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Month: September 2008

Willie Nelson in Saratoga , CA.

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It was quite a treat for me to see Willie Nelson perform under the Saratoga stars the other night. The Texas Yoda and “the family” played the beautiful Mountain Winery to an a rousingly adoring crowd.  At one point he traded his signature red bandanna for heavy worn and button adorned straw cowboy hat that an elderly gentleman on crutches offered at the foot of the stage.  I can now claim to have seen Willie on all three coasts (Texas, New York and California)!

The fine folks at the 9513 brought my attention to a great piece by Chris Willman, author of the excellent book Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music, on the use of the formally exclusive use of Brooks & Dunn’s “Only In America” by the Democrats to cap Obama’s speech at the Democratic convention. Whatever your political stripe, it’s interesting to watch all parties vie for the cultural pulse and show love for the Twang.

Rosie Flores “The Rockabilly Filly” turns 58 years young and will be celebrating this Wednesday, Sept 10th at Antone’s in Austin. Playing the celebration will be the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash (8:00) James Intveld (9:00) the lady Rosie Flores herself (10:00) and Two Hoots and a Holler (11:00). Doors open at 7:00

Justin Townes Earle’s excellent release “The Good Life” is available today a vinyl limited edition of 1000 from Bloodshot Records.

Charlie Louvin Redies New Releases, Adds Tour dates Dates with Levon Helm and the Old 97’s.

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Country Music Hall of Famer and half of the legendary country duo The Louvin Brothers,  Charlie Louvin will release two new albums on New York City’s Tompkins Square label.

Steps to Heaven, due September 16th, 2008, features ten traditional gospel classics including two Louvin Brothers songs. The release will be followed by Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, out December 9, 2008. Both albums were produced, recorded and mixed by Mark Nevers (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Andrew Bird, Bobby Bare Sr.)

Charlie Louvin’s upcoming tour dates:

Sept 16th – Grand Ole Opry
Sept 19th – Grimey’s in store 5:30 during AMA convention
Oct 14 – Lucinda Williams album released w/ Charlie guesting
Oct 25th – Woodstock NY Levon Helm’s Ramble

***On tour with Old 97’s – October 1-12
Oct 1 Athens GA Georgia Theater
Oct 2 Knoxville TN Bijou Theater
Oct 3 Carrboro NC Cat’s Cradle
Oct 4 Lancaster PA Chameleon Club
Oct 5 Boston MA Wilbur Theatre
Oct 6 S. Burlington VT Higher Ground
Oct 8 Buffalo NY Town Ballroom
Oct 9 Pittsburgh PA Diesel
Oct 10 Cleveland OH Beachland Ballroom
Oct 11 Detroit St. Andrews Hall
Oct 12 Newport KY Southgate House

Charlie Louvin – “Ira”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIT0Xe1qaoI[/youtube]

Ladies and Gentlemen…Ms. Rachel Brooke

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You can keep your Carrie Underwoods, your Taylor Swifts, your Jewels and your Jessica Simpsons…I’ll take a beer and another song by Michigan’s Rachel Brooke.

Rachelle Brooke Covering Hank William’s Old Log Train

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3YNlIVxwWk[/youtube]

Musician, Actor Jerry Reed Dead at 71

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One of country music’s leading class clowns (reviled only by Roger Miller) and guitar greats has died.

The Tennessean writes: Jerry Reed, country music’s howling virtuoso and a star of stage, studio and screen, has died. Born Jerry Reed Hubbard, Mr. Reed suffered from emphysema and was in hospice care. He was 71, and he leaves an unparalleled legacy of laughter and song.

By the time Mr. Reed came to popular attention as Burt Reynolds’ truck-driving sidekick “The Snowman” in the Hollywood trilogy Smokey and the Bandit, he was already a musical deity to the guitar players who admired the syncopated flurries he unleashed with a casual gleam. He was also a hit recording artist by that time, having topped the charts with “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” and “Lord, Mr. Ford,’ and having written songs for Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, Brenda Lee and others. Then there was his work as session guitarist for Presley, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare and many others.

Jerry Reed And Chet Atkins – “Jerry’s Breakdown”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8KBhnebwE[/youtube]

Steve Martin Readies Bluegrass Release

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The Blugrass Blog reports that comedian, actor, author and banjo player Steve Martin was preparing to record an album of serious banjo music.

TBB reports: The recording has been completed, produced by fellow banjo man John McCuen, with assistance from Tony Trischka and Pete Wernick. Helping out in the studio were Russ Barenberg on guitar, Matt Flinner on mandolin and Brittany Haas on fiddle, among others. New Martin compositions are the focus, performed in both 3 finger and clawhammer styles.

Earl Scruggs & Steve Martin – Foggy Mountain Breakdown

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icMTVV5Lwaw[/youtube]