Author Archives: Baron Lane

The Drive-By Truckers To Release New Album ‘American Band’ This Fall, Premiers Single

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Drive-By Truckers

Drive-By Truckers have always been a band that defies convention. Their new cut, “Surrender Under Protest” from their 11th studio release ‘American Band’ (ATO Records), proves that their not about to soften anytime soon.

The Georgia-by-way-of-Alabama band has had a revolving number of extraordinary personal over their 20 years. Through it all main songwriters Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley have held mirrors to Southern life in ways that asks narrative questions while also honoring stylistic traditions.

“Surrender Under Protest” is a Cooley-penned first single from the record. A blast of guitar intros a song for these times, bracing in it’s directness confronting our growing cultural divisions.

Or as Hood describes the approach to ‘American Band’ : “This time out, there are no such (narrative) diversions as these songs are mostly set front and center in the current political arena with songs dealing with our racial and cultural divisions, gun violence, mass shootings and political assholery. Once again, there is a nearly even split between the songs of Cooley and myself, with both of us bringing in songs that seem to almost imply a conversation between us about our current place in time.

“American Band” is a rock and roll call to arms as well as a musical reset button for our band and the country we live in. Most of all, we look at it as the beginnings of some conversations that we, as a people very much need to begin having if we ever hope to break through the divisions that are threatening to tear us apart.”

The motivation to make music that matters is a natural one in roots-leaning music. But not everyone can strike a Woody Guthrie tone. There’s a risk of partisan platitudes ( think “Jerusalem ” era Steve Earle) instead of populist poetry ( think pre- ‘Jerusalem’ era Steve Earle.)  it’s a  subtle balance the “Surrender Under Protest” struggles to maintain.

“American Band” not only marks a change in tone for the The Drive-By Truckers. The band is using a photograph for the cover, an American flag at half-staff, instead of an illustration (mostly handled by the Southern-Gothic imagery of Wes Freed.)
The Drive-By Truckers premiered the new single with NPR.

‘American Band’ pre-order options are here Listen to “Surrender Under Protest” and check out the band’s upcoming tour dates are listed below.

Drive-By Truckers Tour Dates:

July
13 — New York, N.Y. @ Lowdown Hudson Music Fest
17 — Alta, Wyo. @ Grand Targhee Festival

August
20 — Morrison, Colo. @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
27 — Lexington, Ky. @ MoonTower Music Fest

September
16 — Toronto, Ontario @ TURF 2016
17 — Fredericton, Neb. @Canada Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival
23 — Kansas City, Mont. @ Crossroads
24 — Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
25 — Sioux Falls, S.D. @ The District
28 — Missoula, Mont. @ The Wilma
29 — Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox at the Market
30 — Portland, Ore. @ Wonder Ballroom

October
1 — Portland Ore. @ Wonder Ballroom
2 — Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rickshaw Theater
5 — Sacramento, Calif. @ Ace of Spades
6-7 — San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
8 — Lake Tahoe, Nev. @ Montbleau Resort Casino
11-12 — Los Angeles Calif. @ Teragram Ballroom
13 — Solana Beach, Calif. @ Belly Up Tavern
14 — San Luis Obispo, Calif. @ The Fremont
15 — Scottsdale, Ariz. @ Livewire

Americana Music Association and Record Store Day Announce AMERICANA MUSIC MONTH

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AMERICANA MUSIC MONTH

Record Store Day always offers great limited edition Americana/folk/country/Bluegrass as well as other genres, but now it seems that June is all about the twang.

The good folks at Nashville-based Americana Music Association and Record Store Day have joined forces to make June AMERICANA MUSIC MONTH. More than 100 independent record stores are participating throughout the month providing free music samplers, special deals on new and classic Americana albums, and special in-store performances all month long.

Check the RSD site for participating indy record stores and chaeck back for more information.

Third Man Records to Release Dwight Yoakam Blue Series “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day”

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Dwight Yoakam "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day"

It looks like Third Man Records will continue further down the Lost Highway they began earlier this year with the release of Margo Price’s breakout debut ‘Midwest Farmer’s Daughter’ with a release from a true country music icon – Dwight Yoakam.

As part of their next Blue Series the Nashville-based label/shop/live music venue will feature a true country music icon , Dwight Yoakam. Yoakam stopped by the studio with Jack White to record songs by one of Yoakam’s biggest non-country influences – “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day” (Boyce/Venet, popularized by The Monkees, as well as the flip-side “High On The Mountain of Love” written by Harold Dorman, popularized by Kenny Lynch, Charley Pride, Johnny Rivers, the Beach Boys and others.

“Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day” will be released June 10th on 7” vinyl and digitally on itunes.

Hear samples below and pre-order here.

Watch Out! Robert Ellis – “How I Love You” [VIDEO]

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Robert Ellis - "How I Love You"

Texas folk/country singer travels the big lonely in his new video “How I Love You.”

The track is from Ellis’ forthcoming self-titled LP, drums shuffle over a swelling piano with condensed electric guitar squeezing out sadness that fills the abandoned city Ellis traverses with dread and glimpses of hope embodied by a woman from the past? The future?

Ellis tells Consequence Of Sound – “Cullen (Kelly – the video’s diector) came to me with the concept of shooting a video in a major metropolitan area and making it feel completely empty,” Ellis explains to Consequence of Sound. “I think the city is the third character in this video. The idea is that falling in love has the power to bring a whole world into existence that wasn’t there before.”

“How I Love You” was penned by Delta Spirit frontman, Matthew Logan Vasquez anad can be found on Robert Ellis’ eponymous new release, out June 3rd via New West Records. Pre-order here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGtUMfI_1N0

Jaason Isbell Leads Americana Music Award Nominees

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Americana Music Award Nominees
(L-R) Ethan Jodziewicz, Sierra Hull, Kenneth Pattengale, Lucinda Williams, Joey Ryan, Margo Price, Jed Hilly.
Photo by Sarah Como

The nominees for the 15th annual Americana Music Awards and Honors was announced yesterday from the historic Mansion on O Street in Washington, D.C. Aside from the odd elitism that an event from a ballroom of the luxury hotel symbolizes (the Mansion? I wonder if it’s on a hill?) it was an entertaining and fun event.

The event was streamed via Facebook’s new ‘Live’ feature exclusively through NPR Music’s Facebook page. The Milk Carton Kids — Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan – were their usual droll elves. Ryan once making he connection between the event’s DC location and his vow to “Make Americana great again.” While donning a bright red cap emblazoned with that motto. It was huuuuuge.

Stellar performances by Lucinda Williams, Margo Price and Sierra Hull (who should be a nominee next year) with Ethan Jodziewicz put the spotlight on the purpose of the event – exceptional music by extraordinary musicians.

Alabama troubadour Jason Isbell continues his much-deserved success by leading the nominees with 3 nods for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Lucinda Williams, Chris Stapleton and newcomer Margo Price each nominated for two apiece. Mainstream country crossover is reflected not only by Stapleton but also by Texan Kacey Musgraves

The 2016 Americana Music Association Festival and Conference is scheduled for September 20-25, with the awards ceremony being held at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, September 21. Americana Music Association honors additional distinguished members of the music community with Lifetime Achievement Awards, which will be announced leading up to the event.

Jim Lauderdale is a natural as the proceedings host and Buddy Miller fronts the always exemplary house band.

Can’t make to to the event? Understandable, as it has sold out in recent years. But do not despair, the Americana Honors and Awards show will shown live on AXS TV and an edited version will show up on PBS at a later date. It will also be broadcast via SiriusXM Radio, BBC2, WSM and Voice of America.

South Carolina newcomers Shovels and Rope will lead the field with four nominations, followed by legendary Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller each with three nods. I’m happy to report that a few of my choices made it on the list this year(Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison, YES!) and John Fullbright is up for Emerging Artist of the Year. Well if being nominated for the Americana Album of the year Grammy, as Fullbright was before losing to Bonnie Raitt, isn’t emerging the I don’t know what is. Dwight Yoakam’s dominance of the Americana charts earlier this year with his new release Three Pears (my review) also garnered him an Artist of the Year nod.

Here is the full list of the 2013 Americana Music Award nominees. Are your choices here?

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Something More Than Free – Jason Isbell
The Ghosts of Highway 20 – Lucinda Williams
The Very Last Day – Parker Millsap
Traveller – Chris Stapleton

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Isbell
Bonnie Raitt
Chris Stapleton
Lucinda Williams

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Leon Bridges
John Moreland
Margo Price
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

SONG OF THE YEAR
“24 Frames” Jason Isbell
“Dime Store Cowgirl” Kacey Musgraves
“Hands Of Time” Margo Price
“S.O.B.” Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alabama Shakes
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Lake Street Dive
The Milk Carton Kids
Tedeschi Trucks Band

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Cindy Cashdollar
Stuart Duncan
Jedd Hughes
Sara Watkins

Watch Out! Dixie Chicks Cover Beyoncé “Daddy Lessons” – Manchester, UK 2016

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Dixie Chicks - Beyoncé cover "Daddy Lessons" - U.K. 2016

Much fuss has been made about Beyoncé new release; Lemonade. My social feeds and phone texts have called my attention to one particular cut off the album, “Daddy’s Lessons,” a rootsy number detailing learnings of self-defense and pride any Texan will recognize.

The Dixie Chicks on their current DCX MMXVI tour showed their love for the fellow Texan by wonderfully covering the song live in Manchester, England on April 39th.

The Chicks stayed true to the original adding their beautiful harmonies and making it even more rootsy.

“It painted a country picture in our minds,” Kevin Cossum, the song’s co-writer told Billboard. “It sounded tough. ‘So my daddy said shoot.’ You see the whiskey on the table. You see the rifle. It just had that feel to it. It didn’t take the hip-hop element to make it tough, which I think is very cool especially for Beyonce. And it goes with her being from Texas. Her vibe to it just makes sense for how it all came together.”

The song is motivated by Beyonce’s childhood roots in Texas and the lessons she learned from her father, Matthew Knowles, who has been a driving force not just in Beyonce’s life but in her career—he managed her from the Girls Tyme days through Destiny’s Child and through her early solo career. However, Beyonce fired her father as her manager in March 2011.

Watch the performance below:

John Paul White Books Select Solo Dates This Summer To Debut New Material

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John Paul White has been keeping busy. Post Civil Wars split he founded the Florence, AL based indie label Single Lock Records and Single Lock Records’ live music venue 116 E. Mobile with Ben Tanner from Alabama Shakes and Will Trapp. The label that has released the acclaimed debut of St. Paul And The Broken Bones, Penny & Sparrow’s Let A Lover Drown You—which White produced —as well as albums by artists including Belle Adair, The Bear, and Donnie Fritts’ Oh My Goodness.  White has also been  collaborating with noted performers  like Jason Isbell, Candi Staton, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell.

Except for his recent addition of the elegantly aching ‘Simple Song’ on Dave Cobb’s ‘Southern Family’ his solo performances of his own compositions have been scarce. Well, no longer!

John Paul White will embark on a series of select performances this summer, including dates at Brooklyn’s National Sawdust, Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live, and Louisville’s Zanzabar, with support from Secret Sisters. The tour will feature new material White has been readying over the past year.

For tickets and more information visit www.singlelock.com.
John Paul White Dates
June 13 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic*

June 14 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle – Back Room*

June 16 Charlottesville, VA The Southern Cafe and Music Hall*

June 17 Arlington, VA IOTA Club & Cafe*

June 21 Brooklyn, NY National Sawdust*

June 22 Boston, MA Berklee College of Music: The Red Room @ Cafe 939*

June 23 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs*

June 25 Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe*

June 26 Louisville, KY Zanzabar*

*with Secret Sisters

Americana Honors Prince

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Dixie Chicks - 'Nothing Compares 2 U'

“A strong spirit transcends rules.” Prince

Prince not only appeared to transcended mortality he transcended genre. So it’s not surprising that songwriters and musicians across styles took his sudden death as a call to perform reverent Prince covers to fill the void.

Roots music is no different. Though his music superficially differed from Americana and country music they saw in Prince a prolific songwriters and accomplished musician who’s entire being was defined by his art. Prince created music just as readily as the music created him. They were indistinguishable from each other.

Below I’ve collected a few live tributes in the aftermath as well as Cory Branan and Lydia Loveless superb Record Store Day 2015 purple vinyl split 7″. All are wonderful and you can feel the bittersweet joy in remembrance.

Also a video of Prince doing a Stones classic, because it’s awesome.

Bruce Springsteen – ‘Purple Rain’ – Multicam mix – Brooklyn – New York – http://youtu.be/ifNyqjHHCGw

Chris Stapleton – ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA – http://youtu.be/dV_Wp4vVlB8

The Dixie Chicks – ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – Horsens Denmark – http://youtu.be/sHBFMjH9NFA

Avett Brothers “Pretty Girl From Annapolis w/ When Doves Cry Interlude” Chicago Theatre – http://youtu.be/DjgHfAtwMsg

Mumford & Sons – ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – St. Paul, MN – http://youtu.be/ay0edC0lOh4

Old Crow Medicine Show w/ Margo Price – Purple Rain – Huntsville, AL – http://youtu.be/B1JCj5EWvP4

Cory Branan – “Under the Cherry Moon” – http://youtu.be/zVtSiXiQRE4

Lydia Loveless – “I Would Die 4 U” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvYjXEiXujo

Prince – “Honky Tonk Woman” – http://youtu.be/MpHtwa8YGBU

Sturgill Simpson and Stephen Colbert Debuts Waffle House song, “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Knuckleheads.”

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Sturgill Simpson and Stephen Debuts Waffle House song, "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Knuckleheads."

Last night on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Stephen welcomed “Country star” Sturgill Simpson as his music guest. Much like the bit he did recently with Jason Isbell Colbert used the occasion to send up a bit of southern culture as he and Sturgill pitched an original song for Waffle House, or as Sturgill refers to it “The Awful Waffle,” to include in their jukebox. The twangy cut is titled “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Knuckleheads,” and after they sing it, Colbert points to the camera and says, “Waffle House, do the right thing.”

Sturgill later performed a rousing “Brace for Impact (Live a Little)” from his new album ‘A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.’

Watch it all below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz7cBnlhhG4