Live Review: Sturgill Simpson – Club DaDa – Dallas, Tx – 11/15/14

 Sturgill Simpson - Club DaDa - Dallas, Tx - 11/15/14

Music is not a static thing. There is no such thing as a pure form of music.

The current hand-wringing around the state of country music implies that there’s some pure, better form of the music that we are denying at best, losing at worst. It;s not new. The same worry of a lost way is a constant topic around most genres. Rock is dead. Punk is head. Hip-Hop has sold out. Bro country is the new satan.

The struggle between art and commerce is the core of this discussion. In order for a performer to continue to make music they need the freedom, creative freedom as well as freedom from starvation.

Since Bristol folk music been driven from the fields and porches and into commodity. It’s a reality and there’s no turning back, and it’s or the best. If not for commodification and musicians being monetarily rewarded for producing music we as fans would not have much of the music that’s become a part of our lives.

In country music Music Row has long been the standard to adhere to and rail against. Music Row’s push toward mitigation of risk by driving standardization and homogeny is a page right out of the Henry Ford and McDonalds book of business. This makes lot’s of money but leads to mediocre music. Sometimes the pendulum swings too far.

The slick Nashville Sound of Eddy Arnold led to the harder Bakersfield Sound with Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Outlaw Country was a latter reaction to the controlled, top-down production of the Music Row studio system. The neo-traditional wave of the 80’s – Randy Travis, Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, Keith Whitley, Marty Stuart, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam was a salvo against the cultural and economic juggernaut known as Urban Cowboy movement.

When George Strait and Alan Jackson joined forces to chastise the industry on “Murder on Music Row,” they were setting their sights directly on that savvy self-promoter Garth Brooks.

So is the midst of bro-country brouhaha we have a new country music savior. Like these other, dare I say, outlaws Sturgill Simpson is the ultimate outsider. Exacting in his sound and themes, indifferent about current style (music and fashion) Sturgill’s working his variation of 70’s hard country music that 30 years before was mined by neo-traditionalists like Dwight Yoakam. And there appears to be a new audience hungry for a similar sound.

A stark contrast to the Merle Haggard show I attended a few days before, the crowd was young but no less reverent. 20 and 30 somethings arrived at Dallas’ storied Club DaDa to catch a sound that their grandparents might enjoyed at Billy Bob’s decades before.

The pendulum swings.

After some last minute changes by the local promoter due to chilly weather and to accommodate grumbling fans left ticketless from the small venue (I believe Sturgill could have sold out The Granada) the crowd was packed, primed and a little pickled.

Baltimore native opener Cris Jacobs had a daunting task confronting this rowdy crowd. But his Chris Stapleton-like soulful croon and dexterity on the acoustic and cigar box guitar quickly won us all over.

Once Jacobs set ended within minutes Simpson enters the stage to the roar of the crowd, which was the only signal that something had happened. No big announcements or set changes, just…Sturgill Simpson lead guitarist, a bassist and a drummer. It’s startling in the world of entertainment big entrances how effective this was.

And without pomp and choreographed gyrations to distract a crowd you need to deliver, and Simpson and band did just that. Estonian-born guitarist Laur Joamets is a present day Don Rich. His throwback Travis Tritt looks and mastery of that staple of country music , the fender Telecaster, showed why Simpson, no slouch on the guitar himself, gave him the gig.

Simpson looks menacingly into the crowd with a crooked smile and sang his songs about hillbillies and mind-altering substances and the crowd responded in dizzying accord. The audience’s singing was so enthusiastic that during the hits ‘Turtles All The Way Down ” and “Living the Dream,” the band was barely decipherable and many passages Simpson just the crowd at it, and smiled.

Which makes me wonder, is it a hit if radio refuses to play it? The crowds response gives me all the answer I need.

This night, this show, this crowd – it all had a feeling of once in a lifetime event. Like you’ll never see this man in a venue this small again. with the late-night show appearances and sold-out shows he’s moving on to bigger places.

But no matter how big this becomes Simpson is keeping it all in perspective. On his bus after the show show Simpson confesses ‘This has been a wild year , and I’m thankful. But I remember those nights when nobody came. you can’t take this for granted.”

Simpson is a tipping point of other traditionally like-minded folks like Jamey Johnson and Kacey Musgraves that are at the right place, at the right time. And more importantly, with great songs and a sense of history, but without a dogged allegiance it it.

Is Simpson country music’s savior? No, it’s doesn’t need saving. bUt he and his fans are having a hell of a tie riding the pendulum as it swings.

Listen Up! Old 97’s – “Eyes For You”

Old 97's debut ‘Hitchhike to Rhome.’

As I previously posted Omnivore Recordings today releases the Old 97’s alt.country standard-bearing debut, ‘Hitchhike to Rhome.’

Before you head over and get your copy (and you should,) check out the barn-burning (and unsettling) cut “Eyes For You,” below. The rave-up was selected by the band and co-producer Ken Bethea for this reissue and shows the boys at their hall-bent finest.

The version was first in Chicago in ’95 for Bloodshot Record’s “Early Tracks” and as a limited red vinyl edition (1000) 7″ single.

This version was cut in Dallas a year earlier during the original ‘Hitchhike to Rhome’ sessions, but was not included on it’s release.

Buy a few to stuff in those pitifully empty stockings over the fireplace.

CD TRACK LIST:
Disc One
St. Ignatius
504
Drowning In The Days
Miss Molly
Dancing With Tears
4 Leaf Clover
Wish The Worst
Old 97’s Theme
Doreen
Hands Off
Mama Tried
Stoned
If My Heart Was A Car
Desperate Times
Ken’s Polka Thing
Tupelo County Jail
Disc Two
St. Ignatius (demo cassette version)
Drowning In The Days (demo cassette version)
Making Love With You (demo cassette version)

Stoned (demo cassette version)
Dancing With Tears (demo)*
Ivy (demo)*

Eyes For You*

Crying Drunk*

Victoria*

Old 97’s Theme Spgeddi*
Alright By Me*

Desperate Times*
LP TRACK LIST:
Side One
St. Ignatius
504
Drowning In The Days
Miss Molly
Dancing With Tears
Side Two
4 Leaf Clover
Wish The Worst
Old 97’s Theme
Tupelo County Jail
Doreen
Hands Off
Side Three
Mama Tried
Stoned

If My Heart Was A Car
Desperate Times
Ken’s Polka Thing
Tupelo County Jail
Side Four
Crying Drunk*

Dancing With Tears (demo)
Ivy (demo)*

Victoria*

Eyes For You*
Old 97’s Theme Spgeddi*
* Previously unissued
– See more at: http://www.twangnation.com/2014/10/13/omnivore-recordings-to-release-expanded-20th-anniversary-of-old-97s-debut-hitchhike-to-rhome-november-17/#sthash.Wbhq2UGk.dpuf

Merle Haggard / Marty Stuart Deliver a Powerful Double-Shot – Bass Hall, Ft. Worth 11/12/14

Merle Haggard / Marty Stuart A Powerful One, Two Punch - Bass Hall, FT. Worth 11/12/14

On a North Texas night chilled by an early winter snap Merle Haggard and Marty Stuart brought a welcome reprieve by turning up the heat.

“I hope you didn’t come looking for some fancy show. If you did you just wasted your money!” Stuart grinned, making a reference to the lavish Ft. Worth venue typically showcasing symphonies, ballets, operas and musicals.

But not tonight. This cold night the capacity-filled Bass hall had been transformed into a rowdy roadhouse, though a tad highfalutin one.

No chairs or longnecks were thrown (and no chicken wire across the stage required) during Stuart’s set but the atmosphere created was just that. Stuart is the consummate showman – in tight leather pants and silver rooster comb of hair – as he worked the crowd into a frenzy. Well, the crowd was largely equally as sliver, so let’s say a tizzy. He and his always extraordinary band, the Fabulous Superlatives – Kenny Vaughan on guitar, Harry Stinson on drums and Paul Martin on bass, – brought a level of bluegrass-level virtuosity that Start had honed personally from his many years in country music, including his start with Lester Flatt. The majority of the brief but satisfying set was from their just-released double album, “Saturday Night/Sunday Morning.” Honky-tonk barn-burners mixed with Gospel pew-kneelers set toes-tapping and hands-clapping.

And in the case of Stuart’s astonishing mandolin solo, jaws dropping.

As Merle Haggard said later in the program “Marty likes to work in Nashville, I DON’T! But he keeps that town alive.”

Stuart introduced the 77-year-old Haggard as he strolled out on stage as nonchalantly as a living legend might.

Decked in Blacks slacks, boosts and a black jacket with brown leather trim (my bets a Manual exclusive) a fedora/cowboy hybrid chapéu and dark sunglasses, The Hag wasted no time launching into “Big City.”

The classics kept coming, his own hits like “Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star,” Silver Wings,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” and others including Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Blaze Foley’s “If I Could Only Fly,” and the Townes Van Zandt he and Willie made into a radio staple “Pancho and Lefty.”

A hush fell over the crowd during his reverent rendition of “Are the Good Times Really Over.” As the song reminiscences simpler times, and better music, without resorting to saccharin tropes of as he asks teh question most of us ask whe watching a oucntry awards program, “Are the good times really over for good?”

Not as long as Haggard and Stuart walk this earth.

Haggard appeared to be a bit winded and he mentioned several times about “Being out of breath” and feeling like he was having an “asthma attack.” Given hsi recent history with health issue there was palpable concern and calls of encouragement as he sipped some hot tea a delivered on-stage by a background singer.

The one soap-box moment of the night came when Haggard asked the audience who was in favor for legalization of marijuana? He then asked “Who’s against it?” Following rhetorically with, “Why?” (video below)

Are the good times really over for good? Not as long as Haggard and Stuart walk this earth.

Merle Haggard’s set list: “Big City,” “Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star,” Silver Wings,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink,” “If I Could Only Fly,” “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,” “Mama Tried,” “The Bottle Let Me Down,” “If We Make It Through December,” “Are the Good Times Really Over,” “Pancho and Lefty,” “Footlights,” “Train of Life,” “San Antonio Rose,” “Old Fashioned Love,” “Working in Tennessee” (with Marty Stuart) and “Okie From Muskogee” (with Marty Stuart) No encore.

GhostTunes Contest

GhostTunes

The headlines are full of performers not happy with the current market conditions for their music. Few have the will (or the clout) to build their own marketplace to take on the establishment.

Garth Brooks has used his massive comeback, releasing ‘Man Against Machine, his first album in 13 years along with a string of sold-out shows, to shine a light on these economic conditions and his own full-service music platform , which goes live today.

From the press release “GhostTunes focuses on providing the best music experience for both artists and the fans that love their music. Fans are able to listen to their music immediately upon purchase from the GhostTunes platform, without having to download the content to their device. Fans can also download their purchased content to play with the audio player of their choice on a phone, tablet or computer.”

Will this change things? Perhaps. For now it’s changed the conversation.

Leave a comment below for chance to win a $12.99 gift card and judge for yourself.

A winner will be chosen at random this evening at 7pm CST.

Good luck!

Watch Out! Suzanne Jarvie “Spiral Road” [VIDEO]

Suzanne Jarvie "Spiral Road"

The video for the title song of Toronto singer-songwriter Suzanne Jarvie’s debut album, “Spiral Road” that blends the song’s blacktop existence and Native-American mysticism with beautiful shots of Arizona and New Mexico landscape.

Director Jason van Bruggen uses imagery that frames song’s theme of connections – of time, cultures and geography that blends into a whole experience. Jarvie’s lonely, lovely yearn backed by driving drum , flecked banjo, front-porch fiddle and Mickey Raphael’s mastery of the mournful harmonica brings this lovely song into familiar territory.

Official Site | Buy

Loretta Lynn Signs With Sony Legacy, New Album In The Works For Next Year

Loretta Lynn

LynnThe reining Queen of Country Music inked her fist new record deal in more than a decade.

Following Willie Nelson to Sony Legend the new agreement covers “several albums of new material,” produced by Lynn’s daughter Patsy L Russell and John Carter Cash, recorded over the past seven years at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tenn.

The first title is plannned for release in 2015 and will be the artist’s first collection of new recordings since 2004’s Grammy-winning Jack White collaberation “Van Lear Rose,”

Lynn, Russell and Cash have beenworking togather at Cash Cabin Studio sice 2007. The materian “explores Lynn’s musical history spanning Appalachian folk songs and gospel music she learned as a child, to new interpretations of her classic hits and country standards, to songs newly-written for the project.

Drawing inspiration from personal memories and connections to American music, Lynn’s new recordings “capture the essence of these songs in intimate new performances, the way they might’ve sounded growing up in the 1930’s and 40’s in Butchers Hollow, Ky.”

Lynn appeared on the Country Music Awards last night, signing “You’re Looking at Country” with diciple Kacey Musgraves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M7E_UGE4h0

Emmylou Harris To Be Honored By Roots Peers at Washington Event

THE LIFE & SONGS OF EMMYLOU HARRIS

It is my opinion that Emmylou Harris can’t have enough tributes or be handed enough awards for her contribution to American music.

On January 10th, 2015 an impressive ensemble of roots and country performers will rightly come together to honor her in “The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris.” The concert will take place in Washington DC’s DAR Constitution Hall, and will feature performances by Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Mary Chapin Carpenter,Mavis Staples, Martina McBride, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Trampled By Turtles, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Iron & Wine, Shawn Colvin, Shovels & Rope, Joan Baez, Sara Watkins and The Milk Carton Kids. Harris will take the stage to perform with a number of special guests throughout the night. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.\\\\

Grammy Award-winners Don Was and Buddy Miller will serve as music directors that will lead an all-star band backing the performers at this incredible concert event taping. Keith Wortman is the creator and executive producer of the show along with Harris’ manager Ken Levitan. Was and Wortman’s recent work together includes extraordinary concert events honoring music icons such as Johnny Cash, Levon Helm and Gregg Allman, amongst others.

“Emmylou Harris and her songs have inspired music fans and musicians all over the world,” said Was. Miller added, “I have been blessed to be both a dear friend and music partner of Emmy’s, and look forward to an extraordinary night of music.” “I am privileged to produce a concert event of this magnitude that honors an artist as special and important as Emmylou Harris. This will be one of those nights where every fan wishes they were in the building,” said Wortman.

The event will be taped but there is no mention of streaming live or dates for when event might be aired/released.

Tickets go on sale at November 7 at 10am

For more info head to songsofemmylou.com

Watch Out! Sturgill Simpson: “Turtles All the Way Down” on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

sturgill-on-fallon

Last night Sturgill Simpson performed his trad-country, psychedelic-tinged song about chemical enlightenment. As always, the man and his fantastic band, nailed it.

With appearances on David Letterman and Conan it’s becomes a of late night talk-show gauntlet by the reluctant savior of country music. It won’t be long before Sturgill Simpson is a household name.

With the money and the fame that’s sure to follow I’m sure Music Row will be (has been) whispering in his ear to join the big circus. And sponsors. There’s a beer and Wranglers rep out there just licking their lips to hitch their wagon to a shooting star.

I trust Simpson’s instincts and his focus on the music that’s brought his this far. He’s not a hit machine serving to print money for some label. He’s making music that matters, hits deep, and endures.

That makes Simpson an oddity. Turtles?! No hits?! No stylist?! The man is barely competent on social media! How is he showing up on the mainstream radar?

One thing that ties Letterman, Conan and Fallon together is their appreciation and championing of great music with little consideration to the flavor of the week.

Simpson has his eye on the long game.

The sound might ring of tradition, but the spirit of following your path is something that is timeless and takes guts and talent.

So Simpson shows up and plays ‘Turtles All the Way Down,’ ‘Living the Dream’ or ‘Life of Sin.” People hear something they probably haven’t heard on the radio or knew still existed.

Some wonder “Huh, There still is country music being made. Why haven’t I heard this guy?” or “Where’s the beats and the rock? This twangy shit sucks.”

Either way, like Neo in the Matrix, the curtain is lifted and reality is exposed. People are made aware. There is a choice to be made.

Red or blue pill?

if a listener or artist is unsure and unaware they are pliable. They listen to others and live in fear of what others think. It takes them away from the reason you started listening and playing music to begin with.

Simpson’s sets his camp right in his own territory and he scraps and fights with every song’s worth and beauty.

And we’re all fortunate that we’re there to share it with him.

So the money and salesmen are inevitable. But my faith is firm that Simpson will stay true to that spirit and personal vision. And he’ll show young musicians that you can trust your instincts, blaze a path, make a living and leave a mark.

I might not be “outlaw,” but’s it’s sure badass.

Ryan Bingham Announces New Album, ‘Fear and Saturday Night,’ Streams New Song ‘Broken Heart Tattoos’

Fear-Saturday-Night-Album-Cover-e1414000950534

2015 is shaping up to be another great bounty year for Americana and roots music and singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham has just sweetened the pot.

Bingham’s follow up to 2012’s “Tomorrowland,” and his fifth studio release, entitled “Fear and Saturday Night” will be released on Jan. 20

Bingham described the new album to wsj.com as a more positive effort than “Tomorrowland.” “On this album I find myself back in a more hopeful place and the songs are more stripped down musically,” he told WSJ. “Each album seems to be about whatever I have gone through in my life previous to recording it.”

“Sometimes they’re like scars or tattoos that you have to live with and deal with. You can’t run and hide from them or wash them off,” he explained. “There’s no way to remove them from your soul.”

On the 12-song album has Bingham working with a new band and Jim Scott (Wilco, Tom Petty) as producer.

“Broken Heart Tattoos” is a return to the dusty country-folk that fits Bingham’s gravel delivery like a bill-rider’s glove. the song also retains some of the sonic experimentation Bingham has been ex[poring.

Stream the new song “Broken Heart Tattoos,” below.

“Fear and Saturday Night” track list:

Nobody Knows My Trouble
Broken Heart Tattoos
Top Shelf Drug
Island in the Sky
Adventures of You and Me
Fear and Saturday Night
My Diamond is Too Rough
Radio
Snow Falls in June
Darlin’
Hands of Time
Gun Fightiin’ Man

Watch Out! Gravel Kings – “Boozgeois Blues” [VIDEO]

Gravel Kings - "Boozgeios Blues"

Fort Pierce, FL.- based Gravel Kings found a fitting and welcome place to film the video for their song “Boozgeois Blues,” the song’s namesake and hometown bar Boozgeois Saloon. The song is a tuneful and rollicking folk-pop gem that both celebrates and bids adieu to the place and folks featured.

From the band: “Most the lyrics for the band’s new album, “Arrows & Maps,” were written in that bar or inspired by events that took place there. On the day the album was released, 9/23/14, the band announced a free surprise show at Boozgeois Saloon. From there Lance Camp of Turtle Junk Films and over 100 friends and fans packed in to the tiny bar for an intimate performance as the band played their new album in it’s entirety.”

The Gravel Kings embrace the essence of folk and rock. In a time where auto-tune and sound effects dominate lead singer Zack Jones and Joey Johnson on banjo / dobro focused on craft and live performance with the Gravel Kings, rounding out with Douglas French on drums and James Dickens on bass.

Official site | Buy = iTunes Amazon