Around the World in 48 Hours or Less

Issa Bagayogo played Colorado College August 6, in a wonderful free show sponsored by Pikes Peak Library District. Browse through some of the other clips on YouTube, some wonderful rhythm and keyboards work. The instrument he plays, by the way, is a kamele n'goni.

The next night was the strangest of dual sets at Venue 515 in Manitou Springs. Several friends told me not to miss Eilen Jewell, a rockabilly queen who also fronts a rockin' gospel group and a Loretta Lynn covers group. She gave us a little bit of everything, including this Loretta cover:


The band after Eilen was really a surprise as well. Caspian Hat Dance plays klezmer and Eastern European (Carpathian) and Ukranian folk music, all at a breakneck pace with strange sound elements mixed in. Their final encore was the great anarcho-syndicalist anthem "Bella Ciao," which everyone danced to.



(Oh, and I got another chance to see Edith Makes a Paper Chain at the Speedtrap in Palmer Lake, Colorado Saturday night. They're all locals, but bragged of having audience members from France, Japan, Ireland, and Narnia. I have older videos of EMPC at YouTube, but the Saturday night show features a wonderful rendition of The Swell Season's "Falling Slowly," featuring Sarah and a very young collaborator.)