Corb Lund knows a thing or two about music styles. He left family’s ranch in Taber – a town in southern Alberta, Canada – and moved to Edmonton to enroll in the Grant MacEwan College to study jazz guitar, He also briefly also fronted punk and metal bands before settling into his current role as one of the best Americana (Canadiana?) singer/songwriters working today.
He’s also a Juno Award winner who has multiple Canadian Gold Records to his name, and has played on bills, at festivals, and special events with The Who, Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell. He has also won the Canadian Country Music Awards Roots Artist of the Year seven times running. Not too shabby.
Along with the his considerable knowledge and expertise of musical styles Corb also knows how to turn phrase. Language is an element in abused by today’s music, but Lund’s wry observations are reminiscent of lyrical masters – Roger Miller, Terry Allen and his contemporaries Hayes Carll (who appears on this new albums “Bible on the Dash) and James McMurtry. The melodies, musicianship and word smithing blend to form an organic whole that belies its sophistication ans sounds natural and at ease, Or as Lund describes his process “Chaos and irreverence informs the way I write. I’m also drawn to harmony and chord choices that are outside the norms of country (music.)”
On his seventh album, ‘Cabin Fever,’ Lund and his band the Hurtin’ Albertans continue their reign of excellence. Written in his cabin in Alberta, as well as New York City, Austin, and Las Vegas, the album takes us on a musical journey of survivalist country funk (“Gettin’ Down On The Mountain”) the vocational risks of planting cadavers set to a swampy stomp (“Dig Gravedigger Dig”) and divine protection against Smokey harassment (“Bible on the Dash”) with aforementioned Hayes Carll sounding like their having a great time.
Lunds provides his own unique interpretation of great country themes. There are a couple of top-notch weepers (“September” and “(You Ain’t A Cowboy) If You Ain’t Been Bucked Off”) boozers (“Drink It Like You Mean It” and “Pour ‘Em Kinda Strong”) and Western Swing with the ode to our bovine friends “Cows Around (which includes a pretty decent primer of the variety.
A couple of Rockabilly cuts muscle in on the action with a tribute to vintage BMW motorcycles (“Mein Deutsches Motorrad”) and to women with a taste for vintage fashion (“The Gothest Girl I Can.)
‘Cabin Fever’ covers a lot of territory but keeps the very natural, very organic. Lund uses his personal influences as guideposts for direction not marketing ideas of genre absolutes or popular trends. You couldn’t ask for a better representation of the richness and depth of contemporary roots music. If this was a just and fair world Lund would be drawing Kenny Chesney crowds in the United States. But it is not that world and, to our benefit, you can still afford to see him at a local venue with better seats and cheaper, better beer.
Take it from me, pick up the deluxe edition for excellent acoustic versions of all the songs.
Dwight Yoakam showed that he could still cut a painted-on jeans, low Stetson crowned, fine figure of a honky-tonk man as he shuffled across the stage of ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” last night.
Yoakam performed ‘Nothing But Love,’ a cut from his upcomin Beck collaberation ’3 Pears.’ (Sept. 18. )
The week following its release, the classic singer will be honored by the Academy of Country Music with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award at the 6th Annual ACM Honors event, to be held on Sept. 24 in Nashville.
George Jones is synonymous with country music. Real country music. His storied career as a solo performer and with his ex-wife, the late Tammy Wynette, was rife with heady successes, heartache and substance abuse that would make Keith Richards wince. And, except for for a brief reprieve with a bout with an upper respiratory infection earlier this year, a phenomenal late-career comeback.
Now after over fifty years of touring, The Possum is decided to call it quits to “…spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.” Jones says “It is tough to stop doing what I love, but the time has come”.
As a tribute to his fans Jones will hit the lonesome highway one last time. The christened “The Grand Tour” will visit “approximately” 60 cities in 2013 and he will be performing hos legendary hits such as “White Lightning,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” and “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair”.
Jones also plans to record a new studio album featuring Dolly Parton pennined songs. There is no scheduled street date at this time
Fans can see him at his upcoming:
08/10 – Boonville, MO – Isle of Capri
08/11 – Lula, MS – Isle of Capri
08/17 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theater
08/18 – Durham, NC – Durham Perf. Arts Ctr.
08/30 – Woodstock, VA – Shenandoah County Fair
08/31 – Northampton, MA – Calvin Theatre
09/07 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino
09/08 – Houston, TX – Arena Theatre
09/21 – Huntington, WV – Big Sandy Superstore Arena
09/22 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Alabama Theater
09/28 – Manistee, MI – Little River Casino
09/29 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre
10/04 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum Theater
10/05 – Arlington, TX – Arlington Music Hall
10/12 – Branson, MO – The Mansion Theatre
10/13 – Renfro Valley, KY – Renfro Valley Ent. Ctr.
10/26 – Wichita Falls, TX – Kay Yeager Coliseum
10/27 – Midland, TX – Wagner Noel Perf. Arts Ctr.
11/02 – Mahnomen, MN – Shooting Star Casino
11/03 – Deadwood, SD – Deadwood Mountain Grand Casino
11/09 – Branson, MO – The Mansion Theatre
11/10 – Morton, MN – Jackpot Junction Casino
11/16 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center
11/17 – Hiawassee, GA – Anderson Music Hall
11/23 – Winnie, TX – Nutty Jerry’s Winnie Arena
11/24 – Bossier City, LA – Horseshoe Casino
12/01 – Elizabeth, IN – Horseshoe Casino
12/15 – Jackson, TN – Carl Perkins Civic Center
If you live in, or are visiting, Nashville early next month you might want to set aside some time to see Secret Sisters play the beautiful War Memorial Auditorium on Sept. 6th. if you want a chance to win two tickets to that event just leave a comment below on what you like about the Secret Sisters. A post will be chosen at random on Friday 8/17 12PM PST. Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact the lucky winner.
I’m assuming the Sisters will be performing songs from their upcoming Brandi Carlile produced second release, which is scheduled for a fall 2012 release.
The duo recently released a 7 inch with Jack White at Third Man Records and also played White and and Karen Elson’s divorce party. (apparently this was only a rumor) The Sisters also had their song “Tomorrow Will Be Kinder”, inspired by the Alabama tornado outbreak, featured on the T Bone produced soundtrack for The Hunger Games.
Here’s “Black And Blue,” a new song from the The Secret Sister’s upcoming album live from the stage at Wakarusa
Fans of Mumford and Co. won’t find the newly released song, “I Will Wait,” a surprise since they’ve been performing it for some time on their “Gentlemen of the Road” tour. Now the song is officially debuted for the rest of us.
The most high-profile ambassadors of Americana (never mind the fact the quartet is actually British) follows closely the winning formula of thier 2009 debut. “I Will Wait” is reminiscent of Sigh No More‘s “Little Lion Man” and “The Cave” with pulsing momentum, here provided by dancing banjo, rambles us along quiet valleys moving up to big sound peaks.
Front-man Marcus Mumford’s folky self actualization in the face of doubt doesn’t seems to have been dampened by his marriage to Carey Mulligan in April. “So I’ll be bold/ As well as strong/ And use my head alongside my heart/ So take my flesh/ And fix my eyes/ That tethered mind free from the lies.” Words to gird the male loins in true Iron John fashion.
Give a listen to “I Will Wait” below and let me know what you think in the comments. Babel is out Sept. 24th.
It’s undeniable that The Americana Music Festival is the premier showcase for the Americana genre. The showcases, award show and panels spans 4 days of some of the best music the genre has to offer. All in beautiful downtown Nashville, near the heart of Music City pop confectionery
Building on last year’s increase in attendance the good people at the AMA are making this 10th anniversary of the yearly event the best yet.
The already rich lineup for the event has now been sweetened with the addition of Corb Lund, Richard Thompson, Jill Andrews , Punch Brothers. Paul Thorn and, making the transition from mainstream country to the richer pastures of Americana, Lee Ann Womack.
This year’s tribute showcase performance will honor the recently deceased pioneer of the genre, Levon Helm. The winner of the 2010 and 2012’s Best Americana Album GRAMMY Helm will be honored by an as-yet unannounced bill in a performance titled “This Wheel’s on Fire: A Tribute to Levon Helm.”
Here is the full schedule of artists and venues for the Americana Music Conference 2012. Print it out and star highlighting your favorites!
Wednesday, September 12
The Basement
10:00 Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside
11:00 Blue Mountain
12:00 Shovels and Rope
The Station Inn
10:30 Carper Family Band
11:30 Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
The Rutledge
10:00 Gretchen Peters
11:00 Bearfoot
12:00 Delta Rae
Mercy Lounge
10:00 Corb Lund
11:00 This Wheel’s On Fire: A Tribute to Levon Helm
The High Watt
10:30 Whitehorse
11:30 Chris Stamey
Cannery Ballroom
10:00 Star Anna
11:00 Brandi Carlile
Thursday, September 13
The Basement
8:00 Lydia Loveless
9:00 Angel Snow
10:00 Sons of Fathers
11:00 The Deep Dark Woods
12:00 Black Lillies
The Station Inn
8:00 The Amy Helm Band
8:45 Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell
9:20 The Dirt Farmers
10:00 Mary Gauthier
11:00 Richard Thompson
The Rutledge
The Music of Memphis
8:00 Star and Micey
9:00 Luther Dickinson Solo
10:00 TBA
11:00 The Bo-Keys
12:00 Songs of Big Star
Mercy Lounge
8:00 Turnpike Troubadours
9:00 Billy Joe Shaver
10:00 Steve Forbert
11:00 John Fullbright
12:00 Jason Boland & The Stragglers
The High Watt
8:30 The Mastersons
9:30 Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
10:30 Eilen Jewell
11:30 Julie Lee
Cannery Ballroom
8:00 Blue Highway
9:00 Sara Watkins
10:00 Paul Thorn
11:00 Punch Brothers (with a Sara Watkins cameo?)
Live on the Green
6:30 The Dunwells
7:15 Delta Spirit
9:00 The Wallflowers
Friday, September 14
The Basement
8:00 Caitlin Harnett
9:00 American Aquarium
10:00 Cory Branan
11:00 Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll Boys
12:00 Buxton
The Station Inn
8:00 TBA
9:00 Della Mae
10:00 McCrary Sisters
11:00 Steep Canyon Rangers
12:00 Humming House
The Rutledge
8:00 Mandolin Orange
9:00 Mindy Smith
10:00 The World Famous Headliners
11:00 Belle Starr
12:00 BoDeans
Mercy Lounge
8:00 Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition
9:00 Holy Ghost Tent Revival
10:00 TBA
11:00 Darrell Scott
12:00 Reckless Kelly
The High Watt
8:30 Max Gomez
9:30 Two Gallants
10:30 Sons of Bill
11:30 Andrew Combs
Cannery Ballroom
8:00 TBA
9:00 TBA
10:00 Robert Ellis
11:00 John Hiatt
Saturday, September 15
The Basement
8:00 Anthony da Costa
9:00 Chastity Brown
10:00 Fort Frances
11:00 The Pines
12:00 Chris Scruggs
No current performer has straddled the music Row and Americana divide as deftly as Jamey Johnson.
His throwback sound, Alabama growl and biker looks appeals to those (like myself) that pine for the days of Waylon and Willie and the boys while his ear for a melody was able to grab the attention of the mainstream country radio and fans with his top 10 hit “In Color.”
Johnson is an unapologetic neo-traditional disciple of country music’s greats. He’s opened for Willie and done George Jones songs in the presence of the man himself. His next effort is to a man that influnced those giants.
On October 16th Johnson will be joined by Willie and many others on his new album, Buddy Cannon-produced Livin’ For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran. (vinyl beginning Sept. 25.)
Cochran, who died at age 74 in 2010, is considered one of the greatest songwriters in the history of country music. He helped evolve the perfect country template established by Hank Williams a generation earlier.Â
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“If I had to dream up somebody like Hank to influence songwriters, I couldn’t have done a better job,” Johnson says. “That’s what he was– not just for me, but for Willie and for a lot of people–just a helpful friend. If he knew you needed help with something, he could help you. He was there. And that’s what I want to be for the people in my life, same as Hank. He influenced me, not only as an artist and songwriter, but also as a person.”
Cochran’s songs transcended the country genre to become American standards (a practice closely studied by Willie) his catalog includes “I Fall to Pieces,” “She’s Got You,” “Make the World Go Away,” “The Chair,’ “Set ‘Em Up Joe” which Johnson covered on 1010’s The Guitar Song. His songs have been recorded by artists including Eddy Arnold, Patsy Cline, George Jones, George Strait, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Ray Price, Ronnie Milsap, Jim Reeves and many others.Â
Recording a collection of Hank Cochran tunes in a pop-country saturated industry takes guts, and truly reflects the original Outlaw spirit the hat acts on the radio brag having. When it came time to take the next step in his recording career, he listened to his heart and decided to embark on a labor of love. In a daring career move that is consistent with Johnson’s penchant for bucking conventional industry wisdom to create a unique path, he decided to devote his time and creative efforts to honoring his late friend and celebrate traditional country music.
Besides having a professional affinity to Cochran he also has a personal one. “Shortly after he first met Jamey, Hank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” says his widow, Suzi Cochran. “So for the two years he lived after that, Jamey would get off the road and pull his bus right up to the hospital, run up and see Hank and raise Hank’s spirits. The last time Jamey saw Hank was the night before Hank died.” Johnson joined Buddy Cannon and Billy Ray Cyrus at Cochran’s bedside as they handed the guitar back and forth while singing Cochran’s songs. Cochran died about six hours later.
“Hank adored Jamey,” Suzi Cochran says. “Hank loved Jamey. Jamey was a constant in the last chapter of Hank’s life.
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“This is incredible,” she says of the tribute album. “I wish Hank had been here to see it. He wouldn’t believe it. He would have cried. He’d be happy. It’s exactly like Hank would have done it.”
I am really looking forward to hearing this release and look forward to hearing classic from it live when Johnson joins Willie Nelson and The Band of Horses on the Railroad Revival Tour 2012.
Track listing:
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1. “Make the World Go Away” – Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss
2. “I Fall to Pieces” – Jamey Johnson and Merle Haggard
3. “A Way to Survive” – Jamey Johnson, Vince Gill and Leon Russell
4. “Don’t Touch Me” – Jamey Johnson and Emmylou Harris
5. “You Wouldn’t Know Love” – Jamey Johnson and Ray Price
6. “I Don’t Do Windows” – Jamey Johnson and Asleep at the Wheel
7. “She’ll Be Back” – Jamey Johnson and Elvis Costello
8. “Would These Arms Be in Your Way” – Jamey Johnson
9. “The Eagle” – Jamey Johnson and George Strait
10. “A-11” – Jamey Johnson and Ronnie Dunn
11. “I’d Fight the World” – Jamey Johnson and Bobby Bare
12. “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me” – Jamey Johnson and Willie Nelson
13. “This Ain’t My First Rodeo” – Jamey Johnson and Lee Ann Womack
14. “Love Makes a Fool of Us All” – Jamey Johnson and Kris Kristofferson
15. “Everything But You” – Jamey Johnson, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and Leon Russell
16. “Livin’ for a Song” – Jamey Johnson, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson
You’d think the addition of her third child, a beautiful daughter Poet, would afford Australian trad-country artist Kasey Chambers some time off. But no, she’s just finished Wreck and Ruin, a follow up to 2008’s excellent Rattlin’ Bones, created with her singer/songwriter husband Shane Nicholson. She’s now preparing to tour the United States behind her just-release her covers project, Storybook. The release features her unique interpretations of Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, Lucinda Williams and Texas legend Townes Van Zandt. The last whose music legacy she, along with The Avett Brothers’ Scott Avett, Grace Potter, and others, reflected on in the recent book “I’ll Be Here In The Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt.” In the midst of packing for her tour she was gracious enough to answer some questions.
Baron Lane (Twang Nation) – How has being a mother influenced your songwriting not just in practice but in point if view?
Kasey Chambers – Well I have to write all my songs quicker ‘cos i don’t have much time now with 3 children – ha. Actually I guess I have taught myself to write in and around the chaos otherwise I’d have to go out and get a day-job (and I really don’t have any other skills so that is not really an option). Being a mother has thrown my whole world upside down – in a good way. I feel like it forced me to get to know my “real” self more than ever and what better fuel for songwriting is there than honesty?
TN – In 1999 you won the ARIA Award for “Best Country Album” for The Captain and I would classify much of your sound on “Storybook” as old-school honky-tonk. With the current state of country music in America your sound would fall under the Americana label. What’s your opinion of mainstream Australian and American country music?
KC – To be honest I am just so happy than anyone wants to listen to my music that I really don’t care what label they want to put on it. I consider myself a country artist but I think my idea of country is probably very different than what the “mainstream world” calls country . A lot of the stuff known as country these days is hard for me to identify with having come from the music grounding of Hank Williams, Louvin Bros and Gram and Emmylou. But it’s hard to argue when you’re in the minority and who am I to say what it should or shouldn’t be. I find and listen to the music I love and share it with as many as I can. I honestly feel so lucky and constantly surprised at how many people I have managed to share my music with over the years. I never imagined any of that to happen.
TN – Do you identify yourself as a country singer, a folk singer, both? Something else?
KC – Someone called us “Country Goth” the other day – ha. i am definitely just a little old country singer.
TN -What is your approach to songwriting? Do you work it all out beforehand or is it a band/studio process?
KC – I don’t think I really have a set process with writing. Sometimes a lyric will come to me, sometimes a melody, sometimes I sit there for a while and nothing comes at all. I wish I had more control over it but I guess it may not be as creative then. I often go six months to a year without writing one thing and that’s ok. They will come when they are meant to.
TN – You will soon embark on a tour with a fellow countryman of mine (Texan) Sarah Joaroz, are there any other young female singer/songwriters you like?
KC – I have a young female singer/songwriter on the road with me at the moment. Her name is Ashleigh Dallas and she plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and sings harmonies in my band and she is just beautiful. She’s 19, writes her own stuff as well and she is a big Sarah Joaroz fan so she is super excited about doing some shows with her. We are all gonna have a lot of fun together.
TN – Your new release, Storybook, showcases your take on personally influential songs handpicked from the iconic songbooks of Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt and more. How did you pick the artists and songs to include?
KC -All these artists have inspired me in some way or another over the years and I can honestly say I would not be the singer/songwriter that I am without their influence. So many of these songs helped get me through some really hard times in my life.
TN – Was there any cuts that didn’t make it?
KC -I really wanted to include about 20 other Lucinda Wiliams songs…..
TN – You have another collaboration with your husband, Shane Nicholson “Wreck And Ruin,” coming out in September. How is writing and performing with him different for you?
KC – I argue with him a lot more than other musicians! We are like any other normal married couple – sometimes we just need time apart ‘cos we drive each other crazy but I must admit it really is pretty awesome to stand on stage and sing with him. Especially a song we have written together – I absolutely love the sound we create together and at the end of the day I am his biggest fan. (Don’t tell him though or he’ll get a big head.)
TN – What role did music play in your childhood?
KC – I grew up in such a remote area in Australia and had hardly had any contact with civilisation so music was really the only form of entertainment that we had. No TV, no radio, so my dad would get out his guitar and play us old country songs around the campfire. At the time I thought all kids lived like that.
(added on edit) TN – Your sound is very reminiscent of American classic country from the 50’s through the 70s. Did your sound shape from that location and era or was there Australian artists with that that sound that influenced you? How similar / different was American country to Australian country of the same era?
KC – My dad brought me up listening to some Slim Dusty and Tex Morton who are Australian bush balladeers from the early days but apart from that it was pretty much mostly American music that I grew up with. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I started to discover the music of Australian singer/songwriter Paul Kelly who is and was at the time hugely successful in the mainstream world of rock/pop music but I soon realised he had this sound that (even though I didn’t understand why or how) somehow reminded me of the music I had grown up listening to. Turns out his influences were a lot closer to mine than I would have expected.
TN – What was your first concert?
KC – Does my dad’s gig count? I would go and watch my mum and dad play when I was a kid and one day he asked me to get up and sing. He never got rid of me……
TN – What legend (living or dead) would you like to write a song with?
KC – I don’t really do co-writing much. I only really do it with my husband and most of the time that is enjoyable but the thought of writing with a legend freaks me out so luckily I probably won’t ever get asked…….
As Ryan Bingham hinted at last week the lyric video for his nearly pop-punk sounding “Heart of Rhythm,†has been released.
Truth be told, it’s disappointing to me to hear Bingham move further way from the moody, dusty country-noir of 2007’s Mescalito.
The single is off Bingham’s fourth studio album Tommorowland. It was made without his longtime band The Dead Horses and features Bingham on all of the electric guitar for the first time. Tommorowland be released 9/18 on his own Axster Bingham Records label.
Bingham will launch a U.S. tour in September.
Let me know what you think off the new song in the comment area.
Dallas’ own Old 97′s will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their pivotal alt.country album “Too Far To Care” with a Deluxe reissue will feature a scad of bonus tracks, and a national tour where Rhett and the boys will perform the album in full.
American Songwriter posts that “the reissue features three unissued bonus outtakes (“Beer Cansâ€, “No Doubt About Itâ€, “Holy Crossâ€) a rare promo track (“Northern Line,†off the Nothing To Attract You EP) and a second disc will contain They Made A Monster: The Too Far To Care Demos with 11 previously unreleased demos from the Too Far To Care sessions. They Made A Monsterwill also be released as a stand-alone LP (w/download card) and also as a stand-alone digital version.”
Old 97’s Too Far To Care 15th Anniversary Tour Dates w/Those Darlins supporting:
DATE: CITY/STATE VENUE
August 23 Houston, TX House of Blues
August 24 Dallas, TX House of Blues
August 25 San Antonio, TX Sam’s Burger Joint
August 26 El Paso, TX Tricky Falls
August 28 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom
August 29 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
August 30 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
August 31 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
September 1 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
September 2 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
September 4 Seattle, WA The Showbox @ The Market
September 5 Vancouver, BC Venue
September 6 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
September 7 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
September 8 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
September 10 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
September 11 Omaha, NE The Slowdown
September 12 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
October 14 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Festival
Old 97’s Too Far To Care 15th Anniversary Tour w/Salim Nourallah supporting:
DATE: CITY/STATE VENUE
October 16 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
October 17 Madison, WI Capitol Theater
October 18 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
October 19 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
October 20 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
October 22 Boston, MA Royale Night Club
October 23 New York, NY Webster Hall
October 25 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
October 26 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
October 27 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
October 29 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
Corb Lund knows a thing or two about music styles. He left family’s ranch in Taber – a town in southern Alberta, Canada – and moved to Edmonton to enroll in the Grant MacEwan College to study jazz guitar, He also briefly also fronted punk and metal bands before settling into his current role as one of the best Americana (Canadiana?) singer/songwriters working today. 
