Over-use of the word “community” can quickly turn the most open-hearted music lover into a cynic, especially those wary of corporate appropriation at every turn. Yet it’s hard to describe the people who attend the annual Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN as anything but a community. Big Ears attendees can’t wait to tell youContinue reading “2026 Big Ears Festival, March 26-29, 2026”
Tag Archives: Douglas McCombs
The Many Beginnings of Tortoise’s “Cliff Dweller Society”
If on a winter’s night a traveler, the 1979 novel by Italo Calvino, consists of delineated chapters, each of which are divided into two sections. The first section of the individual chapter is a narrative of the reader trying to read a novel called If on a winter’s night a traveler while the second sectionContinue reading “The Many Beginnings of Tortoise’s “Cliff Dweller Society””
Tim Barnes’s Inside Energy
Earlier this year, I interviewed Ken Brown/Bundy K. Brown, musician, producer, engineer, and original member of Tortoise and Gastr del Sol, about his musical project Jungle Boogie. During our conversation, Ken shared that one of the early configurations of Jungle Boogie was Ken and drummer Britt Walford playing with their friend Tim Barnes. Brown relatedContinue reading “Tim Barnes’s Inside Energy”
Flat Handed and on the Wing
Over the years, I’ve wondered why the bands Calexico and Brokeback both released a song called “Flat Handed and on the Wing.” Calexico’s version first appeared in 2000 on Travelall, a tour-only release. The Brokeback rendition came a few months later as the second track on their 2001 album Morse Code in the Modern Age:Continue reading “Flat Handed and on the Wing”
Recliner Notes 