It was a Norweigan, Leif Erikson, who is credited with being the first European to discover North America in 1003. It may be 1025 years later, but it's time for North America to return the favour and discover Norway's Sondre Lerche.The singer returns to town this Friday night (Nov. 14) to the Mod Club as part of a short tour that's the culmination of a hectic two years. After exploring many diverse musical styles on early releases, Lerche focused on the sound and feel of his hero Elvis Costello on his 2007 power-pop pogo Phantom Punch. He followed that up by composing the majority of the music for writer/director Peter Hedges (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, About a Boy) comedy Dan In Real Life. The film, starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche, also features Lerche's cover of the 1980 Pete Townshend solo gem "Let My Love Open The Door." Lerche will be joined this Friday by singer/songwriter Sylvie Lewis, whose 2007 jazz/folk album Translations is a must listen.
NEW COURT FOR KING
And speaking of Costello, this December sees the premier of Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... The hour long program will find Elvis immersing himself in the music of a who's-who of musical royalty, including Smokey Robinson, Lou Reed and Tony Bennett. Costello will open each show performing a tune by that episode's guest, followed by an interview. Costello honed his talk-show chops as a frequent guest on The Larry Sanders Show and stood out as one of the fill-in hosts for David Letterman when the iconic comic was having his bypass surgery in Febuary 2003. Costello's latest Letterman appearance was last week, when he joined Jenny Lewis for a captivating take on the pair's duet "Carpetbaggers," from Lewis' just-released solo disc Acid Tongue.
MEET THE NEW BOSS
The events of last week are proof that while maybe music alone can't change the world, the soundtrack of the future rocks. Obama's victory was an unprecedented source of pride that was transmitted by the artists who put their hearts where their voices were to spread the word that membership has its dues and don'ts along with its privileges. DREAMS DID COME TRUE.