Lucinda Williams – Town Hall, New York – New York Times

The New York Times has a nice write up on the Lucinda Williams “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” show played Tuesday night at Town Hall in New York City. This was the third of a five concert retrospective of William’s discography on in reverse chronological order. She did the same performances in Los Angeles last month. I especially like this bit from the Times:

Ms. Williams was a strong singer on Tuesday. She can radically delay a word’s delivery with her thick voice; she used that effect sparingly and beautifully. And by the middle of the show, through her phrasing she was pressing down hard on the words, drawing them out and giving them an edge of uncomfortable persistence; she enlarges them so she can live in them.

I attended the opening “World Without Tears” and the “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” shows and will post on them soon. I wish I had the Times staff but it’s just me out here!

Lyle Lovett To Perform and Recieve Special Award at Americana Honors and Awards Show

NASHVILLE, October 1, 2007 – Artist Lyle Lovett will receive the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award and perform at the organization’s 2007 Honors and Awards show, slated for November 1 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. To further delve into all things Lyle, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will also sponsor a keynote interview with Lovett the following day, Friday, November 2, during the Americana Music Association’s annual conference.

Dr. Warren Zanes, Education Advisor to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, will moderate the in-depth discussion with Lovett. Scheduled for 11am at the Nashville Convention center, this rare glimpse into the creative process of one of contemporary music’s most fructuous minds is open to conference registrants only.

Established to recognize true musical pioneers, the Americana Trailblazer Award seeks to honor those emboldened artists who create timeless musical capsules of individualistic style and purpose. A connoisseur and catalyst of fine music, Lyle Lovett embodies the term genre-bending. Three decades of the Texas native’s sui generis gospel-roots-jazz-swing concoction have been well-documented by eleven albums, four Grammy’s and a distinct voice both as a songwriter and vocal stylist. Lovett’s newest offering, It’s Not Big It’s Large, offers more literary song gumbo.

“It’s an honor to be part of the Americana Honors & Awards tribute to Lyle Lovett,” said Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “The social soundtrack that Lyle continues to create makes us proud to be working with the Americana Music Association in our shared mission of celebrating modern music and the great artists who create it.”

“Lyle Lovett’s designation as the first recipient of the Trailblazer Award really sets the tone for the honor itself,” said Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly. “We at the AMA are consistently thrilled by the caliber of artist we represent and applaud. Lyle Lovett naturally falls into that elite fold.”

Lovett rounds out the nonpareil lineup of artists scheduled to perform during the 8th annual Americana Awards and Honors ceremony. Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Darrell Scott, Joe Ely, Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby, Todd Snider, Gurf Morlix, The Avett Brothers, Sunny Sweeney, Old Crow Medicine Show, Hacienda Brothers and Elizabeth Cook will all take the stage. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring a band led by Buddy Miller, the event will also toast winners in six member-voted categories: Album, Artist, Instrumentalist, New and Emerging Artist, Song and Duo/Group of the Year. The AMA will also recognize beloved beatnik Joe Ely with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Performance category. Venerable scribe Guy Clark will accept the AMA President’s award on behalf of his friend, Townes Van Zandt. Clark’s performance will pay tribute to the late Van Zandt, whose unparalleled influence touches the upper echelon of song.

Slated for Wednesday, October 31 through Saturday, November 3, the 8th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer daily seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center. Each evening brings stacked Americana showcases to key venues throughout Nashville.

Lyle Lovett – That’s Right You’re Not From Texas

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMhaehb5AnE[/youtube]

Big State Festival – October 13 & 14 – Bryan-College Station, Texas

The good folks at the country music blog 9513.com are giving away tickets to the Big State Festival. Now I lived in Texas most of my life and never heard of the Big State Festival. Well turns out this is the first year it’s being put on.

The Festival is held on October 13 & 14 at the Texas World Speedway; Bryan-College Station, Texas (Gig ’em!) and will have more than 50 country music stars on 5 stages over 2 days as well as stock car racing as (this is my favorite part) a Barbecue Showdown. The performers will include Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Drive-By Truckers, Leon Russell, Billy Joe Shaver, Charlie Louvin , Gary Allan, Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Bruce and Charlie Robison, Luke Bryan, Kelly Willis, Sunny Sweeney and more. Head over to the official Big State Festival website to see a full lineup.

The festival will benefit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.

Townes Van Zandt To Be Presented with AMA President’s Award

Texas singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt will be remembered with the President’s Award by the Americana Music Association during their annual awards show on Nov. 1 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The award will be accepted by Van Zandt’s friend, songwriter Guy Clark, who will perform one of Van Zandt’s songs in tribute. Emmylou Harris, who recorded Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You” and “Pancho and Lefty,” has also been added to the list of performers for the awards show. The Hacienda Brothers, Elizabeth Cook, the Avett Brothers and Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby will also perform.

Bobby Bare Jr. Tour News

Coming off summer tour dates with The Slip and gearing up for a fall tour supporting Lucero, post-punk-alt.country innovator and Andre The Giant look-alike Bobby Bare Jr will be performing a special daytime Musicfest NW show today with members of the Decemberists appearing as his backing band! Bobby and his crack pickup band will support Cat Power at a special daytime Musicfest NW show. Touring in support of The Longest Meow, his critically acclaimed album on Bloodshot Records,  Bare Jr also announces a special reunion of his crack band in previous years, Bare, Jr, which takes place on November 23rd at The Exit in Nashville, TN.

New York Concert Calender Part Deux

I posted the overlooked a couple of doozies from the fall music calender.

Mary Gauthier with John Henry  9/20/2007    Blender Theatre at Gramercy   New York, NY

Ryan Adams                 10/31/2007    Hammerstein Ballroom        New York, NY

New York Concert Calender

Some upcoming New York shows foe all you city Hillbillys and Betties.

Bowery Ballroom

Fri 09/14/07 Pieta Brown
Fri 09/14/07 Teddy Thompson

Sat 09/29/07 Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers
Sat 09/29/07 The Alternate Routes

Wed 10/10/07 Jason Isbell
Wed 10/10/07 The Whigs

Tue 10/23/07 Shooter Jennings

Fri 10/26/07 Drive-By Truckers
Fri 10/26/07 Ryan Bingham

The Mercury Lounge

Sat 11/10/07 David Kilgour
Sat 11/10/07 Euros Childs
Sat 11/10/07 Laura Cantrell

Town Hall

Wed 09/26/07 Allison Moorer
Wed 09/26/07 Steve Earle

Tue 10/02/07 Fionn Regan
Tue 10/02/07 Lucinda Williams
Wed 10/03/07 Fionn Regan
Wed 10/03/07 Lucinda Williams
Thu 10/04/07 Fionn Regan
Thu 10/04/07 Lucinda Williams

Sat 10/27/07 Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Sat 10/27/07 Jack Cooke
Sat 10/27/07 Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys

Sunny Sweeney in Dallas/San Antonio

Hey Dallas and San Antonio homies, do yourself a favor and get out this weekend and check out that honky-tonk sweetheart and CMT.com blogger Sunny Sweeney at a show near you.

Sep 7 2007      9:00P Sons of Hermann Hall     Dallas, TX
Sep 8 2007     9:00P Leon Springs Dancehall w/ Rodney Hayden     San Antonio, TX

Sunny Sweeney – East Texas Pines

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt62tQg2Urg[/youtube]

PopMatters on Ryan Adams Show – Salt Lake City, UT

PopMatters.com’s Evan Sawdey has a nice review of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals show at Salt Lake City, UT in support of Adam’s latest release Easy Tiger (Lost Highway.)

It appears that even a newly sober Adams is still establishing himself as the musical heir to Steve Earle and the attitudinal heir to Maria Carey.

Ryan Adams – When The Stars go Blue

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99sjZT1qB2Q[/youtube]

 

Country Fest – American Cancer Society Benefit – August 17th, 18th & 19th – McKeesport, PA.

COUNTRY FEST 2007 is a fundraiser which a portion of all proceeds will benefit The American Cancer Society. Country Fest is to be held on Friday, August 17th from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm—Saturday, August 18th from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm with fireworks starting at 10:30 pm and Sunday, August 19th from noon to 6:30 pm. The event will be held at Renziehausen Park (aka Renzie Park) on Eden Park Boulevard in McKeesport, PA. There will be crafts, food, games, live bands, fireworks and more. Children 12 years of age and under admitted free. There will be a $5.00 gate fee for everyone over the age of 12 years. For more information please feel free to call 412-537-7644.

The band schedule is as follows.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17TH

6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM—-LOIS SCOTT & THE PLUM LOCO BAND
7:30 PM TO 8:30 PM—-GIRLZ IN BLACK HATS
9:00 PM TO 10:00 PM—-DALLAS MARKS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18TH

2:00 PM TO 3:00 PM—TJ HOUSTON
3:30 PM TO 4:30 PM—-CRANKY YANKEE
5:00 PM TO 6:00 PM—-JERRY SCHICKLING
6:30 PM TO 7:30 PM—-BRYAN COLE
8:00 PM TO 9:00 PM—-TBA
9:30 PM TO 10:30 PM—-DALLAS MARKS

Fireworks are at 10:30 PM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19TH

12:30 PM TO 1:30 PM—-SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT
2:00 PM TO 3:00 PM—BLIND DATE
3:30 PM TO 4:30 PM—-WHISKEY GRIN
5:00 PM TO 6:00 PM—-DALLAS MARKS