Category Archives: Americana

Watch Out! Neil Young – “Mother Earth” [VIDEO]

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NYhonortreaties

Neil Young has released a pump organ view new video for his song “Mother Earth”.
The video begins with footage from Young’s January 19, 2014 show at the Jack Singer Hall in Calgary, Alberta as part of his recent Honor The Treaties run of dates.

The video also features majestic footage from Peter Mettler’s documentary Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands. At a press conference ahead of the first Honor The Treaties date, Young launched a blistering attack on Canada’s federal government and Alberta’s oilsands development, accusing officials of “killing” First Nations through their exploitation of the Alberta tar sands. [Uncut]

“Mother Earth” first appeared on Young’s 1990 album, Ragged Glory.

Winners at the 56th Grammy Awards

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grammy-56-li

In he four years that I’ve participated in the GRAMMYs (yes, that a brand thing) community of bloggers program I always have someone ask me. “Why do it?”

I have a simple answer, exposure. Not just for me. – even if, as T Bone might suggest, I eschewed the spotlight, the blogger community program shines a brighter light on me and I in turn point that light toward great music and evets that most people aren’t aware of outside of the televised GRAMMY awards program showed for several hours in late Fall every year.

Events like the the Grammy Foundation’s “A Song is Born” program that took place at the classically elagant Wilshire Ebell Theater celebrating the alchemy of sound, emotion and words that is songwriting. Seventeen artists, most of them writers rather than the original interpreters, provided the audience with a live glimpse behind the creative curtain.

Singer/songwriter and actor and country-rock pioneer JD Souther, brought Dan Wilson (Grammy winner for his songs for Dixie Chicks and Adele), Joy Williams (Grammy winner for Civil Wars) for a wonderfully sweet rendition of his co-written hit with the Eagles, “New Kid in Town.”

Kris Kristofferson, who alluded to his recent disclosure of memory loss when he mentioned that “77 is a tough age.” He the enraptured the crowd with a rousing version of “Me and Bobby McGee” and a gut-wrenching rendition of “For the Good Times.”

Legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb took to piano to tell stories of his career. Like when the record company shows wariness of his song by the Fifth Dimension “Up, Up, and Away,” partly because they “they thought it was about drugs. It was just an ironic moment because of all the songs that year , 1967, were on radio that week, “Up Up and Away” was the only song that was not about drugs.”

perform a passionate “Wichita Lineman” in honor of “my friend” Glenn Campbell.

The GRAMMY pre-telecast is where the majority of the awards are given. The MC for the event was 80’s singing star, and current Broadway composer, Cyndi Lauper was charmingly bumbling iin her Queens kind of way.

Winners for the night (and if you followed my Twitter account you already know this) were:
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell for “Old Yellow Moon,” Crowell accepted the award as he mentioned that Harris was “being a good sister” and tending to her ill brother.

Edie Brickell & Steve Martin were awards the GRAMMY for Best American Roots Song for their collaboration “Love Has Come For You.” “ Edie if the finest lyricist I’ve ever worked with.” Martin quipped.

Guy Clark was awarded a long overdue first GRAMMY for “My Favorite Picture Of You,” which took home Best Folk Album. Best Bluegrass Album went to that genre’s stalwart Del McCoury and his band.

The two biggest Americana and roots surprises came in the mainstream country categories.

The 25-year-old pop-folk upstart Kacey Musgraves took the gold, along with co-writers Shane McNally And Josh Osborne, for Country Song of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round.” The surprise came when Musgraves won the big prize, Country Album of the Year for “Same Trailer Different Park.” against the old guard of Taylor Swift, Lee Brice, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton.

When The Civil Wars were announced for their fourth Grammy for best country duo/group performance for “From This Valley” all eyes were searching to see if they currently at odds duo would appear. John Paul White ambled to the stage in typical formal attire alone and proceeded to jokingly apologize to fellow nominee Dolly Parton. “I’d like to apologize to Dolly Parton for depriving her of anything at all,” White joked. “She’s one of my biggest heroes.
He then went on to thank his wife, his four children and plumber who was currently fixing the water system.

There was no mention of producer Charlie Peacock or band’s other half, Joy Williams, who had been in attendance during of other events during Grammy Week.

The Civil Wars Facebook page was flooded with long-suffering fan’s outrage and disappointment and White later broke his more than year-long Twitter silence to apologize and thank Peacock and Williams.

On the main telecast I was delighted to see original Highwaymen, Willie Nelson and recipient of the 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award Kris Kristofferson shared the stage with Bakersfield legend Merle Haggard and newcomer (and contrite trad-country basher) Blake Shelton do a medley of classic country hits like “The Highwayman,” “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and “Okie From Muskogee.”

A great year of surprises, long-deserved recognition and lifted boats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UEq-xJeRiI

Kris Kristofferson Receives the Grammy for Lifetime Achievement [VIDEO]

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Kris Kristofferson Receives the Grammy for Lifetime Achievement

I was fortunate to attend this emotional honoring of an American music legend.

After a lovely video introduction , National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) president presented Kris Kristofferson with the GRAMMY award for a Lifetime of Achievement.

My only question is, what took so long?

Kristofferson’s acceptance speech is brief, but heartfelt. In it he alludes to the his memory loss from years of head injuries from boxing and football when he was younger.

EDIT: A piece Rodney Crowell wrote for Kris’s lifetime achievement award for the Grammy awards magazine.

Watch Out! Melody Williamson – “No Country Here” [VIDEO]

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Melody Williamson There's No Country Here

The Music Row protest song is nothing new. Working a narrative within a form that shows reverence for legacy while tweaking the nose of current business practices is tricky. Doing it well without seeming petty is even trickier.

Waylon Jennings’ #1 single “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” and George Strait’s “Murder on Music Row” as well as newcomer’s Jason Eady’s “AM Country Heaven” and Sturgill Simpson’s “You Can Have The Crown” are all sterling examples.

15-year-old songwriter and performer Melody Williamson, from the Nashville based string band Williamson Branch, has penned an original composition that I believe fits right in with the above. “There’s No Country Here” paves the way fro her to join the ranks of the current female cadre of Outlaws, Musgraves, Monroe, Clark and Lambert.

Music Row would be wide to give a listen,

hat tip to Saving Country Music and Country Music Nation for the tip.

Tribute “Bob Dylan In The 80s” Out March 25

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Bob Dylan 80s

Okay, this is cool. A tribute album from preeminent indy-roots artists focusing on Dylan’s under appreciated 80’s era.

ATO Records will release Bob Dylan In The 80s: Volume One on March 25. The brainchild of producers Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins, The Low Anthem) and Sean O’Brien (Dawes, PAPA), the mission of Bob Dylan In The 80s: Volume One is to shed new light on a large cache of Bob Dylan songs that have long gone ignored, covering the period starting with 1980’s Saved and ending with 1990’s Under The Red Sky (including unreleased material — the “80s Basement Tapes” — and The Traveling Wilburys).

Album contributors include: Built To Spill, Aaron Freeman of Ween & Slash, Glen Hansard, Reggie Watts, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Lucius, Langhorne Slim, Craig Finn Of The Hold Steady, Deer Tick, Dawn Landes, Blitzen Trapper, Carl Broemel Of My Morning Jacket, Elvis Perkins and more. The album is available for pre-order now.

Hear the first track from the record, Jokerman by Built to Spill, below.

“80s Dylan is by no means a celebrated period in his career,” says co-producer Lauter. “It was, in fact, the lowest point of his commercial success even though he released eight studio albums.” He continues, “Our goal was to showcase one of the greatest artists of our time during an off-rhythm period and bring a stronger sense of harmony to the material at hand. Sean and I did everything we could to make this album flow together sonically as if you were listening to a concept album.”

Portions of proceeds from album sales will go to the charity, Pencils of Promise. Pencils of Promise is a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world. The charity has built more than 150 schools in Asia, Africa and Latin America. For more information on Pencils of Promise, visit www.pencilsofpromise.org.

COMPLETE TRACK LISTING:

1. Langhorne Slim & The Law – “Got My Mind Made Up”(from Knocked Out Loaded, 1986)
2. Built To Spill – “Jokerman” (from Infidels, 1983)
3. Reggie Watts – “Brownsville Girl (Reprise)” (from Knocked Out Loaded, 1986)
4. Craig Finn (The Hold Steady) – “Sweetheart Like You” (from Infidels, 1983)
5. Ivan & Alyosha – “You Changed My Life” (from Shot Of Love outtakes, 1981)
6. Deer Tick – “Night After Night” (from Hearts of Fire Soundtrack, 1987)
7. Dawn Landes & Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “Dark Eyes” (from Empire Burlesque, 1985)
8. Tea Leaf Green – “Waiting To Get Beat” (from Empire Burlesque outtakes, 1985)
9. Aaron Freeman of Ween & Slash – “Wiggle Wiggle (from Under The Red Sky, 1990)
10. Elvis Perkins – “Congratulations” (from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, 1988)
11. Hannah Cohen – “Covenant Woman” (from Saved, 1980)
12. Marco Benevento – “Every Grain Of Sand” (from Shot Of Love, 1981)
13. Yellowbirds – “Series Of Dreams” (from Oh Mercy outtakes, 1989)
14. Blitzen Trapper – “Unbelievable” (from Under The Red Sky, 1990)
15. Lucius – “When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky” (from Empire Burlesque, 1985)
16. Glen Hansard – “Pressing On” (from Saved, 1980)
17. Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) – “Death Is Not The End” (from Down In The Groove, 1988)

In addition, there will be seven bonus tracks available exclusively via iTunes as a Deluxe Edition and will also be included on the digital download card that accompanies the vinyl. The seven bonus tracks are listen below:

1. Spirit Family Reunion – “Man Of Peace” (from Infidels, 1983)
2. Widespread Panic – “Solid Rock” (from Saved, 1980)
3. Grayson Capps – “Silvio” (from Down In The Groove, 1988)
4. Neal Casal – “Property Of Jesus” (from Shot Of Love, 1981)
5. The Low Anthem – “Lenny Bruce” (from Shot Of Love, 1981)
6. Jesse Elliott (These United States) – “Handy Dandy” (from Under The Red Sky, 1990)
7. Chastity Brown – “Saving Grace” (from Saved, 1980)

Watch Out! Sarah Jarosz – “Over The Edge” on Conan [VIDEO]

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Sarah Jarosz

Sarah Jarosz made her stunning television debut last night on the Conan O’brien show.

Sarah donned a little black dress and cowboy boots, and her spectacular band, fiddler Alex Hargreaves and cellist Nathaniel Smith, killed it in this performance of “Over The Edge from her current release “Build Me Up From Bones”

Ken Burns’ Country Music Documentary Coming to PBS in 2018

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Ken Burns

I’ve been hearing about Ken Burns’ new project focusing on Country Music for over a ear. Now PBS has made it a realty b announcing that the anticipated documentary, succinctly called called “Country Music,” will air in 2018.

That will be about 5 years worth of work on the one series. Sure that’s a long time
but it helpes to keep in mind that it’s a year less than he spent on his ten-episode miniseries detailing jazz. And given Burn’s attention to detail ranging from The Civil War and the history of baseball it’s satisfying to see that there is care being applied ot a genre we all love.

The origins and fundamentals of roots, folk and country music are vast . deep at least as deep and vast as many of the topics Burns has tackled before. I have faith that this is going to be a fascinating (and lengthy) series.

From the release “The country series explores the question, “what is country music.” It will track the careers of the Carter family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and others.”

“For over a century, country music has been a pivotal force in American culture, expressing the hopes, joys, fears and hardships of everyday people in songs lyrical, poignant and honest,” said PBS President Paula A. Kerger. “It is fitting that we have two of America’s master storytellers, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, tell the story on film of an art form that for generations has told America’s story in song.”

The documentary will follow the rise of bluegrass music with Bill Monroe and note how one of country music’s offspring – rockabilly – mutated into rock and roll in Memphis. It will show how Nashville slowly became not just the mecca of country music, but “Music City USA.” All the while, it will highlight the constant tug of war between the desire to make country music as mainstream as possible and the periodic reflexes to take it back to its roots.

That;s the part that will be interesting to me, how Burns handles the splinter threads of the genre. The aforementioned Bluegrass The Outlaws, Bakersfield and, as Steve Earle helped shepherd and deemed, “Great Credibility Scare of the Mid-1980s.”

Listen Up! Hear New Beck Song, “Blue Moon”

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Beck Morning Phase

The L.A.-based singer and songwriter on Friday posted a clip on his website depicted “Morning Phase” being rendered in the petroleum by-product so popular with the kids these days, vinyl.

“Morning Phase” set for release on Feb. 25 through Capitol Records, his first studio disc since “Modern Guilt” in 2008. Backed by players including Smokey Hormel, Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Joey Waronker.

Beck is a master at revamping music style – soul, funk, folk. His upcoming release “Morning Phase” is reported continue the gauzy forlorn-folk theme so brilliantly captured in 2002’s “Sea Change.”

In the current issue of Uncut magazie, Beck said: “I set out to make a gritty king of record, along the lines of those early ’70s singer-songwriter records. But the songs ended up having another quality to them. There are harmonies there: Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Everly Brothers, The Stanley Brothers. The Mamas & The Papas, even.”

Judging by the the clip below it appears that that is a correct assessment of style.

Really looking forward this one.

“The Morning Phase” tracklist:
‘Morning’
‘Heart Is A Drum’
‘Say Goodbye’
‘Waking Light’
‘Unforgiven’
‘Wave’
‘Don’t Let It Go’
‘Blackbird Chain’
‘Evil Things’
‘Blue Moon’
‘Turn Away’
‘Country Down’

Americana Music Association Presents Everly Brothers Tribute

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Everly Brothers Tribute J

One event I’m most looking forward to while covering the GRAMMYs this year is one that is not an official GRAMMY event.

The Franklin TN -based Americana Music Association is presenting “a tribute to the Everly Brothers during a celebration of American Roots Music.”

Now who will be performing and how a Everly Brothers tribute will be worked into a larger salute to roots music at the sold-out event is not detailed, but I’m excited to find out!

The event will take place at the legendary Los Angeles venue, the Troubadour, Saturday, January 25.

Phil Everly was a friend of the AMA. In 20019 he wrote down the lyrics of “When Will I Be Loved” on parchment paper and donated the work for auction which raised money for the non-profit organization.

WATCH OUT! Shovels & Rope – Full Acoustic Performance on KEXP

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Shovels & Rope

Last fall Charleston, South Carolina roots-rock duo Shovels & Rope – husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst – played an intimate acoustic session at The Triple Door in Seattle to support the local legendary public radio station KEXP.

The band shows why they are a shining light in the Americana scene as they bend genres between country and folk, to gut-bucket blues and garage rock.

Revel in the music.

Songs:
Birmingham
O’ Be Joyful
Boxcar
Keeper
All Those Words
Kitchen Hallway
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe / Elvis Costello cover)