Christian Kane's New Blog

Found via Whedonesque.

Christian Kane (Angel, Close to Home) and his band Kane have set up a new blog with news about what they're up to. It's called Smoke Signals. Check it out. And if you haven't taken a listen to their music, check that out, too. Unfortunately, they're not available at iTunes, but there are links to Kane's main site on the blog. They're a fun band, and very much worth a listen.

Music on Men In Trees

I flip over after Supernatural to check out Men In Trees, and what are they doing on Grey's Anatomy? Playing Snow Patrol. Seriously, I like Snow Patrol, but there are other groups, people...

Anyway, why am I watching Men In Trees when I usually don't? Because the second song in the episode, when Anne Heche is in the bar, is by Steve Carlson (who, as far as I know, is in no way connected with Snow Patrol).

Steve Carlson is half of the band Kane, with the other half being Christian Kane of Angel. Kane recently signed with a major label, and are supposed to have an album out I believe this summer. Steve also does music solo, and with the Steve Carlson Band. I highly recommend all his music. Check it out at iTunes, or at these websites:

SteveCarlson.com
SteveCarlsonBand.com
http://myspace.com/stevecarlson

As for the show itself, it seems fun, and a co-worker really likes it. I might have to catch up with it some time when I get a chance. And was that Nick Lea on the preview for next week?

Steve Carlson:

Clearing the DVR—CMT Crossroads

A few weeks ago, my boss, knowing I am into all things Johnny Cash, told me Rosanne Cash and Steve Earle were going to be on a show on CMT called Crossroads. I'd never heard of the show—I wasn't even sure I got CMT. But I found it and recorded it on the DVR.

Due to being somewhat DVR-clueless (hey, I just got the thing in August), I managed to accidentally record several more episodes of the show. I'd enjoyed Rosanne and Steve, and the other episodes looked interesting, so I saved them.

Crossroads is a pretty neat show. The premise is that they take two artists of usually very different musical styles and put them on stage together, where they perform each other's songs. The performances are interspersed with short interviews, and sometimes audience Q&A. The result is a show that's fun to watch, anchored by entertaining performances and occasionally insightful interviews (some of these are just fluff, but not always). It's amusing to watch artists who are starstruck by each other, and obviously a little nervous to be singing somebody else's song right in front of them. Though the pairings always feature a country artist, you don't have to be a country music fan to enjoy the show—just a fan of good music.

What I found on my DVR:
Steve Earle and Rosanne Cash
Martina McBride and Pat Benatar
Bon Jovi and Sugarland

For more info on Crossroads, check out the show's page on CMT.