Category Archives: alt.country

I Like the Wreckers, Damn It!

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I really didn’t want to like the Wreckers. On paper they’re everything I despise. Cherub-faced pop-singer (and Madonna label mate) hits a career bump and decides country music would be a wise diversion, enlists backup singer lifelong pal (Jessica Harp) to form a group, cut an album and do a cameo on One Tree Hill. ONE TREE FRIKKIN HILL?!But damn if it doesn’t work. For a pop-tart Michelle Branch has some serious singer-songwriter chops behind her, writing her first song at 14 and being single-minded about her career since then. And after several forced listenings I have to confess, I like the Wreckers.

Now Mss. Branch and Harp woo me further by releasing a recently releasing a live CD/DVD (this after one studio CD, but I will hold my tongue how superfluous this is) by recoding it at the Bowery Ballroom where I’ve spent many a beer-soaked evening abiding great music. I haven’t heard the live CD but I plan to, and if I like it I’ll review it.

I know the ladies have decided to go their separate ways, and this causes me to respect them even further for not chasing the easy money (aside from a superfluous live release that is.)

Track Listing:

1. The Good Kind
2. Love Me Like That
3. Way Back Home
4. Damn That Radio
5. Crazy People
6. Cigarettes
7. My Oh My
8. Different Truck
9. Tennessee
10. Lay Me Down
11. Leave The Pieces
12. Stand Still, Look Pretty
13. Rain

The Wreckers “Leave The Pieces (Live)”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_hVsg4m13c[/youtube]

Joe Whyte Record Release – New York City – 12/18

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New York based folk, rock and Americana singer/songwriter Joe Whyte will be holding his record release party for his new album “Devil in the Details” on Tuesday, December 18 at Rockwood Music Hall – 196 Allen St., NYC at 8pm.The event will be free and Whyte will be unveiling his band that night. Alng with his usual cohort Dan Marcus, on guitar and mandolin, he’ll be adding 2 new players – Rob Heath on drums, and Catherine Popper on bass (late of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals.)

Jason Isbell Tour Dates

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Pitchfork.com has posted a ton of 07/08 tour dates for ex-Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell as he continues in support of his solo debut “Sirens of the Ditch.”

The January 12 date has Isbell performing at the opening night of the New York Guitar Festival’s “Royal Albert Hall” event honoring Bob Dylan.

12-14 Asheville, NC – Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam Pre-Jam
12-15 Asheville, NC – Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam
12-21 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
12-22 Houston, TX – Walter’s on Washington
12-27 Huntsville, AL – Crossroads
12-28 Birmingham, AL – Workplay
12-29 Chattanooga, TN – Rhythm and Brews
12-30 Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
12-31 Charleston, SC – Music Fam
01-12 New York, NY – WFC Winter Garden (New York Guitar Festival)
01-16 Memphis, TN – The Hi-Tone
01-17 Little Rock, AR – Sticky Fingerz
01-18 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
01-19 Austin, TX – Antone’s
01-22 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
01-23 San Diego, CA – Casbah
01-24 Long Beach, CA – Vault
01-25 Los Angeles, CA – Spaceland
01-26 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
01-28 Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
01-30 Portland, OR – Mission Theater
01-31 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
02-01 Boise, ID – Neurolux
02-02 Park City, UT – Suede
02-04 Boulder, CO – The Fox Theatre
02-06 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
02-07 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
02-08 Chicago, IL – Double Door
02-09 Indianapolis, IN – Music Mill
02-14 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
02-15 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
02-16 Buffalo, NY – Tralf Music Hall
02-17 Philadelphia, PA РWorld Caf̩ Live
02-20 Boston, MA – Paradise
02-21 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
02-22 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
02-23 Charlottesville, VA – Satellie Ballroom
02-24 Wilmington, NC – Soapbox
02-26 Columbia, SC – Headliner’s
02-27 Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
02-28 Knoxville, TN – Bluecat’s
02-29 Louisville, KY – Headliner’s
03-01 Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom

Colonel JD Wilkes in Stay Thirsty Media

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Stay Thirsty Media has a great interview with the Legendary Shack Shakers front man Colonel JD Wilkes. It it the Colonel dicusses his new movie Seven Signs, and the latest LSS release “Swamp Blood.” A sample:

Do you feel like you are becoming more popular in the mainstream media?

JD: Yeah, I feel like we’re sort of maintaining. We’re sort of a staple on the scene that people can rely on. You know we never got a major label deal, so we couldn’t really coast on that momentum. We had to build our own momentum by creating the legend that’s in our name. We have to toot out own horn more. We have to work harder, tour harder, scream louder because we don’t have big bucks behind us. We just have a lot of road miles and blood and guts and sweat invested in this , that’s what drives us. That’s what makes us more authentic . That’s what gives us more credibility than some flash in the pan, you know, emo band that here today gone tomorrow . We plan to age with this thing as we go and it will morph into who knows what the next record, cause it’s a living, breathing thing, like the Constitution of the United States. It’s a living document. It’s alive!

Galleywinter Posts 2007’s Top 10

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Brad at Galleywinter has posted at early list of 2007’s top 10 and Ryan Bingham’s excellent sun and dust-choked Mescalito tops the list. I haven’t heard everything on Brad’s list but with with Bingham and Drew Kennedy given top billing I’ll be checking on the rest of the list.

(tip of the hat to the 9513)

says that of all the music that was released this year Mescalito impacted him the most.

Rolling Stone Reviews Merle Haggard’s “The Original Outlaw”

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Rolling Stone has a nice review of the new Merle Haggard box set “The Original Outlaw.”

A sample:

Merle Haggard’s toughest song may be his 1968 country hit “I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am.” Despite the title, it’s not about a working man — he sings in the voice of a hobo loner, drifting from place to place. “I keep thumbin’ through the phone books/Lookin’ for my daddy’s name in every town,” Hag sings — the way he picks up that line, cuts himself deep on it and sets it back down is the essence of his hard-boiled vocal genius. This could be the guy Bob Dylan sang about in “Tangled Up in Blue,” except he doesn’t even have a redheaded woman in his past — just empty roads. It’s the song they played at the funeral of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant, and you can still hear why.

MySpace Showcase – Rebel Syndicate

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Rebel Syndicate are a Southern-Rock band outta Jackson County, Florida that write hell raising booze soaked rave-ups (Beer Don’t Bitch) and talking-song shuffles on Southern pride (Grace of God) these guys are doing it right and keeping it righteous. Check ’em out.

Rebel Syndicate – “Grace Of God”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i85NCE8a_vw[/youtube]

Bloodshot Records Signs Justin Townes Earle – Debut Release “The Good Life” out in Spring 2008

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Chicago-based alt.country stalwart Bloodshot Records has signed Justin Townes Earle to a multi-album, world-wide deal. His debut full-length album, The Good Life is slated to hit stores in Spring 2008. Justin will make appearances at SXSW and tour with The Felice Brothers in March and April. Justin’s previously self-released EP “Yuma” will become available to wide release through Bloodshot soon.

The Good Life is produced by RS Field, who has made his mark on critically acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Yountes (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Lovelace), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOwaqm7Deu4[/youtube]