Twang Nation – The Best In Americana Music
Americana & Roots Music & Culture
Get your Southern gritty groove on (by way of Oregon) with this new video for Root Jack’s “Dead Man’s Hand” from their upcoming “Oasis Motel.”
The band says that the video is a “…DIY affair. Using a single light bulb, an old sheet, and some public domain video.” The “video-ographer” was 16 year-old Max Vegas.
Look for “Oasis Motel” soon at rootjack.us
T Bone Burnett is launching a new label, but if recent views still stand he won’t be promoting it.
Variety reports that roots-music auteur T Bone Burnett will launch a new music label , Electromagnetic Recordings, with Capitol Music Group. The label’s roster includes Gregg Allman and Jerry Lee Lewis.
It’s not surprising, given Burnett’s adversity aversion to technology, that the label appears to have no web presence and that the promotion appears to be handled by other rather than Burnett himself, except for being available for interviews. Is that promotion? (I say yes!)
“T Bone is quite simply one of culture’s most creative forces,†says Steve Barnett, CEO of Capitol Music Group. “He is an influential curator and tastemaker, and his projects are consistently of stellar quality and integrity.â€
Burnett shares the admiration “Steve Barnett is a very interesting, energized, smart executive,†Burnett says. “(He) actually listens to, and believes in music as a force for good in the world. He has given me a base for which I can invest in some very good young artists. We’ll be doing films, television, records and tours. It is about music. The marketing focus is simple: it is music for people who like music. It’s all going to be good and it’s all going to be done analog. This is one of our things.â€
Burnett has been in constant demand (in spite of a profession of no self-promotion) He recently lent his executive music producer and composer duties for his fourth film collaboration with Joel and Ethan Coen, “Inside Llewyn Davis,†and last year, did the same for “The Hunger Games†and ABC’s “Nashville.â€
Burnett has also taken on another music exec producer role for HBO’s forthcoming “True Detective†series starring Matthew McConaughey, and has begun working on “The Basement Tapes … Continued,†an album and film documentary that will revisit 16 previously lost Bob Dylan lyric sheets from 1967. Dylan will be involved and as well as some of today’s most acclaimed artists.
Jason Isbell will make his Austin City Limits debut this Saturday, January 11th on PBS. Here’s a taste of the performance, Isbell plays “Cover Me Up” from his latest excellent release “Southeastern.”
Check your local PBS listings for dates and times in your area.
The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards draws nigh. That famous night that the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences put on the most glitzy industry trade show. Though Americana and roots music comes to mind when you think of the GRAMMYs but there have been some great moments if you were paying attention.
Here are a few of my favorite GRAMMY moments over the years. Leave your in the comments, I’d love to hear about them.
Boston-based folk-pop performer Linda Chorney does the seemingly impossible and snags a 2011 nomination for the GRAMMY for Americana Album of the Year by employing elbow grease, sleepless nights and the Internet. This sets social media tongues wagging and puts PR pros and other music industry gatekeepers on their heels.
Extraordinary newcomer John Fullbright was nominated for a 2012 Americana Album of the Year GRAMMY for his debut studio full-length “From The Ground Up.†After his passionate performance of “Gawd Above” he lost out to the legendary Bonnie Raitt. Afterwords he said with a smile “If I’m going to lose Bonnie Raitt is the one I want to lose to.”
HD John Fullbright performance 2013 Grammys by dm_51188e7423dd3
It appeared to be just a jam between two great roots acts, Mumford & Sons and The Avett Brothers. The ands joined together and the true intension was revealed as they backed Bob Dylan on “Maggie’s Farm” at the 2011 GRAMMYS.
https://vimeo.com/20567315
In a heartfelt 2012 GRAMMY tribute in honor of Levon Helm and the victims of Sandy Hook shooting Elton John, Mumford & Sons, Mavis Staples, Zac Brown , Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard and T Bone Burnett came together for a passionate rendition of The Band’s ” classic ” The Weight.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yunfRRZXRuc
After years of lingering in a career slump Johnny Cash scores the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1995 giving the latter part of Cash’s career much deserved attention and a spirit of vitality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuRYmUBUwCo
This bonus moment goes out to Arlene – “O Brother Where Art Thou” Grammy Performance (2002)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-C_HVoiJpY
Great music appears to transcend genre. Talking Heads might have been rooted in the 70’s New York Punk Rock movement but it was quickly apparent Byrne and Co. where a different animal altogether.
Art rock, pop, Afrobeat influences elevated their music far above many of their peers leading to many influential classics in spite of a lack of few actual “hits.”
Here are a few clips of roots performers reinterpreting and paying tribute to The Talking Heads.
Shawn Colvin – “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)”
Bonnie Raitt – Burning Down The House
Greensky Bluegrass -“Road To Nowhere”
The Lumineers – ‘This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)’
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – “Psycho Killer”
Josh Ritter – Harrisburg/Once in a Lifetime
Yonder Mountain String Band – “GirlFriend is Better”
David Byrne & Richard Thompson – “The Big Country”
Growing up in North Texas you’re surrounded by two kinds of music, country and metal.
I’m still a fan of both and judging by the videos below I’m not the only one. These performers don’t have that ironic “I bought a Sabbath shirt at Hot Topic” crap, but appear to really be celebrating the unity of great music.
Drive-By Truckers – “Strutter” (Kiss)
Lucinda Williams – “It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock & Roll)” (AC/DC)
Ryan Adams – “Wasted Years” (Iron Maiden)
Hymn For Her – “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” (Led Zeppelin)
Cyril Neville – “Working Man” (Rush)
and for fun….
The Avett Brothers Sing Heavy Metal 9/30/2013… by screeps
Step right up ladies and gents. What you have before you is the latest Twang Nation podcast with the latest and best of Americana and roots cuts.
It’s also the last podcast of 2013 and the last to be done exclusively in San Francisco. Number 18 will be a cross-country effort.
This episode has some gems from the ending year by an unlikely and excellent collaboration of Norah Jones and Billy Joe Armstrong doing Everly Brothers covers. There is also new cuts from Doug Balmain and Ocean Carolina.
There are also some choice cuts from upcoming releases by Jason Eady, Jimbo Mathus and a new live cut from the upcoming reissue of Lucinda Williams’ self-titled 1988 album.
I hope you like this episode of the Twang Nation Podcast. if you do tell a friend and let me know here at my site, Google+, Twitter or my Facebook.
Happy holidays and thanks to all of you for supporting great music! Remember band shirts and show tickets to shows make great gifts.
Dale Watson – A Real Country Song
1. Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong – Song: “Long Time Gone ” – album: “Foreverly†Out now on Reprise Records
2. Doug Balmain – Song: “I’ll Lay Down in the Rain ” – album: “Troubled Mind†Out now Released Independently
3. Amy Black – Song: “Layin It Down ” – album: “This Is Home†Out now Released Independently
4. Grace & Tony – Song: “Layin It Down ” – album: “November †Out now via Rock Ridge Music
5. Jason Eady – Song: “OK Whiskey” – album: ‘Daylight And Dark’ Out Jan 21
6. Lori McKenna – Song: “Take Me With You When You Go” – album: Massachusetts on 1-2-3-4-go records – out now
7. Ocean Carolina – Song: “Women and Wine” – album: “All The Way Home” Old Hand Records 1/14/14
8. Star Anna – Song: “Mean Kind of Love ” – album: “Go To Hell” Spark & Shine out now
9. Jimbo Mathus – Song: “Hawkeye Jordan†– album: “Dark Night of the Soul” Fat Possum Records out February 15.
10. Lucinda Williams – Song: “Something About What Happens When We Talk (Live at KCRW) ” – album: “Lucinda Williams,” to be released on January 14
Country-punk angel Lydia Loveless will follow up last month’s Boy Crazy EP with a proper 10-song fill-length release ‘Somewhere Else” on Bloodshot Records on February 18,
The Columbus, Ohio native 2011 album “Indestructible Machine” set a bar bar that ‘To Love Somebody,” the first track released off the new album, clears and then some. A whip-smart pop pace sets the pace to pine for a certain somebody with a longing that Loveless’ voice openly expresses.
Pre-order Somewhere Else and check the track list and upcoming tour dates below.
Somewhere Else track list:
1. “Really Wanna See You”
2. “Wine Lips”
3. “Chris Isaak”
4. “To Love Somebody”
5. “Hurts So Bad”
6. “Head”
7. “Verlaine Shot Rimbaud”
8. “Somewhere Else”
9. “Everything’s Gone”
10. “They Don’t Know”
Lydia Loveless tour dates:
February 26 – Auburn Hills, MI @ Callahan’s Music Hall
February 27 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
February 28 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House
March 01 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
March 05 – St Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
March 06 – Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar
March 07 – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
March 08 – Tulsa, OK @ Mercury Lounge
March 20 – San Diego, CA @ Seven Grand
March 22 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Fairgrounds
March 25 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Hideaway
March 26 – Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar
March 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside
March 29 – Mammoth, CA @ Underground Lounge
The National Academy of Recording Arts and Science held their big to-do to announce a few of the nominees for the next round of the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The choices in the Americana and roots categories again display an appreciation of some of the veterans of the genre and the roots they represent.
Collaborations reigned in the Best Americana Album category. Emmylou Harris may add another trophy to the 12 GRAMMYS she a lead has on her mantel with “Old Yellow Moon,” her duet collaboration Hot Band guitarist and legendary singer-songwriter , Rodney Crowell. Steve Martin & Edie Brickell are nominated for “Love Has Come For You,†their first joint effort and Americana stalwarts Buddy Miller And Jim Lauderdale are up for their “Buddy And Jim.†Mavis Staples , who won for Best Americana Album in 2011 is up for “One True Vine.†Legendary composer, producer, performer Allen Toussaint intimate and live deliberation of his new New York City home “Songbook†rounds out the list
Nominees for Best American Roots Song include another new New York resident (By way of Texas) Sarah Jarosz for the title cut of her third studio release, “Build Me Up From Bones.” Steve Earle snagged a spot for “Invisible,†his song focused on the homeless and indigent, from his latest “The Low Highway.†Old partners reconvene to gain a spot with Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott’s “Keep Your Dirty Lights On†from their Memories and Moments. Best Americana Album nominees Edie Brickell & Steve Martin is nominated for the title cut “Love Has Come For You†and Allen Toussaint for “Shrimp Po-Boy, Dressed.â€
There are no slackers in a bluegrass band, and Best Bluegrass Album nominees are some of the best in the field. A nice surprise was the choice for newcomers Della Mae’s nomination for their sophomore release “This World Oft Can Be†Members of The Boxcars have collected numerous IBMA and GRAMMY Awards and have shared the stage with legends so it’s no surprise that their third album “It’s Just A Road†was nominated. Though Harlan Howard was referring to country music when he coined the term “…three chords and the truth.†James King and his cracker-Jack band adopted it as the title for their first GRAMMY-nominated album. Veterans Dailey & Vincent (Jamie Dailey (guitar, bass, vocals), Darrin Vincent (mandolin, guitar, bass, vocals)) are up for their 3rd GRAMMY Award nomination for their sixth release “Brothers Of The Highway†and the Del McCoury Band nabbed a nomination for their 14th release “The Streets Of Baltimore.†Del and the band won in the category in 2006 for “The Company We Keep.”
Roots music greatness continued with the Best Folk Album category, whose boundaries blur so much with Best Americana Album category that any performer from either side could swap with a perfumer from the other and few people would notice. Patriarch singer/songwriter Guy Clark grabbed his 6th nomination for his latest “My Favorite Picture Of You.†The Greencards received their 3rd GRAMMY nomination for their sixth studio album “Sweetheart Of The Sun†and Sarah Jarosz is up for her 2nd nomination for “Build Me Up From Bones.†Newcomer favorites The Milk Carton Kids are on the list for their current “The Ash & Clay.” “They All Played For Us: Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Celebration,” the roots-rich benefit
in tribute to the Arhoolie Foundation, and the 50th anniversary of Arhoolie Records, is also included.
Music Row continues to show some interest in Americana-leaning performers with country newcomer
Kacey Musgraves up for Best New Artist, Best Country album (Same Trailer, Different Park) andBest Country Snog (“Merry Go ‘Round”.) Best Country Duo/Group Performance category features The Civil Wars for “From This Valley, †Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill for “Don’t Rush†and Kenny Rogers With Dolly Parton for “You Can’t Make Old Friends.â€
Other nominations honoring Americana and roots artists are the soundtrack for “Muscle Shoalsâ€, nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Root-rock pioneer Neil Young, with his band Crazy Horse, is looking to garner this third GRAMMY win with “Psychedelic Pill†for Best Rock Album
Multiple GRAMMY winner, and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, folksinger Pete Seeger received a GRAMMY nomination for “The Storm King,” in the category of Best Spoken Word Album.
Uncle Tupelo / Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy is up for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for his work with Mavis Staples, Low and Sarah Lee Guthrie And Johnny Irion.
Alabama Shakes is up for Best Rock Performance (“Always Alright”) Jack White for Best Rock Performance (“I’m Shakin'”) Neko Case for Best Alternative Music Album (The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight…) and Mumford & Sons are nominated for Best Boxed or Special Edition Limited Package, Best Music Film (The Road to Red Rocks)
After the nominations were announced twitter was abuzz with folks pointing out a glaring oversight of Jason Isbell’s “Southeastern” for Best Americana Album. The album is on all Americana and roots music end of year lists.
Isbell took to twitter to address with humor the snub,”Don’t worry guys, I’ll get plenty of noms. There’s a Chipotle right across the street from the hotel! #NOM”
“Don’t worry guys, I’ll get plenty of noms. There’s a Chipotle right across the street from the hotel! #NOM”
Congratulations to them all the nominees. Keep an eye on GRAMMY.com and on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/P on on January 26, 2014 to see who wins.
“Another Day/Another Time,” a concert inspired by the Coen Brothers’ film “Inside Llewyn Davisâ€, which itself was inspired by the 60’s New York folk movement, took place at Town Hall
Sun, September 29, 2013.
Luckily Showtime set up some cameras.
The concert features performances of songs from the early 1960s in addition to live renditions of the film’s folk music.
The performances include The Avett Brothers, Marcus Mumford, Jack White, Gillian Welch, Joan Baez, Dave Rawlings Machine, Rhiannon Giddens, Lake Street Dive, Colin Meloy, The Milk Carton Kids, Punch Brothers, Patti Smith, Willie Watson, and the film’s lead Oscar Isaac.
“Another Day/Another Time” will will air December 13 at 10:00 PM on Showtime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZcgSySBdw