Our 12 Favorite One Night Music Videos of 2009

Posted on 01/02/10 by   Ryan Andersen

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2009 was an exciting first year for One Night Music: we launched 25 sessions, creating over 100 high quality videos and audio recordings of candid live performances by independent artists.  We have plans to continue the excellent growth of our community in 2010, but first we thought we would reflect back to share our favorite videos of 2009. Selected by the One Night Music Board of Gurus (our version of a Board of Directors), we present them to you here in no particular order.

Download a ZIP file containing the MP3s of our 2009 Favorites

Ellie Fortune, “Summer Fable”

Selected by Megan Sullivan - One Night Music recorded Ellie Fortune (project moniker for Sacramento-based musician Jesse K. Phillips) in Isla Vista, CA on April 4, 2009. Since then, I habitually check Jesse's tour schedule whenever I visit Auburn, my childhood hometown nestled not too far from the state's capitol in the Sierra Nevada foothills. And Sacramento's just close enough to San Francisco that you can catch Ellie Fortune here quite frequently: I sadly just missed his show at Adobe Books on 16th Street, but I'll see him at Li Po Lounge in Chinatown on December 30th, 2009.

Check out Ellie Fortune's full session »

Treesus, “Good God”

Selected by Elia Vargas - In choosing my selections for my "best of" ONM 2009, I considered a few factors. I was not looking to find what I felt were simply the best songs, or the best videos, but rather session picks that most brilliantly illuminated One Night Music's intention. That is to say, those combination of songs, images, and interactions within the environment that highlight the unique and intimate feel of a living room set, or bedroom lullabies. This is truly one of the most wonderful elements of One Night Music. A word between the musician and the videographer, the camera's focus of a hand gesture, an unanticipated note that changes the demeanor of a song...

Check out Treesus's full session »

Alex and Janel, “I'm Your Man”

Selected by Ian Andersen - The Alex and Janel session was particularly significant to me because it was the first where I stepped out from behind the computer and filmed (with my brand new Canon HV30!). As we began the session in Megan's overgrown, lush backyard garden I thought that Alex and Janel must be the perfect duo to be singing for us on a Fall afternoon in San Francisco. It was a great experience and this specific track is simply one of my favorite.

Check out Alex and Janel's full session »

Adam Bianchi, “Loomings”

Selected by Ryan Andersen - This is the third song from Adam Bianchi's session filmed on Valentine's Day 2009.  As soon as he hit his first note a silence blanketed the room that I have not witnessed at any other session we've recorded.  It was a silence nourished by pure awe at his music.  Adam's music comes from an old soul, a reincarnation of an artist seasoned with decades of heartache.  I still find myself at awe when I listen to Adam's music, and he very deservingly earns my pick as one of my top three songs of 2009.  

Check out Adam Bianchi's full session »

Holdfast Rifle Company, “The Way It's Supposed To Be”

Selected by Megan Sullivan - Listen very closely at the beginning of this video and you'll hear fiddler Nick Coventry pointing his bow towards Cold Spring Tavern's open back door-say coolly, "There's a mountain lion." A brief chuckle from Ralph Lowi kicks off his song "The Way It's Supposed To Be." During the nine months I sang with the Holdfast Rifle Company, I collected a number of videos I return to whenever I'm feeling blue: a sexy cover of Waylon Jennings' "Waymore's Blues;" a virtuosic fiddle showcase by Nick in Bob Will's "Draggin' the Bow;" and this one, a song of Ralph's that exemplifies his complex songwriting and sophisticated taste in good ol' country.

Check out the blog featuring Holdfast Rifle Company »

Liz Isenberg, “People Who Die In The Desert”

Selected by Elia Vargas - In choosing my selections for my "best of" ONM 2009, I considered a few factors. I was not looking to find what I felt were simply the best songs, or the best videos, but rather session picks that most brilliantly illuminated One Night Music's intention. That is to say, those combination of songs, images, and interactions within the environment that highlight the unique and intimate feel of a living room set, or bedroom lullabies. This is truly one of the most wonderful elements of One Night Music. A word between the musician and the videographer, the camera's focus of a hand gesture, an unanticipated note that changes the demeanor of a song...

Check out Liz Isenberg's full session »

Forest Sun, “Harlequin Goodnight”

Selected by Ian Andersen - I had been listening to Forest Sun for about a year prior to recording his session for One Night Music. During that time I couldn't stop listening to the album Walk Through Walls, which means I never really paid attention to his album Harlequin Goodnight, whose title track is the video I have picked here. Once we recorded the session and I learned the story behind the beautiful song it immediately became one of my favorite of his and my top pick for One Night Music songs recorded so far.

Check out Forest Sun's full session »

Ashel Eldridge, Eco Art Spoken Word

Selected by Ryan Andersen - The story of this video embodies a spontenaity that I feel is very important to One Night Music.  I saw Ashel perform a spoken word piece at a sustainability convergence in Santa Cruz.  I happened to have my camera and Zoom mic, so I asked him to record a piece during the break.  The result a breathtaking spoken word commentary on the intersection of social justice and sustainability captured momentarily and unplanned. A true One Night Music gem.

Check out the blog featuring Ashel Eldrige »

Omnivore, “Elbows”

Selected by Megan Sullivan - I fell in love with Omnivore the first time I heard Glenna sing into her telephone. To paraphrase one of the sweetest things my boyfriend's ever said to me, Omnivore's music is "fuckin' pretty as shit." I know what you are thinking. Just enjoy.

Check out Omnivore's full session »

Paleo, “Woman Like Me”

Selected by Ian Andersen - I had a strong reaction to the song Woman Like Me when I first watched it. Elia's filming of this song (and the entire session) is so fitting for the occasion and the track itself has a gorgeous, catchy melody over which Paleo sings about relating to a woman through love and trust. I still get chills listening to this track. Everyone has those certain types of songs that just sound perfect to them and this is undoubtedly one of mine.

Check out Paleo's full session »

Colter Frazier and Matt Crane, “Improvisation 3”

Selected by Elia Vargas - The song is breathtaking. The video is a failed attempt to match the improvisation (I can say this, because it was I filming). Around 3 Minutes into the song, it does support the music well, and I find it beautifully supportive. Unfortunately it takes quite a while to develop, but the song itself, and the nature of the work was simply too impressive not to include.

Check out Colter and Matt's full session »

Erik Schau, “As Long As I Can”

Selected by Ryan Andersen - I think of the very act of songwriting (seperated from the instrumental or vocal work) to be a distinct artform.  In this context I consider As Long As I Can to be a profoundly well written song with its lyrics and phrasing.  Combine that with Erik's heartbreaking voice and a masterpiece is born.  Everytime I hear this song I am freshly amazed and I cant help but recall the gut-wrenching sounds of veteran singer-songwriter Jason Molina. 

Check out Erik Schau's full session »

Download a ZIP file containing the MP3s of our 2009 Favorites

This blog post was written by

Ryan Andersen