Category Archives: Americana

Railroad Revival Tour Ticket Giveaway

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As part of my own Twang Nation train redemption series we bring you an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to a Railroad Revival Tour show at a stop of your choice.

Railroad Revival Tour is celebrates a pivotal age of American transportation and the more recent musical spirit best exemplified by the Festival Express. That tour chartered a Canadian National Railways train to transport Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy and others to Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary, during the summer of 1970. The Railroad Revival Tour is a truly a uniques experience as travels town to towns aboard 16 vintage, 1940’s railcars, setting up open air, pop-up concert venues in parks, fields and lots around the railroad tracks where they stop.

Last year’s inaugural journey, featuring Mumford and Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show, was a huge success and 2012’s version, featuring Willie Nelson & Family, Band of Horses, Jamey Johnson and John Reilly & Friends, is shaping up to be even bigger and better!

This year’s train route kicks off at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Georgia surrounded by the historical steam locomotives and railcars of years past. The train then heads to Memphis, home of the legendary Stax Records and Elvis (and BBQ!.) Returning to the tour’s (and my) home state of Texas, the train will stop in the historical railroad town of Old Town Spring before heading west to Tempe, San Pedro and a finale where it began last year in Oakland, CA.

Now how do you enter the contest? Easy! Head over to the Twang Nation Facebook page and enter a caption for this pic. Rules: Post your caption on the image and the one with the most “Likes” at 1 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday August 1st will be claimed the Winner. Twang Nation reserves the right to settle a tie.
Make sure to “Share” the Facebook post with friends and family to increase your “Likes”.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2012: The First Lineup Audio Hints Released

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On what would have been Hardly Strictly Bluegrass founder Warren Hellman’s 78th birthday the good people that worked side by side with him carry on in his honor. The upcoming 12th anniversary of the festival, and first after Hellman’s death last December, looks to continue the celebration of great, and free, music doesn’t look as though it’s slowed a bit. On this day of remembrance the festival’s organizers have released audio hints, like last year, of the first 10 conformed acts.

Check out the file below and in the comments give us your best guesses who’d playing HSB this Oct. 5-7!

Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Band of Horses on the Railroad Revival Tour

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I loved this idea when I heard of it last year in it’s inaugural voyage featuring Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show -documented on the documentary “Big Easy Express.” Alas I missed it when it rolled into Oakland.

Not this year my friends! The Railroad Revival Tour is the coolest thing this side of The Cayamo Cruise. The train will route through the south to west through Texas of the United States on Oct. 20-Oct. 28, is reminiscent of the old-style medicine shows. This year’s bill is a beaut, Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Band of Horses and MCd by actor and actor-musician John C. Reilly.

Tickets go on sale Friday, July 27th at 10am CST.

Here is the full list of tour stops:

Oct. 20: Duluth, Ga.
Oct. 21: TBA
Oct. 22: Memphis, Tenn.
Oct. 23: Oklahoma City
Oct. 24: Old Town Spring, Texas
Oct. 26: Tempe, Ariz.
Oct. 27: San Pedro, Calif.
Oct. 28: Oakland, Calif.

Dwight Yoakam’s New Album, 3 Pears, Out Sept. 18

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It seems too crazy to be true. It was over a year ago that I read about a potential collaboration between Dwight Yoakam and Beck. I thought it was too good to be true and as the months rolled by I thought my hunch was correct. No way Jose.

I’ve never been so glade to be mistaken. The recently announced “3 Pears,” is the result of that creative union and will be be released Sept. 18. It’s also Yoakam’s first studio album of original material since in seven years ‎and his return to Warner Bros. Records.

I read that Yoakam has been working on the 12 songs on the album since 2008 and jokingly describes the process as “reaaall reaaaallllll sloooww.”

Let’s hope it results in a release that’s reaaall reaaaallllll good!

Here’s a little Bakersfield heaven with Dwight joining the Hag on his “Swinging Doors.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiARHDNECBo&feature=related

Trampled by Turtles on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

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The pride of Duluth, Minnesota – Trampled by Turtles – brought their frenetic brand of bluegrass to CBS’ “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” Wednesday night. The band tore through the song “Walt Whitman” from their latest album, “Stars and Satellites.

The band made their network TV debut late April on “Late Show with David Letterman,” where the band performed “Alone,” also from “Stars and Satellites.” The album has been on Billboard’s bluegrass charts for the past 13 weeks and currently is in the top spot. It’s also No. 14 on the folk albums chart.

The band is currently on tour. Go see ’em.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CJodfZ3htY&feature=player_embedded

Glen Campbell Cancels Australian Dates

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Country music legend Glen Campbell is canceling his upcoming Australia and New Zealand tour with Kenny Rogers due to health reasons, the Associated Press reports.

A spokesperson for Campbell, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year and currently on his farewell tour, said isn’t up for “the very long flight that it would require.” The Australian shows would have been his last international stop. Campbell is still scheduled for U.S. dates
throughout the summer and into the fall.

Glen Campbell was a recipients of the GRAMMYs Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Awards and recently played the legendary Hollywood Bowl for his last concert in his home of Los Angeles

Here’s is campbell’s “A Better Place,” with a cameo from Queen of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures member Josh Homme.

The Felice Brothers Release “God Bless You, Amigo” to Replace Tour Vehicle, Amps

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The Felice Bothers, the bad boys of Americana, have has a streak of bad luck that the band likens to the curse of Cleveland Indian right fielder Rocky Colavito. The band’s home was nearly destroyed by a Hurricane Irene, their touring Winnebago was “driven to the ground and mercy shot like an exhausted horse somewhere in Vermont.” Band founder lead guitarist and vocalist, Ian Felice, was hospitalized for an acute skin disorder in a foreign hospital, and if that weren’t enough
their amps dies during recent rehearsals.

Showing the resiliency of Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland in the face of these difficulties, the band has recorded “God Bless You, Amigo” a collection of home recordings to raise money for a new touring vehicle and new amps.

God Bless You, Amigo is available now for $5 but if your feeling generous, you can give more.

Robert Plant Elopes With Patty Griffin (Not!)

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UPDATE: Plant’s U.K.-based manager says was being “cheeky” when he used the word “eloped” to describe his home life. “Robert has not married Patty Griffin,” she tells us. “He was just referring to the fact that he’s been residing in Texas.”

Rock legend and recent Americana emigre Robert Plant, has taken his Austin Austin residency seriously.

Led Zeppelin and Band of Joy front man revealed in an interview last Wednesday with the U.K.’s Independent
that he has secretly tied the knot with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and Band of Joy member Patty Griffin.

“I eloped and ran off to Texas,” Plant told the newspaper.

No word on if the couple has been seen at the local Whole Foods product isle and whether Griffin can keep her hands off his lemon.

Country Music Legend Kitty Wells Dead at 92

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I am sad to announce the passing of yet another legend, Kitty Wells. Well’s known as the “Queen of Country Music”, died today in Nashville at the age of 92 following complications from a stroke. Her official site reads Wells “passed peacefully with family by her side at her home.”

Born Ellen Muriel Deason Wright, Wells started her country music career with her late husband Johnnie Wright in 1937.

In 1952 she was the first female singer to reach No. 1 on the country charts with her signature song, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” (below) The song was an “answer song” to the Hank Thompson hit from the same year, “The Wild Side Of Life.” Kitty was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976.

The news swept across social media rapidly. Elizabeth Cook tweeted “Thank you, and RIP Kitty Wells.” @WSMradio , the twitter account for the station that carries the Grand Ol’ Opry tweeted “The staff at WSM would like to express our condolences to the family of Kitty Wells, the “Queen of Country Music,” who passed away today.”

And this from Loretta Lynn Official Facebook page “Kitty Wells will always be the greatest female country singer of all times. She was my hero. If I had never heard of Kitty Wells, I don’t think I would have been a singer myself. I wanted to sound just like her, but as far as I am concerned, no one will ever be as great as Kitty Wells. She truly is the Queen of Country Music.”

[EDIT] In a press releases Barbara Mandrell, a longtime friend of Kitty Wells, offers her comments on her mentor’s life and work:“Kitty Wells was every female country music performer’s heroine. She lead the way for all of us and I feel very grateful and honored to have known her. She was always the most gracious, kind and lovely person to be around. I so appreciated her being a part of my life and a mentor to me.”

[EDIT]In another press release from Dolly Parton gives her respect “Kitty Wells was the first and only Queen of Country Music, no matter what they call the rest of us.  She was a great inspiration to me as well as every other female singer in the country music business.  In addition to being a wonderful asset to country music, she was a wonderful woman.  We will always remember her fondly.”  

[EDIT] “She paved the way for generations after her and really made a mark for women in country. It’s a tough business for women. She proved that she could sell records and tickets and have hits in a time when that hadn’t been proven yet by female acts.” Lee Ann Womack

From 1953 to 1968, various polls listed Wells as the No. 1 female country singer. Tammy Wynette finally dethroned her. She continued her performing career occasionally on into her 80s.

WKRN reports funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the Hendersonville Church of Christ in Hendersonville, Tenn. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Goodpasture Christian School, C/O Kitty Well/Johnnie Wright Scholarship Fund.

Happy Birthday Woody Guthrie

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Today would have been Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday. I have gone on record as saying that I think direct political commentary in music cheapens it. Inevitably someone plays the Guthrie card to prove that politics and music can result in greatness. I say Guthrie is the proverbial exception that proves the rule. His songs and life, like Martin Luther King’s life and speeches and the Parables of Jesus, are the property of no political party. They transcend politics to speak to the plight and dignity of humanity. No political party has a monopoly on that.

I have collected some cover’s of Guthrie’s song from some current disciples. I hope you enjoy them.

Here’s to teh greatness of music that matters, and to a true American original.

Lucinda Williams – “I Ain’t Got No Home”

Steve Earle – “This Land is Your Land”

Uncle Tupelo – Do Re Mi

Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Neil Young – “This Land is Your Land” (segment)

Arlo Guthrie and Emmylou Harrris – Deportees
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXOdrk3Ypfw&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL7B51C7B58B751604

The Band & Bob Dylan – I Ain’t Got No Home