Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers Play New York

I just noticed this in the Villiage Voice so I thought I would get it out here in case there are some fans out there in the New York area that might have missed Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers playing the area otherwise. If you’ve never seen the Shakers go! It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen!

Catch ’em here:

Fri 3/23/07 Asbury Lanes Asbury Park, NJ (the cool poster to the left is for this show)
Sat 3/24/07 Southpaw Brooklyn, NY

James McMurtry Inducted into the Austin Chronicle Music Poll Hall of Fame

Recipient of Americana Music Association’s Album of the Year (Childish Things) and Song of the Year (“We Can’t Make it Here”), Rabble-Rowser, Working Class Hero…and now James McMurtry can now add “Hall of Fame Inductee” to his ever-growing list of accolades

The South By Southwest was kicked off at the Austin Music Awards this past Wednesday, March 14th, James McMurtry was inducted into the Austin Chronicle Music Poll Hall of Fame.  McMurtry was inducted along with Paul Ray (of the Cobras), Lucinda Williams, Scratch Acid, Patrice Pike, DJ Casanova, Blues Boy Hubbard and Ernie Mae Miller. Past inductees include Stephen Bruton, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, Gurf Morlix, and Doug Sahm.

Steve’s Boy – Justin Townes Earle

Steve Earle’s oldest son from his third marriage, Justin Townes Earle, has been earning his chops as a member of a couple of local Nashville bands and has self-released his first six song EP “Yuma.”

With his dad’s legacy and a middle name like his he’s bound to have a hell of a hill to climb but with his smooth, weary voice and storteller style I’d say he’s off to a fine start of carving out a place in musical history all his own.

Lucinda Williams – 3/10 – Dallas

The Dallas Morning News has a fine write up on the Lucinda Williams show at the legendary Granada Theatre.

With a new album – West – barely a month old, it’s natural to expect a lot of newly-minted songs, and Ms. Williams didn’t  disappoint. The title track, “Words,” and especially “Rescue” – about the inability of redemption to come from anyplace other than within – revealed that her songwriting skills are as sharp as ever. 

MySpace Showcase – Lone Pine

Yeah, the Tuesday is gone grom this feature. The pressure of unearthign a band from MySpace on the same day week after week was just too much pressure and my health began to fail. REALLY! Anyhoo….

Souding like a mix of The Band’s groove, Whiskeytown’s fire with a dash of Lucero’s heartachy vocals you could do no better then to give a listen to Lone Pine.

Hailing from Cardiff, Wales, U.K., these boys (Dan Catherall – Guitars, Lead Vocals. Steve Honeywill – Guitars, Lapsteel, Vocals. Dan Holloway – Bass, Harmonica, Vocals. Sancho Panza – Drums, Percussion) know a smooth melody when they see one and can rave it up on a dime. Lone Pine are currently recording tracks for their debut full-length with producer Charlie Francis (REM, Robyn Hitchcock, Minus 5 and Wilco). Victoria Williams (who has worked with Lou Reed, Neil Young etc) has already put down vocal tracks on two of the considered songs. Tang says check ’em out.

Money and Faith (mp3) 

Official Site 

Steve Earle – 3/13 – New York City

About four days ago I was flipping through the Village Voice to see what shows were coming up. I was zipping through the club listings and stopped when I thought I saw a picture of Steve Earle gazing out at me. Sureenough , there it was. Steve Earle at the Blue Note. “Nah, that can’t be” I thought. The legendary Blue Note is better known for it’s improvisational jazz greats like Miles Davis and John Coltrane rather then hillbilly showcases but there it was on the Blue Note website, a two-night four show stint with opener (and 6th spouse, seventh marriage) Allison Moorer.

The 8:30 show was optimal for me but of course already sold out. I posted to Craig’s List pleading for a single ticket but it’s such a small venue I knew the odds were against me. Then something random and fantastic happened. Out of the blue my buddy Jim hooked me up to a with a reserved table seat right near the stage. Damn near enough to make me a believer. Allison Moorer opened and was funny, gracious and gorgeous. Her voice was warm and crystal clear. She performed the amazing”A Soft Place To Fall” and a few songs off her new CD, Getting Somewhere, New Years Day and and the title track.

After a brief break the man himself full-bearded and be-speckled ambled through the tight-packed and onto the tiny stage. He breaks into signature song “Hard Core Troubadour” and moved right into “More Than I Can Do” from 1996’s I Feel Alright. Wailing on the harmonica that would periodically pluck hairs from his face (Earle mentioned that he couldn’t shave due to a part he was playing on HBO’s the Wire that wasn’t finished filming.) “That’s why Dylan’s beard always looked so straggly.” he joked.

The polite crowd adored the man as he plowed through the Mountain, a song dedicated to miners digging for coal and risking thier lives and classics like Rich Man’s War and Jerusalem which he introduced as a song of innocence.

I’ve always said that “Americana” is country music for Liberals (I mean that in a good way). Of course Earle embodies this and had a few choice words about the Bush administration. As far as musicians commenting on politics, Earle has always struck me as a guy that really does his homework. He also commented on Greenwich village where the Blue Note is located and near where Earle and Moorer have set up house. “I buy light bulbs right next door.” He laughed.

The encore was the song that broke Earle to the word “Copperhead Road” and he rocked it up as well as an acoustic guitar can.

As much as a love seeing Steve Earle in New York City he always seems like a fish out of water. Like an oddity, a Texas commie to be observed and entertained by. As a liberal Texan I think it’s a bit a bit sad he felt he had to move so far form home to be content. Though the City may align with his progressive sensibilities there something too genteel for his shows. Too accommodating, too polite for what was taking place on stage. I saw Earle a few times in Dallas and the shows where more powerful, more electric. I think I prefer to see him in a more rowdy environment that a rooom full of hillbillies (Earle included) can conjure.

MySpace Showcase – The Sundogs

The Sundogs are a 4 piece band from Atlanta GA. brings to mind what the Sticky Fingers era Stones might have sounded like if The Band’s Garth Huson had sat in on keyboards. The three singers and songwriters– brothers Lee and Will Haraway along with lead guitarist Matt Ulmer– have a boozy-soul infused swagger that makes them a damn fine listen. Check ’em out.

Willie Nelson Forms Pedernales Records

From Country Standard Time – Willie Nelson will announce the formation of Pedernales Records at a press conference during the annual South By Southwest Music & Media Conference, his publicist said Monday. Nelson will introduce his company, top executives and the first artists signed to the independent label.It was not clear if Nelson would be on the label himself. He currently is signed to Lost Highway Records and had Kenny Chesney produce an upcoming album this winter.

Pedernales Records takes its name from the river that flows by Nelson’s home and headquarters outside of Austin, where he also owns Pedernales Country Club and founded Pedernales Studios (now owned by his nephew Freddy Fletcher), where Nelson has recorded as well.

Jay Farrar – New York Time Interview

The New York Time has a interview video posted featuring Jay Farrar. Jay discusses the newly released Son Volt album, “The Search,” his relationship with ex-Uncle Tupelo bandmate Jeff Tweedy and magic of alternate guitar tunings. I still haven’t made myself listen to all of “The Search,” the whole “getting away from the alt.country” sound thing surrounding the release has me a bit spooked.

Compadre Records Bought by Beyonce’s Dad

I have no idea whayt this means for the future of Compadre – home of Billy Joe Shaver and James McMurtry – I just hope it doesn’t start to blow. – From Country Standard Time – Tuesday, February 27, 2007 – Compadre Records, the Houston roots music label, was bought by Music World Entertainment, owned by Mathew Knowles, father of Beyonce. MWE will now control Compadre’s catalog and continue to invest in future projects. Compadre’s staff will join the Music World organization to continue label functions as a roots music imprint.