Gram Parsons – A Celebration 40 Years On

Gram-Parsons

Few musicians have had such a wide impact on musical direction and history with such a brief time on this earth that Gram Parsons. Only 26 when he died from overdose at Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California he has gone on to become an undisputed pioneer in this rag-tag genre we call Americana.

On this 40th anniversary of his death I take time while attending the Americana Music Conference and Festival, something that very well might not have existed if not for Parsons, to offer you a brief collection of some of his best performances and songs many with his protege Emmylou Harris.

Remember, revere and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ivVJzGgcq0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuZOZ-mYgy4

10 Upcoming Bands To Catch At AmericanaFest 2013

ama banner

Every time I head across this great nation to Music City to attend the always enjoyable Americana Music Association Festival, Conference and Awards Ceremony (whew!) i always come home with great memories.

Most of those memories concern showcase bands and performers I hadn’t I hadn’t planned on seeing, Some where bands that were not part of the official showcase but were caught off the official badge accessible path.

Though there is no knowing the unknowable, but here are some ands that might not be at the top of AmericanaFest goers list. But they should be.

1. The Lone Bellow – The next wave of Pop-Americana raises that car on harmony and musicianship.

2. JD McPherson – The buzz is heavy around this Oklahoma native (seriously Oklahoma? Wasn’t John Fullbright enough excellence) digs into rocks past and delivers it fresh and hot.

3. St. Paul and The Broken Bones – Birmingham-based band St. Paul and the Broken Bones performs a review of neo-soul sure to please.

4. Dugas – Speaking of soul, Winnipeg, Canadaian siblings Sarah & Christian Dugas brings it with a Southern flair.

5. Matrimony – ‬Lovely melodies and ‪Ashlee Hardee Brown‬’s impassioned vocals makes Charlotte, North Carolina-based Matrimony a must-see.

6. Hurray for the Riff Raff – Maybe less under the radar, but never-the-less a well-known favorite at Casa Twang. New Orleans-based singer/somgwriter Alynda Lee Segarra and her revolving collective, known as Hurray for the Riff Raff, packs houses wherever they play.

7. NQ Arbuckle – Since 2002 Toronto-based NQ Arbuckle has been making their brand of whip smart and hart felt alt.country.

8. Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers -Bay Area-based singer/songwriter Nicki Bluhm has pipes that got her invited to perform with the Chris Robinson, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Warren Haynes, Grace Potter, The Avett Brothers. Her crackerjack band since 2003 8, The Gramblers, lay down just the right amount of heat.

9. Willie Sugarcapps – Of the handfull of Americana Music supergroups taht have come about Willie Sugarcapps is one of the most super. The star-studded band features Will Kimbrough, Sugarcane Jane, Grayson Capps and Corky Hughes melding together thier considerable talents.

10. Parker Millsap – Purcell, OK (Oklahoma!) native Parker Millsap is what you might call a troubadour. His excellent song-craft, expressive and gritty vocals front one hell of aa great band.

Hayes Carll Kicks Off Weekly/Monthly Hangouts

hayes Carll Hangout

I imagine Hayes Carll’s welcoming, laid-back style being perfect for hanging out on a Texas afternoon shooting the shit. Until that time Carll’s newly launched Google hangout event is the next best thing.

Conducted it from the Drunken Poet Studios in Austin, TX. the event will be weekly or monthly and is still getting the kinks out. But it’s cool to watch Carll and his crew work out the bugs while picking some tunes.

Carll talks up his upcoming Christmas tour and other upcoming gigs and togas. Takes questions from his Twitter account @HayesCarll . He also introduces the Drunken Poet’s Society fan club, that sounds pretty cool.

He also performs a new unfinished and untitled..er new song #7, song he wrote with Nashville based singer/songwriter Ruston Kelly Also performed is a song called “Magic Kid” hayes wrote with Darrell Scott.

Not sure if the event, like many Google hangouts, will be done as a live feed with audience participation during the live taping. but it’s a pretty cool way to kill a few minutes with a cool guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QoR_NMiVYuo#t=16

Watch Out! Zoe Muth – Country Blues [VIDEO]

Zoe Muth

Here’s a great video of Zoe Muth covering Dock Boggs classic “Country Blues” at WAMU’S Bluegrass Country.

The Seattle based songwriter has a forlorn voice lends a weariness to this song of regret and sorrow looking toward the sweet hereafter.

Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers are currently on tour. See them if your lucky enough to have a chance.

Watch Out! Kendl Winter – “Rosie” [VIDEO EXCLUSIVE]

Kendl Winter

I’ve met very few people as talent and humble as Arkansas-native Kendl Winter. I chatted with her briefly before she performed live before a showing of the metaphysical country-music noir film “My Fool heart. (of which she furnished music for the soundtrack.) she held the audience in silence as her breathy keen and adroit banjo playing filled the old movie theater.

It was a treat that everyone should witness and enjoy.

On her new video for “Rosie,” off her new full-length “It Can Be Done,” Winter hurries across the a rugged terrain as the song perambulates pleasingly around driving drums and ebbing banjo.

Mumford And Sons Cover You Shook Me All Night Long – Toronto 8/26/13

Mumford & Sons

Mumford and Sons get a bad rap for being wimpy. I’ve often agreed with this sentiment. Last night in Toronto Mumford Co flashed a little edge.

In an encore that began with their standard cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” and the Babel track “Reminder.” Marcus Mumford then announced openers The Vaccines’ guitarist Freddie Cowan and then it was 1980 all over again with the familiar licks of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

Marcus Mumford, moved to the decidedly un-Mumford instrument of drums. The band found a fan that knew the words to the song and they got to star on the stage for the cover.

Watch it below:

Watch Out! Valerie June – “Workin’ Woman Blues” – David Letterman 8-21-13

Valerie June - Workin' Woman Blues - David Letterman 8-21-13

David Letterman, and his music booker at the Late Show Sheryl Zilikson, continued their ongoing support of Americana and roots music by featuring the solo network TV debut of roots-soul singer/songwriter Valerie June.

Dave yuks it up with Paul Shaffer by playing off Valerie June’s surname by joking “I think she used to be married to Johnny Cash.” June plays along and confirms that it’s true.

Junes makes her debut a memorable one. Her performance “Workin’ Woman Blues” from her debut “Pushin’ Against a Stone” is riveting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPp7w3fHr1U

Johnny Cash – The 1950s Live TV Appearances

Johnny Cash Live

This is why the Internet is awesome. Someone on YouTube took the time to compile every TV appearance that Cash made between 1955 and 1959. It says that it;s an “incomplete” collection but who cares. These 16 gems of musical history will satisfy.

Thanks to JohnnyCashfan66 for this.

1955 – Johnny Cash (Backstage in Oklahoma City)
1956 – So Doggone Lonesome (Grand Ole Opry)
1957 – Get Rhythm (Tex Riter’s Ranch Party)
1957 – Give My Love To Rose (Tex Riter’s Ranch Party)
1957 – Home of the Blues (Tex Riter’s Ranch Party)
1957 – I Walk the Line (Tex Riter’s Ranch Party)
1957 – So Doggone Lonesome (Tex Riter’s Ranch Party)
1957 – Next in Line (Tex Riter’s Ranch Party)
1957 – Train of Love (Tex Riter’s Ranch Party)
1958 – Stay All Night & Next In Line (Country Style USA)
1958 – Give My Love to Rose (Country Style USA)
1958 – Home of the Blues & Stay All Night (Country Style USA)
1958 – Ballad of a Teenage Queen (American Bandstand)
1959 – All Over Again (March of Dimes)
1959 – Camptown Races (Bell Telephone Hour)
1959 – Don’t Take Your Guns to Town (Ed Sullivan Show)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2JhTmHhiqk

5 Americana Artists the Grand Ole Opry Should Induct

Old Crow Medicine Show

Following the ongoing trend of Music City tapping Americana music for source material and injecting some vibrant blood to an all but stagnant (but lucrative) genre, the old-time string band, Old Crow Medicine Show was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry by Opry member Marty Stuart during their concert at the Ohio Theatre in Cleveland, OH.

They will formally be inducted into the Opry at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Tues., Sept. 17.

In recent years Music Row has been looking to Americana music for new ideas, market trends and extending demographic appeal.

Sure the Opry has lost cred for ignoring great performers and casting out key members of the country music community (Hank Sr. anyone?) but it is an institution that provides a stage for broad exposure and, rightly or not, credibility.

There’s is no magic formula the Opry uses to choose who is asked to join. It’s a mix of sound, commitment, (gasp) popularity and what the Opry calls “relationships.” Relationships like backing Darius Rucker on the Orey stage for Bob Dylan’s “Wagon Wheel.”

Here are 5 Americana artists that, like Old Crow Medicine Show, would fit comfortably on the Opry stage.

The Dixie Chicks – Yeah I know, but the Chicks were always an Americana band to me. I know they and the country music industry had disagreements, but there’s no denying their positive (and lucrative) impact on the genre.

in 1986 Dwight Yoakam rescued country music from the Urban Cowboy blight and reminded people why it was fun, heartfelt and brave in the first place. Rarely has there been a better meeting of traditional and mainstream success then Yoakam? And he’s still going strong, though his new album, 3 Pears, isn’t up for CMA awards it’s up for Americana Music Awards.

Does any contemporary performer embody the sound, style and spirit of all that is great in country music more than Elizabeth Cook? The answer is no way. She’s a fan favorite and has been asked by the Opry to perform on their stage over 100 (!) times. It’s time to make it official.

For 11 albums over a 20-year career Robbie Fulks has been playing smart trad-leaning country music. Sure he hd some choice words for music row (made plain in his song “Fuck This Town.”) But Fulks disdain for the industry and love for the musical heritage is exactly what the Opry needs to gain cred.

As a member of The Byrds Gram Parsons played the Opry stage on March 1968. The band was asked to play play two Merle Haggard songs (“Sing Me Back Home” and “Life In Prison.”) The first song song won over the skeptical crowd (LONGHAIRS!) And Parsons (who was a big Merle Haggard fan) substituted “Life In Prison” for his own “Hickory Wind,” from The Byrds then current album “Sweethearts of the Rodeo,” in honor of his Grandmother, a huge Opry fan. As expected the management were pissed but the crowd and some of that night’s performers, loved it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWjGtEmQ5Co

Look Out! Jimbo Mathus – Run Devil Run [Video Exclusive]

jimbo mathus - run devil run

Mississippi-native Jimbo Mathus knows a thing or two about marrying theater and music. As a founder of the Squirrel Nut Zippers Mathus helped usher an unlikely swing resurgence of the 90s by deftly tapping into the style and energy of early-twentieth century American music and moded it out for millions of late twentieth-century fans.

The video “Run Devil Run” has Mathus portraying a backwoods preacher filled with the spirit as he and the Tri-State Coalition slink and slide with tribal drums, moody organ and punctuated guitar in a variation of the blues.

Sin and salvation are plumbed as images are layered over whimsically creepy Fleischer Brothers style animation.

The song slowly simmers like a southern summer until the preacher wrestles with Ol Scratch. himself who seems to be a feeble opponent. Though it could be a ruse. He is the King of Lies after all.

Mathus says of the video: “Run Devil Run” offers a rare glimpse inside a genuine North Missisippi shack seance hosted by Repent Films and Capt Catfish himself. It features a sacred plumb bob pilfered from Solomon’s tomb. You’ll be real surprised when you see the thing we conjure up at the end! Better get prayed up before you watch this!”

Feel the heat, smell the brimstone and pray for swampland salvation.

“Run Devil Run” can be found on Mathus’ latest release “White Buffalo” on Fat Possum Records.