DigmCast

Paradigm is now coming right into your home, in podcast form. DigmCast, the official Paradigm-related podcast channel, is up and running. Podcasts will include band member playlists, live performances and fan interviews. Speaking of which, if you have any questions about the band or specific band members that you'd like us to answer in an upcoming podcast, please shoot us an email at submit@digmcast.com. Our first podcast is available now, so click here to get some food for your iPod. Be sure to subscribe to site's RSS or email feeds so that you'll know right away whenever a new podcast becomes available.

Paradigm Takes 5

A while back, we answered some questions for Backseat Sandbar's "Take 5" series. You can read our responses by clicking here.

Some Skunk Funk

It's been a little over a year since saxophonist Michael Brecker passed away, and, in my opinion, the giant tenor sax hole he left in the modern jazz world has yet to be filled. Joshua Redman comes close. So do Branford Marsalis and Joe Lovano. But I can't think of anyone that has covered the kind of ground that Brecker did, from straight-ahead jazz to fusion and avant garde. At least, no one that could sound so "at home" in nearly any musical situation. He was pretty much the it guy for tenor sax. What jazz musicians call a "first call" guy, in that whenever any big name in jazz (or otherwise) wanted tenor sax on their record, they called Brecker first. He was that rare perfect blend of technical wizardry and artistic musical sense.

I was just checking out some Brecker clips on YouTube, and found this gem from back in 1992. Michael and his brother, trumpet player Randy Brecker, had a insane fusion group called the Brecker Brothers. This is a clip of them playing their tune "Some Skunk Funk" with an amazing rhythm section that includes Dennis Chambers on drums and Mike Stern on guitar. It's flat-out great playing all around, but dig how Michael's solo absolutely smokes.

Catch Some 'Digm at 4:20

It's the magic number! The Forecastle Festival has announced its schedule for this year's bash in July. Paradigm will be rocking the East Stage at 4:20 on July 27th. Click here for ticket info!

Radiohead Vs. Dave Brubeck: 5 Step

This is bad ass:

Bjork in 3-D

Bjork recently released a 3-D video for her latest single "Wanderlust" off the album Volta. Click here to see both the 3-D and 2-D versions on Wired.com. For some reason, they posted both videos on the same page (they're big files), so you'll want to wait until both videos are completely loaded before you press play, or else you'll probably have playback issues. I haven't had the chance to view the 3-D version properly yet, but judging by how amazing the 2-D version looks, I'd venture to say that it's probably downright mind-blowing in 3-D. Then go behind-the-scenes with Bjork and the production team who created the video, courtesy of the NY Times. By the way, if you don't have 3-D glasses, you can make your own, or get a pair here for just the cost of a stamp (you need to send them a self-addressed, stamped envelope).

Forecastle

Paradigm will be performing at the 2008 Forecastle Festival (not officially announced yet) in Louisville. Other confirmed musical acts include: Method Man, Tortoise, the Disco Biscuits, Ekoostik Hookah, Backyard Tire Fire, Dr. Dog, and many more. Paradigm's set time is TBA, so stay tuned for more info.

Whole Lotta Shakin'...

Okay, so maybe that title was a little cheesy, but it's fitting nevertheless, since what I'm talking about was this morning's earthquake, which rattled much of the midwest. The quake, which was centered near Evansville, IN, measured in at a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter Scale here in Louisville at around 5:30 this morning. According to the Richter Scale, an earthquake with that magnitude is approximately equal to the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. I happened to wake up about 5 minutes or so before the quake needing to go the bathroom. After taking care of business, I was lying in bed when I heard what sounded like a loud "bang," followed by a big jolt. Honestly, my first thought was someone had crashed their car into my building, but after the initial jolt, I noticed a slight rumbling that persisted for a while afterwards. It felt like I was lying on one of those vibrating beds, but one whose juice was just on the verge of running out. There was also a second quake later on, around 11:15am, that measured 4.6.

I suppose I should have recognized it as an earthquake right away, but I had just woken up. The only other earthquake I've experienced was back a few years ago, when I was living in Burlington, VT. That quake was pretty similar to this one in size, measuring in at a magnitude of 5.1. It had a different "feel" to it, though, but that could have been because I had been asleep when the Burlington quake hit, whereas this time around I was fully awake for the entire thing.

Headliners Video

...courtesy of Brent Stober, who was very busy at our show last month at Headliners in Louisville. He recorded audio, took some great pictures, and captured the video below. Apparently, there were some issues with his recorder, but the following two clips survived:

The Sleeptalkers - Headliners, 3-21-08


Idioteque (Radiohead) - Headliners, 3-21-08


Thanks Brent!

Hideaway Setlist

4/4/08 at the Hideaway Saloon (Louisville, KY)

Set 1

Pomegranate Eater
My Hands Wave Goodbye-->
Orbit
Particles
Mourning Dancers

Set 2

Blowin' Up
Memphis Blue
Melancholy Collide
Laurette
Another Day

Set 2

Firefly
Littlejohn Island
Spun
Grover
The Sleeptalkers

And now I leave you with this clip from SNL. Who will win in a world of...Laser Cats!