Twang Nation – The Best In Americana Music
Americana & Roots Music & Culture
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” welcomed Ryan Adams and his band the Shining as their musical guest last night. He and the band did “Gimme Something Good”, the single from his forthcoming self-titled album (September 9 via his label Pax-Am).
Alas Adam’s and the other night’s guest, Taylor Swift, did not perform together. But perhaps a backstage meeting might result in something in the future
The last few years has seen Ryan Adams dabbling in computer music and metal and producing for Jenny Lewis.
Now Adam’s is in a rock-and-roll phase with his new self-titled solo album, his 14th, which will hit stores on September 9 via Pax-Am Records.
The video for the fist single, “Gimme Something Good,†is a nice balance of brooding rocker and B-movie camp, represented onscreen by super-vamp mistress of the night Elvira. Adams stares menacing and Elvira preens and dances around a candelabra. It’s serves just the right amount of cheese and oomph to make for a cool vid.
Get spooky with “Gimme Something Good†below.
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Tomorrow night, 8/13, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has booked both Ryan Adams and Taylor Swift.
I think this has potential to be a fanatic opportunity for both performers.
Swift is appearing to promote her role in the upcoming movie ‘The Giver†and Adams booked as musical guest and is there to promote his upcoming self-titled release. I believe a few songs performed together would do a lot to gain Adams some mainstream exposure and allow Swift to gain a little indie creed.
Both performers are known for covering musicians that they respect. Ryan adams does a great interpretation of Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years†and Swift really won be cover with her version of Mumford & Sons’ “Blank White Page.â€
Aside from the image potential, I believe that interpreting eachother’s songs as duets or trade-offs would bring new dimensions to the work not head in it’s current form.
“Love Story” – Sure it’s sappy and naive, but Adams counts melt any jaded heart.
“Teardrops on My Guitar” – See above re: sappy and naive
“Back to December” – No one handles regret and heartbreak like Adams. This would kill.
“White Horse” – See above re: regret and heartbreak
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Adams’ would deconstruct this pop ditty and lay it’s dark, fatalistic core out odor all to see.
“Safe & Sound” – This is an obvious one. This Swift/Civil Wars collaboration for the Hunger Games is half-way to being in Adams’ style wheelhouse. The other half is in Tori Amos’ .
Ryan Adams songs I’d like to see Taylor Swift cover
“When the Stars Go Blue” – Arguably the best song from “Gold.” Perfect for a duet. Obvious connection since Tim McGraw
covered this one.
“16 Days†– A gem from Strangers Almanac. A duet and a single of this radio-friendly cut would surely sell a ton. I wonder if Adam’s would torpedo this song’s climb up the charts twice?
To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) – From Heartbreaker. It’s fun. Swift knows fun.
“Two†– His best off “Easy Tiger,” and one of his biggest hits. A duet with swift would bring out the song’s sweetness.
“So Alive†– Also off Gold. This song rocks U2-style. Swift has been known to rock out on occasion.
“Lucky Now†– From 2011’s “Ashes & Fire,” another of Adam’s most radio-friendly, and optimistic, love songs.
I can imagine the eye-rolls and sneers resulting from this post by Swifties and whatever Adams fans call themselves. But i believe that both sWIFT AND adams have an independent streak and a love of musical history that would suit them.
If nothing else I got fans in each camp to hear the other’s music, probably for the very first time.
The last few years has seen Ryan Adams dabbling in computer music and metal with occasional forays into his singer/songwriter wheelhouse with Easy Tiger and Adams’ last studio album, Ashes & Fire.
Maybe it’s his love affair with Fender amps, but the latest offering from Adam’s takes a page from the Tom Petty bible of hook-laden rock- and-roll.
“Gimme Something Good,†his first release in two years, is a blast at us who wondered if a sober Ryan Adams was a soft Ryan Adams. Guitar stabs swirls of Hammond B3 Organ. this is classic rock made anew – big and bold and content to leave feelings aside for a spell. An acoustic does appear near the end of the track, but it’s added for flavor and doesn’t slow down the charge ahead.
I raise a Bic lighter high to “Gimme Something Goodâ€
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
Two musical loves of mine is classic heavy metal and Americana music. I know this skit from from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, featuring the Avett brothers covering Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills,” Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” and Metallica’S “One” is done for laughs, but part of me would love for it to be real. I mean if Ryan Adams can do Iron maiden straight why not?
The fake release is described thusly “If you’re looking for a sunnier, gentler sound of heavy metal classics like Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” then pick up a copy of “The Avett Brothers Sing Heavy Metal.”
I know I would.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St7TR2ZVbP8
In the last few years we’ve seen a growing wave of unique renegades willing to give Music Row a steely stare-down in it’s twinkling, guided eye and adamantly refuse to become another cloned hat act.
This isn’t the first time it’s been done. The Bakersfield Sound with Buck Owens and Merle Haggard ran rings around Nashville from California and the original Outlaws packed up and did the same from Austin, TX.
Refreshingly, the current wave of musical misfits are women.
The Dixie Chicks kicked open the door for the likes of Miranda Lambert, Ashton Shepherd, Ashley Monroe and Kellie Pickler, Close on their heels came Kacey Musgraves. Now you can add Brandy Clark to that prestigious list of women reared on Loretta and Tammy but talented enough to bring the craft into the 21st century.
Like the original Music City Misfits Clark has worked both sides of he fence. She’s penned Country charting #1 hits for The Band Perry (“Better Dig Two”) and Miranda Lambert (“Mama’s Broken Heart) as well as Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow.”
On her single, “Stripes,” Clark channels Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John as she teaches her cheating husband the Cold Hard Facts of Life. Well, she would, but her good taste saves her from life without parole. It;s a brilliant gender reversal on a song that would typically been covered by Haggard or Cash.
“Pray To Jesus” narrative of small town desperation is similar to Musgraves “Merry Go Round,” but less detached and glib and more empathetic and bittersweet. The sentiment is made more so by Willie-esque twinkling piano, lonesome harmonica and Spanish guitar.
i can’t begin to tell you how thrilling it is to hear the bravery of conviction and shear talent in an artist like Brandy Clark. These are women raided on Loretta and Haggard as well as Lucinda Williams and Ryan Adams. Songs matter with these women.
“Stripes” and “Pray To Jesus” are on Clarks upcoming full-length debut “12 Stories.” Out October 22nd.
David Letterman, and his Late Show booking crew, have been long-time enthusiastic supporters of country and Americana music. Recently it seems like Dave has invited a roots artist to play every night of the week, and this is great new for the artists needing exposure and fans looking for great music.
And as Saving Country Music tells it, the Late Show was the one that reached out to many of these artists to perform on the program. Many of them, like dale Watson and Shove;s and Rope, getting national exposure for the first time.
Here’s to you, Dave and crew, for championing great roots and Americana music like the clips below.
Ryan Adams – Lucky Now – December 5, 2011
Shovels & Rope – Birmingham – David Letterman January 30, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfPnGEgtDXI
Elizabeth Cook – If I Had My Way, I’d Tear This Building Down – March, 14 2013
Dale Watson & His Lonestars – “I Lie When I Drink” – June 24, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHcRTTy0Epg
Ray Wylie Hubbard – Mother Blues – David Letterman – January 9, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r92RkIKm6Wc
Marty Stuart “Country Boy Rock & Roll” June 29, 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcJ80pKqsA0
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit “Codeine” – November 2004
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUzc7cUaPWs
Pokey LaFarge – “Central Time” – 16 July, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=82hWDlADJDg
Tom Russell with Andrew Hardin – “Tonight We Ride” – 2009
Justin Townes Earle – “Harlem River Blues” – January 5, 2011
Andrew Bird with Tift Merritt and Alan Hampton – “If I Needed You” (Townes Van Zandt) – 10/30/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8TdDJe6-xY
Jamey Johnson with Alison Krauss – “Make the World Go Away” 10/12/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu-hSTup6CQ
Steve Earle – “Copperhead Road” – 1988
Emmylou Harris , Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch – 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D8YEgANLow
Willie Nelson – “Always On My Mind” – date?
Earl Scruggs and Friends – Foggy Mountain Breakdown – May, 12/07
Ask someone on the street what America stands for and you’ll probably get a different answer from each one. America has a complicated history, as does any combination of human beings, but one thing is certain. We crated in Internet, haolh professional eating competition and make some damn fine music.
Musical independence defines this list. These musicians peruse their vision to sing the tunes they hear in their heart. Here are 10 artists that do it their way and refuse to compromise their pursuit of happiness. These are artists that show the greatness of American roots history and artist ingenuity.
Like all lists it’s incomplete, add your choices in the comments.
Sometimes he overreaches but there’s no denying that Ryan Adams is a man that has followed his own path (and faced his demons) throughout his career.
Throughout his career with The Band and his solo work, Levon Helm generously shared his talent. He did so to the last years as many fans and guest-artist attended legendary shows at his up-state New York farm.
Drawing from classic Texas country and western swing no one sounds like Lyle Lovett and no one puts on a better live performance.
From fugitive to country music legend, Merle Haggard has always empathized with the working class of Americana and given us songs that helped us walk in their shoes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHAFmFsb9XM
Nashville taught him about the business side, but the production system also stunted his creativity. Willie headed to Texas to unite the rednecks and the hippies and blazed a legacy with a catalog of classics. The 4th of July is also commemorated by his legendary picnic!
Like his compadre Willie Music City was a professional strait-jacket for Waylon. He risked it all to follow his muse.
Billy Joe Shaver supplied the hardscrabble source material for Waylo the set himself apart and make Billy Joe an accessory to the Outlaw Country movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoiuwUa9oZs
From the fertile soil of Memphis Tennessee, and the pioneering tutelage of Sam Phillips’ Sun Studios, American music was changed forever and Johnny Cash was the country music portion of that that change.
Dylan is the very embodiment of a self-made man. Sure he borrowed from Woody and others but he brought it to another place.
Jimmie Rodgers traded a career in the train industry to playing his signature yodeling songs vaudeville and medicine shows to become the father of Country Music.
Ryan Adams sounds like his former, rootsier self performing “Shining Through The Dark” from the soundtrack to Judd Apatow’s new movie This Is 40. Great stuff. I hope this is the direction his reported album with his wife, Mandy Moore, takes.