Book Review: Willie Nelson – Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road [William Morrow]

As far as I can tell Willie Nelson doesn’t man his Twitter account himself. The country music, hell American music, legend’s new book “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die‘ is probably the closest thing in tweet form  (well, long-form)  you’ll find directly from him.
This slight book (175 pages) has the Texas Yoda looks over his exceptional life experience and employs his mellow humor to weigh in on the likes of Religion “If we are children of God then we must be gods too. Very small children must be God also. We were made in his image . Duh. Why don’t we act like it?” Gun control “A handgun, a shotgun and a deer rifle is all we really need.” How he honed not only his craft of singing and songwriting but the skill that has served him just as well -salesmanship.
Road musings are interspersed with lyrics and vignettes from family, friends and band mates - which in many instances are the same person.
I’m not sure if the book title or the duet with Snoop Dogg Lion , and given the probable conditions the title came about Willie may not remember either, but Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road ($15) is like sitting across the table from a a man with unique perspective as he doles out pearls of wisdom…and drunk jokes.

George Jones, Jamey Johnson and Blackberry Smoke – “Yesterday’s Wine ” [VIDEO]

While indulging my frequent music video ADHD I followed a YouTube  trajectory to a  series of videos of Jamey Johnson doing classic cover of Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline and the like . One really caught my eye, it was Johnson not only covering, but joining with none other than country  music legend George Jones on Willie Nelson classic “Yesterday’s Wine.”  And it had only 751 views!! What a find!

“Yesterday’s Wine”  is the title cut from Willie’s 1971 album and, in 1982, Merle Haggard and Jones recorded a duet of “Yesterday’s Wine” which became a number one single on the country chart. Not everyone can fill The Hag’s boots but Johnson and Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr do a fine job.  And, ladies and gentlemen , if that went enough the great Atlanta-based Southern Rock band Blackberry Smoke is backing them up. As one twitter follower responded when i posted it “Dayum!”

I was puzzled where the track came from and discovered, through the power of the google machine , that it’s included as a bonus track on Blackberry Smoke’s  “Little Piece of Dixie” (2010.) I guess i should have payed more attention that that fine album!

Behold the greatness!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyRLTzdEv_k&feature=youtu.be

Willie Nelson Cancels Concert Due To ‘Breathing Problems’

Willie Nelson was forced to cancel a fund-raiser appearance in the Denver area Sunday night because he was having trouble breathing attributed to emphysema and the high altitude and was taken to a local hospital.

Nelson was scheduled to appear at a fund-raiser for the Dumb Friends League, a Denver area Humane Society Animal Shelter being held in Castle Pines Village, 21 miles from Denver.

According to 9NEWS in Colorado, one of the organizers of the event said Nelson was taken to the hospital.

UPDATE – According to KVET 98.1 in Austin Willie is doing better and planning to head back to Texas today. No word on whether Willie will make his
scheduled appearance at Dallas’ House of Blues this Tuesday.

UPDATE: According to the New York Times Willie Nelson is in good condition on Monday morning after suffering a bout of altitude sickness and was forced to cancel a charity concert in Colorado over the weekend, his publicist, Elaine Schock, said.
“He’s fine,” Ms. Schock said on Monday. “He’s on the road to the next gig, and he’s not in any danger.”

Stay tuned and GOD BLESS WILLIE NELSON!

Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Band of Horses on the Railroad Revival Tour

I loved this idea when I heard of it last year in it’s inaugural voyage featuring Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show -documented on the documentary “Big Easy Express.” Alas I missed it when it rolled into Oakland.

Not this year my friends! The Railroad Revival Tour is the coolest thing this side of The Cayamo Cruise. The train will route through the south to west through Texas of the United States on Oct. 20-Oct. 28, is reminiscent of the old-style medicine shows. This year’s bill is a beaut, Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Band of Horses and MCd by actor and actor-musician John C. Reilly.

Tickets go on sale Friday, July 27th at 10am CST.

Here is the full list of tour stops:

Oct. 20: Duluth, Ga.
Oct. 21: TBA
Oct. 22: Memphis, Tenn.
Oct. 23: Oklahoma City
Oct. 24: Old Town Spring, Texas
Oct. 26: Tempe, Ariz.
Oct. 27: San Pedro, Calif.
Oct. 28: Oakland, Calif.

Happy Birthday Woody Guthrie

Today would have been Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday. I have gone on record as saying that I think direct political commentary in music cheapens it. Inevitably someone plays the Guthrie card to prove that politics and music can result in greatness. I say Guthrie is the proverbial exception that proves the rule. His songs and life, like Martin Luther King’s life and speeches and the Parables of Jesus, are the property of no political party. They transcend politics to speak to the plight and dignity of humanity. No political party has a monopoly on that.

I have collected some cover’s of Guthrie’s song from some current disciples. I hope you enjoy them.

Here’s to teh greatness of music that matters, and to a true American original.

Lucinda Williams – “I Ain’t Got No Home”

Steve Earle – “This Land is Your Land”

Uncle Tupelo – Do Re Mi

Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Neil Young – “This Land is Your Land” (segment)

Arlo Guthrie and Emmylou Harrris – Deportees
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXOdrk3Ypfw&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL7B51C7B58B751604

The Band & Bob Dylan – I Ain’t Got No Home

Father’s Day – Daddy Sang Bass

If you’re lucky enough to have your father near, hug him and tell him you love him, and get him a damn beer!

Here are some Country and Americana music performances by fathers and their children. I hope you like them.

Johnny Cash & Rosanne Cash – Don’t need no memories hanging round

Steve Earle with Justin Townes Earle  – “Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold (Townes Van Zandt)

Billy Joe Shaver and Eddie Shaver – Georgia on a Fast Train

Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson – Help Me Make it Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson)

Doc Watson and Merle Watson – Summertime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYHJIr0ur4

Doc & Merle Watson – Summertime

Happy Birthday Waylon Jennings!

Here’s to one of the saviors of country music and the pride of Littlefield, Texas, Waylon Arnold Jenning, who would have been 75 today. Be sure to check out the local cerebrations in your town, like the first annual Waylon Jennings Birthday Bash starting today to be held in Whiteface, Texas. Featuring Shooter Jennings, Whiskey Meyers, Jackson Taylor & the Sinners, William Clark Green, Rowdy Johnson Band, Jimmy Miles, Sergio and the Outta Luck Band, and Tommy Jennings. The event will benefit the Waylon Fund for Diabetes Research at TGen.

Here’s 5 of the finest from “The Hoss.” Hoist a cup and give proper respect.

“Lonesome, On’ry And Mean” on the Cowboy jack Clement’s TV show.

Willie  & Waylon – “Good Hearted Woman”

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

Travis Tritt & Waylon Jennings – “I’ve Always Been Crazy.”

Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter – “Storm Never Last”

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

“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?”

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

Music Review: Willie Nelson – Heroes [Sony Legacy]

Reviewing a Willie Nelson album is like describing to someone a visit you’ve made to the Grand Canyon. Sure there are the facts and impressions but the shear majesty of what you’re in the presence of something larger than life anit can bow you into awe. But here goes…

Nelson has always been a serial collaborator. The Texas Yoda has cut tracks with so many people he’s become a  musical Keven Bacon. He’s shared the studio with  his country contemporaries Waylon, Merle, Ray to genre-crossers Julio Iglesias and Phish, but Willie is no longer just a country artist. Like Ray Charles, another of his collaborators, he’s jettisoned his original genre and elevated himself to simply American music.

This studio gregariousness shows that Willie is not willing to sit on a laureled pedestal. He is generous with his studio and stage time and willing to lend a little Texas outlaw mojo to others. His legacy is so firmly entrenched in history he seems to feel he can work with whomever,and do do whatever, strikes his fancy. This has resulted from the inspired to the perplexing, but it’s hardly ever boring.

At nine Willie’s new album, ‘Heroes,’ ups the collaboration ante, and sometime within a single song. The count is four,including Willie,  in the post-mortem ode to herb “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” The song’s title was was originally the album’s title until Willie put the kibosh on the inevitable Walmart boycott. Willie might be an outlaw, but he’s also always been a shrewd businessman. On the song Willie seems to be having fun performing with his brother of the weed Snoop Dogg, along with a bemused-sounding Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson, this collection get’s my vote for a “High” way men tour.

A Last of the Breed mini reunion occurs with Merle Haggard on a beautifully grizzled “Horse Called Music,” originally from the criminally overlooked 1989 album of the same title. Ray Price reprises Floyd Tillman’s classic “Cold War With You” with Willie and Lukas Nelson to suave cowboy effect.

The album’s title, Heroes, is a nod to the performers on the album as well as the musical influences that Willie has always honored. One clear influence on Willie Nelson, Bob Wills and the Western Swing genre is well represented with spirited renditions of Will’s “My Window Faces The South” and “Home In San Antone.”

Amongst the crowded studio the real purpose of “Heroes” appears to be a father’s introducing his son to a larger fan-base. Lukas and his band, The Promise of the Rea,l have been opening and backing for Willie for a couple of year as they honed the craft. But this is not crass nepotism as Lukas contributes a couple of the  best songs on the album with “Every Time He Drinks He Thinks of Her” and “The Sound of Your Memory,” His pleasing vocal style is somewhere between his old man’s phrasing and Jimmie Dale Gilmore keen. Also, he’s a solid guitarist and his Stratocaster flourishes provides a contemporary counterpart to Willie’s cowboy-jazz Trigger.

A contemporary theme runs through a selection of covers. An inspired, palatial version of Pearl Jam’s rumination on mortality “Just Breathe” takes on deeper level of poignancy as the song is sung with his son Lukas, and Willie approaches his 80th birthday. Tom Waits’  quasi-gospel  “Come On Up To The House” features Mickey Raphael’s excellent and understated harmonica work cultivated from being with Willie for many years. The song aligns dutifully with the original and also features Lucas and the ubiquitous Sheryl Crow, who is serviceable if unnecessary. Willie’s solo turn on Coldplay’s “The Scientist,” first seen on a Chipotle Super Bowl commercial, charms me into enjoying (okay, appreciating) the song.

The Willie-penned title song is said to be about fellow outlaw Billy Joe Shaver (in some cases literally), who appears here with a contemporary rabble-rouser of sorts, Jamey Johnson. This 4/4 waltz is a sentimental reminiscence of a musician who used to be “king of the bars,” but it just as well could be a testament to the current sad state of country music.

“Heroes” is an uneven affair. Like a ramshackle late-night guitar pull fueled by intoxents both legal and not, it’s a lot of fun and done with love of music, mutual respect and a seeming sense of harmonious happenstance sorely missing image-obsessed music industry.

Here’s to Willie being Willie.

Official site | Buy

Doc Watson – (1923 – 2012) – The Music Never Dies

I’m not a religious man but I would like to have a word with god. I’d look up at his cloudy beard and steel-blue eyes and say “Stop.” I’m tired of writing posts sending off out legends. Scruggs, Helm and now Watson.

Men who’s storied careers shines a glaring light of authenticity and richness on the current music industry of glib irony and planned obsolesce.  Where AutoTune and beats take precedence over song-craft and instrumental dexterity.

A vascular disease Arthel Lane (Doc) Watson as an infant left him blind for life. He drank in the musical styles and lore from his family and became prolific on the harmonica. then at 10 he took up the banjo his father had crafted for him. By the time he was in his teens he settled on the guitar, the instrument he helped to revolutionize touring the folk circuit with his flat-picking virtuosity.

I’ve never attended MerlFest, the annual music festival held the last weekend in April in Wilkesboro, North Carolina named in honor of Watson’s only son, Eddy Merle Watson, who died in a farm tractor accident in 1985.

Over it;s 24-year history on the four-day festival’s 14 stages you could have see some of bluegrass, folk and country music’s greats -  Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Earl Scruggs, The Kruger Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Jerry Douglas, John Prine, Alison Krauss and Union Station. You would have also caught some of roots and Americana music’s shining stars -Gillian Welch , the Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, coming up in the ranks. You would have also seen genre-crossers like Robert Plant, Elvis Costello and Linda Ronstadt making the pilgrimage to stretch their boundaries and pay their respects.

The festival always concluded with Doc holding court performing music of the ages with humility, spirituality and grace.

Of the dozens of artist I’ve seen perform at the roots festival Hardly Strictly Bluegrass over the last three years, three artists rose above the rest by emodying the ages and representing a deep musical legacy the other musicians on the bill drew from – Hazel Dickens, Ralph Stanley and Doc Watson.

Thank you Doc for sharing your gift with the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYHJIr0ur4

Twang Nation Podcast Episode 6 – Willie Nelson , Austin Lucas with Glossary, Delta Rae

Six podcasts in featuring some of the best in country and Americana music and I do believe I’m hitting a stride. Or something. Whatever, it getting even more fun!

This episode may be  the best yet! On the cut, “Hero,” Willie Nelson shares the spotlight with Jamey Johnson and Billy Joe Shaver off his new release “Heroes.” Austin Lucas with Glossary sends me a rough mix of “Alone in Memphis” being backed by his current tour mates Glossary. Delta Rae proves the power of the voice in the fiery ” Bottom of the River” from their debut album “Carry The Fire.”things end out with a tribute to the great Levon Helm from his Grammy award winning “Dirt Farmer.”

I hope you all enjoy the great Americana and roots music featured in this and all the podcasts  and hope you seek out the musicians and buy their music, merch and , most importantly, take all your friends and see them live. Remember you can leave requests or feedback below or email me at baron(at)twangnation(dot)com.

Now, kick back with your adult beverage of choice and let Twang Nation remind you what great music sounds like.

1. Jason Eady – song:  “AM Country Heaven”  album: “AM Country Heaven” (Underground Sound)
2. Marty Stuart -  song:  “Tear The Woodpile Down” -  album: “Nashville, Volume 1: Tear The Woodpile Down”  (Sugar Hill Records)
3. Delta Rae -  song: “Bottom of the River” – album:  “Carry The Fire” (Sire Records)
4. Shawn Mullins – song: “Give God The Blues” – album:  “Mercyland – Hymns For The Rest Of Us” (Mercyland Records)
5.  Giant Giant Sand  -  song: “Detained”  – album: “Tucson” (Fire Records)
6. Paul Thorn  -  song: “What the Hell Is Goin’ On”- album: “What the Hell Is Goin’ On” (Perpetual Obscurity)
7.  Willie Nelson – song: “Hero” – album: “Heroes” (Sony Music Entertainment)
8. Austin Lucas with Glossary – song: “Alone in Memphis” album: Demo
9. The Mavericks – song: “Born To Be Blue” – album: “Suited Up and Ready EP” (The Valory Music Co.)
10. Levon Helm – song: False hearted lover blues album: Dirt Farmer (Dirt Farmer Music)