The 3rd is a Thursday.

Story of discovery: In my last 2 years of college I had a radio show on the college station. About once a semester all the radio staff were allowed to "have at" the free box of promo CDs and posters they left out in the office. One semester I went in there and there wasn't much left but I found a Cd I had remembered being mentioned in a magazine as good and the cover was interesting to me. Since it was free I grabbed it up. I took it home and listened to it and was so amazed at how good this free CD was, what a find!

Lullaby Baxter Trio only ever released the one CD. They (okay it was mostly the one woman who went by "Lullaby Baxter" though her real name is Angelina Lapaulo)were signed to a major label (Atlantic) which was the first problem, and seemed to fall off the map before they even made it to the continent. This album is so interesting and original...and enjoyable that I am very surprised we never heard more about it and now it can be found in bargain bins and Amazon for less than a dollar, a real shame, but lucky for all of us who know a good thing when we find it. She has a very interesting voice (not unlike Jolie Holland, except I think I prefer Lullaby's) and the music seems to fit nothing I can explain. It is indie rock/americana/alt-country/folk but has a definite hint of kid's music. The themes in the lyrics are very colorful and child like with a very playful song style. The album is quite impressive in it's uniqueness but being unique AND enjoyable, because sometimes things get so experimental they stop being enjoyable for me. So being catchy, fun AND different is definitely a gift.

On my flight back from California on Tuesday a song came on my iPod that I hadn't heard for a while and something clicked. Usually when I hear Lullaby Baxter Trio's "The Anyway Song" it is either not near the beginning of the month or the 3rd of the month is not a Thursday, but today is indeed Thursday the 3rd and line from this song says "Anyway, I think the 3rd's a Thursday" and I decided right then that Thursday there'd be an entry devoted to Lullaby Baxter Trio.

• The Anyway Song
• Morty-Mort-Morton Showstopper Calhoun
• Spacegirl

Cake Like - Comedy Rocks

Most people know Kerri Kenny as the girl from Mtv's The State, or more recently, from Reno 911. To me she will always be thought of for her band...Cake Like.

She and two friends started up this little rock band, they appeared on some summer festival tours I believe, and have 3 albums out. The first, "Delicious", was really only released in Japan as far as I know and is a noisy little punk rock album with songs about Abraham Lincoln, fruitcake and bum legs. As expected, there is often humor involved when a talented comedienne has a band, wouldn't we be a bit disappointed if it didn't? Their 2nd album, Bruiser Queen got some indie recognition in the states and was chock full of fun little pseudo-humorous songs about the Mexican guys they made-out with on their vacation, truck-stop hussies and firemen. On their third album they took a slightly more serious turn and did a straight out rock album with only minor humor added. Considering it's an actress/comedienne's band, I am very impressed with the quality of the music. Again, I liked them well before I realized who exactly Kerri Kenny was.

I got the chance to go to a concert of theirs in Philadelphia once but only could stay long enough to see the sound check. I did, however, get to meet the band and my mother made small talk with Kerri and they talked about her recipe for mashed potatoes...and this is one of those moments. I think bands when they are out on the road like having that instant homey feeling of having a mother around. Bringing my mom to rock concerts became such a novelty to the musicians I met that I have many a memory of them chatting with her, talking about recipes, apologizing for their profanity, etc. It's so rock 'n' roll.

• Cake Like - "Lorraine's Car" (from Bruiser Queen)
• Cake Like - "Pretty New" (from Bruiser Queen)
• Cake Like - "God's Alright" (from Goodbye, So What)