The Patzer’s Playlist

by Aaron Rowan

    Six months ago I began to get heavily into the cosmic game of chess. It is said that there are more possible permutations on the 64 squares than there are atoms in the known universe. The strategy and geometry involved here are endlessly fascinating. I’m no Magnus, but I’ve had a few beautiful and brilliant moves and have played most days this year, working to sharpen my game.

    What music pairs well with a good chess match? Studies suggest that classical music can temporarily boost IQ and spatial reasoning – certainly worth trying. It turns out, though, that there’s a nice little soundtrack of chess-related songs by artists from my own concert series; so here are a few suggestions to help get you into the chess mindset and discover some sweet new music at the same time.

    We begin with my singing southpaw friend Glitter Rose, once a country & southern rocker,  now a pop artist based in Texas. One of her recent originals is titled ‘Chess Piece,’ a smackdown of a pawn trying to claim her as his queen when she’s already got a king in her life. It’s not yet recorded but a live version exists online; you can find a Youtube video link (unlisted on Youtube itself) by way of her Facebook page @nameisglitter.

    I’m not much of a blues enthusiast, but Romanian rocker Diana Rein was a blast on one of the very few occasions when I hosted that genre. The title track to her album ‘Queen Of My Castle’ is another sassy rebuttal against someone who’ll never be her king. Diana sprinkles her own flavor of sweetness onto the bluesy sound.

    My favorite selection on this list is a ballad by our very own The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit called ‘Gypsy Queen.’ This is one of the best lyrical compositions by Chris Doud, who I’ve long called the finest songwriter in our county. Doud’s poetic prowess is at its peak in this story song about watching “the fairest in all the encampment” from afar as she dances. It’s a refreshing slow-dance tune by the normally high-energy Americana outfit.

    I’ve got to give some love to the minor pieces as well. Adam Bishop, formerly of the Modesto music scene, has done good work in folk & Americana styles, and now devotes himself to gospel music; but it’s his orchestral folk project Buffalo Buffalo that I enjoy best. ‘Schools And Prisons’ is a highlight from their album ‘Everyone You Love Is Going To Die.’ It’s a political semi-parody filled with lively strings and horns. The whole album is fun and upbeat and well worth a listen.

    Finally, to end this playlist (and a chess game) in proper fashion, there’s ‘Checkmate’ by The Jakobs Ferry Stragglers, a bluegrass outfit out of Pennsylvania. This short and sweet number is a story song about living a hard life on the road, something I know a tiny bit about given my long hauling across the country as a tour manager.

    Next month, we’ll get to know the star of my next Young Artist showcase, who’s putting together his own vocal program for the first time in mid-August. Enjoy the fireworks and the rest of your summer festivities – and a friendly game of chess or two if that’s your jam – and stay tuned for more of the most eclectic live music programming coming to downtown.