Category Archives: Americana

Listen Up! Exclusive Track Release – Mother Merey and the Black Dirt – “Down to the River”

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Everyone knows that, though I live in San Francisco, my heart is back home in Texas. So it does me proud to hear bands like Mother Merey and the Black Dirt gritty blues/folk representing in Austin’s juke joints.

Down to the River is the excellent, boot-stomping title track from their upcoming debut. The cut blends lead vocalist Merey Kimbrough’s honey-sweet vocals and spiritual imagery with rhythmic acoustic guitar, pounding drum and swarming harmonica to create a hoedown hybrid.

I love music that sounds classic in the midst of evolving. Music that stays true to the spirit and legacy of the deep musical well it draws from.

Look or the album to be out sometime in April.

The band: Mother Merey Kimbrough (washboard/vocals), Eric Witthans (dobro/vocals) and Kevin Allen (harp/vocals)

Listen up: Hiss Golden Messenger: “Sufferer (Love My Conqueror)”

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Much of of the bands in the freak folk field leaves me cold. Hiss Golden Messenger is an exception to that arbitrary and subjective rule. The vehicle for North Carolina based singer/songwriter, and former front man of Court & Spark, Michael “M.C.” Taylor stands out not only in musicianship but in excellent, sharp song-craft.

the first track from Haw, titled “Sufferer (Love My Conquerer)” contains the obtuse spiritual symbolism you’ve come to expect from HGM, over a soulful, slinky groove. There are even psychedelic elements that tend to grate on me used to nice effect on this cut.

The cut the first track from the forthcoming album Haw. The album takes its name from a small tributary of Cape Fear and is composed of 11 songs written by Taylor.

Haw is available for pre-order at paradiseofbachelors.com

Shonna Tucker Unveils Eye Candy

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eye candy I’m just catching up with ex-Drive-By Truckers bassists and vocalist Shonna Tucker’s new project, Eye Candy.

Apparently the word has been out for some time , but somehow it’s been flying under my radar. The Athens, GA based band set up a Facebook page today and a repost by my bud at Country Fried Rock drew my attention.

From what I’ve been able to piece together aside from Tucker the band will be Athens musicians Clay Leverett (drums) and Bo Bedingfield (guitar), as well as Truckers steel guitarist John Neff.

Shonna assured me on twitter that she would be sending me more information on Eye Candy. Look for updates when I get more details.

Check the cut below and the video from a show at the storied 40 Watt club and let me know what you think.

Watch Alabama Shakes On Saturday Night Live and Austin City Limits [VIDEO]

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alabama shakes SNLAlabama Shakes is definitely hitting a stride. Coming off lead singer Brittany Howard shining performance among other at luminaries at the Grammy’s Levon Helm tribute the band then made their Austin City Limits and Saturday Night Live debut. Both of which airing simultaneously last night.

The band performed their rootsy Motown-like single “Hold On” and a newer song titled “Always Alright” (free for download for a limited time) on SNL.

Their ACL setlist included five songs: “Hold On”, “Always Alright”, “You Ain’t Alone”, “I Ain’t the Same”, and “On Your Way”. The episode of ACL also featured a four-song performance by Texas’ blues man Gary Clark, Jr.

Check Alabama Shakes’ two SNL performances and the full episode of ACL below.

Watch Gary Clark Jr. / Alabama Shakes on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

The Felice Brothers Cover Nirvana, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and The Band [VIDEO]

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I’m a huge of of Upstate New York’s Felice Brothers. I always suspected that Big Pink molecules must still dwell in the area and were breathed in by the band as infants leading them to their dark roots musical destiny. Or something…

As great as their originals are the band picks some choice covers on the road. I found some cool covers done by the band and thought I would share.

Enjoy

The Civil Wars Release T Bone Burnett Produced Cut , Prepare Full Soundtrack

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The Civil Wars Paste magazine reports that The Civil Wars are set to appear on the soundtrack for the forthcoming film, A Place at the Table. the folk is a documentary from Food, Inc. producers that explores American food and hunger issues. The soundtrack will feature 14 new and original tracks from The Civil Wars and T Bone Burnett is set for a Feb. 26 release through Sensibility Music.

“We met T Bone in New York City at the Americana Awards nomination announcements a couple of years ago,” John Paul White said in a press release. “Turns out Rosanne Cash, the sweetheart, had turned him onto the music. He expressed a desire to work together, which was quickly reciprocated.”

The documentary is set for a March 1 release and the band and Burnett are offering 100 percent of the label’s net profits and producer/artist royalties to the Participant Foundation, an organization that “exists to support programs that support a sustainable and peaceful world.”

“Being a part of A Place At The Table opened my eyes to an epidemic that is happening in our country right now—underneath many of our noses,” Joy Williams said. “It’s happening to our neighbors, to our friends, to children. It’s a silent battle that can be won, if we as a nation set our minds to ending it. Linking arms with T Bone Burnett to create music for such a timely and important film as this was an honor.”

The band released a rousing new single from the soundtrack today, titled “Long Time Gone.” Take a listen in the player below.

As previously reported, The Civil Wars unexpectedly canceled their tour let year citing the reason as “internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition” as a touring entity. Many speculated this meant a break-up for the band, but these new studio tracks might make that prediction premature.

Many speculated this meant a break-up for the band, and these new studio tracks could prove otherwise. Though their lack of amicability on the stage Sunday, to receive their Grammy for the song “Safe & Sound,” with Taylor Swift and T Bone, might signal otherwise.

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge to celebrate 53rd Birthday

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tootsies3One of the world’s most legendary honky-tonks is the Nashville’s Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on lower braodway. Unoffocially knwon as the Ryman Adtroirum green room due to it’s proximity just across the alley from the Mother Chrurch, and the strict no alcohol policy enforced by same, Toosties’s has played host to legends writing, singing and living some of country music’s greatest songs. It’s where Willie Nelson kissed Faron Young on the mouth after the Young presented Willie with his very first writer’s royalty check for $20,000 for “Hello Walls.” The place has history as is illustrated by the walls layered with classic head shots of country music royalty. So may the bar had to install plexiglass to keep people from fooling with them.

Toosties’s will celebrate its 53rd Birthday on November 21st with a Broadway street-party hosted by Great American Country (GAC) personality Storme Warren. The annual event will be the kick-off event celebrating and honoring Country Music Hall of Fame member George Jones’ final Nashville concert, which takes place the following evening Friday, November 22nd at the Bridgestone Arena. As part of the celebration, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is extending their annual “Birthday Bash” to a two-day event with entertainment on the outdoor Broadway stage taking place on both Thursday and Friday nights.

“The Tootsie’s Birthday Bash has become an annual event that everyone looks forward to,” says Tootsie’s proprietor Steve Smith. “We kicked it off at the Ryman with Kris Kristofferson, Terri Clark, Mel Tillis, and Jamey Johnson a few years back.

Entertainment will be announced in the coming months.

55th Grammy Awards : John Fullbright – “Gawd Above”

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Another Grammy highlight for me was seeing Okemah native John Fullbright perform “Gawd Above” from his Americana Album of the Year nominated “From The Ground Up” at the per-telecast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D6NbD3U1Yi8

55th Grammy Awards Levon Helm Tribute – Mavis Staples & Mumford and Sons and Brittany Howard

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One of the highlights of this, my third year covering the GRAMMYS as the official Americana blogger, was the heartfelt Levon Helm tribute featuring Elton John, Zac Brown, T Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples & Mumford and Sons and Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard.


Elton John, Zac Brown, T Bone Burnett, Mavis… by IdolxMuzic

Elton John and Mumford & Sons Set to Honor Levon Helm at 55th Grammys

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Levon_Helm_at_-life_is_Good_Festival-_in_2011The famed Midnight Ramble will roll into L.A. on Sunday night as Elton John** and Mumford & Sons appear on the Grammy stage to lead a tribute to the late music great Levon Helm, The Associated Press reports.

As part of the awards show’s in memorial tribute, John and Mumford & Sons will be joined by T Bone Burnett, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Zac Brown and Americana Album of the Year winner Mavis Staples for a special performance of the Band’s “The Weight.

“Can you think of a song that fits (more)?” said Ken Ehrlich, producer of the Grammy Awards. “Philosophically it fits the moment.”

The Band’s 1968 debut, “Music From Big Pink,” and its follow-up, “The Band,” remain landmark albums and count as the vanguards for the Americana movement. Songs such as “The Weight” and “Cripple Creek” have become rock standards. Early on, The Band backed Bob Dylan on his sensational and controversial electric tours of 1965-66 and collaborated with him on the legendary “The Basement Tapes.”

Elton John has a long history with Helm and counted him as a close friend. John and his writing partner Bernie Taupin, wrote the song “Levon”, who’s title character was inspired by The Band’s co-founder, drummer, and singer. The Band was apparently Elton John’s and Taupin’s favorite group at the time. Their sound inspired John and Taupin to create the albums Tumbleweed Connection and Honky Château.

Elton John and his civil partner, David Furnish, named their son “Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.”

Helm, singer and drummer for The Band, died on April 19th in New York of throat cancer. He was 71. Mumford & Sons are up for four awards at this Sunday’s Grammys, including Album of the Year for Babel. Alabama Shakes are up for two awards, including Best New Artist. Zac Brown Band is up for Best Country album for Uncaged.

Are these the performers I would have chosen for a Helm tribute? Probably not. But the sentiment is genuine and I’m sure that the performances will be heartfelt.

Tune in to the 55th Grammys airing this Sunday on CBS.