Twang Nation – The Best In Americana Music
Americana & Roots Music & Culture
Sarah Jarosz made her stunning television debut last night on the Conan O’brien show.
Sarah donned a little black dress and cowboy boots, and her spectacular band, fiddler Alex Hargreaves and cellist Nathaniel Smith, killed it in this performance of “Over The Edge from her current release “Build Me Up From Bones”
The L.A.-based singer and songwriter on Friday posted a clip on his website depicted “Morning Phase” being rendered in the petroleum by-product so popular with the kids these days, vinyl.
“Morning Phase” set for release on Feb. 25 through Capitol Records, his first studio disc since “Modern Guilt” in 2008. Backed by players including Smokey Hormel, Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Joey Waronker.
Beck is a master at revamping music style – soul, funk, folk. His upcoming release “Morning Phase” is reported continue the gauzy forlorn-folk theme so brilliantly captured in 2002’s “Sea Change.”
In the current issue of Uncut magazie, Beck said: “I set out to make a gritty king of record, along the lines of those early ’70s singer-songwriter records. But the songs ended up having another quality to them. There are harmonies there: Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Everly Brothers, The Stanley Brothers. The Mamas & The Papas, even.”
Judging by the the clip below it appears that that is a correct assessment of style.
Really looking forward this one.
“The Morning Phase” tracklist:
‘Morning’
‘Heart Is A Drum’
‘Say Goodbye’
‘Waking Light’
‘Unforgiven’
‘Wave’
‘Don’t Let It Go’
‘Blackbird Chain’
‘Evil Things’
‘Blue Moon’
‘Turn Away’
‘Country Down’
Last fall Charleston, South Carolina roots-rock duo Shovels & Rope – husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst – played an intimate acoustic session at The Triple Door in Seattle to support the local legendary public radio station KEXP.
The band shows why they are a shining light in the Americana scene as they bend genres between country and folk, to gut-bucket blues and garage rock.
Revel in the music.
Songs:
Birmingham
O’ Be Joyful
Boxcar
Keeper
All Those Words
Kitchen Hallway
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe / Elvis Costello cover)
Get your Southern gritty groove on (by way of Oregon) with this new video for Root Jack’s “Dead Man’s Hand” from their upcoming “Oasis Motel.”
The band says that the video is a “…DIY affair. Using a single light bulb, an old sheet, and some public domain video.” The “video-ographer” was 16 year-old Max Vegas.
Look for “Oasis Motel” soon at rootjack.us
David Letterman, and his music booker at the Late Show Sheryl Zilikson, continued their ongoing support of Americana and roots music by featuring the creator of my #1 pick of last year, Brandy Clark
Clark performed the song “Stripes†from that latest debut “12 Stories.â€
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgQ7Y1U2M2A
ON EDIT: Want more Brandy? Here’s ‘Hold My Hand’ from ‘Hold My Hand’ in the Morning
Great music appears to transcend genre. Talking Heads might have been rooted in the 70’s New York Punk Rock movement but it was quickly apparent Byrne and Co. where a different animal altogether.
Art rock, pop, Afrobeat influences elevated their music far above many of their peers leading to many influential classics in spite of a lack of few actual “hits.”
Here are a few clips of roots performers reinterpreting and paying tribute to The Talking Heads.
Shawn Colvin – “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)”
Bonnie Raitt – Burning Down The House
Greensky Bluegrass -“Road To Nowhere”
The Lumineers – ‘This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)’
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – “Psycho Killer”
Josh Ritter – Harrisburg/Once in a Lifetime
Yonder Mountain String Band – “GirlFriend is Better”
David Byrne & Richard Thompson – “The Big Country”
Iris DeMent was born on this day near the town of Paragould, Arkansas. The youngest child of Pat DeMent and his second wife, Flora Mae.
A singular talent, Dement has had a significant impact on roots music. From her debut at 25 “Infamous Angel” to her latest “Sing The Delta” the soul and depth is undeniable.
Other musicians agree.
She has sung duets with John Prine, Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris and is featured on the albums of many other performers.
Here are 5 of my favorite songs by DeMent.
There’s A Whole Lot of Heaven
Pretty Saro
Go On Ahead And Go Home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYfNPLKhe7Q
Let The Mystery Be
Our Town
And by special request by an equally formidable talent, Kelly Willis.
Sweet Forgiveness
Growing up in North Texas you’re surrounded by two kinds of music, country and metal.
I’m still a fan of both and judging by the videos below I’m not the only one. These performers don’t have that ironic “I bought a Sabbath shirt at Hot Topic” crap, but appear to really be celebrating the unity of great music.
Drive-By Truckers – “Strutter” (Kiss)
Lucinda Williams – “It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock & Roll)” (AC/DC)
Ryan Adams – “Wasted Years” (Iron Maiden)
Hymn For Her – “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” (Led Zeppelin)
Cyril Neville – “Working Man” (Rush)
and for fun….
The Avett Brothers Sing Heavy Metal 9/30/2013… by screeps
On first glance it might appear that Joy Williams and John Paul White has reconciled. Then once the singing starts you know this is a different beast.
The White look-alike is Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell and the
pair took to the Americana-friendly David Letterman Show to perform a lovely and soulful rendition of “Misery Chain†from the “12 Years a Slave” soundtrack.
Could the next Civil Wars album feature Cornell?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPSQmwjsWqg
If music row is going to cross the tracks to look for great tunes they could do a whole lot worse then Mr. Buddy Miller.
Though best known as a guiding pioneer of the Americana genre , working with or producing for Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and David Rawlings, The Devil Makes Three, Richard Thompson and others, Miller – like his partner in crime Jim Lauderdale and co-host for the Sirius Satellite Radio – makes great music with no discernible concern for boundaries.
LeAnn Rimes might have felt this when she included his “Gasoline and Matches” on her latest “Spitfire.”
Originally performed by Buddy and his talented wife Julie, on their 2009 album, Written in Chalk. It was also included on “America’s Got Talent” season five winner Michael Grimm 011 self-titled record. The son was also included as a duet between Miller and Julie Robert’s on her latest “Good Wine & Bad Decisions.”
I’ve always been a fan of Rimes voice if not always her song selection. She sounds like she’s having fun as she belts it out with Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas as they deliver a tight groove. Jeff Beck seems an oddity in his guitar solo, but whatever. He’s a legend.
The stop-motion video was filmed on an iPhone by Ian Padgham
Rimes said of the Padgham. “When we saw Ian’s stop motion work on Vine, the first thing I noticed was this crazy sick sense of humor wrapped around a lot of heart and warmth.â€
truth told, the beat-laden club version that plays during the credits I could do without.