening
Jolie Holland - Old Fashioned Morphine
Erin Mckeown - Born To Hum
Feist - My Moon My Man
Circulatory System - Diary of Wood
Mirah - Person Person
Papas Fritas - Live By the Water
The Robot At Me - Just One Girl
Stars - Look UP

USU radio

2008-10-08T12:44:00.004-06:00

Utah State University has a student run radio station. Robot Folk, hosted by me, airs every Wednesday from 2-4 PM.

Send requests, inquiries, comments - whatever - to robotfolk@gmail.com

Listen up!

Indecipherable is Pretty Accurate

2008-08-29T13:18:00.003-06:00

This is a two part post

The first part is to let you know that I am in fact going to record a new album. I've said this before, but it's really happening. Things get delayed, and methods have changed, but it's going to happen. I'm hesitant to declare any dates, but I do have a pretty good idea of when it can be expected, and it's not too far away. As for the details about songs - most will be new, some will be old-ish songs that never were recorded. I will post updates as things continue to develop and get done.

The other thing I'd like to point out is this review from Spencer Sutherland of IN Utah This Week.

It Is It, or at least it was.

2008-08-26T20:45:00.008-06:00

So, I happened to go to New York last week. My dear friend Clara was nice enough to allow me to impose on her life (thanks again, Clara). I must say that I love New York - despite that fact that I consistently get sick after visiting, and the city steals all my money.

Luckily, I came across a posting for a show called "It Is It" at Pianos in the lower east side, which included performances from:

Adam Lowitt of the Daily Show
Rob Cantrell of Last Comic Standing
Wyatt Cenac of the Daily Show
Todd Barry
Sarah Silverman
Donald Glover of 30 Rock

I must say that I was quite pleasantly surprised at how solid the entire list of performers were, especially considering that there were maybe 30 or so people in fairly small room, and that the show was entirely free. Oh my, what fun.

Also, I won the lottery for Wicked , which meant dirt cheap front row tickets for a show that I'm not sure I could ever bring myself to pay full price for. It was an amazing show however. On another Broadway note, August: Osage County was hilarious, and still somehow ridiculously depressing.

New York never disappoints.

Also - after hearing a few stories and watching the documentary Dark Days , I kept my eye out for mole people in the subway tunnels. I saw none.

New York

2008-07-08T11:08:00.004-06:00

Oh the Israel Parade of New York City. I was so happy to stumble across this when wandering Central Park one Sunday morning. At one point in the parade I took a picture of some festive dogs, only to quickly be approached by their owner. Through accent, she said "did you get the dogs?" Then she proceeded to give me her email so that I may send her the image that I took. I never did. And I remembered this last week for some reason when I was watching 4th of July fireworks. I even tried to remember the email, but it's long gone. I failed. I never sent it. Perhaps this was because the picture was pretty crappy to begin with. I cut out two of the dogs' back legs.

This picture, taken on the NYC bus, is oozing with patriotism. And in this patriotic time of year, it seems fitting. Jo loves her country. Well done.

St. Louis

2008-07-07T15:41:00.006-06:00

When science calls, you head to St. Louis - the science capital of the world. I went to St. Louis for a conference. As exciting as that was, there is not much I remember about that. I remember losing handedly in the student competition, and feeling bad about myself. Anyway, here are some visuals:

Here is what happens when someone tells you to show off the surroundings, and you're just not quite sure how to sell it. This is a fancy train stop.

On the banks of the Mississippi. I'm particularly keen on that partially submerged statue.

Easily, my favorite part of the St. Louis adventure was heading to The Loop and listening/dancing to jazz singer Kim Massie. This woman has soul.

And lastly -

Dear St. Louis, you were kinda fun.

So Many Pictures

2008-07-07T15:19:00.002-06:00

In an effort to organize my life and files, I began looking through the folders and folders of long-forgotten photographs on my hard drive. This process reminded me of the places I have been within the last two years. These deserve some discussion in each of their own right. Let's do this consecutively. Here's the list:

St. Louis - March '07

New York - May '07

Irvine/LA - July '07

North Carolina - March '08

Arches/Moab - March '08

Colorado - March '08

Maryland - April '08

Idaho - May '08

More on this to come.

Playing Provo with Kalai

2008-06-15T10:31:00.003-06:00

The show last night in Provo UT was what I would call a success. It was so graciously organized and carried out by supportive parents of the Timpview High School Marching Band in an effort to raise money for new instruments (one Tuba that I saw was severely dented and was "made in the Democratic Republic of Germany", which is a bit outdated, right?). All of the organizers did a fabulous job of making us all feel like some kind of royalty. Thanks to everyone who came out.

Buttons!

2008-06-10T22:13:00.003-06:00

Libbie Linton buttons are now available, thanks to Jory Hemmelgarn and a new button maker. What a team.

These lovely little things will be available at upcoming shows.

Canoe with Libbie Linton

2008-02-19T16:08:00.004-07:00

Part of me really wishes that the content of this blog was true to how that title sounds. Who wouldn't want to Canoe with Libbie Linton? Anyway.

Thursday Feb. 21 - WHY SOUND (30 Federal Avenue, down the street from Caffe Ibis)
Canoe and Libbie Linton
8 PM - $3 for students/$5 for others

Kilby Court

2008-02-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Kilby Court show this Saturday - NOTE that Joshua James cancelled.

Bipolar Bear, Future of the Ghost, Cub Country, Libbie Linton
Kilby Court - SLC
7:00 PM - $6

Also, Coloradoans - there is a show (perhaps more) in your region in March.

The Worst Experience Ever (That Poor Horse!)

2008-01-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those that came out to Kilby Court last night. I was happy to meet so many new people.

Today I was fortunate (?) enough to have "Achy Breaky Heart" come on the radio while in a local restaurant. It reminded me of how amazingly awful this song is. What's more amazing, there are still radio stations playing it fairly regularly in between John Mayer and Fergie. Also, I began poking fun at it and then noticed a man across the room singing along like he meant it. He seemed to be enjoying himself, so I quickly quieted. To each their own.

Specifically, this song takes me back to my one and only rodeo experience, had when I was 5 or so in Preston, Idaho. If I remember correctly, I had a some relative competing, a cousin or something. What I do remember clearly are these two things:

1. A horse broke its leg. That was sad enough. But what was worse was the minute or two after the incident when every audience member heard an unmistakable gun shot sound. They shot the horse. This was a horrendous experience for a 5/6 year old without any previous exposure to such practices.

2. Achy Breaky Heart played. Everyone danced and sang along.

And on that note, enjoy this. Oh, and then listen to something good afterward to compensate and override any artistic or creative destruction caused by the video. I picked something for you - a lovely song from Paleo called In the Morning Linda Dies. As one final note, I couldn't watch the video for longer than 1 minute or so. I've probably missed out on some memorable moments. I particularly like it when he breaks out the air guitar.

Contest

2008-01-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

Someone informed me that I am located in the "Best Singer-Songwriter Category" on this link: http://ballots.slweekly.com/?ballot_id=223

Vote if you feel like doing so.

NVO

2008-01-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone that came out to this show. Mostly, this is just a quick post to apologize for not clarifying the starting time. Shows at NVO start really early because they have so many bands playing, and I failed to note that.

Also, there are other shows to note for Logan. I will post more details on these as I get them, but this is just early notification. Those of you in Salt Lake, there are still two Kilby Court shows, one this Friday (Jan. 18), and one on Feb. 9. Both of those shows start at 8 PM.

Feb. 19: USU (more details to come later)

Feb. 21: w/Canoe (from Portland, OR)

March 1: Crumb Brothers (Bridgerland Folk Society)

Thanks!

Stitching

2008-01-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

Another semester of school has begun at Utah State. So far so good - all except for the unreasonable amount of snow. This is my last semester with any undergraduate courses. I am steadily making progress. Well, that's enough on school.

A couple of days ago I altered a bag that I had by sewing a bird onto the side. This may seem like it's not worth addressing - not true. It's perhaps the craftiest thing I've done since I made a pillowcase for home ec in seventh grade, and thus, it deserves some attention. Here's a picture so you may judge my craftiness:

Also, we went snowshoeing in Logan Canyon. Here is a picture from that:

Carry on.

Upcoming Shows

2007-12-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

There are three shows in the not so distant future:

LOGAN
Jan. 11 - Club NVO
I am not quite sure what this show is going to be like. I've never been involved in an NVO show. I know that Code Hero is playing (they are really good), but I don't know of anyone else. I've heard they are charging $6 for presale tickets and $8 dos. I will have some of these tickets, so let me know if you're interested.

SALT LAKE CITY
Jan. 18 - Kilby Court, 8 PM
Kid Madusa, Libbie Linton, and Erin Haley
This should be a good local show. I've seen Kid Madusa play before (opening for The Ditty Bops), but I've yet to hear Erin Haley. I'm hoping to break out a whole slew of new songs for this one. This is the dream I dream.

SALT LAKE CITY
Feb. 9 - Kilby Court, 8 PM
Joshua James, Libbie Linton
I'm quite looking forward to seeing Joshua James live. I've heard his songs and all about how he's been opening for acts like David Gray, Erin Mckeown, John Mayer, and more, but I've never been able to catch him live. It should be fun!

If anyone would like to help set up a show (be it at a house, venue, whatever) wherever you may be, send an email to libbielintonbooking@gmail.com.

I like all of you.

2007: A List

2007-12-29T18:24:00.001-07:00

It seems fitting to post an end of 2007 list to rehash the happenings of this passing year. Here is something of a top ten. Actually, I take that back - these are listed in no particular order. Note that some (many/most) of these songs weren't written or released in '07. Some of these were my most listened to, others are songs that were great live.

- Paleo - In The Morning Linda Dies
There are few people capable and creative enough to complete a Song Diary. David Andrew Strackany (Paleo) is one of these people. For those of you who have never come across this concept, a song diary involves writing (and recording) one song per day for an entire year. It is an exercise in musical prolificity. 365 songs in 365 days. Additionally, during this time David played something like 215 shows and traveled 54,000 miles. I was happy to open for him at Kilby Court on September 10, 2007. Check out http://www.paleo.ws/

- Great Lake Swimmers - Moving Pictures, Silent Films
Somehow I had yet to hear of The Great Lake Swimmers until this year when I was scheduled to open for them at Kilby Court on June 26, 2007. This song was great live.

- Sara Lov - Tell Me How
In July, I opened for Sara at The Hotel Cafe. This show was perhaps my all-time favorite. The venue was great, the sound was great, the people were great, meeting Amnion was great and the other performers were great. Everything was great (that was '6' greats for those counting). Sara Lov played this song, which is one of those songs that tugs at the heart, especially with how she sings it live.

- Faded Paper Figures - The Persuaded
John Williams (half of Faded Paper Figures) is not only talented, but he is also like family. Perhaps this is because he is family. The Persuaded is still my favorite song of theirs, but those JERKS removed it from their myspace. Nonetheless, they have other worthwhile songs available for free download. You are likely to be impressed by them. Check out myspace.com/fadedpaperfigures, they have most of their songs there free for download.

- Harry Nilsson - Miss Butter's Lament
It has been confirmed via iTunes. This was my most played song of 2007.

- Of Montreal - Bunny Ain't No Kind Of Rider
Of Montreal's 2007 release is amazing. This song was selected off of that album, not necessarily because it is my favorite, or in my opinion the best, but because one morning the chorus of this song was sung over and over for about an hour and a half. I'm sure you can only imagine how annoying this was. It's incredibly catchy. Here's the chorus:
Eva, I'm sorry, but you will never have me
To me you're just some faggy girl
And I need a lover with soul power
And you ain't got no soul power

- Feist - My Moon, My Man
Her 2007 album "The Reminder" includes some incredible songs. I couldn't resist. I adore Feist - as does everyone that has ever seen an iPod commercial or heard a Verizon ad on the radio. I am also quite fond of the music video for this song.

- Andrew Bird - Plasticities
So pretty. And, this is actually true to the "Best of '07" title as it was actually released in '07, unlike most of the rest of these songs.

- Innocence Mission - Brave
The Innocence Mission's 2007 release "We Walked in Song" is full of worthwhile songs. However, revisiting their 1995 release "Glow" and realizing how much I like this song, Brave, was more significant this past year.

- Sufjan Stevens - That Was The Worst Christmas Ever
This is another one of my most played songs of '07. And thus, it rounds off the list. I look forward to his next release.

Introduction

2007-12-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

Consider this entry #1. I am happy to soon have a new shiny website.