The Civil Wars Annouce New Album This Summer

The Civil Wars New Album

The Civil Wars were holed up working on a new album in Nashville last fall with Barton Hallow producer Charlie Peacock. But last February fans were jarred by news that Joy Williams and John Paul White cancelling all of their concerts citing “irreconcilable differences of ambition,” but they left the door open for more music soon.

The band worked with T Bone Burnett for new music for the soundtrack for “A Place at the Table.” the pair also seems unconformable sharing the stage with T Bone and Taylor Swift to accept a Grammy for their contribution to the Hunger Games soundtrack.

All this time the band’s Facebook page has been flooded with well-wishing fans begging for new music. They’re going to get their wish this summer.

The best-selling folk pop duo announced today via Twitter, Facebook and their site (which crashed from the traffic on the news) that they will release their their self-titled sophomore album in “late summer” on Sensibility Music/Columbia Records.

“Patience is a virtue,” White writes to fans in a letter posted on the duo’s official website. “Yours has been appreciated. Here’s to the hope you consider it rewarded.

So far there is no official news on public appearances or performances planned around the release.

The Red-Headed Stranger Turns 80 – Happy Birthday to Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson and Jerry Max Lane

The only time I’ve met Willie Nelson was backstage at Ft. Worth’s storied hanky-tonk, Billy-Bobs. This was in the mid-eighties and I was about 18 so I was more interested in Ozzy and Iron Maiden than I was seeing some country singer. Even one as iconic as Willie is.

The thing about that night wasn’t meeting Willie with some floozy fawning all over him. It was his presence onstage and the crowd. How they loved him and he loved them right back. They hung on every classic verse and he was glade to sing it for them as the family, with sister Bobbie on grand piano. They were frenzied, they were moved to tears. They loved him and he them. He did the impossible, he made Texans more proud to be from Texas.

My dad and Willie were drinking buddies. Here they are tight and on the town searching for trouble and material for honky-tonk ballads. Willie became an icon and Dad had a song covered by George Strait. Not too shabby.

Willie and Dad don’t talk much anymore. I don’t think there was a falling out, I just think it’s hard to keep ties when you become famous. I would like it if Willie dropped in on dad as he’s not doing too well. But when you’re on the road 200 plus days of the year it’s not easy to reach back across those miles to the past

Willie turns 80 today and as we mourn another country music legend we are given a stark reminder of how great this music can be if given care and courage. A statue has been erected in Austin bit it’s not near time to write Willie off. He’s just released a new album, “Let’s Face The Music & Dance,” and he’s just announced dates at the Outside Lands festival here in San Francisco and a couple of shows at the Hollywood Bowl with fellow Texas- troubadour Lyle Lovett. The man who wrote “Crazy” will be on the road until his arthritis won’t allow him to hoist ol’ his signature guitar, Trigger.

Well, maybe a few more shows after that.

Wilie speaks out for local farmers, bio-fuel and yes, weed. These are not popular red state subjects but somehow coming from Willie skepticism is lowered and alternative possibilities are embraced. Natalie Maines could learn a lot from her fellow Texan on the nuances of self-expression without torching your fan base.

Willie and Kristfferon are the last Highwaymen staring. Both still out there in the night doing their thing their way. Transcending genre to become purely American music. Though he learned from the greats Hank, Jones , Lefty – Willie has more in common with the masters of the American songbook, the Gershwins, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin. Sure Dylan brought a generation a voice but Willie did the unthinkable. He brought the hippies and rednecks together,

Let’s celebrate Willie by understanding what he means for music and be glade we were live when he vied to witness the transformation. Sure Music City does not reflect his legacy, it’s an industry not a preservation society. As Jason Isbell deftly tweeted “Hate to break it to y’all, but Nashville didn’t “ruin” country music. Lotta good burgers in this town; nobody forcing you to eat McDonald’s” Wilie knew this. He worked the burg line for hers before heeded back to Texas to try his own recipe. Americana and the thriving roots music community better reflects the legacy of Willie, Kristofferson, Cash and Waylon and the draft and love of music beyond trends or current fads. The business will always be there. Beans have to be put on the table. Touring vans don’t run on good will. But business should not be the driving force. That’s a sure road to crap.

Here’s to Willie. activist, actor, author, Texastentialist, and musical legend. Long may your flag wave, hoss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iESjQlCh87U

Watch Out! John Fullbright “Gawd Above” [VIDEO]

John Fullbright - Gawd Above Video

Gawd Above, one of the best songs on john Fulbright’s Grammy-nominated “From the Ground Up” has now gotten the proper video treatment.

The Oklahoma native stars in this moody succession of black-and-white temptations, jump-cuts between Scantly clad women (one that eats fire) seedy hotels, confessional booths and (shudder) white loafers!

Gawd Above
is a great song song no matter what imagery is draped around it but if it needed to be done this is a pretty cool way to do it.

The King Of Broken Hearts is Gone – George Jones Dies at 81

George Jones and Baron Lane 323667_10150669767945831_1604704532_o

Recently Jim Lauderdale recounted to me a scenario he read from a book by author/entrepreneur/groupie Pamela Des Barres. This scene featured Gram Parsons allegedly sititng in room surrounded by LA. party people as he played George Jones records and cried. When someone asked who he was listening to he is reported to have answered “The king of Broken Hearts.” This story led Lauderdale to write , and George Strait to latter cover, “The King of Broken Hearts”

Here’s a verse:

The king of broken hearts is so sad and wise
He can smile while he’s crying inside
We know he’ll be brave tonight
Cause he’s the king of broken hearts

Is the story factually true? I don’t know, but it’s essence is dead-on. Lauderdale and Parsons had it right. Regarded by many to be one of the greatest voices in country music Jones defined and lived country music as authentically as anyone. He spoke from a place where he lived and struggled and showed us all he, and we, are fallible. He had lived and breathed empathy into every word.

Not far from Jones’ birthplace of Saratoga Texas, thirty-eight miles northwest of Beaumont, producer and co-owner of Starday Records, Pappy Daily, signed Jones to his first label in 1954. Four singles were released soon after that went nowhere..

Jones then released “Why, Baby, Why” , produced by Daily, in the summer of 1955 resulting in his first hit. it peaked at #4 on the Billboard country charts that year before being eclipsed by Webb Pierce and Red Sovine doing a version of the very same song (things were done differently back then.)

Then came the 14 number one country hits, multiple Male Vocalist of the Year and Duo of the year awards with Tammy Wynette, 4 Grammys, a tumultuous marriage with Wynette, hundreds of bottles of bourbon and enough controlled substances that would make Keith Richards flinch. Many missed performances (branding him “No Show Jones” by promoters) and one infamous arrested for DUI while riding on a John Deere lawn tractor and a legacy was established.

in the 80’s Jones and many of his contemporaries found themselves ostracized from Music City in the wake of the Urban Cowboy phenomenon, which led the country music industry to pursue the contemporary pop elements of the day. Sound familiar? Through most of the 80’s and 90’s his career had stalled by the new economics of Nashville big labels. Though playing in smaller venues people that knew of his place in history continued to attend how shows. Many of these people brought their kids along. A few of those kids probably make up the Americana performers I now cover.

Jones was nearly through half of his farewell “The Grand Tour,” when, on April 18, he was admitted to Nashville’s. Vanderbilt University Hospital with fever and irregular blood pressure. This morning, April 26, 2013, I received an email from TMZ that Jones had died. Wikipedia had not been updated with his news and his tour dates were still listed on Ticketmaster, so I was skeptical. But almost one minute later the news was confirmed by an email from Jones publicist. The man Frank Sinatra once said was the “second best singer in this country…” was dead.

Jone’s final concert was to be held on November 22, 2013, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The show sold out far in advance and Garth Brooks, Kid Rock, Shelby Lynne, the Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, Jamey Johnson, Lorrie Morgan, Randy Travis and Gene Watson. Tanya Tucker and many others were to join jones for the for the event. Whether the show carries on in his absence is yet unknown.

Personally I was fortunate to see Jones perform in 2007. Visibly weakened and unable to play guitar dut to recent surgery, he performed on with those majestic standards
in front of an rapt Carnagie hall audience. We knew we were in the presence of history. As opener Kris Kristofferson stated during his lone acoustic set, ‘George Jones is the only person alive I’d open for.”

i met Jones briefly last year after he shared the stage with the Allman Brothers, Glenn Campbell and Diana Ross for the lifetime Achievement Grammy awards. i was kind and smiled as I gushed and he posed for what must have been his millionth fan pic. What a gentleman. It made me happy to know he was still part of the world I was part of. I am sadder today.

Americana artists like Kelly Willis and Caitlin Rose and Holly Williams, Country music legends like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Charlie Daniels, and contemporary country artists Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton flooded twitter with their sentiments and memories. As I write this #GeorgeJones is still trending on Twitter. Fitting for a man that once released an album entitled “High-Tech Redneck.”

Here’s my small tip-of-the-hat to a man who, along with Hank Williams, defined not only country music’s style, but it’s moral complexities mirrored in the best of it’s narratives.

UPDATE: George Jones’ funeral will took place on Thursday, May 2nd at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, it was open to the public. People lined up 24 hours beforehand to get in.

“George would have wanted his fans and friends everywhere to be able to come and pay their respects along with his family,” said publicist Kirt Webster.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the Grand Ole Opry trust fund:

Opry Trust Fund
2804 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214

or to the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum at http://store.countrymusichalloffame.com/categories/Donate/

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME® AND MUSEUM
222 FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH
NASHVILLE, TN 37203

EDIT:

George Jones’ funeral will take place on Thursday, May 2nd at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, starting at 10 am (Central) and will be open to the public. Doors will open at 9 am.

In addition, national television networks CMT, GAC, RFD, and FamilyNet, as well as local Nashville stations WKRN 2, WSMV 4, WTVF 5, WZTV 17 will broadcast the funeral service “LIVE”, with radio partners WSM 650AM and SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse (Ch. 56) broadcasting the service. Fans around the world can listen online at wsmonline.com or watch online at opry.com.

Merle Haggard Remembers George Jones

“George Jones, Admired and Copied Country Singer, Dies at 81” – New York Times

“George Jones Dead at 81” – Rolling Stone

“George Jones, American country singer, dies aged 81” – BBC

Listen Up! The Builders and the Butchers “Dirt in the Ground”

The Builders and the Butchers - Western Medicine

Dark roots band The Builders and the Butchers, (Ryan Sollee – vocals/guitar; Harvey Tumbleson – guitar/banjo/mandolin; Ray Rude – drums/organ/piano; Willy Kunkle – bass; Justin Baier – drums), are known for their for their rowdy live shows and their proclivity toward folks musics darker subject matter.

The Alaska-born / Portland-based and band’s new release, Dirt in the Ground , trods through similar stylistic territory. The chugging intro is a study in stark mortality said to be inspired by the Southern Gothic writings Cormac McCarthy. Sollee’s frantic wail threads symbolism of a patriarchal graveyard jig , fire, fear and guilt and our collective end as he wails as a matter-of-fact “one day soon you’ll be the dirt in the ground.” The song’s pressure-cooker conclusion is like a Mumford and Sons show gone off the rails.

Western Medicine is The Builders and the Butchers fourth release and will be released on July 2nd. Pre-order will be available soon through Badman Records site.

The Builders and the Butchers upcoming dates:

May 10 Austin TX-Anotnes
May 11 Denver CO-Bluebird Theater (w-The Thermals)
May 23 San Fransisco Ca-Cafe Du Nord
May 24 Visalia Ca-Cellar Door
May 25 Santa Cruz Ca-Crepe Place
May 26 Sacramento Ca-Harlow’s (w-Murder By Death)
June 8 Spokane Wa-Elkfest
June 22 Portland Or-Mississippi Studios ( CD release show)

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell Perform “When You Get to Asheville” on David Letterman 4/23/13 [VIDEO]

Steve Martin & Edie Brickell - When You Get to Asheville - David Letterman

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. The pairing seemed odd when i caught wind of it, but the results were a great combination of rustic roots with modernist sensibilities. Like the Nashville Sound if it had taken place 30 years earlier.

They made their collective TV debut last night, performing “When You Get to Asheville” with the Steep Canyon Rangers on the Late Show With David Letterman.

Appearing in back woods finery Martin deftly works the banjo and Edie recalls her “What I am…” breathlessness on this plaintive tune of a classic lovelorn longing. The perennial theme is afforded
modern touches like using email to communicate. They are deftly backed by the Martin’s usual partners Steep Canyon Rangers The cut is taken from their new release, Love Has Come for You, which Rounder released this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xVFpn_MK0G8#!

New Americana Festival Coming to Franklin, TN

Cross County Lines

I love the Transatlantic Sessions, a BBC produced series that follows part of the Americana music lineage back to Europe and showcases breathtaking performances. The Cross County Lines is off to a great start to meet that lofty goal with a premier featuring Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Shawn Colvin, Amos Lee, Sarah Jarosz, Angel Snow and Teddy Thompson.

(NASHVILLE, Tenn) April 22, 2013 – The Americana Music Association announced today plans to produce “Cross County Lines,” a one day festival/celebration of Roots inspired music to take place in Middle Tennessee during the early summer of 2014. A kickoff event has been planned, hosted by Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas, to raise awareness and funds to support the not for profit music association’s mission and will take place Saturday June 1, 2013 at Liberty Hall at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.

Legendary artists Krauss and Douglas will host and perform at the premiere event and have invited special guests Shawn Colvin, Amos Lee, Sarah Jarosz, Angel Snow and Teddy Thompson to join in what will be a memorable night of music.

The format of the performance is inspired by the Transatlantic Sessions, a series based in Scotland, co-conceived and musical directed by Jerry Douglas The event brings together enormously talented musicians who collaborate under the direction of Douglas and promises to be a once in a lifetime evening. In addition to the aforementioned artists, a triple scale house band of Gabe Dixon, Shannon Forrest, Viktor Krauss, Andy Leftwich and Bryan Sutton will perform throughout the evening with all of the artists.

The event will take place in Franklin, Tennessee’s landmark Factory in Franklin building, which originally was built as a wood burning stove factory in 1929. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

All proceeds will go to the benefit the Americana Music Association. Tickets will go on sale Friday April 26 at www.americanamusic.org with seating at $65 per ticket and General Admission at $45. Guests also have a premier seating option to purchase Patron tables

Bob Dylan, Wilco, & My Morning Jacket Team Summer AmericanaramA Festival Tour

bob-dylan-wilco-my-morning-jacket

Coming through this summer Bob Dylan, Wilco, and My Morning Jacket, Richard Thompson Electric Trio and Ryan Bingham will be featured for the AmericanaramA Festival. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 24th.

Though I would squabble with some of the inclusions in an “Americana” showcase this should be a cool show.

The tour kicks off in West Palm Beach, FL on June 26th and hits over 20 U.S. different cities before concluding in Mountain View, CA on August 4th. Check out the itinerary below.

Bob Dylan 2013 Tour Dates:
04/21 – Bowling Green, OH @ Bowling Green State University – Stroh Center *
04/23 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House *
04/24 – Springfield, MO @ Missouri State University – JQH Arena *
04/25 – Champaign, IL @ University of Illinois – Assembly Hall *
04/27 – Murray, KY @ Murray State University – CFSB Center #
04/28 – Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace #
04/30 – Asheville, NC @ U.S. Cellular Center*
05/01 – Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre *
05/02 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater *
05/04 – Charleston, SC @ Family Circle Magazine Stadium *
05/05 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
06/26 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre &
06/27 – Tampa, FL @ Live Nation Amphitheatre &
06/29 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood &
06/30 – Nashville, TN @ The Lawn at Riverfront Park &
07/02 – Memphis, TN @ AutoZone Park & ^
07/05 – Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center & ^
07/06 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center & ^
07/07 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena & ^
07/10 – St. Paul, MN @ Midway Stadium & ^
07/11 – Peoria, IL @ Chiefs Stadium & ^
07/12 – Chicago, IL @ Toyota Park & ^
07/14 – Clarkstown, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
07/15 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre & ^
07/18 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center & %
07/19 – Bridgeport, CT @ The Ballpark at Harbor Yard & %
07/20 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center & %
07/23 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion & %
07/24 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach & %
07/26 – Hoboken, NJ @ Pier A Park & %
07/27 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater & %
07/28 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center & %
07/31 – Denver, CO, @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre & %
08/01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre & %
08/03 – Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre & %
08/04 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre & %
* = w/ Dawes
# = w/ The Wild Feathers
& = w/ Wilco and My Morning Jacket
^ = w/ Richard Thompson Electric Trio
% = w/ Ryan Bingham

Watch Out! Sarah Jarosz Live at the Troubadour EP – Special Record Store Day Exclusive [VIDEO]

Sarah Jarosz

in honor of Record Store Day 2013 Austin native and folk singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz is offering a new live release, Live at the Troubadour. The five song EP was was recorded the famed Los Angeles venue and features longtime collaborators Nathanial Smith (cello) and Alex Hargreaves (violin.)

Four live performance videos, shot by videographer Alex Chaloff, beautifully capturing the grace Jarosz of her live shows were created especially for the release. These were originally featured on The Bluegrass Situation, CMT Edge, Bluegrass Nation and RecordStoreDay.com.

Currently wrapping up her senior year at the New England Conservatory of Music, Jarosz will spend her summer making appearances at major festivals including Del Fest, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra, Forecastle, Ossipee Valley and Newport Folk Festival.

LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR track listing
1. Tell Me True
2. Kathy’s Song
3. Mansinneedof
4. Shankill Butchers
5. Broussard’s Lament

Look for Sarah Jarosz new Sugar Hill release is coming this fall.

Sarah Jarosz Tour Dates
2013-4-19 Burlington, VT – Flynn PAC – with John Prine
2013-4-20 Portsmouth, NH – The Music Hall – with John Prine
2013-5-03 Austin, TX – AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center
2013-5-23 New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall
2013-5-25 Cumberland, MD – Del Fest
2013-6-12 The Woodlands, TX – Dosey Doe Coffee Shop
2013-6-13 Wimberley, TX – Blue Rock Artist Ranch – Blue Rock Studio
2013-6-14 Dallas, TX – Poor David’s Pub
2013-6-15 Santa Fe, NM – The Downs of Santa Fe – with Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris
2013-6-16 Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum
2013-6-18 Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
2013-6-21 Telluride, CO – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
2013-6-22 Telluride, CO – Michael D. Palm Theatre
2013-7-06 Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival
2013-7-07 Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival
2013-7-13 Louisville, KY – Forecastle Festival
2013-7-25 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
2013-7-26 Hiram, ME – Ossipee Valley Music Festival
2013-7-27 Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival
2013-7-28 Ogunquit, ME – Jonathan’s Restaurant
2013-8-10 Portland, ON – Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
2013-8-11 Seattle, WA – Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheatre