Capt. Al's 21st Century: Part III -- Seriously, This Kid Really IS Lydia the Tattooed Lady!!!

[As attentive readers will recall, our old friend (and more important, Friend of PowerPop©) Allan Rosenberg, aka Capt. Al, has been toiling on a series about his fave recent artists for a while now. The second installment of these musical musings appeared here last week (see below). Now, as promised, here's episode le troisieme! Take it away, you old sea doggie!!! -- S.S.]

Welcome to the “Best Rock & Roll Music of the 21st Century, Part 3”, by Captain Al

If last time (Part 2) we discussed wonderful “Lunchpail Musician” Sarah Borges, this time we swim in to the other end of the same musical pool to discuss Lydia Loveless. If Sarah represented the rootsy side of the type of music I love -- music influenced by the likes of say the Rolling Stones -- Lydia comes at us with Patti Smith and Americana vibes in her musical genes (jeans). She gives off a feeling of risk-taking in both her life and in her music. And her music challenges you -- she’s a wild child and smart as all hell!

Let’s start with an example of Lydia at her edgiest/most in your face musically:

That kind of performance and song is what originally attracted me to her. She rocks, has great lyrics and an in your face attitude. Basically, Lydia has it all.

From her most recent album:

You can see how more than ten years in the rock-and-roll game has simultaneously worn her down, sharpened her edges and made her continue being her defiant self!

Finally, a song from her her great documentary Who is Lydia Loveless?. Except the video itself isn't available to embed (you can see it HERE).

In many ways, minus the heavy “cosmic poetry” I consider Lydia the 21st Century’s Patti Smith. Words, music and attitude combined into a potent rock-and-roll mix. She truly is among the best of this century.

Alas, Lydia rarely tours in the New York area but the next time she’s around here I will finally catch her in live performance.

I have to!

Meanwhile if you don’t know her music it’s time to catch up! Just like Sarah and Feist she’s the real deal -- somebody who carries the rock-and-roll tradition forward into the 21st Century.

Alrighty, Captain! And may I just say, and for the record, that unlike Sarah and Feist, who I really hadn't paid much attention to until your recent endorsement, Lydia has been a total crush of mine since I first heard this one in 2014.

I mean -- wow. She's like my favorite rock-and-roll chick since Chrissie Hynde ever. No question.

In any case, thanks for the music, pal, and I'm looking forward to episode four next week!!!