Where you can read the relatively rational ramblings of a silly half-monkey, half-boy. This freak of nature is named Joel. He also responds to the name 'Bart Wang'.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Denison Witmer at The Fire (September 12, 2001)

More DW for your listening pleasure. Thanks to Scott for posting these way back when. I wish I could still get into his FTP site. Hook me up! For those unhip cats, The Fire is a club in Philadelphia. Is Denison Philly's second favourite son, next to Rocky Balboa? I don't know which I would choose if I were forced. They're neck-and-neck in my books. Yes, I maintain actual books about these things. Denison, don't feel bad that you're tied with someone who is fictional. He's real to me as well as the Belangers, Jon and Adam.

Denison Witmer - Live at The Fire (Philadelphia, PA 9-12-01) [Zip file]

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Denison Witmer - Cornerstone 2000

Hello kids. Uncle Monkey Boy is moving forward into 2007. I watched 'The Devil And Daniel Johnston' today, which my lovely wife gave me for Christmas. I knew nothing about Daniel Johnston before except that lots of people talked about him. I'm always a sucker for a good biography. This one had me hooked in throughout. Now, I'm watching 'Endless Harmony', the Beach Boys documentary, again.
Melanie is away this weekend up in Smith's Falls so I am a bored bachelor. On Friday night, I took all the decorations off the Christmas tree. I painted the bathroom ceiling yesterday morning before working out with Chad in the early afternoon. After multiple stops on the way home to pick up some groceries (rice snacks were finally on sale and I almost cleaned out Fortino's, I think), I made it home in time to do nothing for the rest of the evening. Pheew!
There had been some talk on the forum on Denison Witmer's music site about sharing audio of his live performances. I have several obtained over the years and am just testing out other sites that host files. I am trying Megaupload and this is the initial trial.
Here it is... The first recorded show I ever received from my good friend, Todd. I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't freak out and listen to this constantly when I got it. It's a soundboard recording of his show at Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois in 2000. This was before The '80s E.P. and Of Joy And Sorrow came out so it gave me the chance to hear new tunes, including my favourite song, 'You And Me'. I've never asked him if he ad-libbed the bridge lyrics or if he cut them from all further performances. The song itself is wonderful but those couple of lines still can make me choke up. Because he's the gracious and kind man he is, he included those lines when we saw him in Buffalo last month because he knew I liked them so much. Thanks, Denison.
Anyhow, let's hope this works. Download the zip file for the whole set (I've given titles to the tracks where he's chatting, which we know he loves to do and we love to hear). Enjoy!

Denison Witmer - Live at Cornerstone 2000 [Zip file - 48 megs]

I also want you to hear this version of Prince's 'When Doves Cry' as performed by My Brightest Diamond (a.k.a. Shara Worden). Shara is friends with Denison and regularly plays with Sufjan Stevens. I haven't found a studio version of this track but I've listened to two live versions, of which this file is the superior. For one, it's the complete song in better quality. Secondly, some dude provides beatbox accompaniment. This lady has some pipes and totally rocks out with this song. Dig in!

My Brightest Diamond - When Doves Cry (live with beatbox) [MP3 - 3 megs]

I'm going back to my Beach Boys. I've got more live Denison stuff I can post in the coming weeks/months. Let me know if it's working (or not).

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