Drive By Truckers to Release “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark” 1/22/08

Los Angeles, CA –  New West Records will release the Drive-By Truckers’ eighth record, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark,
on January 22, 2008, featuring 19 new songs, many of which were previewed during the band’s The Dirt Underneath tour last
spring. Heralded by many critics as America’s best rock band, DBT will kick off the first leg of a new 29-city tour in
support of the album on February 11th in Anaheim, CA.  A four-song Brighter Than Creation’s Dark EP will be available on
December 18th at iTunes and all other DSPs (Rhapsody, Yahoo Music, MSN/Zune). The EP consists of “Two Daughters And A Beautiful
Wife,” “3 Dimes Down,” “The Righteous Path,” and “The Purgatory Line.” Back catalog reissues of Gangstabilly; Pizza Deliverance;
Decoration Day; The Dirty South; and A Blessing and a Curse will appear February 5, 2008as Limited Edition, 180 gram vinyl records.
This is the first time most of these titles will be available on vinyl.

Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley continue to be DBT’s primary songwriters, a relationship that started over twenty-two years ago
when the two began playing together. The band’s longtime bassist, Shonna Tucker, makes her debut on Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
as the band’s third writer, contributing three of the record’s nineteen tracks.  Founding member John Neff, who has frequently
guested on albums and onstage over the years, is an official member now, playing pedal steel and guitar.  He and drummer Brad Morgan
round out the band’s recording and touring line up.

Legendary Muscle Shoals keyboardist Spooner Oldham, to whom the album is dedicated, lends his unmistakable classic soul sound
to the record, as he did for the band’s last tour. The album also marks the sixth time the band has worked with producer David
Barbe, whose Chase Park Transduction studio in Athens, GA was the site of last summer’s recording.

DBT recently backed R&B vocalist Bettye Lavette on her critically acclaimed, Grammy®-nominated album The Scene of The Crime.
The album is nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album and was co-produced by Patterson Hood and long time DBT producer David Barbe.

Brighter Than Creation’s Dark Track Listing

1. Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife
2. 3 Dimes Down
3. The Righteous Path
4. I’m Sorry Huston
5. Perfect Timing
6. Daddy Needs A Drink
7. Self Destructive Zones
8. Bob
9. Home Field Advantage
10. The Opening Act
11. Lisa’s Birthday
12. That Man I Shot
13. The Purgatory Line
14. The Home Front
15. Checkout Time In Vegas
16. You And Your Crystal Meth
17. Goode’s Field Road
18. A Ghost To Most
19. The Monument Valley

DBT on tour:
Mon Feb 11  Anaheim     CA    HOUSE OF BLUES
Tue Feb 12  Los Angeles CA    AVALON
Wed Feb 13  San Francisco CA  MEZZANINE
Fri Feb 15  Portland    OR    ROSELAND
Sat Feb 16  Seattle     WA    SHOWBOX
Sun Feb 17  Seattle     WA    SHOWBOX
Tue Feb 19  Boise       ID    BIG EASY CONCERT HOUSE
Wed Feb 20 Salt Lake City UT  THE PALADIUM
Thu Feb 21  Aspen CO   BELLY UP
Fri Feb 22  Denver      CO    OGDEN THEATRE
Sat Feb 23  Boulder     CO    FOX THEATRE
Mon Feb 25  Omaha       NE    SLOWDOWN
Tue Feb 26  Columbia    MO    THE BLUE NOTE
Wed Feb 27  Urbana      IL    THE CANOPY CLUB
Thu Feb 28  Milwaukee   WI    PABST THEATRE
Fri Feb 29  St Louis    MO    THE PAGEANT
Sat Mar 01  Louisville  KY    HEADLINERS MUSIC HALL
Fri Mar 14  Memphis     TN    MINGLEWOOD HALL
Sat Mar 15  Nashville   TN    CANNERY BALLROOM
Sun Mar 16  Newport     KY    SOUTHGATE HOUSE
Tue Mar 18  Millvale    PA    MR. SMALL’S THEATER
Wed Mar 19  Toronto     ONT   OPERA HOUSE
Thu Mar 20  Montreal    QUE   CABARET MUSIC HALL
Fri Mar 21  Northampton MA    PEARL STREET
Sat Mar 22  Boston      MA    PARADISE ROCK CLUB
Tue Mar 25  New Haven   CT    TOAD’S PLACE
Wed Mar 26  New York    NY    TERMINAL 5
Thu Mar 27  Philadelphia PA   THE FILMORE AT THE TLA
Fri Mar 28  Richmond    VA    THE NATIONAL
Sat Mar 29  Asheville   NC    THE ORANGE PEEL

The Felice Brothers support on 2/11 – 3/1
North Mississippi Allstars on 2/11 & 2/12

Bloodshot Records Signs Justin Townes Earle – Debut Release “The Good Life” out in Spring 2008

Chicago-based alt.country stalwart Bloodshot Records has signed Justin Townes Earle to a multi-album, world-wide deal. His debut full-length album, The Good Life is slated to hit stores in Spring 2008. Justin will make appearances at SXSW and tour with The Felice Brothers in March and April. Justin’s previously self-released EP “Yuma” will become available to wide release through Bloodshot soon.

The Good Life is produced by RS Field, who has made his mark on critically acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Yountes (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Lovelace), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOwaqm7Deu4[/youtube]

Poco Drummer Fundraiser

George Grantham, drummer, vocalist and founding member of the seminal 70’s West Coast country-rock band Poco  (“Crazy Love,”  “Heart of the Night”), recently suffered a severe stroke.  The stroke took him off the road permanently–making him incapable of enjoying or continuing his music career.

John McEuen from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Timothy Schmit, Kentucky Headhunters, Scotty Moore, Steve Wariner, DJ Fontana, Don Henley, Richie Furay, Chris Hillman, Graham Nash, the band Orleans ands others have all joined Grantham’s daughter Gracie to begin a campaign Putting Heads Together to raise money for her father by contributing items for an eBay auction and to establish a fund to pay for George’s medical and living expenses.

For the latest news, to donate cash, something to sell or want to buy something from the auction visit the Putting Heads Together  site.

Hank III Interview at KNAC.COM

Hank Williams III took time from the road to talk to KNAC.COM about his new CD, “Damn Right and Rebel Proud” (Curb – early 2008 release) his early inspirations, his country royalty legacyand the sorry state of Nashville.

KNAC.COM: Don’t you think there are still plenty of people out there who don’t have the two-story house and the car payment and botoxed wife? I mean, there are still people who live on the edge, don’t you think? Day to day with a lot of obstacles who just do what they do to get by?

HANK III: Yep. Right. The lawyers outsmarted all the musicians in Nashville, and that’s when it totally changed. We just do what we do. I’m going through the same fuckin’ bullshit on the new record that I just turned in. “There’s no country song for radio on here.” Well, it’s not my fuckin’ fault that I’m too country for radio or that my topics aren’t pristine or picture perfect. I just stick to my guns. “This is my record. These are my songs. If it’s not good enough for radio, that’s your problem—not mine. Our fans will still be here and we’ll still be doin’ what we’re doin’ with or without you, man.

KNAC.COM: This will be your fourth record though. At this point why would they expect that you had changed at all? I mean, you aren’t Rascal Flatts.

HANK III: I guess it’s just like the same reason Creative Artist Agency let me go eight months ago. They were like, “Are you gonna take the next step and go to the next level?” I’m like, “I’m gonna keep playing the bars—they’ve been supporting me since day one. If you have a couple of big shows, I’ll open for a band if the situation is right, but I’m not gonna say “Fuck y’all, see ya later!” to the bars that have kept us alive.” They fired me. I guess it’s the same mentality at the record label that I have to deal with now. Maybe they figure, “Hank’s getting older now—maybe he’s got this rebellious bullshit out of his system and do it our way.” Thank God that I’ve got a good manager and a good lawyer who believes in what I do.

Hank Williams III – Dick In Dixie

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC-ZFUC9R-U[/youtube]

Bourbon Crow Tours Texas


Bourbon Crow, the country side project of North Carolina’s horror punk band Wednesday 13 (ex-Murderdolls frontman) and his former bassist Rayen Belchere, will embark on a short tour of Texas between September 9 and Sepember 15. According
to a press release, “these will be stripped down, acoustic shows.  “The first confirmed performance is September 15 in Houston, Texas at The Reverend Horton Heat pre-party at the Red Room (Meridian). The Reverend Horton Heat will perform later that night with The Gore Gore Girls and The Phantom Rockers.

Bourbon Crow released its debut CD, “Highway to Hangovers”, on Horror High, LLC in October 2006. The band will return to the studio later this year to record its sophomore effort.

9.11.07 – San Antonio, TX – Rock Bottom
9.12.07 – Austin, TX – Room 710 w/ Rhoades D’Ablo & The Devil’s Right Hand
9.13.07 – Dallas, TX – DarkSide Lounge w/ GHOULTOWN, John Chaos Sideshow and the Spook City All Stars
9.14.07 – Fort Worth, TX – Wreck Room w/ GHOULTOWN
9.15.07 – Houston, TX at The Reverend Horton Heat Pre-Party at the Red Room (Meridian)

http://www.myspace.com/bourboncrow

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]

Hank III Summer Tour Dates

Hank Williams III has updated his cool yet creepy web site and posted confirmed Summer tour dates. Get your cowboy hats and Misfits t-shirts on and hit one of III’s always memorable and rowdy shows.

Big Red Goad w/Power of County will be opening all shows.

July 10  Vinos,  Little Rock AR
July 11  Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa OK
July 13  Backyard,  Austin TX
July 14     Cynthia W. Mitchell Pavilion, Houston TX
July 18     Launchpad, Albuquerque NM
July 20  Marquee,  Tempe AZ
July 21     House Of Blues,  San Diego CA
July 22  Roxy,     Los Angeles CA
July 24  Slim’s,   San Francisco CA
July 27  Dante’s,  Portland OR
July 28  Big Easy, Spokane WA
July 29  Big Easy, Boise ID
July 31  Gothic,   Denver CO

Hank III – Nighttime Ramblin Man

The Snakehandlers Provide Soundtrack to MTV’s Wrestling Society X Team

Los Angeles based and self-proclaimed “world’s loundest country band” – The Snakehandlers – and after hearing ’em they have a damn good fighting chance, will provide the theme music for MTV’s Wrestling Society X, the Trailer Park Boyz tag team. The perfect accompaniment to hopped up rednecks whooping ass on basic cable. Yeee haaaaaaaw!

Music Made a Man Out of Me (mp3)Â