Twang Nation – The Best In Americana Music
Americana & Roots Music & Culture
Neo-Trad Outlaw and reluctant savior of country music, Sturgill Simpson turned out a sizzling rendition of ‘Life of Sin” recorded at the Nashville’s historic RCA recording studio.
This is the very same studio that Ben Folds has been trying to save from potential raising. let’s hope this RL Bagg’s Handcrafted Video Series is a sign of new life for the storied space.
‘Life of Sin” is from Simpson’s newest release “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music.â€
Billy Joe Shaver will laws be a welcome sight at Casa Twang. Shaver was the first interview I conducted of this blog and his generosity and great stories fueled me to keep at this because there is still great music comes from the
adventurous kind.
Shaver’s ’s latest work, “Long In The Tooth,†shows he’s still got some adventures to partake in.
Though done in the style that Nashville pop-stars like to slag as “Grandpa music,†â€Long In The Tooth†has Shaver digging deep in the soil of 70’s Outlaw Country. A movement that Shaver helped cultivate, and that those Music City marionette’s claim allegiance to.
Shaver penned all 10 songs and they’re is all you’ll need for a state of the state. Politics, war, religion, class divide, love, heartache, and yes, the sad state of the country music.
The first cut Hard To Be An Outlaw” features Shaver’s old pard and character witness, Willie Nelson, this is a
hat-tip to the Country Gold OGs as both a nostalgic lament and a scrappy swipe at Music Row pop-country. “The Git Go” is a loping study in fatalism/destiny lament covering class disparity in politics made even more forlorn by Mickey Rafael’s mournful, nuanced harmonica.
“Music City USA” features a more jaunty, and optimistic view of Nashville as a place where dreams, a great music, can still be had.
Love is alive on this album. “I’ll Love You as Much as I Can†is a sweet waltz sang to a longtime sweetheart. “I’m in Love” is reworked from 1998’s album “Victory,” and, though a tad more world-weary, it’s still pure poetry.
Another contemporary Outlaw of sorts, Todd Snider, goosed Shaver into making this album by making him realize he still has a lot to give. We are lucky he did. Nobody would fault Billy Joe Shaver if he took to pasture and rested on his many laurels. But by the sound of “Long In The Tooth” he’s not ready to pack in that guitar just yet.
Official site | Buy Long in the Tooth
the newest video for “It Ain’t You” from Asleep at the Wheel front-man Ray Benson’s latest solo release “A Little Piece” (Bismeaux Records.) The vide is a video scrapbook of Benson and Willie Nelson’s 40-plus year friendship. A friendship that started when Willie suggested AATW move from their hometown in Philadelphia to Austin, Texas in 1973.
Ray and Willie duel on “It Ain’t You” and, as it is an old Waylon Jennings co-write, it recognizes the influence all three have had on the Texas music scene from a rear-view mirror if age and wisdom.
Ray Benson says of the song/video:
“When Sam, co-producer of my solo CD, played me this song written by Waylon Jennings and Gary Nicholson, I was amazed that no one had ever recorded it! It’s definitely an undiscovered gem and strikes an emotional response with many people. After listening, I called up my pal Willie Nelson and asked if he would sing the song with me. He agreed and we went out to Luck, TX and recorded his vocal.”
“Willie is 81 years young and I’m close to turning 64. The song is about growing old and yet feeling and acting young…it felt so appropriate for us to do. The video has captured the feeling of the song with its slow motion effects, an inside look at the backstage concert preparation and a peak of our long history together as friends. Hope you all enjoy it.”
Enjoy this lovely tune from two masters trading wistful recollections. The cut also features some of Willie’s signature jazz-tajanzo guitar licks.
Buy “A Little Piece.”
cover
Tomorrow night, 8/13, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has booked both Ryan Adams and Taylor Swift.
I think this has potential to be a fanatic opportunity for both performers.
Swift is appearing to promote her role in the upcoming movie ‘The Giver†and Adams booked as musical guest and is there to promote his upcoming self-titled release. I believe a few songs performed together would do a lot to gain Adams some mainstream exposure and allow Swift to gain a little indie creed.
Both performers are known for covering musicians that they respect. Ryan adams does a great interpretation of Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years†and Swift really won be cover with her version of Mumford & Sons’ “Blank White Page.â€
Aside from the image potential, I believe that interpreting eachother’s songs as duets or trade-offs would bring new dimensions to the work not head in it’s current form.
“Love Story” – Sure it’s sappy and naive, but Adams counts melt any jaded heart.
“Teardrops on My Guitar” – See above re: sappy and naive
“Back to December” – No one handles regret and heartbreak like Adams. This would kill.
“White Horse” – See above re: regret and heartbreak
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Adams’ would deconstruct this pop ditty and lay it’s dark, fatalistic core out odor all to see.
“Safe & Sound” – This is an obvious one. This Swift/Civil Wars collaboration for the Hunger Games is half-way to being in Adams’ style wheelhouse. The other half is in Tori Amos’ .
Ryan Adams songs I’d like to see Taylor Swift cover
“When the Stars Go Blue” – Arguably the best song from “Gold.” Perfect for a duet. Obvious connection since Tim McGraw
covered this one.
“16 Days†– A gem from Strangers Almanac. A duet and a single of this radio-friendly cut would surely sell a ton. I wonder if Adam’s would torpedo this song’s climb up the charts twice?
To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) – From Heartbreaker. It’s fun. Swift knows fun.
“Two†– His best off “Easy Tiger,” and one of his biggest hits. A duet with swift would bring out the song’s sweetness.
“So Alive†– Also off Gold. This song rocks U2-style. Swift has been known to rock out on occasion.
“Lucky Now†– From 2011’s “Ashes & Fire,” another of Adam’s most radio-friendly, and optimistic, love songs.
I can imagine the eye-rolls and sneers resulting from this post by Swifties and whatever Adams fans call themselves. But i believe that both sWIFT AND adams have an independent streak and a love of musical history that would suit them.
If nothing else I got fans in each camp to hear the other’s music, probably for the very first time.
And in the no surprise to anyone category today The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams and John Paul White made their “indefinite hiatus‘ into a musical conscious uncoupling.
the folk-pop duo took to thecivilwars.com to announce the news. As a farewell and thank you to fans, the two are offering a download of their 2010 rendition of the classic “You Are My Sunshine.†The track was originally a b-side to the band’s limited edition Barton Hollow 7″ vinyl. This is the first time the song is available digitally in the U.S.
Joy Williams comments, “I am saddened and disappointed by the ending of this duo, to say the very least. JP is a tremendous musician, and I will always be grateful for the music we were able to create together.I sincerely hope that ‘You Are My Sunshine’ will be accepted as a token of my gratitude for every single person that has supported our duo throughout the years. I’m so thankful and my heart is full. Looking ahead, I’m excited to share the music that I am writing and recording in the midst of this difficult transition. I’ve loved being back in the studio, and have missed performing live. I look forward to seeing you soon.â€
John Paul adds, “I would like to express sincere thanks to all who were a part of the arc of The Civil Wars—from the beginning, to the end, and all points in between. My deep appreciation goes out to all who supported, disseminated, and enjoyed the music. Whatever shape or form the next chapter takes, thanks for being a large part of this one.â€
Williams and White were already music industry veterans in 2008 when a chance pairing at a Nashville group writing camp shows potential chemistry. In their brief career The Civil Wars helped bring Americana to the mainstream with their best-selling, Grammy-winning, releases and intimate but rousing live performances.
I was lucky to be able to speak to Joy and John Paul in 2009. They showed me the upmost generosity and kindness. “We Really Don’t Fit Anywhere†– The Civil Wars Interview
Here are a few of my favorite Civil Wars performances:
Barton Hollow (Later with Jools Holland)
Poison & Wine (on David Letterman)
“From This Valley” (Live at the Grand Ole Opry)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBygKZqc3ls
“Between the Bars” (Elliott Smith cover)
“Sour Times” (Portishead cover)
“Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson Cover)
“You Are My Sunshine” (Live)
And the time I won a bottle of bourbon and they won some Grammys.
http://www.grammy.com/news/and-the-grammy-went-to-the-civil-wars#ooid=05bXZoMzq2-pDksz0DznPVSCPspq72pZ
There’s much talk about a backlash brewing against the male-centric Bro-Country mainstream country radio has been riding high on for the past few years. This musical uprising is said to be stewarded by women challenging the stereotypes paraded around in daisy dukes in derogatory narratives. Trouble is the men in these songs are simple, one-dimensional characters as well and the potential for expansion for anyone, topically or stylistically, are very narrow.
These women work the same mainstream fields that currently allow bro-country a thriving bounty. Small tweaks to adjust for new market fluctuations will be made. But the labels are in business to be in business, not to make some grand cultural statement.
Pretty tame stuff to fuel a backlash.
The products, or songs, might strike many as flimsy representation of human condition , but I argue it’s less about the songs and more about the process. Consider Sunny Sweeney; in and out of the the gravitational pull of Music Row, the big boys never knew what to do with her. Her first album bore the Lone Star mark of her native home of Texas and was re-released by Big Machine Records.
But charting and Music City are joined at the hip, and after being the first artist signed to a joint venture between Big Machine and Universal Republic Records – Republic Nashville – the more polished “Concrete,” was released but netted no significant radio play.
Sweeney and Big Machine split in 2012.
Now we have her provocatively titled new release, “Provoked.”
Combining DIY ethic with crowd-sourced funding, and support by indy Americana super label Thirty Tigers, “Provoked” contains Sweeney’s earlier fire tempered with an ear for a hook and just the right amount of studio provided by Luke Wooten (Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and sister neo-traditionalist Kellie Pickler)
From the cover Sunny looks right through use with her big, blue tinted eyes. What looks like tape with the title is masking her mouth giving the duel impression of being gagged and screaming the title at once.
Bro-country, like music of music city product, is thin tropes masquerading as the human experience, topical and stylistic, are very narrow. condition. Instead of working within those narrow confines Sweeney reaches back to a time when Nashville released songs dripping of love, tears, pain and blood – Tammy, Loretta, Kitty, George Jones , Willie and Waylon can all be heard between the spaces.
Sweeney says the album reflects her coming to terms with the mistakes she has made and the recovery that the last few years have brought her. “The album is a journey from nearly hitting bottom and losing everything personally to regaining my footing and being able to find not only my true self again, but real happiness.†“Provoked” might be a result of hard times and challenges of the spirit, but it has allowed Sweeney to regain her voice.
“You Don’t Know your Husband” kicks off with an acapella declaration of other-woman context rich in sass driven by cooking dobro and electric guitar that mirrors the dysfunctional menace the story rightly deserves.
The first single “Bad Girl Phase” is a Brandy Clark/Jessie Jo Dillion/Shannon Wright co-write and follows along with the badass gal theme covered by everyone from Miranda to Nikki Lane. Sweeney pulls off the song like a honky-tonk woman swagger over a greasy strut accompaniment.
“Second Guessing” and “Carolina on the Line” are tear-stained. moody studies on faded dreams and broken hearts and coming to terms in spite of it all.
When Lucinda Williams does a song it stays done but give Sweeney props for having a go at “Can’t Let Go.”
“Front Row Seats” mid-temo rocker offers the same kind of wry observations of the seamier side of polite society similar to Kacey Musgraves’ “Merry Go ‘Round”
“My Bed,” a co-write Sweeney with singer/songwriters and 2/3rds of the Pistol Annies, Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe – is a duet with singer/songwriter Will Hoge. It;s a intmate glimpse of a couple’s love souring on the vine. ” I’ll always love you/At least that’s what we said/Now you’re just sleeping in my bed.”
“Uninvited” is a dreamy study of social exclusion real or imagined sounds like a Radiohead brought up on The Possum.
on “Provoked” Sweeney proves that a more substantial response to Bro-Country, or really anything Music Row is shoveling out as the flavor of the moment, is to follow your heart and kick some ass. Sweeney sure does that and reminds us that life is more than just radio decoration.
Clawhammer banjo fuses with guitar-fuzz bombast spectacularly in “Wheelbarrow” the first release from Aussie country music vet Kasey Chambers’ upcoming 7th solo release “Bittersweet (August 29)
Chambers lends her unmistable pipes, which has a wonderful feel to the upper register, to this tale of trade-offs and empathy.
The stark stark black-and-white video, directed by Renny Wijeyamohan and shot in Southern Highlands of New South Wales, has a Bonnie & Clyde motif of bank heist and love. But love runs shallow and the Clyde in this case is left holding a sizable kiss-off in the end.
http://youtu.be/RNH_2MIZo8U
Hot on the heels of Beck’s performance last night on The Colbert Report the video for his moody gem “Heart Is A Drum” has been released.
Directed by Sophie Muller and shot in stark black and white, “Heart Is A Drum” travels rural backwoods of memories and, perhaps, destiny.
“Heart Is A Drum” is the latest single from Beck’s excellent pop-folk release “Morning Phase” (Capitol).
The current Morning Phase tour:
08/14/14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Pioneer Park
08/15/14 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks
08/19/14 – Vancouver, BC – Deer Lake Park
08/20/14 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park
08/21/14 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
08/23/14 – Monterey, CA – First City Festival
08/29-31/14 – Stradbally, Ireland – Electric Picnic
09/04/14 – Isle of Wight, UK – Bestival
09/06/14 – Portmeirion, UK – Festival No. 6
09/08/14 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Heineken Music Hall
09/10/14 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
09/11/14 – Paris, France – Zenith
09/13/14 – Madrid, Spain – dcode Festival
10/03/14 – Austin, TX – ACL Music Festival
10/10/14 – Austin, TX – ACL Music Festival
The Americana Music Association has released the whole enchilada, the full list for their conference and festival. And all I can say is WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!
I’m only one man, how can I make it to so many great performances, many of them happening AT THE SAME TIME!
I know, I know, roots-music blogger problems.
With more artists and more venues this year’s AmericanaFest is really stacking up to be the best yet.
AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly tells the Nashville Scene. “We couldn’t be more excited with this year’s lineup. We anticipate over 160 official showcases by the time September rolls around. … We’ve added 40 more artists than we had last year, and we are thrilled to add on five more venues to the festival.â€
In addition to the already daunting list of performers I’m happy to see roots-duos Carolina Story and Grace and Tony, Austin’s David Ramirez and Shinyribs and, the excellent Zoe Muth, and Sturgill Simpson who’s come a long way since his AmericanaFest debut last year.
Pick up the Aug/Sept issue of Cowboys and Indians magazine (above) to read by article on AmericanaFest and the history of the movement.
Check out the Americanafest official 2014 Spotify playlist.
The 15th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference occurs September 17-21, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. The 13th annual Americana Honors & Awards Show on Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
I’ll see you at the hootenanny!
List of artists newly added to AmericanaFest 2014
Andrew Combs
Anthony D’Amato
The Audreys
Banditos
Baskery
The Black Lillies
Black and the Rodeo Kings
Bobby Bare Jr.
Bradford Lee Folk
Brooke Russell & the Mean Reds
The Bros. Landreth
The Brothers Comatose
Cale Tyson
Caleb Klauder Country Band
Carolina Story
Cory Branan
Cory Chisel’s “Soul Obscura”
The Danberrys
David Ramirez
The Devil Makes Three
Elizabeth Cook
Ernie Hendrickson
Falls
Feufollett
Frank Fairfield
Grace and Tony
Griffin House
The Haden Triplets
Harlan Pepper
Howard Fishman
Humming House
Humming People
Ian McLagan
Imelda May
James Maddock
Jim Lauderdale
Laura Cantrell
Lauren Shera
Leftover Salmon feat. Bill Payne of Little Feat
Liz Longley
Los Colognes
The Mastersons
Matt Anderson
Matt the Electrician
Matthew Perryman Jones
Matthew Mayfield
Mathew Ryan
Mike Farris
Mipso
Moot Davis
NQ Arbuckle
Over the Rhine
Peter Bradley Adams
Phil Madeira
Police Dog Hogan
Parsonsfield (formerly Poor Old Shine)
Promised Land Sound
Robby Hecht
Robert Ellis
Ryan Tanner
Shinyribs
Sleepy Banjo Boys
Sons of Bill
Steelism
Steep Canyon Rangers
The Stray Birds
Sturgill Simpson
The Hot Nut Riveters
The Mae Trio
The Silks
Tim Carroll
Truth & Salvage Co.
Webb Wilder
Willie Sugarcapps
Zachary Lucky
Zoe Muth
List of artists oreviously confirmed for AmericanaFest 2014
Allison Moorer
Amy Ray
Angaleena Presley
The Avett Brothers
The Barefoot Movement
Ben Miller Band
Billy Joe Shaver
Black Prairie
Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay
Buddy Miller
The Cactus Blossoms
Carlene Carter
Caroline Rose
Chatham County Line
Chuck Mead
Danny & The Champions of the World
The Deadly Gentleman
Del Barber
The Deslondes
Doug Seegers
The Duhks
The Dustbowl Revival
Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo
Ethan Johns
The Fairfield Four
The Grahams
Grant-Lee Phillips
Green River Ordinance
Greensky Bluegrass
Gregory Alan Isakov
Greyhounds
The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer
Hayes Carll
Howlin’ Brothers
Immigrant Union
Israel Nash
Jamestown Revival
Jason Eady
JD Wilkes & the Dirt Daubers
Joe Henry
Joe Pug
Joe Purdy
John Moreland
Jonah Tolchin
Jonny Two Bags
Josh Ritter
Joshua James
Lake Street Dive
Lee Ann Womack
Leo Welch
Lera Lynn
Marah Presents: Mountain Minstrelsy
Marty Stuart
Matthew Ryan
McCrary Sisters
Nathaniel Rateliff
New Country Rehab
Oh Susanna
Otis Gibbs
Parker Millsap
Paul Thorn
Pete Molinari
Quebe Sisters Band
Rhett Miller
Robbie Fulks
Robyn Hitchcock
Rodney Crowell
Ruthie Foster
Ryan Montbleau
Sam Outlaw
Sarah Jarosz
Sean Rowe
Shakey Graves
Suzy Bogguss
Todd Snider & Friends
Tom Freund
Tony Joe White
Trigger Hippy (feat. Jackie Greene, Joan Osbourne, Steve Gorman, Tom Bukovac & Nick Govrik)
Whiskey Shivers
Willie Watson
I know, I know. I don’t look a day over six. But it’s true! Your generally humble roots music blog, Twang Nation, turns 8 this month.
Where does the time go?
I started this on a lark. Cultural, geographical and psychological displacement of this Texan in New York City led me here. I gravitated toward the most stable ground that had always been there for me, music.
The great roots music I began to discover I wanted to share with a wider audience. And I wanted them share their findings with me. 8 years and three timezones later I’d say it’s going pretty well. I’m still chugging along, looking under rocks and atop branches to find and share great music.
And that’s saying something. In the midst of one of the worst times to become a musician there’s so music of it around, and more every coming across my desk(top) every day. I’m sure things were worse during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and yet much of the music that I treasure was produced in those troubled times.
Maybe that’s the things about music. Even at it’s thematic darkest musics very presence is a sign of human optimism. Why else bother?
And these days optimism, and music, abounds. There’s more music than ever being produced in human history. Technology has allowed access to performance and strategy tools as a musician, and access and discovery for fans, than ever before. I hope I have contributed in some small way to your musical discovery. And with roots music awareness, Grammy categories and regularly appearances in TV shows and movies, the movement is showing to signs of slowing down.
And Twang Nation will be right in the middle of it. Bringing you the best in new and classic performers and live performances that remind us all that live music, made by fallible humans, can be intoxicating.
And believe me, the best is yet to come.
Keep up with us here on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and tumblr and come along for the journey. As we all know the road goes on forever….
As a thank you, Twang Nation is giving away a prize pack of three great slabs of vinyl for your listening pleasure.
First up is the recent release of Johnny Cash lost and previously unreleased material, “Out Among The Stars,” on Vinyl. This is a far cry from the Columbia Records produced Cash and producer Billy Sherrill. The results are classic cash with a contemporary roost twist with help from John Carter Cash, Marty Stuart and Buddy Miller.
Nest up is the Lone Justice reissue from Omnivore Recordings, “This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983.” This album captures the raw talent of this alt.country pioneering band at their peak, touring L.A. punk clubs and taking no prisoners. Did I mention that this great album is on translucent red vinyl?!
And the best for last the Record Store Day Rhino records exclusive release of Gram Parsons’ Alternate Takes from GP and Grievous Angel. tHIS 2LP vinyl release IS audio sourced from “The Complete Reprise Sessions” released in 2005. Contains a postcard insert at the request of Gram’s daughter, Polly Parsons, for the Hickory Wind Ranch Recovery Community. Foil numbering.
Just leave a comment below to be entered for all three albums. Birthday salutations or a band you might have found out about from me would be cool.
Now the boring stuff: The winner needs to be located in the United States and will be picked at random, Sunday, July 27th, 12PM CST.