Get Free Music from NoiseTrade

While SOPA and PIPA threaten our ability to obtain free music of questionable legality and iTunes virtually monopolizes the market in paying for music, various websites have attempted to provide an alternative, and one of the best of these is NoiseTrade. They offer free downloads, frequently of entire albums, in exchange for a simple e-mail address and ZIP code, while simultaneously offering a Girl Talk/Radiohead-style pay-what-you-want 'tip' system and easy social network sharing. Today I got some excellent material from plenty of Flying Circus favorites, and I figured I could compile a list here. Click the artist name for a link to the relevant NoiseTrade download page, and I will put a link to my past show review of that artist next to it just in case you aren't sure who they are or need some help deciding whether it's worth the hard drive space.

Josh Ritter - [show review]

Joy Ike - [show review]

Derek Webb (with Sandra McCracken) - [reviews on old blog: {1} {2} {3}]

Paper Route - [relevant post]

Show Review: Koji on the Resolve Tour

Local singer-songwriter and social activist Koji dropped by B-sides on The Resolve Tour, raising awareness for an advocacy organization working against the Lord's Resistance Army in Africa. This is the same issue Invisible Children began fighting, but has both a wider and more specific focus: it works beyond Uganda in the other effected nations and works expressly as an advocacy group rather than a charity.

Koji played a selection of his own tunes, developed over the years through many different projects, as well as some covers. The crowd favorite was probably Josh Ritter's "To the Dogs or Whoever", probably because of the excellent show Ritter played here a while back. After the show, he and the volunteers from The Resolve hung out for a 'town meeting' with interested students.

Show Review: Josh Ritter and John Francis

Last Friday night brilliant songwriter Josh Ritter and Messiah graduate John Francis graced us with their presence, providing a combination of songwriting ability and showmanship unparalleled in my experience. Opener John Francis regaled us with several original songs and a Leonard Cohen, along with one by collaborator Kelley McRae. McRae was a surprise appearance, joining Francis on stage for several songs. They exhibited a shared love for Johnny Cash, whose son Francis has recorded with. He even did a song incorporating Cash's last words to his son as part of the chorus.

Josh Ritter was quite the showman for such a quality songwriter. I have rarely seen such a combination, and it was greatly appreciated since I was unfamiliar with much of his music. Catchy tunes and memorable lyrics are quickly picked up, however, and I was soon singing along with he and most of the crowd filled with diehard fans. His between song banter was hilarious, including constant jokes about one of his band member's waxed mustache. Regular Messiah concert-goers were heard speculating that it was the best show ever in Brubaker Auditorium.