Category Archives: Country Music

Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam Announce Summer ‘LSD Tour’

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Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam - LSD Tour

This summer Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam will come together for what is being called the “LSD Tour” (get it?) These three prominent singer/songwriters made names for themselves as pioneers of the wave that evolved the genre of country music by fusing it with the rock and punk of the day. This new vibrancy, along with electrifying live shows, resulted in a disruptive effect on Music Row’s stranglehold on the genre and drew a sharp contrast to the safe, sterile, industrialized cultural product they profited from much like The Outlaw movement had done a generation before.

This contrast between the old guard and these neo-traditional upstarts was struck most star key when Earle insightfully described the movement at the time as the“Great Credibility Threat of the ’80s”

I was lucky to see Williams and Earle share the stage at New York City’s Town Hall on the “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” portion of her tour playing her albums in full, but this is the first time Williams, Earle and Yoakam have shared the stage together so I would describe this as pretty badass.

SiriusXM will present the tour and recently announced a 24/7 channel curated by Dwight launching in late April titled “Dwight Yoakam and Bakersfield Beat – Where Country Went Mod “ featuring music from Yoakam’s extensive career and celebrates the Bakersfield sound.

The summer tour starts at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston on June 12, continues a run on the East coast, jumps to the West on August 1st play on The Masonic in San Francisco then concludes this leg with a Midwest swing through Chicago; Rochester, Michigan and Indianapolis. Hopefully there will be more dates added including a stop near me in North Texas.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m. local.

The LSD Tour:
June 12 – Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
June 13 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
June 15 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
June 16 – Gilford, NH @ Bank of NH Pavilion
June 17 – National Harbor, MD @ MGM National Harbor
June 19 – Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion
June 20 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
June 21 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre
August 1 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
August 3 – San Diego, CA @ Open Air Theatre
August 4 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
August 10 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
August 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 12 – Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater
August 14 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 16 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
August 17 – Rochester, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
August 18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn

Buck Owens’ ‘The Complete Capitol Singles: 1967–1970’ To Be Released

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Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

Few Musicians have helped redefine the image of country musicians from country bumpkins to savvy sonic shape-shifter and entrepreneur than Sherman Texas’ own Alvis Edgar (Buck) Owens Jr. From adapting country’s style to appeal to the growing rock and roll market with his uptempo Bakersfield sound, to his business savvy buying several radio stations in the sixties to increase his take of the pie, to becoming a household name sharing the stage with the great Roy Clark on Hee Haw from the beginning of the series in 1969 until he left the cast in 1986, few artists have had the reach and influence as Buck Owens, his guitarist Don Rich and the rest of Buckaroos.

On May 11 Omnivore records, in conjunction with the Buck Owens Estate, will release a newly remastered ‘Buck Owens and the Buckaroos’ The Complete Capitol Singles: 1967–1970’ CD and Digital format (what? No vinyl?!)

From the presser:

According to Owens: “The reason my Capitol records sounded the way they did — real heavy on the treble — was because I knew most people were going to be listening to ’em on their AM car radios. At the time, nobody else was doing anything like that, but it just seemed like common sense to me. And it was one more reason that you knew it was a Buck Owens record as soon as it came on the radio — because it just didn’t sound like those other records.”

Annotator Bomar from the liner notes: “The latter part of the 1960s represents Buck Owens’ second act. His recordings from that era are brief snapshots of a man in transition. Buck and his Buckaroos had undeniably found a winning formula, but he was growing concerned that his signature sound was in danger of growing stale and predictable. For the rest of the decade he would boldly venture into new territory that likely stretched the boundaries of what some fans might have expected.”

Preorder here.

Track Listing:
Disc One
1. Sam’s Place
2. Don’t Ever Tell Me Goodbye
3. Your Tender Loving Care
4. What A Liar I Am
5. It Takes People Like You (To Make People Like Me)
6. You Left Her Lonely Too Long
7. How Long Will My Baby Be Gone
8. Everybody Needs Somebody
9. Sweet Rosie Jones
10. Happy Times Are Here Again
11. Let The World Keep On A Turnin’ – Buck Owens & Buddy Alan
12. I’ll Love You Forever And Ever – Buck Owens & Buddy Alan
13. I’ve Got You On My Mind Again
14. That’s All Right With Me (If It’s All Right With You)
15. Christmas Shopping
16. One Of Everything You Got
17. Things I Saw Happening At The Fountain On The Plaza When I Was Visiting Rome Or Amore
18. Turkish Holiday
Disc Two
1. Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass
2. There’s Gotta Be Some Changes Made
3. Johnny B. Goode
4. Maybe If I Close My Eyes (It’ll Go Away)
5. Tall Dark Stranger
6. Sing That Kind Of Song
7. Big In Vegas
8. White Satin Bed
9. We’re Gonna Get Together – Buck Owens & Susan Raye
10. Everybody Needs Somebody – Buck Owens & Susan Raye
11. Togetherness – Buck Owens & Susan Raye
12. Fallin’ For You – Buck Owens & Susan Raye
13. The Kansas City Song
14. I’d Love To Be Your Man
15. The Great White Horse – Buck Owens & Susan Raye
16. Your Tender Loving Care – Buck Owens & Susan Raye
17. I Wouldn’t Live In New York City (If They Gave Me The Whole Dang Town)
18. No Milk And Honey In Baltimore

Record Store Day 2018: Our Top 11 Americana/Roots Picks

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It’s that time of year again. Time to raise your dead ass out of bed at the crack of dawn to stand in a line in the elements outside your favorite record still for limited-edition vinyl delights. Record Store Day follows behind the blooming of Spring and like it the selections bursts with bounty. Or something. It’s good, really good.

The DIY movement that nearly single-handedly resuscitated the vinyl format is back on Saturday, April 21. New releases, obscure releases, re-releases, picture discs, colored discs, die-cut discs…it’s all there for a sometimes hefty price. But it’s cheaper than buying it later on ebay for 3-times the original price.

Here are a few choice Americana and Roots music nuggets from the list (found in its entirety here) Highlights include Bobbie Gentry’s Live at the BBC in its first official release, Johnny Cash’s 5oth Anniversary edition of his watershed release ‘ At Folsom Prison’ and Uncle Tupelo demos from their genre-defining ‘No Depression.’

So, get to your favorite indy record early on April 21nd (I’ll be at Good Records in Dallas) and share those great finds with me on Instagram and Twitter.

The Allman Brothers Band – ‘Live At The Atlanta Pop Festival, July 3 & 5, 1970’

DETAILS
Format: 4 x LP
Label: Legacy
Quantity: 3000
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release

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The Allman Brothers Band was one of Georgia’s top live acts still looking for a break when they were hired to open the three-day Atlanta International Pop Festival. The band’s Southern-blues style, bolstered by jams that stretched to epic lengths, won over audiences–and two days later, after legends like Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter and B.B. King took the stage, the Allmans were invited back for a second set. Recorded nearly a year before At Fillmore East established them as one of America’s hottest bands, fans can now discover these landmark nights in Allman Brothers Band history with this individually numbered, limited edition box set, available on vinyl for the first time and packaged in an oversize slipcase with an eight page booklet of photos and liner notes.

7/3/70 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Statesboro Blues 1.3 Trouble No More 1.4 Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ 1.5 Dreams 1.6 Every Hungry Woman 1.7 Hoochie Coochie Man 1.8 In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed 1.9 Whipping Post 1.10 Mountain Jam Part I 1.11 Rain Delay 1:14 1.12 Mountain Jam Part II 7/5/70 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ 2.3 Statesboro Blues 2.4 In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed 2.5 Stormy Monday 2.6 Whipping Post 2.7 Mountain Jam

Dickey Betts – Dickey Betts Band: Live At The Lone Star Roadhouse

DETAILS
Format: 2 x LP
Label: RockBeat Records
Quantity: 1400
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
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Dickey Betts may not have had the name but he was a co-founder and the ongoing heart and soul of the Allman Brothers. With the deaths of Duane and then Gregg, Dickey slipped into semi-retirement. This show was recorded in August, 1978 with his back-up band, Great Southern, at the Lone Star Roadhouse in New York City and simulcast on WLIR on Long Island. Dickey Betts and Great Southern riffed on some of the Allman Bros. best known hits: “Blue Sky”, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”, “Jessica”, Statesboro Blues”, “One Way Out”, “Southbound” and other gems. Dickey is backed by Warren Haynes- guitar/vocals, Johnny Neel- keyboard/vocals, Matt Abts- percussion and Marty Privette- bass. Special appearances by Rick Derringer, Jack Bruce and Mick Taylor. It was just announced that Dickey was embarking on his first tour in some time, touring with his son Duane sharing lead guitar..

Disc 1: Blue Sky, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Duane’s Tune, Jessica
Disc 2: Statesboro Blues, One Way Out, Rock ‘n Roll Hoochie Coo, Spoonful, Southbound

Bobbie Gentry – Live at the BBC

DETAILS
Format: LP
Label: UMC
Quantity: 1200
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
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This LP is sure to be highly collectable for fans. No BBC material featuring Bobbie has ever been released (and only Ode to Billie Joe has leaked on YouTube as it featured in a BBC doc about songwriters) so these recordings are completely unfamiliar to fans.

Side 1: (1) “Mississippi Delta”, (2) “Papa Won’t Let Me Go To Town With You”, (3) “I saw An Angle Die”, (4) “Ode To Billie Joe”, (5) “Mornin Glory”, (6) “Ace Insurance Man”
Side 2: (1) “Niki Hokey/ Barefootin”, (2) “Penduli Pendulum”, (3) “Recollection”, (4) “Sweet Peony”, (5) “Greyhound Going Somewhere”

Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison: 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition

DETAILS
Format: 5 x LP
Label: Legacy
Quantity: 2500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
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“Hello… I’m Johnny Cash.” With those four words, The Man In Black solidified his legend as outlaw country pioneer with two spirited sets recorded at Folsom State Prison in 1968 and released as At Folsom Prison, one of the most acclaimed live albums of all time. This special box set includes both full concerts, including performances by June Carter, Carl Perkins and The Statler Brothers. This numbered deluxe package, featuring individually designed LP jackets packaged in a deluxe hardshell slipcase with an eight page, 12″ x 12″ booklet, and also includes a bonus 12″ single featuring previously unreleased audio of Cash and friends rehearsing at the El Rancho Motel in Sacramento, CA the night before the concerts.

Steve Earle & The Dukes – Live From The Continental Club

DETAILS
Format: 2 x LP
Label: E-Squared
Quantity: 2000
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
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Side 1 – 1. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way 2. Guitar Town 3. Hillbilly Highway 4. My Olf Friend The Blues 5. Someday 6. The Devil’s Right Hand Side 2 – 1. Baby’s Just As Mean As Me 2. Dominic Stree/The Gallway Girl 3. Little Emperor 4. Aquainted With The Wind 5. Down THe Road Part II 6. Copperhead Road Side 3 – 1. So You Wanna Be An Outlaw 4. Looking For A Woman 3. Goobye Michaelangelo 4. Dim Lights , Thick Smoe (And Loud, Loud Music) 5. Amanda Side 4 – 1. Fixin To Die 2. Hey Joe 3. Johhny Come Lately 4. Wild Thing

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives – Way Out West – Desert Suite (Trip One)

DETAILS
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Label: Superlatone Recordings
Quantity: 1200
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
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(Trip One) is the first in a series of Desert Suite releases. Marty and His Fabulous Superlatives have reached back into the vault and let loose some of their favorite collaborations and B-Sides. Deseret Suite (Trip One) features guest appearances from Merle Haggard, Don “Juan” Maddox. It also features a never before released track called “Rattle and Roll” which is produced by Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers).

Side A: 1. The New Step It Up and Go (featuring Don Juan Maddox) / San Joaquin Boogie / TB Blues (featuring Merle Haggard) Side B: 1. Rattle and Roll

Uncle Tupelo – No Depression– Demos

DETAILS
Format: LP
Label: Legacy
Quantity: 3000
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
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Released in 1990, Uncle Tupelo’s debut album No Depression was a genuine milestone in American rock and roll, a striking fusion of traditional folk and country with post-punk innovation and hardcore ferocity. For the first time on vinyl, fans can hear Jeff Tweedy, Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn’s legendary demo tape Not Forever, Just For Now, recorded in 1989, plus a demo of “No Depression” recorded a year earlier.

Side A 1. Outdone [1989 Demo] 2. That Year [1989 Demo] 3. Whiskey Bottle [1989 Demo] 4. Flatness [1989 Demo] 5. I Got Drunk [1989 Demo]
Side B 1. Before I Break [1989 Demo] 2. Life Worth Living [1989 Demo] 3. Train [1989 Demo] 4. Graveyard Shift [1989 Demo] 5. Screen Door [1989 Demo] 6. No Depression [1988 Demo]

Hellbound Glory – Pinball (Junkie Edition)

DETAILS
Format: LP
Label: Black Country Rock
Quantity: 500
Release type: RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus Release
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A Record Store Day exclusive collector’s edition of the 2017 release, “Pinball [Junkie Edition]” features the entire album, and a very special version of a previous Hellbound hit, “Better Hope You Die Young”, performed by Tanya Tucker (feat. Leroy Virgil) and produced by Shooter Jennings. All on limited edition toxic green vinyl, with all-new artwork that continues the story from the first album cover. To top all of that off, the collector’s item will include a CD and download of everything, plus demos from they years that led to the pinnacle that is Hellbound Glory’s “Pinball”.

Side A. 1. ‘Merica (The Good Ole U.S.A.) 2. That’s Just What I Am 3. Six Strings Away 4. Vandalism Spree 5. Sun Valley Blues #3 (Bloodweiser) 6. Empty Bottles Sid B 7. Pinball 8. Delta Dawn 9. Hellbound Blues 10. You Better Hope You Die Young (featuring Tanya Tucker) 11. Blue Yodel Number 5 (California Blues) CD & DOWNLOAD CARD TRACKS 1. Hellbound Blues (Demo) 2. Empty Bottles (Demo) 3. Pinball (Demo) 4. Vandalism Spree (Demo) 5. Hellbound Blues (Hellbound AF Remix)

Mandolin Orange – Mandolin Orange Plays Cover Songs

DETAILS
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Label: Yep Roc Records
Quantity: 1400
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
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Mandolin Orange Plays Cover Songs is an EP of five classic covers reinterpreted by the Chapel Hill, North Carolina folk duo Mandolin Orange. Side A includes three traditional folk songs. Side B includes a cover of Gregory Alan Isakov’s “Amsterdam” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Boots of Spanish Leather”.

Side A: 1) Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel (Traditional) 2) Silver Dagger (Traditional) 3) Little Margaret (Traditional)
Side B: 1) Amsterdam (Gregory Alan Isakov cover) 2) Boots of Spanish Leather (Bob Dylan cover)

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Live at Twist & Shout

DETAILS
Format: Vinyl
Label: New West Records
Quantity: 3000
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
MORE INFO
A six song EP recorded live at Twist & Shout in Denver, CO in 2007.

1 – Grown, 2 – Goddamn Lonely Love, 3 – Hurricanes And Hand Grenades, 4 – Danko/Manuel, 5 – Outfit, 6 – Into The Mystic

The Lone Bellow – Live at Grimey’s

DETAILS
Format: 10″ Vinyl
Label: Masterworks
Quantity: 2500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
MORE INFO
individually numbered, purple marble vinyl 10″ recorded live at Grimey’s New and Preloved Music in Nashville. This Record Store Day 2018 release includes two tracks from their latest album Walk Into A Storm and two never-before-recorded tracks: “Jessica” and “Lovely in Blue”

Side One: “May You Be Well” “Is It Ever Gonna Be Easy”
Side Two: “Jessica” “Lovely in Blue”

Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore To Release ‘Downey to Lubbock’ This Summer

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Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore - ‘Downey to Lubbock’

Few things in narration strike me as much as well-constructed alternate history. Like the Amazon series ‘The Man in the High Castle,’ loosely based Philip K. Dick’s 1962 alternative WW2 history novel of the same name there’s just something interesting about taking the familiar into unfamiliar territory.

Two roots music legends are decided to take that same technique and apply it to two of the most infamous legends of the American West. The song, entitled “Billy The Kid and Geronimo,” has Alvin giving voice to Billy the Kid, a.k.a. William Bonney a.k.a. William Henry McCarty Jr., the young gunslinger that made his name by killing 21 people before being famously shot to death at the tender age of 21 by Sheriff Pat Garrett.

Gilmore, who is part Native American, voices Geronimo, the Chiricahua Apache chief who was one of the last Native American leaders to abandon his resistance against white colonization of the American Southwest, as the two undertake an imagined conversation of morality, injustice and their place in history.

‘Billy The Kid said, “We’re just the same.

We’re cursed and we’re damned as they whisper our names…”

Geronimo said, “No, We’re not the same, for the harm I have done, I feel great shame

But we’ll pay the same price for the blood on our hands”

The song appears on ‘Downey to Lubbock,’ the title refers to eacj=h of their hometowns.

Friends for over three decades, it took Alvin – the founder of seminal punk roots band The Blasters – and Gilmore, of the pioneering country-folk trio The Flatlanders and well-known for his role as the notorious line over-stepping Smokey from The Big Lebowski, until last year to collaborate.

About their relationship, Alvin told the L.A. Times – “I first met Jimmie probably 27 years ago — maybe more,” Alvin said. “Tom Russell had put together a songwriter-traveling-circus kind of show with Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale and Tom and me and Steve Young and Katy Moffatt. As we rolled along with picked up Lucinda Williams and some other folks.

“I’d heard of him, mentioned in a kind of whispered status, but when we met, I discovered he was a really nice guy and we kind of clicked,” Alvin said. ” There were certain complexities to him musically that took a while to figure out — like I knew he was influenced in many ways by blues stuff. A couple of years after that, I heard him pull out a Blind Lemon Jefferson number. There are not many people who do Blind Lemon.”

‘Downey to Lubbock’ will be released June 1st on Yep Roc records.

Hear “Billy The Kid and Geronimo.” below, see ‘Downey to Lubbock’ and check out Alvin and Gillmore’s tour schedule below.

Pre-order ‘Downey to Lubbock’ here.

‘Downey to Lubbock’ tracklist:

Downey To Lubbock
Silverlake
Stealin’, Stealin’
July, You’re A Woman
Buddy Brown’s Blues
The Gardens
Get Together
K.C. Moan
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
Billy The Kid and Geronimo
Deportee – Plane Wreck At Los Gatos

Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore Tour Dates:

Friday, May 25 – Strawberry Music Festival, Grass Valley, CA
Friday, June 1 – The Heights Theater, Houston, TX
Saturday, June 2 – Antone’s, Austin, TX
Sunday, June 3 @ 7:00PM – The Kessler Theater, Dallas, TX
Thursday, June 7 – World Cafe Live Downstairs, Philadelphia, PA
Friday, June 8 – City Winery, New York, NY
Saturday, June 9 – Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA
Wednesday, June 13 – Ram’s Head on Stage, Annapolis, MD
Thursday, June 14 – Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
Saturday, June 16 – Shea Theatre, Turner Falls, MA
Sunday, June 17 – Clearwater Festival, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Saturday, June 23 – Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA
Sunday, July 1 — Friday, July 6 – Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY

Willie Nelson Answers Health Concerns with New Album ‘Last Man Standing,’ Shares Title Track

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Isn’t it a very Willie Nelson thing to do?

After the Red-Headed Stranger recently cancelled shows due to a bout with the flue we collectively held our breaths. It’s to be expected, news of a more virulent strain and less effective vaccine saturates our media.

Willie is 84 years old and recent times have not been kind to our music heroes.

Nelson answers our concerns by not only booking new shows, including headlining his 2018 Luck Reunion day festivaL held at his ranch outside Austin, Texas, but also announcing a new album following up his last release, ‘God’s Problem Child,’ by just a day short of a year.

Nelson will celebrate his 85th birthday (4/29) with the release of a new album, ‘Last Man Standing.’ The new release will offer 11 new songs written by Nelson and longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon.

Below, listen to the title track, which much like the first release off his previous album, “Still Not Dead,” playfully addresses his aforementioned mortality.

“I don’t want to be the last man standing/Or wait a minute, maybe I do.”

Though Jerry Lee Lewis used the title ‘Last Man Standing’ on his 2006 album addressing his longevity as the last remaining member of the Sun Studio’s “Million Dollar Quartet,” Nelson is referring to his brotherhood of Outlaw country members which overlaps Lewis’ with a single member, Johnny Cash.

Though Nelson is not yet the last man standing he is in rarified company as Kris Kristofferson is still kicking and a case could be made for David Allan Coe.

The album is out April 27, via Legacy Recordings. Pre-order ‘Last Man Standing’ here.

Track list for ‘Last Man Standing:’

1. “Last Man Standing”
2. “Don’t Tell Noah”
3. “Bad Breath”
4. “Me and You”
5. “Something You Get Through”
6. “Ready to Roar”
7. “Heaven Is Closed”
8. “I Ain’t Got Nothin'”
9. “She Made My Day”
10. “I’ll Try to Do Better Next Time”
11. “Very Far to Crawl”

What We know About Ethan Hawke’s Blaze Foley Biopic ‘Blaze.’

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blaze movie poster

‘Blaze’ the Ethan Hawke co-written and directed tender biopic created to celebrate the tragic life of country blues Texas artist Blaze Foley has been turning heads at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival at the Cafe Artois in Park City, Utah. (here and here)

Benjamin Dickey, who portrays Blaze Foley, is a longtime friend of Ethan Hawke and was offered the role after he played ‘one of he and Ethan’s favorite Foley tunes.’

Blaze Foley’s lover Sybil Rosen, who is played in the film by Alia Shawkat, was Ethan Hawke’s co-writer for the film.

The great Kris Kristofferson portrays Foley’ father.

Charlie Sexton portrays Texas legend folk musician and Foley’s friend Townes Van Zandt.

Alynda Segarra from Hurray for the Riff Raff has a cameo.

The film was done in a cinema verite style, a technique that pays more attention to the natural actions and authentic dialogue showing people in a typical day in a day life.

Hawke knew he dad to make the film after reading reading Sybil Rosen’s beautiful memoir ‘Living in the Woods in a Tree,’ which he wrote for forward to.

Sybil Rosen plays her own mother in the film.

Blaze was not filmed in Austin but in the Baton Rouge area.

Village Studios in Jackson served as a production base for the project, which filmed in winter 2016-17.

Blaze will be released to the public later this year.

https://youtu.be/XUL2My4olT4

Lost In Vegas’ Reaction Video For Merle Haggard’s ”Big City” Is Greatness

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Lost In Vegas' thoughts on Merle Haggard's ''Big City''

Remember The first time you heard a Merl Haggard song? That relaxed yet steady voice. This lyrics.

Relive that moment with the guys over at the Lost In Vegas YouTube channel.

I discovered Lost In Vegas reaction videos when a friend of mine sent me a link to their reaction video to Megadeth’s ‘Holy Wars…The Punishment Due.’ They were so genuine and thoughtful in their verbal and nonverbal reactions to a truly new genre was a ‘delight to behold’ as one comment perfectly put it.

The duo follows a simple and well-worn formula: the show’s two hosts, George and Ryan, play a song that they are somewhat or completely unfamiliar with, and then react to it in real time, occasionally pausing the music to dig deeper or just yell in exclamation. It really is quote something to watch the joy two grown men have at listening to music.

I started to search out more and more of their metal reaction videos. Never disappointed.

Tonight I was riffing across YouTube I came across them not reacting to a another metal classic but working the gritty side of the fence. The guys too up the great Merle Haggard’s ‘Big City.”

Reactions like “That right there…what the hell is that? Pure unadulterated COUNTRY” at hearing the opening pedal steel to observing the timelessness of Merle’ lyrics.

Lost In Vegas aren’t you usual reaction vieson in that they are genuine lovers of music and balance just the right mix of gut-reactions to digging a little deeper to appreciate and find meaning.

Go check up out and subscribe if you dig it.

UPDATE – Also check out their reaction video for Chris Stapleton’s ‘Tennessee Whiskey.’

Wanted! – Notable Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2018

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2017 was another great year for Americana and roots music, and 2018 so far shows no signs that the great music is waning. As our Cream of the Crop favorites from last year makes plain we continue to experience a golden age of roots and Americana music. From Sturgill Simpson winning the Grammy for the best Country album of the Year (for his least country album no less) to the increased numbers of roots artists in media and festival line-ups the genre continues to represent and deliver on great music.

As I’ve said before, this is important not only because as fans, there’s abundant choices for our entertainment but because it continues to lay a foundation for future ‘Cream of the Crop’ recipients.

The list below is a collection of known 2017 notable Americana / roots releases. Some anticipated releases from artists like American Aquarium and Kacey Musgraves have no release dates yet, but when I become aware of them and others I will be updating the list throughout the year. Follow me on Twitter to stay current on changes to the list.

If you know of an actual release not listed yet please leave it in the comments.

One thing is for sure, it’s going to be another great year for roots music folks.

January 12th –
Brooks Dixon – White Roses EP
Ryan Bingham – ‘Live’
Cindy Alexander – ‘Nowhere To Hide’
Seth Lakeman – ‘Ballads Of The Broken Few’
Cassidy Best – ‘Same Old Sins’

January 19th –
First Aid Kit – ‘Ruins’
Lanco – ‘Hallelujah Nights
’
R. Finn (aka Chris Rondinella) – ‘Collecting Trip
Calexico, The Thread That Keeps Us
Steep Canyon Rangers, Out in the Open
Kalie Shorr, Awake EP
Mary Gauthier, Rifles and Rosary Beads
Devin Dawson – ‘Dark Horse’
Caitlyn Smith -‘Starfire’
Van William – ‘Countries’
Alice DiMicele – “One With The Tide”
Grace Basement – ‘Mississippi Nights’
Glen Hansard – ‘Between Two Shores’
John Gorka – ‘True In Time’

January 26th –
The Ben Miller Band – ‘Choke Cherry Tree’
Laura Benitez and The Heartache’s – ‘With All Its Thorns’
Sara Morgan – ‘Average Jane’
The Fugitives – ‘The Promise of Strangers’
Ron Pope – ‘Worktapes EP’

February 2nd –
Mike and the Moonpies – ‘Steak Night at the Prairie Rose’
The Wood Brothers – ‘One Drop of Truth’
John Oates – ‘Arkansas’
Sunny War – ‘With the Sun’

February 9th –
Wade Bowen – ‘Solid Ground
’
Jim White – ‘Waffles, Triangles & Jesus’

February 16th –
Matthew McNeal – ‘Good Luck’
Brandi Carlile – ‘By the Way, I Forgive You’
Courtney Patton – ‘What It’s Like to Fly Alone’
I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan) – ‘See You Around’

February 23rd –
Jeff Hyde – ‘Norman Rockwell World’
3hattrio – ‘Lord of the Desert’
Doby Watson – “Family Mattress Deluxe”

March 2nd –
Vivian Leva – ‘Time is Everything’
Chip Taylor – ‘Fix Your Words’
Haley Heynderickx – ‘I Need To Start A Garden’
Son of the Chief – ‘Needless Road’
Savannah Conley – “Twenty-Twenty.”

March 9th –
Ashley Campbell – ‘The Lonely One’
Ross Cooper – “Another Mile”

March 16th –
Trailhead – “Keep Walking”

March 23rd –
The Price Sisters – ‘A Heart Never Knows’
Paul Thorn – ‘Album Don’t Let The Devil Ride’

March 30th –
Caitlin Canty – ‘Motel Bouquet’
Lindi Ortega -‘Liberty’
Kim Richey – ‘Edgeland’
Ashley McBryde – ‘Girl Going Nowhere’
Great Peacock – ‘Gran Pavo Real’
Sam Morrow – ‘Concrete and Mud’

April 6th –
Blackberry Smoke – ‘Find A Light’
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers – ‘Years’
Jodee Lewis – ‘Buzzard’s Bluff’
Kacey Musgraves – ‘Golden Hour’

April 10th –
Rita Hosking – ‘For Real’

April 13th –
John Prine – ‘Tree of Forgiveness’
Simone Felice – ‘The Projector’

April 20th –
Old Crow Medicine Show – ‘Volunteer’
Joshua Hedley – “Mr. Jukebox”
Charley Crockett – ‘Lonesome As a Shadow’
Ashley Monroe – ‘Sparrow’

April 27th –
Band of Heathens – “Live Via Satellite” On April 27th

May 4th
Scott Mickelson – ‘A Wondrous Life’
Parker Millsap – ‘Other Arrangements’
Trampled by Turtles – ‘Life Is Good On The Open Road’
Daniel Daniel – ‘Lonesome Hollow’
Rita Coolidge – ‘Safe in the Arms of Time’

May 11th
Ry Cooder – ‘The Prodigal Son’

May 18th
Kelly Willis – “Back Being Blue”
The Dead Tongues – ‘Unsung Passage’

June 1st
Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore – “Downey to Lubbock”
American Aquarium – ‘Things Change’

June 8th
Erin Rae – ‘Putting On Airs”

June 22nd
Jeffrey Foucault – ‘ Blood Brothers’
Paul Cauthon – ‘Have Mercy’
Lera Lynn – ‘Plays Well With Others’
Adam Wright – ‘Dust’
Roanoke – ‘Where I Roam’

June 29th
The Milk Carton Kids – ‘All The Things That I Did And All The Things That I Didn’t Do’

July 13th
Carolina Story – ‘Lay Your Head Down’ – buy

July 15th
The Brothers Comatose – ‘Ink, Dust, and Luck’ buy

July 20th
Lori McKenna – “The Tree”

July 27th
Andrew Combs – 5 Covers & A Song’ EP
The Hollow Ends – ‘Bears In Mind’

August 2nd
Kevin Galloway – “The Change”

August 3rd
Jim Lauderdale – ‘Time Flies” and “Jim Lauderdale and Roland White’

August 10th
Dawn Landes – ‘Meet Me at the River’
Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis – ‘Wild! Wild! Wild!’

August 24th
Devil Makes Three – ‘Chains Are Broken’
Ryan Culwell – “The Last American”
Murder By Death – ‘The Other Shore’

August 31st
Aaron Lee Tasjan – ‘Karma for Cheap’ buy

September 7th
Roscoe & Etta – ‘Roscoe & Etta’
Mike Farris – “Silver & Stone”
William Elliott Whitmore – ‘Kilonova’
Kathy Mattea – ‘Pretty Bird’

October 12th
Colter Wall – ‘Songs of the Plains’

October 14th
Asleep at the Wheel – “New Routes”

October 26th
Whitey Morgan and the 78s – ‘Hard Times and White Lines’

Lindi Ortega Overcomes Darkness On Concept LP ‘Liberty,’ Out March 30th

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Lindi Ortega

Canadian roots chanteuse Lindi Ortega has always blazed a unique trail her entire career, and her fifth studio record ‘Liberty’ is no appears to be
no exception. Due out March 30, 2018, Ortega wrote roughly half of the twelve tracks solo, and enlisted co-writers Aaron Raitiere, Bruce Wallace and John Paul White (The Civil Wars) for the rest. The result is a three-part concept album reflecting loss, seance, resurrection, and freedom.

The darkened journey progresses toward light starting with several unsavory characters in “You Ain’t Foolin’ Me” and even a lost love from childhood in “Til My Dyin Day.” Then grief turns to desperation in “Nothing’s Impossible” and “The Comeback Kid.” However, the tides begin to turn on “Darkness Be Done,” and about halfway through, with “Forever Blue,” the character makes a choice to follow the light.

The track “Pablo” is inspired by her new husband, Daniel Huscroft. While they performed as a duo on a series of Chris Stapleton arena dates in Canada, Huscroft wore a poncho and grew a handlebar mustache — a look that led to a new nickname and a song title. ‘Liberty’ concludes with “Gracias a la Vida” from the pen of Chilean composer Violetta Parra. The title translates as “Thank you to Life.”

“Even though I always tried to have a silver lining, whether it’s by making my songs tongue-in-cheek, or writing some dark lyrics to happy music, there’s always been an element of balancing light and dark on my previous albums,” Ortega explains. “But this is a full story, and I want everybody to be able to take something away from it at the end of the day.”

Pre-orders begin on Friday, January 19th.

Lindi Ortega 'Liberty'

‘Liberty’ tracklist:

I. Through The Dust Part I

1. Afraid of the Dark

2. You Ain’t Foolin’ Me

3. Til My Dyin Day

4. Nothings Impossible II. Though The Dust Part II

5. The Comeback Kid

6. Darkness Be Gone

7. Forever Blue

8. In The Clear

9. Pablo

10. Lovers In Love III. Through The Dust Part III

11. Liberty

12. Gracias a la Vida

2018 Lindi Ortega tour dates:
Fri., Jan. 19 / The Basement / Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Sat., Jan. 20 / The Exchange / Regina, SK, Canada
Sun., Feb. 4-Sun., Feb. 11 / Cayamo 2018 / New Orleans, LA, US
Thurs., Feb. 15 / South on Main / Little Rock, AR, US
Fri., Feb. 16 / Knuckleheads Saloon / Kansas City, MO, US
Thurs., Mar. 15 /The Lyric Theatre / Swift Current, SK, Canada
Fri., Mar. 16 / Arden Theatre / St. Albert, AB, Canada
Sat., Mar. 17 / Empress Theatre / Fort Macleod, AB, Canada
Sat., Mar. 24 / The Tractor Tavern / Seattle, WA, US
Sun., Mar. 25 / Mississippi Studios / Portland, OR, US
Thurs., Mar. 29 / Moroccan Lounge / Los Angeles, CA, US
Fri., Mar. 30 / Soda Bar / San Diego, CA, US
Sun., Apr. 1 / Musical Instrument Museum / Phoenix, AZ, US
Tues., Apr. 3 / Stubb’s BBQ – Indoors / Austin, TX, US
Wed., Apr. 4 / Club Dada / Dallas, TX, US
Thurs., Apr. 5/ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck / Houston, TX, US
Thurs., Apr. 12 / Festival Hall / Calgary, AB, Canada
Sat., Apr. 14 / West End Cultural Centre / Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Sun., Apr. 15 / Dakota Jazz Club / Minneapolis, MN, US
Tues., Apr. 17 / Lincoln Hall / Chicago, IL, US
Thurs., Apr. 19 / Old Rock House / St. Louis, MO, US
Fri., Apr. 20 / 3rd & Lindsley / Nashville, TN, US
Sat., Apr. 21 / Eddie’s Attic / Decatur, GA, US
Sun., Apr. 22 / The Evening Muse / Charlotte, NC, US
Tues., Apr. 24 / Union Stage / Washington DC, US
Wed., Apr. 25 / Rams Head On Stage / Annapolis, MD, US
Thurs., Apr. 26 Mercury Lounge / New York, NY, US
Fri., May 4 / L’Escogriffe / Montreal, QC, Canada
Sat., May 5 / The 27 Club / Ottawa, ON, Canada
Sun., May 6 / Neat Coffee Shop / Burnstown, ON, Canada
Mon., May 7 / Centre in the Square / Kitchener, ON, Canada
Wed., May 9 / Mod Club Theatre / Toronto, ON, Canada
Thurs., May 10 / Aeolian Hall / London, ON, Canada
Fri., May 11 / Mills Hardware / Hamilton, ON, Canada
Sat., May 12 / Queen’s Grad Club / Kingston, ON, Canada

Kacey Musgraves Teases 2018 Album ‘Golden Hour’

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Kacey Musgraves On Jimmy Fallon's “Tonight Show”

Entertainment Weekly reports that neo-trad singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves will release a spanking new album in “early 2018.” Reportedly entitled ‘Golden Hour’ this will be the Texas-native’s third LP of original material and a follow-up to 2015’s Pageant Material.

Reportedly ‘Golden Hour’ was ‘musically influenced by everything from Sade to Neil Young’ as well as Musgraves’ newlywed status with singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly and specifically deals with the ‘different masks one uses to represent oneself.’

“None of the masks are solely us, but they’re all us,” she tells EW. “On this record, there’s the lonely girl, the blissful girl, the new wife, the girl that’s missing her mom, the angry girl, the sarcastic girl, the Sixties-sequined Cruella de Vil with the beehive, the shy girl, the life of the party, the winner, the loser – they’re all characters on this record. None of them alone are me, but the golden hour is when they all come together and you see me as a whole.”

Musgraves is not detailing the proper release date or song titles, but she did work with frequent collaborators Shane McAnally, Luke Laird and Natalie Hemby on the project. She also notes that she’ll be including a new song she’s been performing live for fans, but doesn’t share the title, which may or may not be the unreleased tune “Butterflies” (hear it below) she’s performed at many of her 2017 shows.

News of a new album only adds to what appears to be another great year for Musgraves as she continues to build out her career. Starting in February she’ll join Little Big Town and Midland on The Breakers Tour, running through May. Followed up by a June, run with with Harry Styles solo arena tour of the United States.