Feb/14/10
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SoftSpot, Laura Jansen: Sunday UkeTube

Ever since the Blue Peter/Cookie scandel, I haven’t been able to hear the word ‘cookie’ without sniggering. It certainly makes the Cookie Monster about a million times more funnier. But Laura Jansen does such a good job of playing her Cookie Monster cover straight, I was quite moved by it.

But the most exciting video this week comes from Sarah Kinlaw. I’ve featured a few of her videos before but she hadn’t posted in a long time. It was worth the wait. She’s back with a friend. a cate band name (SoftSpot), a beautiful video and an incredible sound. There’s not a great deal of uke in, but enough for me to justify posting something this jaw-dropping.

Also this week Benny Chong and Byron Yasui duetting, a cover of an obscene Zappa song, an experimental ‘tone-poem’ from James Hill and plenty more.

SoftSpot – Half a House

Laura Jansen – If Moon Was Cookie

Benny Chong and Byron Yasui – Holiday for the Strings

Irving Aaronson and his Commanders – Give Me a Ukulele and a Ukulele Baby

Mark Occhionero – You’re a Lucky Guy

Ukulollo – Enjoy the Silence

Østre Vestrum Ukulelelag – Bobby Brown (Goes Down) – NSFW

Jodi and Dan – Way You Look Tonight

James Hill and Anne Davison – Ukulele Torture Chamber

BaronK – Sweet Home Chicago

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9 Comments

  1. Nick B-C. February 14th, 2010 8:15 pm

    …Wow what a week…Soft spot, half a house? full house more like…Ukulollo, one of my favourite songs ever on three of my favourite instruments, I’m just preparing to make me self a cajon and the toy accordion is ace…I’ve ended every mix tape i’ve ever made with Bobby Brown, much to the horror of one or two recipients…Jodi and Dan, uke and contrabass,blimey!…It’s safe to say I enjoyed this weeks selection almost as I enjoy a bit of cookie…

  2. PotofBasil February 15th, 2010 12:59 am

    There’s no need to have ukulele in every video you showcase, Al.
    It’s a sign of the uke world’s growing confidence and maturity that
    it can reach out beyond its own four strings. And maybe, if uke sites
    reach out to other instruments, non-uke sites will start showing videos with our instrument, and everyone’s musical horizons will
    expand. So if you find something with no ukulele that you really like show it, no one will complain or question, as we should all be
    growing musically.

    Speaking of Cookie Monster – My favorite CM video is

    Poetry With The Cookie Monster
    from: Wackiest

    RH (now PotofBasil)

  3. Acilius February 15th, 2010 1:12 am

    As always, an excellent selection. My only reservation is about “Half a House”- a great song, but there’s so little uke in it that it posting it here really puts the “hunt” in “Ukulele Hunt.”

  4. PaulC February 15th, 2010 9:33 am

    Always one of my favourite James Hill numbers – but then I’m a tad odd…

    If anyone has a chance to see James and Anne live – RUN don’t walk to the show. They’re frickin’ amazing live.

  5. Rob NY February 15th, 2010 3:06 pm

    Nice selection Al. Half House is a great video.Very cool. Makes me want to move to wherever that was made. If the Moon was a cookie I would ask for seconds.

  6. Woodshed February 15th, 2010 9:58 pm

    Nick: Glad you enjoyed them!

    Pot/Ron: I see my job as promoting people in my little area of the musical world, I’d certainly recommend that I’m not the only place you get your music. Uke acts do get plenty of recognition on the non-uke: Dent May and tUnE-YaRdS in particular. And Sophie Madeleine. I’ve even seen Madeline Ava getting some attention which is very pleasing.

    Acilius: I don’t have any reservations in posting something that magnificent. And there’s nothing wrong with the uke being used as an ensemble instrument (and my guess is the song was written on uke).

    Paul: I’ve given up hope of them ever reaching these shores.

    Rob: I’m more tempted to go somewhere warmer at the moment.

  7. Sarah Kinlaw February 16th, 2010 12:09 am

    First of all, I’d like to say t h a n k y o u for featuring my video, ‘Half a House’ on your site! I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Also, yes, this song and all of my songs are originally written on the uke although some songs use the intrument more in their “final” version than others. You might want to check out “Wicked Ones” on our myspace. I play the electric uke the whole time!

    http://www.myspace.com/withlovesoftspot

    Thanks for the feedback and I wish you all well!

  8. Woodshed February 16th, 2010 9:04 pm

    Sarah: You’re welcome. It’s always a pleasure to feature your stuff.

  9. Ron and Jeanne February 21st, 2010 9:11 am

    “Half a House” was a beautiful video, really mesmorizing. Thank you for featuring it, Al.

    We also loved “If Moon Was Cookie”. We wondered if you would be willing to post the chords for that one.

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