Mary Gauthier New Release 9/18 – Tour Information

On September 18, Lost Highway will release Between Daylight And Dark, the new album from critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier, of whom Entertainment Weekly says, “The beauty of Gauthier’s country noir lies in the humanity of her characters, and in the sweet yearning of her gruff Louisiana drawl.”

Between Daylight And Dark is Gauthier’s fifth album and the follow up to her 2005 breakthrough Mercy Now, which garnered high praise in the media. Gauthier was named 2005 New Emerging of the Year Artist by the Americana Music Association.

Gauthier’s continuing evolution as a songwriter is evident throughout the 10 songs that comprise Between Daylight And Dark. “I’ve matured – and my writing has matured,” she says, “Mercy Now was as close as I’d ever come to capturing the voices in my head and bringing them to life, but with these new songs, while I still insert myself into each one, they have become much less autobiographical and more observational.”

Between Daylight And Dark was cut live, with minimal overdubs, and produced by Joe Henry. The album features guest appearances by Van Dyke Parks (piano on “Can’t Find The Way”) and Loudon Wainwright (backing vocals on “Soft Place To Land” and “I Ain’t Leaving”).

Mary Gauthier Tour Dates:

9/7/2007    CT Folk Festival and Green Expo     New Haven, CT
9/12/2007    St. John’s United Church         Halifax, NS, Canada
9/13/2007    Deep Roots Festival Venues         Wolfville, NS, Canada
9/15/2007    Longhorn Ballroom             Dallas, TX
9/20/2007    Blender Theatre at Gramercy         New York, NY
(Special Show Co-Headlining with Joe Henry)
10/6/2007    The Pleasance                 Edinburgh, United Kingdom
10/8/2007    Glee Club                 Birmingham, UK
10/9/2007     The Cluny                 NewCastle, UK, England
10/11/2007    St Bonadventures             Bristol, UK, UK
10/13/2007    ACADEMY 3                 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
10/14/2007    The Arts Theater             London, England
10/18/2007    The 5 Spot                 Atlanta, GA
10/19/2007    Evening Muse                 Charlotte, NC
10/20/2007    Cat’s Cradle                 Carrboro, NC
10/21/2007    The Birchmere                 Alexandria, VA
10/24/2007    Gravity Lounge                 Charlottesville, VA
10/25/2007    World Cafe Live             Philadelphia, PA
10/26/2007    Ram”s Head                 Annapolis, MD
10/27/2007    Kaufman Theater             Norfolk, VA
10/29/2007     Club Passim                 Cambridge, MA
10/30/2007    Iron Horse Music Hall             Northampton, MA
11/1/2007    Joe’s Pub                 New York, NY
11/2/2007    Joe’s Pub                 New York, NY

 

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]

 

Yoakam Talks New Album At Buck Owens’ Tribute

While in Bakersfield, CA. to perform at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace to celebrate the late legend’s birthday Dwight Yoakam took some time to talk to 23.com about his upcoming Owen’s tribute “Dwight Sings Buck”(Oct. 25 – New West)

An excerpt – Saddened by thoughts of Owens not being alive to celebrate, Yoakam, a longtime friend of Owens, said, “It’s always a little melancholy now. It was New Year’s Eve the first time I was here since he passed, to do this without him being in the building. Sometimes when he didn’t feel well he’d go home early. It was never with him not coming back.”

Dwight Yoakam – Close Up the Honky Tonks – Crystal Palace, Bakersfield, CA.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=lxmXKRN9XhM[/youtube]

Elliot Randall – Take the Fall (self released)

Elliott Randall is a man to watch.

Randall, not Elliott Randall the ex-Steely Dan guitarist best known for his guitar solos on Reelin’ in the Years, but the Bay area by-way-of Charleston, South Carolina, alt.country rocker has a lot going for him. On first listen it’s easy to be lazy and compare Elliot Randall’s superb release “Take the Fall” (self released) to some of Ryan Adams best work.

For instance take the melancholy slide-guitar and Rhodes keyboard steeped “Elephant” and the soul-wrenching title track, Randall sounds much like he’s channeling Adams more soulful moments. But Randall is his own man and as an artist he’s in many ways more focused in his compositions than Adams has been of recent. “How to Get Old” is a damn fine song that could have come from Uncle Tupelo with little mainstream Nashville hook added in to sweeten the experience. It works skillfully and without coming off as sterile and contrived. More Early Guy Clark storytelling than Kenny Chesney clichés.

Barn-burning rave-ups like Don’t Give Up On Me” and “Leaving This Town” show that the man can get a room moving when he wants to.

A recent feature on an Americana Roots podcast, Randall straddles the country and rock worlds proficiently and his work sounds both timeless and fresh.

Porter Wagner’s Comeback in Full Swing

The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press have some nice articles on Porter Wagoner. When I saw Wagoner a few months ago at Joe’s Pub, and and a few weeks ago opening for the White Stripes and Grinderman at Madison Square Garden (both backed by Mart Stuart) he seemed at the top of his game and has gone on to do other live dates and even a stop on the David Letterman show.

All the while “The Thin Man from West Plains” seems deeply appreciative for the response this comeback has given him. Blessed as he has said.

If you get a chance, go see him. If you can’t go out today and buy his newly released “Wagonmaster” (Anti Records) and remind yourself what country music can sound like it’s performed by a legend that helped invent it.

An excerpt from the AP: “I stopped making records because I didn’t like the way they were wanting me to record,” he sighs. “When RCA dropped me from the label, I didn’t really care about making records for another label…”

That was 1981, after he had been with RCA almost 30 years. Except for the Grand Ole Opry and work on the now defunct Nashville Network, his career dried up like an old corn stalk.

His comeback began in 2004 with a series of gospel records. Soon, he and Marty Stuart, a fellow Opry member, were plotting an album that would recreate the sound and feel of Wagoner’s vintage recordings.

 Porter Wagoner on David Letterman – Albert Erving

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jptVTVMucc0[/youtube]

Deadstring Brothers to Release “Silver Mountain” 10/9/07

Looks like it’s shaping up to be a sleazy, greasy Fall.  Detroit-based Deadstring Brothers are taking some time
from the road to follow up 2006’s Starving Winter Report (Bloodshot Records) this October with “Silver Mountain”
(Bloodshot Records.)

Produced in the band’s own recording studio,Silver Mountain boasts the tunesmanship of The Faces and the barroom
howl of The Band stewed together in homage to the blues of the American South and dancehalls of the urban factory
North. Music like this formed the genesis of album-oriented FM rock—this record showcases high energy bluesy rave-ups
and hymnal country ballads. Silver Mountain is a coming out party for sultry singer Masha Marjieh. Gritty and seductive,
reminiscent of ‘60s era Tina Turner, Masha steps into the spotlight on eight of the 11 tracks, showcasing her hot-blooded
and lustful voice, leaving no doubt that the biggest heart in the room now belongs to this soulful vocalist. Harmonica
player Mickey Raphael also took a break from his place alongside the great Willie Nelson, contributing to “The Light
Shines Within” and “Slow Down.”

Much of the story behind Silver Mountain is the band’s late nights at the Heavy Load, an underground club night in London’s West End, where they met future Brother Spencer Cullum. Led by Heavy Load Rob and his very lovely wife, Hippy Karen, the Heavy Load debuted in 1999 and celebrates vintage rock music from the 60s to the mid-70s. It’s music that really makes you feel at home, says Heavy Load Rob, and apparently he’s right—Now in its 8th year, the Heavy Load is one of the most popular club nights in London, attracting an enthusiastic crowd, and in turn, defining a scene, much like the dance nights and local bands that played at The Factory eventually became part of rock history. It was only a matter of time before the Heavy Load’s playlists from the past influenced a new breed of bands.

The Deadstring Brothers – New Shit

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kth1T9A0W8[/youtube]

Billy Joe Shaver’s Bluebird Cafe 1992 Performance To Be Released On CD

On September 11, Billy Joe Shaver will release a CD featuring his 1992 concert at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe titled “Storyteller: Live at the Bluebird 1992.”

The iconic, Texan-born Shaver, now aged 67, has had his share of run-ins with the law including shooting a man in the face. The man did not retain life threatening injuries and Shaver, after turning himself in, was charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a handgun. After a court hearing, he was released on a $50,000 bond.

Along with being a country singer and songwriter he has also performed in movies including “The Wendell Baker Story,” “Secondhand Lions” and “The Apostle.”

Shaver is known among his peers as a survivor having lost his mother and wife to cancer in 1999 and his son in 2000 due to a drug overdose.

The new CD will be released through Sugar Hill Records.

Lyle Lovett to Release “It’s Not Big It’s Large,” 8/28

Lyle LovettLyle Lovett is set to release “It’s Not Big It’s Large,” on Aug. 28. The album, produced by Lovett and longtime collaborator Billy Williams, features the singer’s Large Band on 12 new tracks. The four-time Grammy winner will cover everything from country to blues, to folk, jazz and gospel.

A deluxe version of the CD will be released simultaneously and include a DVD with studio footage, according to a press release.

Lovett, who likes to take his time between albums, released his latest, “My Baby Don’t Tolerate,” in 2003. That set, his first collection of original material since 1996’s “Road to Ensenada,” reached No. 7 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart..

Lovett and his Large Band have been touring with K.D. Lang for the last couple of few weeks. Lovett and band will break off for a headlining stint in California, Montana and Idaho. Then in October, Lovett will return home to Texas for a half-dozen shows, including the Big State Music Festival in College Station, which is home to Lovett’s alma mater, Texas A&M University.

Lovett has  also recently announced that he will join Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller in headlining “Cayamo: A Journey Through Song,” a six-day Carribean cruise scheduled to launch from Miami next February. Lovett’s tour itinerary is listed below.

Lyle Lovett Tour Dates (dates may change, call ahead)

July 2007
29 – Concord, CA – Sleep Train Pavilion *
30 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery
31 – Redding, CA – Cascade Theatre

August 2007
2 – Bozeman, MT – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
3 – Missoula, MT – Wilma Theatre
4 – Sandpoint, ID – Festival At Sandpoint

October 2007
10-11 – Fort Worth, TX – Bass Performance Hall
12 – Tyler, TX – R. Don Cowan Fine Arts Center
13 – College Station, TX – Big State Music Festival
14 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre
15 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Bar-B-Que

February 2008
4-7 – Miami, FL – Carnival “Victory” Cruise

*co-headlining with K.D. Lang