Category Archives: Bands

Bloodshot Records Artists Rocked By Sale & Accounting Issues

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On Monday, July 20th, a form letter was sent out to all artists currently signed to the independent Chicago-based music label Bloodshot Records that the the label is currently up for sale due to ongoing conflict with co-owners Nan Washaw and Rob Miller. This conflict has spilled over into artists and songwriters reimbursement.

Bloodshot artist Jason Hawk Harris posted today on his Facebook page some behind the scenes details:

‘Hey folks. Nan Warshaw is forcing the sale of Bloodshot Records and withholding money owed to artists. Sharing this is my decision in full and I was not prompted to do so by anyone in the Bloodshot camp.

The statement below (scroll down to read the internal statement)h was sent to all current roster artists yesterday by the non-ownership staff at Bloodshot. PLEASE read the letter below for full context before commenting.

I want to be ABSOLUTELY CLEAR and say that my problem is NOT with bloodshot. It is with the other part-owner (Warshaw), holding the company hostage after she was rightfully forced-out for choosing to protect a sexual predator over the artist he preyed on.

Rob and the staff at bloodshot have done nothing but fight for me, tooth and nail, since I signed with them a year and a half ago. I thought hard about sharing this, but ultimately decided I was not okay with Nan not having to face this publicly.

This is the crop reaped from the seeds sown by sexual assault. Take it very seriously, and please hold the right people accountable. And do whatever you can to put a stop to this kind of bullshit in your own industry/workplace.”

Last year Bloodshot Records co-founder Nan Warshaw resigned from her position at the label following allegations of sexual misconduct made Bloodshot recording artist Lydia Loveless against Warshaw’s domestic partner, Mark Panick. Warshaw’s resignation was announced in a statement from the label, which reads, “co-founder Nan Warshaw is resigning from Bloodshot. Remaining co-founder Rob Miller, along with the entire highly dedicated staff, will continue the work of Bloodshot, while ensuring that the core values of the company are consistently represented by all associated w/ the label.”(see tweet)

Bloodshot Records was founded by Rob Miller and Nan Warshaw in 1993 as an “insurgent country” record label catering to the coutry roots loving younger fans that grew up on punk and looked for a fusion of the sounds. Bloodshot was home to many of the genre’s pioneers like Ryan Adams, Neko Case, The Waco Brothers, Scott H. Biram, Wayne “The Train” Hancock, The Old 97’s, The Meat Purveyors, Robbie Fulks and Justin Townes Earle, and currently has on it’s roster Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Jason Hawk Harris, Ruby Boots, The Vandoliers, and others.

Old 97s New Album “Twelfth” Out This Summer

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Remember alt.country? The Old 97’s and their legions of fans worldwide haven’t. And those fans will be rewarded when the Dallas’ stalwarts deliver their 12th album, ‘Twelfth,’ on August 21st.

To drive home the title even further the cover features the most famous #12 of them all, the legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach airborne and in fine form.

The band began recording ‘Twelfth’ in Nashville’s Sputnik Sound Studio last spring, just as tornadoes ripped through the city as they watched from their rented condo.

Though The Old 97’s records and live performances are rollicking fun with a debauchery chaser, the new release will reflect singer and principal songwriter Rhett Miller’s newfound sobriety (five years this summer.) Though the topics might be more clear-eyed and focused if the newly releaseD cut ‘Turn Off The TV’ (see the Liam Lynch directed video below) is representative of the rest of the album, it’s still sure to be lots of fun.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9j4UewhtgN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Pre-order’Twelfth’

‘Twelfth’ track list:
– Confessional Boxing
– Diamonds On Neptune
– I Like You Better
– Happy Hour
– Absence (What We’ve Got)
– Turn Off The TV
– This House Got Ghosts
– Why Don’t We Ever Say We’re Sorry
– Belmont Hotel
– Bottle Rocket Baby
– Our Year
– The Dropouts

The Jayhawks Return With “XOXO” Out July 10

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Jayhawks - XOXO

Legendary Minneapolis pop-roots band The Jayhawks have announced their new album XOXO will release on July 10 via Sham/Thirty Tigers. Reportedly their most diverse and wide-ranging group of songs to date, XOXO marks a new era in collaboration, with songwriting and lead vocal contributions from all four longtime band members – Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Karen Grotberg, and Tim O’Reagan. Along with the announcement, The Jayhawks have released a new video with Louris performing a stripped-down version of “Living In A Bubble”, a timely song of the current lockdown era that laments the problematic nature of our ratings, click=bait driven “news” environment.

“Living In A Bubble’ lyrically is a reaction to the 24-hour news cycle and how the media can fan the flames of fear if one lets it,” says Louris. “It is also a commentary about data collection, Big Brother, and our obsession with devices, while never being truly present in the here and now. Musically it is an homage to the great Harry Nilsson, and is driven by the amazing piano playing of Karen Grotberg.”

Recorded over two weeks holed up together at the secluded Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, MN, as well as at Flowers Studio, founded by their friend and Minneapolis music stalwart the late Ed Ackerson.

With XOXO The Jayhawks camaraderie is at the heart and soul of the 12 songs, bringing an injection of confidence and energy to The Jayhawks’ signature harmonies, infectious melodies, and masterful musicianship.

“It was time to open things up,” explains Louris. “The Jayhawks are a true band, one where everyone’s equal, and we wanted to make a record that really reflected that.” Elaborating on the process, Perlman says, “Some songs we molded together from scratch, but others had been fully written by one or the other of us. We didn’t worry too much about who penned what, because after all these years of playing together, everything we do just naturally comes out sounding like a Jayhawks song.”

Fresh From The Fields – Americana and Roots Music Releases – August 23rd

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Fresh From The Fields - Americana and Roots Music Releases

Here’s some of the choicest sections of Americana and roots music for August 23rd, 2019.
Titles are linked to a source to purchase that may contribute to this site and help us keep doing
what we do. Enjoy the great bounty shared by these fine talented folks.

See the full Wanted! – Notable Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2019 list here.

Tanya Tucker – ‘While I’m Livin’ ‘

Vince Gill – ‘Okie’

Dalton Domino – ‘Songs From the Exile’

Jason Hawk Harris – ‘Love & the Dark’

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys – ‘Toil, Tears & Trouble’

Michael Cleveland – ‘Tall Fiddler’

Esther Rose – ‘You Made It This Far’

Leslie Stevens – ‘Sinner’

Croy and the Boys – ‘Howdy High-Rise’

Erin Enderlin – ‘Chapter Three: Whatever Gets You Through The Night’

Seth James – ‘Good Life’

Midland – ‘Let It Roll’

Record Store Day 2019 – Americana and Roots Music Picks

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Spring has sprung and for some antiquated reason we lose an hour of sleep, pollen lays waste to the weakest among us, people lay in fields Of bluebonnets just begging for a snake bite and the smell of vinyl hangs heavy in the air.

You might very well be asking yourself “Did I just read that right? Vinyl?”

Yes, indeed you did.

This Saturday, April 13th, is Record Store Day. That time when you drag your dead ass out of bed at the crack of dawn to stand in a line for the chance to score some choice limited-run vinyl.

The DIY movement that nearly single-handedly resuscitated a near-dead medium. New releases, obscure releases, long out-of-print re-releases, picture discs, colored discs, die-cut discs…it’s all there for a sometimes hefty price. But it’s cheaper than buying it later on eBay for 3-times the original price.

Here are a few Americana and Roots music nuggets from the list (see the full list here)

Highlights include Woody Guthrie’s first time on vinyl limited-edition 10″ “I Don’t Like The Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me,” John and Lilly Hiatt song swap limited-edition color 7″ vinyl “You Must Go! / All Kinds Of People” and Lone Justice’s previously unreleased live performance from October 1983 at the historic live County music venue “Live at the Palomino.”

So, get to your favorite indy record early on April 13th (I’ll be at Good Records in Dallas) and share those great finds with me on Instagram and Twitter.


Allman Brothers Band – Bear’s Sonic Journals: Fillmore East. February 1970
Label: Allman Brothers Band Recording Company
Quantity: 1500
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
A live recording compilation drawn from three nights of shows in February 1970. Recorded by legendary Grateful Dead soundman Owsley Stanley. This special Record Store Day package includes a limited edition, numbered glow-in-the-dark poster.

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed/Hoochie Coochie Man/Stateboro Blues/Trouble No More/Outskirts of Town/Whipping Post/Mountain Jam

Bob Dylan Blood On The Tracks — Original New York Test Pressing
Label: Legacy
Quantity: 7500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
Months before Bob Dylan released Blood On The Tracks in early 1975, a small number of test pressings were circulated, consisting entirely of material from sessions at A&R Recording Studios in New York City. (Dylan re-recorded five of these tracks in Minneapolis for inclusion on the final album.) Those original records were soon bootlegged, and the alternate history of one of Dylan’s most acclaimed works was born. This LP is an exact duplicate of the test pressing, containing unique mixes from the New York session, available commercially for the first time.

Side One: 1. Tangled Up In Blue 2. Simple Twist of Fate 3. You’re a Big Girl Now 4. Idiot Wind 5. You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go Side Two: 1. Meet Me In The Morning 2. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts 3. If You See Her, Say Hello 4. Shelter from the Storm 5. Buckets of Rain

Steve Earle – El Coyote / Don’t Let The Sunshine Fool You
Label: New West Records
Quantity: 900
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
Steve Earle & The Dukes release their latest album, GUY on March 29.. The band holed up in Nashville and recorded the record over a six-day period. They came out those sessions with 16 songs featuring some of Guy Clarks most well known hits such as “Desperados Waiting For A Train”, “LA Freeway” and “Dublin Blues.” Steve Earle then decided to book a solo recording session with the intention of recording two more Guy Clark songs specifically for independent retail and Record Store Day. New West Records and Steve Earle are proud to present his solo recordings of “El Coyote” and “Don’t Let The Sunshine Fool You” pressed on a limited edition 7″ 45rpm record.

A – El Coyote / B – Don’t Let The Sunshine Fool You

Woody Guthrie – I Don’t Like The Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me
Label: Omnivore Recordings
Quantity: 1500
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
In 1952, Guthrie wrote and recorded a song at home titled “I Don’t Like The Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me.” The track appears on vinyl for the first time on a limited edition 10″ of the same name for Record Store Day 2019. Also found on this special release is a second version of the demo with new accompaniment from Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, who, along with Billy Bragg and Wilco, released a series of acclaimed albums featuring their interpretations of unearthed Guthrie lyrics. Mermaid Avenue, the first in the series, was nominated for a Grammy® in 2000.

If those two tracks weren’t enough, I Don’t Like The Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me includes two versions of “Beech Haven Ain’t My Home” (a.k.a. “Old Man Trump”), whose lyrics were discovered within the Woody Guthrie Archives and chronicle the time the Guthrie family lived under landlord Fred Trump. As two drafts of the lyrics exist, the Riot-Folk Musician’s Collective’s Ryan Harvey combined them. This release contains a version by Harvey featuring Ani DiFranco and Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave), and another from Irion’s band U.S. Elevator.

Available exclusively for Record Store Day as a 10″ EP, I Don’t Like The Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me is not only a historic but a musical document, released in conjunction and with full cooperation from the Woody Guthrie Archives. As stated in the album’s notes: “These songs were mostly written well over half a century ago, but they are songs for our times to be sure.”

It is truly time for this music to be heard.

Side One:
I Don’t Like The Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me (1952 Home Demo) – Woody Guthrie
Old Man Trump – Ryan Harvey feat. Ani DiFranco & Tom Morello

Side Two:
I Don’t Like The Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me – Woody Guthrie & Jeff Tweedy
Beech Haven Ain’t My Home (aka Old Man Trump) – U.S. Elevator

Emmylou Harris – The Studio Albums 1980-83
Format: 5 x LP
Label: Warner Bros
Quantity: 1000
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release

John & Lilly Hiatt
You Must Go! / All Kinds Of People

Label: New West Records
Quantity: 450
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
Lilly Hiatt is the critically acclaimed daughter of singer-songwriter legend, John Hiatt. In the fall of 2018 they got together to record a version of one anothers songs. John Hiatt covered, “All Kinds Of People” from Lilly’s heavily praised album, “Trinity Lane.” Lilly took on the daunting task of picking a song from John’s vast catalog. She picked a winner with “You Must Go” from John Hiatt’s 1995 release, “Walk On.” Together these songs are pressed onto a limited edition color vinyl 7″.

SIDE A: You Must Go! SIDE B: All Kinds Of People

Lone Justice – Live at the Palomino
Label: Omnivore Recordings
Quantity: 1700
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
MORE INFO
Previously unissued live performance from October 1983 recorded at Los Angeles’ iconic Palomino club. Features 12 tracks from the early Lone Justice line-up consisting of Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, Marvin Etzioni, and Don Willens. Songs from their yet to be issued debut are coupled with classic country covers, and songs which have appeared on various collections throughout the years—but never with this live power from this L.A. landmark.

You Are The Light
Drugstore Cowboy
How Lonesome Life Has Been
The Train
Dustbowl Depression Time
Cotton Belt
This World Is Not My Home (I’m Just A Passin’ Through)
I See It
Working Man’s Blues
The Grapes Of Wrath
Working Late
Jackson

The Mavericks / Sweet Lizzy Project
The Flower’s In The Seed
Label: Y&T Music /Mono Mundo
Quantity: 1500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
MORE INFO
A split 7” featuring Grammy-winning band The Mavericks on one side and The Sweet Lizzy Project on the other. The Sweet Lizzy Project is a new band from Havana, Cuba signed to the Mavericks’ new label. Both sides are produced by The Mavericks’ Raul Malo.

Mumford & Sons – Delta Acoustic Sessions | Live From Electric Lady
Format: 10″ Picture Disc
Label: Glassnote
Quantity: 3500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release

“Delta Acoustic Sessions | Live From Electric Lady” features previously unheard acoustic recordings of four tracks from last year’s acclaimed album, “Delta”, pressed on a special 10″ Picture Disc.

SIDE A WOMAN GUIDING LIGHT
SIDE B WILD HEART IF I SAY

Leann Rimes – Live from Gruene Hall
Label: Everle Records
Quantity: 1000
Release type: ‘RSD First’ Release
MORE INFO
1. Pride and Joy 2. You Never Even Call Me By Name 3. San Antonio Rose 4. Wasted Days and Wasted Nights 5. Wonderwall 6. Nothing Better To Do 7. Blue 8. Streets of Bakersfield 9. The Bottle Let Me Down 10. Always On My Mind

Leon Russell – Live at Gilley’s
Label: Varese
Quantity: 1350
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
Leon Live was recorded on September 17, 1981, at the world-famous Gilley’s nightclub in Pasadena, Texas, with his New Grass Revival Band. Leon was in prime shape and the band was on fire that night. The album includes excellent versions of “One More Love Song” (the steel guitar gives the song a new twist), “Cajun Love Song,” and the show-stopping bluegrass tune, “Uncle Pen.” The release also features the Leon classics “A Song For You” and “Lady Blue.”

Watch Out! Strand of Oaks featuring Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires – “Ruby”

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Strand of Oaks was joined by members of My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel, drummer Patrick Hallahan, bassist Tom Blankenship, and keyboardist Bo Koster, as well as Jason Isbell and Amanda Shire performed a pastorally soulful rendition of ‘Ruby’ on “Colbert” last night.

“Ruby” is a track on the upcoming Strand Of Oaks album ‘Eraserland,’ out March 22 on Dead Oceans.

Pre-order ‘Eraserland’ here.

Watch their rendition of “Ruby” below:

Watch Out! The Blood Moon Howlers – “Drunk N’ Cold” [VIDEO PREMIERE]

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The Blood Moon Howlers - Drunk N' Cold

If you like your music greasy then, folks, do we have a treat for you!

L.A.’s The Blood Moon Howlers’ newest single “Drunk N’ Cold,” slithers to life with grinding electric guitar and smokey saxophone (how many roots music dare to feature saxophone?!) Guitarist/vocalist Matt Wayne then growls, with harmony provided by bassist JuJu, this ode to swamp water and booze-drenched love would slot perfectly as a track from a particularly menacing David Lynch scene.

Of the song the band says “It’s the first song we wrote for the LP and it really set the whole writing process for the LP into motion. This is a song written about stories Matt has of hangin’ out with his friends partying outside in the cold when they were younger and there was no other place to go. Although people have interpreted it other ways which is fun to hear.”

“Drunk N’ Cold” is from the upcoming full-length album, “Mad Man’s Ruse, out April 6th.

Official Site: thebloodmoonhowlers.com/

The Felice Brothers Announce New Album ‘Undress.’ Hear the Title Cut

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The Felice Brothers - Undress

Few contemporary bands embody what Greil Marcus coined as “Old. weird America” as well as The Felice Brothers and a new release by this Upstate New York rustic-core collective is always welcome news.

The new album, “Undress,” the follow-up to 2016’s “Life in rhe Dark,” will be released on May 3rd from Yep Roc Records.

Cut live to tape with very little overdubbing, Undress was recorded in the late summer of 2018 in Germantown, New York. Band members Ian Felice, James Felice, Will Lawrence (drums) and Jesske Hume (bass) teamed up with producer Jeremy Backofen to record their most personal and reflective album to date.
 
“Many of the songs on the new album are motivated by a shift from private to public concerns,” says songwriter Ian Felice. “It isn’t hard to find worthwhile things to write about these days, there are a lot of storms blooming on the horizon and a lot of chaos that permeates our lives.  The hard part is finding simple and direct ways to address them.”
 
Since the band’s last 2016 album release the group in a very different place. Between personnel changes, families growing and the political landscape, the result is a tighter, more-paired down release. “Every song is a story,” said James Felice. “On this album everything was a bit more thoughtful, including the arrangements, the sonic quality and the harmonies.”

Listen to title cut “Undress”

Pre-order “Undress” Here
 
Ian and James Felice grew up in the Hudson valley of upstate NY. Self taught musicians, inspired as much by Hart Crane and Whitman as by Guthrie and Chuck Berry, they began in 2006 by playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of Life in the Dark, The Felice Brothers served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release Salutations and the subsequent tour. 

The band kicks off a US tour starting on April 27 in Albany. Tickets go on sale on February 12 at www.thefelicebrothers.com.
 
Tour Dates:           
4/27: Albany, NY – TBA                                   
4/28: Syracuse, NY – The Westcott Theater            
4/29: Buffalo, NY – The 9th Ward at Babeville           
4/30: Toronto, ON – Legendary Horseshoe Tavern           
5/2: Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village                       
5/3: Lexington, KY – On The Rail Roots Festival                       
5/4: Columbus, OH – Rumba Cafe                                   
5/6: Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe                                   
5/7: Lancaster, PA – Tellus 360                                   
5/9: Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s                       
5/10: Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House                       
5/12: Hopewell, NJ – Hopewell Theater                       
5/15: Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artspace                                   
5/16: Providence, RI – Columbus Theatre                       
5/18: Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair 
5/23: Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27 
5/24: Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall                               
5/25: Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap – with The Avett Brothers                              
6/6: Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle Tavern                       
6/7: Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic                                   
6/8: Nashville, TN – Exit/In
6/9: Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewery
6/10: New Orleans -Gasa Gasa
6/12: Austin, TX – Barracuda
6/14: Santa Fe, NM – Tumbleroot
6/15: Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole
6/16: San Diego, CA – The Casbah
6/17: Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater
6/19: San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
6/21: Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
6/22: Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
6/24: Garden City, ID – Visual Arts Collective
6/25: Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
6/27: Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater

Wanted! – Notable Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2019

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2018 is now in the pages of history and as America shifts (lurches?) into an uncertain future. Americana and roots music, unlike many other genres, continues to be true to its legacy and addresses our times with art that refuses to chase the charts and churn out reflexively commercial product and, lucky for us, refuses to treat the audience as mindless consumers.

That’s not to say that Americana and roots music is merely a barometer for political and social conditions and change. No sane person wants their favorite artists to be righteous yet starve. As the music industry continues to reflect changing consumer demands artists are also finding opportunities to reach audiences and generate revenue in movies and video games.

Some albums I’m  personally looking forward to because I’ve heard some cuts, or on my faith in the artist,  are Hayes Carll’s  â€œWhat It Is,” Feb. 15: Dale Watson’s Call Me Lucky and Ryan Bingham – “American Love Song” , all on February 15th,  Mandolin Orange’s “Tides of a Teardrop” on February 1st, and Joshua Ray Walker’s “Wish You Were Here” on January 25th as well as Son Volt’s “Union’ on March 29th.

As more dates come throughout the year I will be updating the list. If you know of an actual release not listed yet please leave it in the comments.

As always I appreciate your visiting the site and hope you join me in another great year for Americana and roots music.

January: Jan. 18th: Danny Burns – “North Country”
Jan. 25th: Lula Wiles – ‘What Will We Do’
Jan. 4th: Balsam Range – “Aeonic”
Jan. 18th: Alice Wallace – “ Into the Blue”
Jan. 18th: Ronnie Milsap – “Ronnie Milsap: The Duets”
Jan. 18th: Greensky Bluegrass – “All for Money”
Jan. 18th: The Steel Woods – “Old News”
Jan. 18th: Whitehorse – “The Northern South Vol. 2”
Feb. 22: Vandoliers – “Forever” 

February:
Feb. 1st: Mandolin Orange – “Tides of a Teardrop”
Feb. 1st: Abigail Lapelle – “Getaway”
Feb. 8th: Gurf Morlix – ‘Impossible Blue’
Feb. 15th: Hayes Carll – “What It Is”
Feb. 15th: Dale Watson – “Call Me Lucky”
Feb. 15th: Ryan Bingham – “American Love Song”
Feb. 15th: Joey McGee – “El Camino Real”
Feb. 15th: Kalyn Fay – “Good Company”
Feb. 22nd: Dearling – “Silver and Gold” (EP)
Feb. 22nd Vandoliers – “Forever”
Feb. 22nd – Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell – ‘Songs of Our Native Daughters’ March:
March 1st: Mary Bragg – “Diamonds as Camouflage”
March 1st: The Cactus Blossoms – “Easy Way”
March 1st: Dave Ernst – “Hickory Switch”
March 2nd: The Honey Dewdrops – “Anyone Can See”
March 7th: Townes Van Zandt – “Sky Blue”
March 8th: Patty Griffin – “Patty Griffin” March 8th: Clara Baker – “Things To Burn”
March 22nd: Allison de Groot & Tatiana March 22nd: Orville Peck – “Pony” March 22nd: Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon – “Solstice” March 29th: Son Volt – “Union”

April: April 2nd: John Paul White – ‘The Hurting Kind” April 5th: Molly Tuttle – “When You’re Ready.” April 5th: Megg Farrell -“Megg Farrell” April 12th: Shovels & Rope – “By Blood” April 12th: Taylor Alexander – “Good Old Fashioned Pain” April 19th: Daniel Norgren – “Wooh Dang” May:
May 3rd: Pete Seeger – ‘The Smithsonian Folkways Collection’ May 3rd: Caroline Spence – “Mint Condition” May 10th: The Shootouts – “Quick Draw” May 24th: Willard Gayheart – “At Home in the Blue Ridge”

June:
June 14th: Hank Williams – ‘Health & Happiness Show’ June 21st: Buddy and Julie Miller -‘Breakdown on 20th Ave. South’ June 28th: Chuck Mead – “Close To Home” August 16th The Messenger: A Tribute to Ray Wylie Hubbard August 23rd Esther Rose – ‘You Made It This Far’ Erin Enderlin – ‘Chapter Three: Whatever Gets You Through The Night’ Tanya Tucker – ‘While I’m Livin’ ‘ Vince Gill – ‘Okie’ Dalton Domino – ‘Songs From the Exile’ Jason Hawk Harris – Love & the Dark The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys – ‘Toil, Tears & Trouble’ Leslie Stevens – ‘Sinner’ Croy and the Boys – ‘Howdy High-Rise’ Seth James – Midland – ‘Let It Roll’ September 7th The Highwomen – Self-Titled’ Terri Hendrix – ‘Talk To A Human’ Jason Tyler Burton – ‘Kentuckian’ Paul Cauthen – ‘Room 41’ Cut Throat Francis – ‘This Garden’s Never Gonna Grow’ Ana Egge – ‘Is It the Kiss’ NRBQ – ‘Turn On, Tune In’ Amy Speace – ‘Me and the Ghosts of Charlemagne’ These Wild Plains – ‘Thrilled To Be Here’ Trailerpark Idlers – ‘Ghost Town Nights September 13th Jeremy Ivey – ‘The Dream And The Dreamer’ September 27th Hot Club of Cowtown – ‘Wild Kingdom’ October 4th The North Mississippi Allstars – “Up and Rolling” October 13th Cody Jinks – ‘After The Fire’ North Mississippi Allstars – ‘Up and Rolling’ Corb Lund – ‘Cover Your Tracks’ Jonah Tolchin – ‘Fires for the Cold’ Marti Brom – ‘Midnight Bus’ Ted Drozdowski – ‘Learn To Love The Moon’ Jeremy Ivey – ‘The Dream And The Dreamer; Janiva Magness – ‘Change In The Weather: Janiva Magness Sings John Fogerty’ October 18th The Milk Carton Kids – ‘The Only Ones’ Darin Aldridge & Brooke Aldridge – ‘Inner Journey’ Driftwood Soldier – ‘Stay Ahead Of The Wolf’ The Drunken Hearts – ‘Wheels of the City’ Rory Ellis – ‘Inner Outlaw’ EmiSunshine and The Rain – ‘Family Wars’ Jimmy “Duck” Holmes – ‘Cypress Grove’ Jake La Botz – ‘They’re Coming For Me’ New Copasetics – ‘Twang-Ucopia’ David Newbould – ‘Sin & Redemption’ Karen & the Sorrows – ‘Guaranteed Broken Heart’ Zachary Lucky – ‘Midwestern’ October 25th Allison Moorer – ‘Blood’ Neil Young & Crazy Horse – ‘Colorado’ Craig Cummings – ‘Absolute Surprise’ Karen & the Sorrows – ‘Guaranteed Broken Heart’ Van Morrison – ‘Three Chords and the Truth’ Jackson Stokes – ‘Jackson Stokes’ Zack Walther Band – ‘The Westerner’ November 20th Bill Scorzari – ‘Now I’m Free’ January 31st Dustbowl Revival – ‘Is It You, Is It Me?’

Video Premiere – Grain Thief – “Colorado Freeze”

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Today Twang Nation is proud to exclusively premiere the video for Grain Thief’s “Colorado Freeze” from their full-length debut “Stardust Lodge.” (out now – order below) The song is perfect road song and the video fitfully follows the band as they perform on their tour bus on the way to visit a Colorado amusement park. The VHS camcorder gives the whole thing a nice washed-out grainy aesthetic.

Grain Thief is a 5-piece americana string band from Boston, MA. The group comprises Patrick Mulroy (guitar, vocals), Zach Meyer (mandolin, vocals), Michael Harmon (bass, vocals), Tom Farrell (lead guitar), and Alex Barstow (fiddle).

Prior to the formation of the band, Grain Thief was used as a moniker for Mulroy’s solo project from 2011-2014. Mulroy toured the East Coast sporadically after recording two EPs and moving back to Boston from Washington, DC where he had worked in a Korean Restaurant and played bass in a heavy metal jam band called Thundertyts.

In Boston, he continued to use the name Grain Thief and brought in a revolving group of drummers, percussionists, guitarists, and bass players. Rhode Island born Tom Farrell joined the coalition early on as a lead guitar player–he and Mulroy met in a dark basement in Brighton somewhere around 2008. For a time, the band featured 2 drummers, with Farrell on bass allowing Mulroy to play his newly purchased blonde telecaster.

After much prodding, saxophonist, Zach Meyer reluctantly joined the band on mandolin. The two had met through a mutual friend in the Cambridge competitive beer-drinking scene and vaguely knew that the other could play an instrument. However, this quartet (Mulroy, Meyer, Farrell, and South Shore Joe Angellis on drums) would not last. Dissatisfied with the project’s direction, Mulroy dissolved it.

The new Grain Thief reformed almost immediately at Meyer’s apartment in Lower Allston, where the 3 former members (Mulroy, Meyer, and Farrell) worked on acoustic arrangements of some new and old songs to prepare for a one-off show in a converted Brooklyn warehouse.

Meyer’s then roommate was future fiddle-player Alex Barstow. Barstow was trained as a classical violist, but was soon dragged into jamming on old time tunes by Meyer who grew up in the old-time fiddle community in Washington state. Barstow never made it to that show in Brooklyn, but he did wind up at the band’s next rehearsal and first two shows at the Rosebud Diner in Davis Square.

Meanwhile, acquaintance of the band and recording engineer Mike Harmon was building a studio out by Wachusett Mountain in Central Massachusetts. Mulroy, a carpenter, seeing the opportunity to score some free recording time for his fledgling band, spent countless hours with Mike building out the studio. However, the free recording time would never come to pass, as Mike would soon join the band. With Mike’s bass, third vocal harmony, and Trident series 65 console, the band was now complete. Their union was solidified after Mulroy accidentally dropped Harmon’s 1939 Kay Bass down the stairs, snapping the headstock clean off, resulting in a costly repair and lifelong friendship.

Their debut EP Animal was recorded and released in November 2015. The record showcases the band’s roots in folk, bluegrass, and old time music. In 2017, the band began a residency at the Burren pub in Somerville and continues to entertain the Wednesday crowds to this day. From their perch in Massachusetts, the band has toured heavily in New England and made forays in the West, South, and East Coast.

The recording of Animal’s follow up Stardust Lodge began in April 2016 and finished a year and a half later. Mulroy’s lyrical approach to the album is met equally with songs of loss and regret, and the struggles of the everyday working man with a satirical twist. The arrangements and instrumentation represent a departure from Animal’s bleak simplicity with the band showing a bit more leg. With a new record out and shows booked throughout the country, the band has a long road ahead to cruise.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind the song, Mulroy has this to say:

“The song was co-written by myself (Patrick Mulroy) and a good friend, Connor McGinnis, a Nashville songwriter, formerly of the Zuni Mountain Boys, who is currently working on a new record down there.

He started the song, and I finished it is the short answer. It’s sourced from both of our memories of old flames and cold mornings. It deals with looking back on mistakes or memories from far into the future after the dust has settled.”

The song is the first single off of our record Stardust Lodge, which came out on August 24th.

In preparation for the release, the band did a 7 date tour of Colorado, hitting all four corners. They filmed the video on the road, and at various stops along the way– our bass player Mike handled the editing duties.

Buy “Stardust Lodge” here.

Official Site: grainthief.com

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