Here’s Elizabeth Cook, with husband Tim Carroll on guitar and Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil) on bass, performing a great rendition of “Hear Jerusalem Calling: from her recent Gospel =Plow EP (review here) on the David Letterman Show 6/14/12.
She even makes Dave a believer! (in great music!)
You can also see a CBS web only performance of Cook and Jason Isbell covering two songs by the late, great Townes Van Zandt, “Tecumsah Valley” and “Pancho and Lefty. As I always say, covering Townes is a brave and futile endeavor. But they pull it off more brilliantly as many I’ve heard.
Here’s to one of the saviors of country music and the pride of Littlefield, Texas, Waylon Arnold Jenning, who would have been 75 today. Be sure to check out the local cerebrations in your town, like the first annual Waylon Jennings Birthday Bash starting today to be held in Whiteface, Texas. Featuring Shooter Jennings, Whiskey Meyers, Jackson Taylor & the Sinners, William Clark Green, Rowdy Johnson Band, Jimmy Miles, Sergio and the Outta Luck Band, and Tommy Jennings. The event will benefit the Waylon Fund for Diabetes Research at TGen.
Here’s 5 of the finest from “The Hoss.” Hoist a cup and give proper respect.
“Lonesome, On’ry And Mean” on the Cowboy jack Clement’s TV show.
Willie & Waylon – “Good Hearted Woman”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNHg_dUSeMs
Travis Tritt & Waylon Jennings – “I’ve Always Been Crazy.”
Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter – “Storm Never Last”
“A Better Place,†the second video from Glen Campbell’s critically acclaimed album “Ghost On The Canvas†has premiered. The video features a special guest appearance from Joshua Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss, Them Crooked Vultures), and is directed by Kii Arens and Jason Trucco.
Legendary singer, picker, television star, Country Music Hall of Fame member and one-time session man for the Beach Boys, Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year and is currently supporting his final studio album “Ghost On The Canvas†(Surfdog Records) his “The Goodbye Tour†to say a fond thank you to his loyal and loving fans.
Joshua Homme comments on being featured in Glen Campbell’s latest (and possibly , last) video, recalls, “The video director, Kii Arens, is a friend and collaborator. He asked me outta the blue and I jumped at the chance. I believe his exact words where “Do you want to play the bartender from The Shining in the last Glen Campbell?†and mine were “Of course I do!†He continues, “I’m ecstatic. I’m humbled. I’m lucky. I’m honored. I’d have carried lights and cameras to do it.â€
Like a generation, Homme home grew up with Campbell’s songs as a big part of his musical diet at home “â€Rhinestone Cowboy†was already a huge hit, “Wichita Lineman†and his work with Anne Murray was being played around the house. It was just part of my soundtrack to being a kid at home. When I got a little older and into picking my own music, I realized Glen Campbell was in The Beach Boys, started hearing his earlier music and seeing the full scope of what an incredible guitar player and recording artist he was too. The amount of sessions and songs is incredible. He is a superstar of music. Between that and his TV show, I began to get a clue that being a musician is more than just playing an instrument.â€
This farewell video features Campbell looking back at his life and career. He also sends a personal message to his wife, Kimberley, a former Radio City Music Hall dancer that the Rhinestone Cowboy met on a blind date in 1981. “My love goes out to Kim, my amazing grace. You’ve been by my side through these changing times, and it means the world to me.â€
I got to briefly speak to Campbell after he picked up his Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award (his 8th GRAMMY) and he appeared to be in great spirits joking with the crowd and dotting over his lovely wife Kim Woollen. He then went on to perform at the official GRAMMYs show covering several of his best known hits and causing Paul McCartney to bob his and clap along. It makes sense that he too would be a fan. Here’s to a fine man and a lasting legacy.
The larger bodies of country music and blues music have always fed from a stream of gospel music. Musicians reared in the Bible Belt, from Hank Williams to Blind Willie Johnson, stylistically moved deftly from Saturday night revelry to Sunday morning revelations mirroring the actual behavior of many of their fans. Hell even Elvis, the poster boy for over-indulgence, took time to record no less than 8 gospel and Christmas albums over his career.
Influenced by a recent performance at the Strawberry Music Festival’s Sunday morning gospel brunch, the recent passing of both her mother and father, and ongoing family strife detailed in her last album’s bittersweet “Heroin Addict Sister†has Elizabeth Cook getting right with Jesus. Or at least feeling enough of the spirit move her to release this wonderful seven song EP.
Blind Willie Johnson’s “If I Had My Way, I’d Tear This Building Down” is foot-stomper straight from the good book of Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
The title cut a traditional American folk song also known as “Hold On,” and refers to the Gospel According to Luke 9:62. In the passage Jesus replied to the
reluctant disciple in the face of his wavering faith “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.†This song and “Hear Jerusalem Calling” by Jerry Sullivan & Tammy Sullivan has Cook and band, husband Tim Carroll on guitar and Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil) on bass, as a bluegrass romping breakdown
“Every Humble Knee Must Bow” borrows a swampy vibe from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Heard It Through The Grapevine,” Hammond organ, barrel-house piano and electric guitar steep the tune in sweet Southern soul.
Vern Gosdin’s “The Other Side of Life’ is a beautiful song as it is, but Cook, along with an accompanying church organ, unveils a vulnerability in it that transcends.
Cook showed her inclination for the Velvet Underground by cutting a beautiful version of “Sunday Morning’ on 2007’s “Balls.” Here she she rounds out the out the EP with an understated and elegant cover of VU’s “Jesus,” keeping just enough of Lou Reed’s somber, woozy, psychedelic tone in this tale of a lost soul looking for redemption.
The only drawback is the brevity of the release. Though it’s a brief affair it’s long on excellence and, unlike the church with the long-winded preacher, you’ll wish the sermon would list a bit longer
Reviewing a Willie Nelson album is like describing to someone a visit you’ve made to the Grand Canyon. Sure there are the facts and impressions but the shear majesty of what you’re in the presence of something larger than life anit can bow you into awe. But here goes…
Nelson has always been a serial collaborator. The Texas Yoda has cut tracks with so many people he’s become a musical Keven Bacon. He’s shared the studio with his country contemporaries Waylon, Merle, Ray to genre-crossers Julio Iglesias and Phish, but Willie is no longer just a country artist. Like Ray Charles, another of his collaborators, he’s jettisoned his original genre and elevated himself to simply American music.
This studio gregariousness shows that Willie is not willing to sit on a laureled pedestal. He is generous with his studio and stage time and willing to lend a little Texas outlaw mojo to others. His legacy is so firmly entrenched in history he seems to feel he can work with whomever,and do do whatever, strikes his fancy. This has resulted from the inspired to the perplexing, but it’s hardly ever boring.
At nine Willie’s new album, ‘Heroes,’ ups the collaboration ante, and sometime within a single song. The count is four,including Willie, in the post-mortem ode to herb “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” The song’s title was was originally the album’s title until Willie put the kibosh on the inevitable Walmart boycott. Willie might be an outlaw, but he’s also always been a shrewd businessman. On the song Willie seems to be having fun performing with his brother of the weed Snoop Dogg, along with a bemused-sounding Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson, this collection get’s my vote for a “High” way men tour.
A Last of the Breed mini reunion occurs with Merle Haggard on a beautifully grizzled “Horse Called Music,” originally from the criminally overlooked 1989 album of the same title. Ray Price reprises Floyd Tillman’s classic “Cold War With You” with Willie and Lukas Nelson to suave cowboy effect.
The album’s title, Heroes, is a nod to the performers on the album as well as the musical influences that Willie has always honored. One clear influence on Willie Nelson, Bob Wills and the Western Swing genre is well represented with spirited renditions of Will’s “My Window Faces The South” and “Home In San Antone.”
Amongst the crowded studio the real purpose of “Heroes” appears to be a father’s introducing his son to a larger fan-base. Lukas and his band, The Promise of the Rea,l have been opening and backing for Willie for a couple of year as they honed the craft. But this is not crass nepotism as Lukas contributes a couple of the best songs on the album with “Every Time He Drinks He Thinks of Her” and “The Sound of Your Memory,” His pleasing vocal style is somewhere between his old man’s phrasing and Jimmie Dale Gilmore keen. Also, he’s a solid guitarist and his Stratocaster flourishes provides a contemporary counterpart to Willie’s cowboy-jazz Trigger.
A contemporary theme runs through a selection of covers. An inspired, palatial version of Pearl Jam’s rumination on mortality “Just Breathe” takes on deeper level of poignancy as the song is sung with his son Lukas, and Willie approaches his 80th birthday. Tom Waits’ quasi-gospel “Come On Up To The House” features Mickey Raphael’s excellent and understated harmonica work cultivated from being with Willie for many years. The song aligns dutifully with the original and also features Lucas and the ubiquitous Sheryl Crow, who is serviceable if unnecessary. Willie’s solo turn on Coldplay’s “The Scientist,” first seen on a Chipotle Super Bowl commercial, charms me into enjoying (okay, appreciating) the song.
The Willie-penned title song is said to be about fellow outlaw Billy Joe Shaver (in some cases literally), who appears here with a contemporary rabble-rouser of sorts, Jamey Johnson. This 4/4 waltz is a sentimental reminiscence of a musician who used to be “king of the bars,” but it just as well could be a testament to the current sad state of country music.
“Heroes” is an uneven affair. Like a ramshackle late-night guitar pull fueled by intoxents both legal and not, it’s a lot of fun and done with love of music, mutual respect and a seeming sense of harmonious happenstance sorely missing image-obsessed music industry.
Through a spotty online streamed event (at least on my side) from Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theatre in L.A. the Nashville-based Americana Music Association announced their 2012 announced their nominees for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year.
On hand was “Mr. Americana,” and the premier host of the Americana Awards program, Jim Lauderdale. Buddy Miller lead the Americana All Star quartet with Don Heffington, Greg Leisz and Don Was. Featuring excellent performances by Lauderdale, Shelby Lynne, Lucinda Williams and Texas’s own Robert Ellis.
Jed Hilly gave a gracious speech and then introduced the actor John C Reilly, and mighty fine roots musician in his own right, as M.C. for the event. Taking the stage and looking rather sheepish Reilly stated “They call this the Americana Awards but really it should be the All the Great Artists Out Right Now Awards.”
The nominees are some of the most solid since I’ve been keeping score of the AMA awards. Jason Isbell and Gillian Welch lrad nominations with 4 and 3 respectively. The Artist of the Year noms Welch, Isbell as well as Hayes Carll and Justin Townes Earle leaves me for the first time with no clear favorite to root for. There is the staple legend that released something unexceptional but still gets a nod ( Steve Earle with an Album of the Year nod for I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive ) but overall even this category is solid (not least of which because 2 of the nominees , Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Gillian Welch, were on my best of 2011 list)
There appears to be some bandwagon jumping with the Emerging Artist of the Year nominees Alabama Shakes and Dawes. I could give you a list of a dozen artists I’d replace them with. (one being already on the list, the exceptional Robert Ellis.) Buddy Miller is to the AMAs what Kenny Chesney is to the CMAs, is once again on the list for Instrumentalist of the Year.
The performers and the band then ended the ceremony with a rousing rendition of the traditional spiritual “Let the Circle Be Unbroken.”
Winners will be announced at the Americana Honors and Awards program at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. - Sept. 12. The ceremony is part of the Americana Music Festival and Conference, which takes place on Sept. 12-15.
Full list of nominees below:
Album of the Year
Here We Rest – Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive – Steve Earle
The Harrow & The Harvest – Gillian Welch
This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark – Various Artists
Artist of the Year
Gillian Welch
Hayes Carll
Jason Isbell
Justin Townes Earle
Emerging Artist of the Year
Alabama Shakes
Dawes
Deep Dark Woods
Robert Ellis
Song of the Year
“Alabama Pines†– Written by Jason Isbell and performed by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
“Come Around†– Written and performed by Sarah Jarosz
“I Love†– Written by Tom T. Hall and performed by Patty Griffin
“Waiting On The Sky to Fall†– Written and performed by Steve Earle
Instrumentalist of the Year
Buddy Miller
Chris Thile
Darrell Scott
Dave Rawlings
Duo/Group of the Year
Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Civil Wars
Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Punch Brothers
I’m not a religious man but I would like to have a word with god. I’d look up at his cloudy beard and steel-blue eyes and say “Stop.” I’m tired of writing posts sending off out legends. Scruggs, Helm and now Watson.
Men who’s storied careers shines a glaring light of authenticity and richness on the current music industry of glib irony and planned obsolesce. Where AutoTune and beats take precedence over song-craft and instrumental dexterity.
A vascular disease Arthel Lane (Doc) Watson as an infant left him blind for life. He drank in the musical styles and lore from his family and became prolific on the harmonica. then at 10 he took up the banjo his father had crafted for him. By the time he was in his teens he settled on the guitar, the instrument he helped to revolutionize touring the folk circuit with his flat-picking virtuosity.
I’ve never attended MerlFest, the annual music festival held the last weekend in April in Wilkesboro, North Carolina named in honor of Watson’s only son, Eddy Merle Watson, who died in a farm tractor accident in 1985.
Over it;s 24-year history on the four-day festival’s 14 stages you could have see some of bluegrass, folk and country music’s greats -Â Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Earl Scruggs, The Kruger Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Jerry Douglas, John Prine, Alison Krauss and Union Station. You would have also caught some of roots and Americana music’s shining stars -Gillian Welch , the Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, coming up in the ranks. You would have also seen genre-crossers like Robert Plant, Elvis Costello and Linda Ronstadt making the pilgrimage to stretch their boundaries and pay their respects.
The festival always concluded with Doc holding court performing music of the ages with humility, spirituality and grace.
Of the dozens of artist I’ve seen perform at the roots festival Hardly Strictly Bluegrass over the last three years, three artists rose above the rest by emodying the ages and representing a deep musical legacy the other musicians on the bill drew from – Hazel Dickens, Ralph Stanley and Doc Watson.
Thank you Doc for sharing your gift with the world.
George Jones has been released from a Nashville, Tenn. hospital. Jones was admitted with an upper respiratory infection. The 80-year-old spent a week in March in the hospital with the same illness. The legendary country singer had canceled performances through June and will reschedule shows where possible.
Legendary roots musician Doc Watson remains in critical condition at a North Carolina hospital after undergoing colon surgery this past week. The 89-year-old Watson had also fallen early in the week. No bones were broken, but an underlying condition prompted the surgery.
In honor of what would have been his 72nd birthday Levon Helm’s band and friends - led by Larry Campbell, Theresa Williams, Amy Helm, Byron Isaacs and Justin Gulp - gathered at his Woodstock farm last night for a commemorative Ramble. The show was announced late Saturday night and quickly sold.
The Luckenbach Sunday Picker Circle host for the last 3 years, Cowboy Doug Davis, has passed away. Luckenbach , TX will hold a memorial service in honor of Doug Next Sunday June 3 at 5pm.
