New and recent releases from Darrell Scott, Cyndi Lauper, Jeremy Nail, David Newbould, the Honeycutters, Mike Eldred Trio and Robert Rex Weller, Jr.:
Darrell Scott – The Couchville Sessions – It’s a measure of Darrell Scott’s depth as an artist and songwriter that he could record an album’s worth of material 15 years ago and then put it on the shelf. The Couchville Sessions was worth the wait, highlighted by the haunting “Waiting for the Clothes to Get Clean” and covers of Johnny Cash’s “Big River” and James Taylor’s “Another Grey Morning.”
Cyndi Lauper – Detour – Sire Records – We suppose we shouldn’t be surprised by Cyndi Lauper’s collection of country covers recorded in Nashville. After all, her Memphis Blues was recorded just down the interstate not long ago. We assume a celebration of Knoxville is next. It’s a fun release with guests galore, including Emmylou Harris on “Detour,” Vince Gill on “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” and Allison Krauss on “Hard Candy Christmas.”
Mike Eldred Trio – Baptist Town – Great Western Recording Co. – The new Mike Eldred Trio album was recorded in Sun Studio in Memphis and features guest turns from Robert Cray, John Mayer and David Hidalgo.
Jeremy Nail – My Mountain – Open Nine Music – Jeremy Nail’s new album was produced by Alejandro Escovedo with a band that included Chris Masterson, Eleanor Whitmore, Bobby Daniel and Chris Searles. Our favorite track: ”Dreams.”
The Honeycutters – On the Ropes – Organic Records – Rich new album from the Honeycutters is their fourth. The title track sets the tone with equal measures of defiance and resignation:
“ I paid a lot to feel this bad.”
David Newbould – The Devil is his Name – Coming May 20, the new David Newbould EP follows up his strong Tennessee release. Helping out are stalwarts Michael Webb and Jefferson Crow.
Robert Rex Weller, Jr. – Western Seeds Record Company – Robert Rex Weller tackles a wide array of covers, ranging from Willie Nelson to the Hollies and the Doors.
Charlie Faye and the Fayettes – Charlie Faye teams up with Betty Soo and Akina Adderley to form a girl group on her new album “Charlie Faye and the Fayettes.” It melds a ’60 sound with 2016 attitude, exemplifed by the sexual invitations on “Green Light.” The Chiffons would have been appalled. Classic influences abound, from the Ronettes intro to “Coming Around the Bend” to “Breakaway”-era Jackie DeShannon on “Delayed Reaction.” It’s all fresh and fun.
Cornflower Blues – Invincible – Reflective third album from Ontario band, due June 1.
John Hartford and Howdy Forrester – Home Made Sugar and a Puncheon Floor – Spring Fed Records( The Center for Popular Music at Middle Tenessee State University) – Historic home recordings from John Hartford and fiddler Howdy Forrester. The album offers an informal performance and conversation focusing on songs Forrester learned as a boy from his Great Uncle Bob Cates.
Town Mountain – Southern Crescent – Spirited new bluegrass album, due April 1.
Kyle Tuttle – Bobcat – Debut album of Nashville-based banjo player Kyle Tuttle features his own compositions.
Steve Dawson – Solid States and Loose Ends – Canadian artist Steve Dawson, now based in Nashville, releases his seventh solo album.
Mary Ann Casale – Restless Heart – Blues, folk and jazz from Northern New York artist.
Matt Brown and Greg Reish – Speed of the Plow –Fiddler Matt Brown and guitarist Greg Reish play old-time American instrumentals.
Lizanne Knott – Excellent Day – Bluesy, intimate new album due April 8.
Tin Toy Cars – Debut album from Las Vegas-based Tin Toy Cars.
The Tin Pan South songwriters festival in Nashville this week offered up five nights of remarkable performances by some of the country’s best songwriters, but an early show on Thursday at the Station Inn featuring three veteran performers and writers was among the most memorable.
I’ve just finished reading The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory, a book by John Seabrook that documents how today’s songs are engineered rather than created. There’s a new hook every few seconds because the formula demands it. Every generation complains that “all these new songs sound the same.” This time they’re right.
That’s why the performance at the Station Inn was so special. Buzz Cason, Dickey Lee and Wayland Holyfield have had hits spanning five decades, fueled by inspiration, happenstance and creativity.
Buzz Cason
Cason’s “Soldier of love” was covered by the Beatles during the BBC sessions and his “Everlasting Love” has become a pop standard. But he explained that his professional breakthrough came just by mimicking the goofy doo-wop vocals of Jan and Dean, and then submitting the songs to the duo. The result: “Tennessee” and the Top 25 single “Popsicle.”
Dickey Lee had a successful career as a recording artist and performed “I Saw Linda Yesterday,” his hit from 1963. But the emotional stakes of that song were trumped by his biggest hit, “She Thinks I Still Care,” a classic in the hands of George Jones. Lee said the song was inspired by a girl who broke his heart.
Holyfield played “Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer,” his first hit as a songwriter and a big record for Johnny Russell. But the highlight of his performance was “You’re My Best Friend,” a Don Williams hit that Holyfield dedicated to his wife.
And so it goes. The hits of the past were inspired by lost love. Found love. And an impulse to get Jan and Dean to record your songs.
No algorithms. No product. Just art, creativity and fun.
Mac Davis and Bobby Braddock at Tin Pan South 2011
Tin Pan South, one of Nashville’s best -and most economical – music festivals begins Tuesday, April 9, the first of five nights of songwriter showcases.
This annual event brings together songwriting legends (Bobby Bare, Mac Davis, Bill Anderson) and songwriters dominating the charts today (Luke Laird, Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna, Jessi Alexander.) It features legacy artists (Dickie Lee, Buzz Cason) and current stars (Will Hoge, Kacey Musgraves.)
The songwriters rounds encompass a wide range of themes – “A Little Chick on Pick Action” anyone? – but the overall quality is always high. Some shows that we found particularly intriguing:
Tuesday, April 5, 6pm | $20 Bluebird Cafe
Bill Anderson, Bobby Bare, Buddy Cannon, special guests
Tuesday, April 5, 6pm | $20 The Country
Jessi Alexander, Cary Barlowe, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Thompson
Tuesday, April 5, 9pm | $15 Whiskey Rhythm Saloon Keith Burns, Jim Peterik, Collin Raye, Joie Scott, specialguest
Wednesday, April 6, 9pm | $15 Station Inn Chuck Cannon, Lari White, Lee Roy Parnell
Wednesday, April 6, 9pm | $20 Bluebird Cafe Mac Davis, Scotty Emerick, Leslie Satcher, Special Guest
Thursday, April 7, 6pm | $20 Listening Room Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, Lori McKenna, Special Guest
Thursday, April 7, 6pm | $10 Station Inn Buzz Cason, Wayland Holyfield, Dickey Lee
Thursday, April 7, 9pm | $15 Douglas Corner Bekka Bramlett, Billy Burnette, Bruce Gaitsch, Dennis Morgan
Thursday, April 7, 6pm | $15 Bluebird Cafe
Pat Alger, Don Henry, Livingston Taylor, Jon Vezner
Friday, April 8, 6:30pm | $20 3rd and Lindsley Granville Automatic (Elizabeth Elkins & Vanessa Olivarez),
Travis Meadows, Angaleena Presley
Friday, April 8, 6:30pm | $15 Listening Room Jeff Cohen, James T. Slater, Kim Richey
Saturday, April 9, 6:30pm | $15 Station Inn Marti Dodson, Will Hoge, Tony Lane, Jason Mizelle, Special Guest
Saturday, April 9, 6:30pm | $20 3rd and Lindsley A Benefit for Bonaparte’s Retreat Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Colin Linden, Brandon Young, special guest, hosted by Emmylou Harris
Saturday, April 9, 9:30pm | $25 3rd and Lindsley Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne
The full schedule can be found on the Nashville Songwriters Association website.
Cayamo Sessions at Sea – Buddy Miller and Friends – We’ve been on the Cayamo music cruise a number of times and this new collection conveys what makes that such a rich musical experience. Take a couple of dozen Americana music artists, put them all on a cruise ship, and compelling collaborations result. Highlights include Miller and Nikki Lane on “Just Someone I Used to Know,” Lee Ann Womack’s take on “After the Fire is Gone” and Kacey Musgraves’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here.” Kris Kristofferson, Lucinda Williams, Richard Thompson, Elizabeth Cook, Shawn Colvin, Jill Andrews, Doug Seegers, Brandi Carlile and the Lone Bellow round out this thoroughly enjoyable collection.
Down River – Mark Huff – This vibrant new EP from Mark Huff moves seamlessly through rock, folk and country, fueled by some of Nashville’s best players. Down River was produced by Huff and Mark Robinson, joined in the studio by Audley Freed, Jen Gunderman, Paul Griffith, Mike Vargo and Lisa Oliver-Gray. Huff writes smart and personal songs with compelling hooks, a next-generation Elliott Murphy. “Almost True” would be the ideal single if there still was such a thing.
Brown-Eyed Georgia Darlin’ – Sammy Walker – The legendary Phil Ochs championed Sammy Walker in the ‘70s, but commercial success eluded the Georgia folksinger. Give credit to Ramseur Records for unearthing the set of demos that launched Walker’s career. They’re very much of the era – “Talkin’ Women’s Lib”– but clear evidence that Walker’s songwriting and Arlo Guthrie-like vocals should have taken him further.
Experienced – Larry Keel – Flatpicking guitarist Larry Keel’s new album features guest spots from Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan and Keller Williams.
Six on the Out – The Westies – Chicago-based duo follows up debut West Side Stories with a new collection of folk-rock narratives.
Multitudes – James Houlahan – Third solo album from former member of The Jody Grind and Dogs on Television.
Broken Man – Ben Hemming – London-based singer-songwriter’s first album features blues-fueled Americana. A U.S. tour is in the works.
Americana Music News — There’s a scene in an episode of Nashville in which Deacon decides he’s going to perform his new material in Murfreesboro, TN so he can be sure that no one will see him.
On Feb. 18, Grammy-winning songwriter Don Henry will defy that stereotype with a benefit show at 6:30 p.m. at MTSU’s Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, raising money for scholarships.
Henry, whose “All Kinds of Kinds” was a recent hit for Miranda Lambert, has written for Ray Charles, Blake Shelton, Kathy Mattea, Lonestar, Patti Page, Conway Twitty and many others.
And in a town full of fine singer-songwriters, Henry is one of the best performers, regularly engaging audiences with energetic, warm and funny performances at the Bluebird Cafe. Tickets are available here.
Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise always offers a rich array of blues, R&B, rock and folk performers and the 2016 event continued the tradition. On board the Holland America Westerdam were Keb’ Mo’, the Mavericks, Marcia Ball, Jimmy Hall, Mingo Fishtrap, Alyssa Bonagura, Seth Walker, The Quebe Sisters, Band of Heathens, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Lee Roy Parnell, Fred Eaglesmith, Shelley King, Mike Zito, Big Joe Maher, Anson Funderburgh, Kevin Welch, Doyle and Debbie, Danny Flowers, Kree Harrison, Brian Dunne, the McCrary Sisters, Bruce Channel, Etta Britt, Clay McClinton, Lari White, Chuck Cannon, Red Young, Gary Nicholson, the Howlin’ Brothers, Spooner Oldham, Bob Dipiero, Tom Hambridge, World Famous Headliners, the Damn Quails, Halley Anna Finlay, Baillie and the Boys and the Bluz House Rockers.
That meant music most days from noon until 2 in the morning. You’ll find our review on our site. Here’s a sampling of photos from one very entertaining week:
Delbert McClinton is the host and ringmaster of the Sandy Beaches Cruise, opening and closing the week, and playing all over the ship throughout the trip.
The McCrary Sisters bring high-energy gospel to the pool deck.
Lari White had a busy week with two shows of her own, a songwriters session and…
.. a duet with Lee Roy Parnell.
Jimmy Hall, the former lead singer of Wet Willie, was back for the 18th year in a row.
There were newcomers as well. New York singer-songwriter Brian Donne confessed that given the talent on the ship, he half-expected to be turned away when he showed up to board the cruise.
Marcia Ball may have been the most collaborative artists on board. When she wasn’t playing her own sets or hosting Pianorama, she was sitting in with others. And when the ship docked in St. John…
… she showed up on stage here.
Alyssa Bonagura’s fine first set on the pool deck included guest performances by her parents Michael Bonagura and …
… Kathy Baillie of Baillie and the Boys.
Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps put on great shows all week, including a Friday afternoon set moved indoors because of the only inclement weather of the week. The move inspired a very funny recollection of a very dark dive bar frequented by housewives in the middle of the afternoon.
Spooner Oldham., Danny Flowers and Bruce Channel span decades of great songwriting.
Red Young’s 5 p.m. dance parties in the ship’s lounge were always packed, fueled by Young’s deep setlist of Ray Charles songs.
Etta Britt on the pool deck, delivering her own show and then doubling back to sing with Lee Roy Parnell.
Oklahoma band the Damn Quails made their Sandy Beaches Cruise debut this year.
On a ship where dancing was a near-constant, no one packed the dance floor like Raul Malo and the Mavericks.
As Marcia Ball wrapped up her first song to polite applause, she seemed a little nonplussed.
“I thought there was a dance floor here,” she said, as she kicked off Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise 2016. The crowd took the hint, and the rest of the evening – and the week – was one non-stop dance floor.
That sets this music cruise apart from others, where headliners and reserved seats are the norm. The Sandy Beaches crowd listens respectfully, but they move to the music.
That’s probably the influence of McClinton himself, who is a low-key and welcoming presence thoughout the cruise. It’s as though you were invited to Delbert’s house – one with a very large pool – with his musical friends on a Saturday night.
And if this is your first visit to Delbert’s, you won’t feel like a newcomer for long.
“This is your cherry and we’re here to bust it, “ Ball declared, launching into a high-velocity set of rhythm and blues, including the week’s first performance of “Sea Cruise.’ “A lot of nerve, “ she laughed.
“All Night Long” with the Mavericks
Raul Malo and Jerry Dale McFadden of the Mavericks
The Mavericks headlined the pool deck stage three times and the energy never flagged. Since reuniting in 2012, the band has been on a roll, culminating in their Grammy nominations for the song “All Night Long” and their Mono album, and being named group of the year in the Americana Music Association awards. When a band with more than two decades of experience hits a new career high, it shows on stage. In their final set of the week, they even played a danceable “Okie from Muskogee.”
The McCrary Sisters Let It Go
The McCrary Sisters delivered their first set on Sunday, appropriately so for this hard-rocking gospel quartet. Regina McCrary spoke of God’s capacity for healing and offered to pray for anyone in need. If you have a burden, you should “Let It Go,” they sang. No, not the song from “Frozen.”
Regina McCrary of the McCrary Sisters on Sandy Beaches Cruise 2016
Later in the day, Roger Blevins Jr. and Mingo Fishtrap announced they were going to echo the McCrarys’ advice to “let it go, “though their version would be “more profane.”
It wasn’t all church for the McCrarys . The sisters did the Family Stone proud with an inspired version of “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin.)”
Sandy Beaches Cruise 2016 songwriters
The songwriter sessions were uniformly impressive, giving artists the chance to showcase their writing in an acoustic performance. Sharon Vaughn told the story of how she pitched her classic My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” to Waylon Jennings, who refused to believe she wrote it. Spooner Oldham played songs he co-wrote with Dan Penn, including James and Bobby Purify’s hit “I’m Your Puppet.”
Delbert McClinton joined the songwriters mid-week to showcase songs from a new album due this spring.
The World Famous Headliners
Al Anderson, Shawn Camp and Pat McLaughlin of the World Famous Headliners
Former NRBQ member Al Anderson has been on the last 18 cruises, but this time he brought his bandmates from the World Famous Headliners . It’s a tongue-in-cheek name, but Anderson, Shawn Camp and Pat McLaughlin make up a potent front three, with stellar guitar work and tight harmonies. The band – deep in writing talent – showcased songs from their new album, including “Hitchike Home,” “The Whoa Whoa Song” and “Fried Chicken,” a song that mashes up Memphis music and the Bee Gees.
The Headliners know no barriers. “We’d like to apologize for these songs,’ McLaughlin told the audience, shortly before Anderson sang “Stick It Where the Sun Don’t Ever Shine.”
The band brings Little Village to mind. That was the storied band featuring Nick Lowe, Ry Cooder, John Hiatt and Jim Keltner, an amazing line-up of players and songwriters that never seemed to gel as a group.
The Headliners gel. They even have their own theme song, which they played at both the beginning and close of their set. “We’re the World Famous Headliners…”
Keb’ Mo’ and the return of Lee Roy Parnell
Among other highlights of Sandy Beaches Cruise 2016:
Keb’ Mo’ drew big and appreciative crowds poolside with impeccable sets of blues and soul, including his fresh take on the O’Jays’ “Love Train.”
Lee Roy Parnell on Sandy Beaches Cruise 2016
Mingo Fishtrap rallied the audience on the final day, with Blevins Jr. saying that although everyone would have to disembark the next morning, now was the time to “self-lobotomize.” The band then launched into a blistering medley of classic James Brown songs.
Lee Roy Parnell, on the Sandy Beaches Cruise since its inception 22 years ago, was back after a year away. He saluted the late Allen Toussaint with a spirited take on his “Holy Cow.” Lari White joined him for a duet of a song she and Parnell had written, and Etta Britt delivered a powerful “People Get Ready.”
The annual “Pianorama,” with Marcia Ball as ringleader, convened virtually every keyboardist on the cruise for a piano jam. Five players at a time took the stage, trading off parts on songs like “Iko Iko,” “Nothing from Nothing” and Drinkin’ Wine Spo-de-o-dee.”
The Quebe Sisters Band
The Quebe Sisters were a revelation. Their harmonies were gorgeous – in 1940 they would have been the Andrews Sisters –and all three play fiddle beautifully. They draw on a big songbook, but Western Swing is a specialty.
Doyle and Debbie, the lampooning country music revue, doesn’t change and doesn’t need to. It remains fresh and funny.
Alyssa Bonagura was joined onstage by her parents Kathie Baillie and Michael Bonagura, aka “Baillie and the Boys ,” who revisited their musical past, including an impressive “Blue Bayou.” It’s that rare family where the daughter can plug her parents’ CDs at the merch table.
Bruce Channel and Delbert McClinton perform “Hey Baby” on Sandy Beaches Cruise 2016.
Bruce Channel joined Delbert to perform his big 1962 hit “Hey Baby,” a record on which McClinton played harmonica. I’m sure they’ve performed it together dozens of times, but it’s still a joyous performance.
The Howlin’ Brothers – Ian Craft, JT Huskey and Jared Green impressed audiences with both a reverence for folk, blues and bluegrass classics and their ability to craft new songs that continue the tradition.
BR5-49 – One Long Saturday Night – Bear Family Productions – Long before Nashville became the “It City,” BR5-49 was Nashville’s “It Band.” The young country band brought an energy to Music City’s Lower Broad that had been missing for a couple of decades. Suddenly, locals packed Robert’s Western Wear, foreshadowing today’s dynamic music scene. One Long Saturday Night is a recording of BR5-49 on German television in 1996, and the band’s Chuck Mead attests that it’s a classic setlist from the group’s earliest years. It’s Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Harlan Howard, Carl Perkins and a sampling of cool originals played with spirit. History to dance to.
Neil Finn and Paul Kelly – Goin’ Your Way – Omnivore Recordings – Great songs and tight harmonies distinguish this double-CD collection capturing Neil Finn and Paul Kelly in concert in 2013 at the Sydney Opera House. Finn is the better known to American audiences, largely as a member of Split Enz. His “Don’t Dream It’s Over” is included here, but the album is deep in well-crafted compositions. They’re both talented solo artists, but work really well as a duo.
And three more from Nashville:
Brandy Zdan – Brandy Zdan – Who would have guessed we’d find one of the freshest rock albums of the year in our own backyard? Brandy Zdan is a Canadian artist, now relocated to Nashville, and her self-titled album is bold and smart. “Back on You” and “Running for a Song” sound like classic singles you’ve never heard.
Dave Zobl – Simplify – Warm and carefully crafted album produced by Will Kimbrough and recorded in Muscle Shoals. “Colorado Girl” and “John Prine Sunday Morning” are among the best tracks.
Kyle Frederick – Eventide – Vandermont Music – This new album from Kyle Frederick is ambitious and engaging, with wide-ranging music that draws on pop/rock, folk and country. Highlights include “Be Kind to Yourself,” an affirming co-write with Kim Richey, and the hook-packed “The Wishing Tree” and “Karma Lola.” Emmylou Harris joins Frederick on the title track.
Delbert McClinton and Gary Nicholson on the 2015 Sandy Beaches Cruise
Delbert McClinton’s annual Sandy Beaches cruise launches this Sunday at 7 p.m. in non-nautical Nashville with a benefit concert for Mark Allison, McClinton’s longtime monitor engineer.
The concert at 3rd and Lindsley will feature artists scheduled to join McClinton on the Jan. 8 cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, including LeeRoy Parnell, Etta Britt, the McCrary Sisters, Gary Nicholson, Alyssa Bonagura, the Howlin’ Brothers, Danny Flowers, Lari White, and Rocky Block.
We’re less than a month away from the Jan. 9 launch of Delbert McClinton’ Sandy Beaches Cruise, one of our favorite musical events of the year. It’s blues, roots music and rock on the high seas, with a heavy infusion of talent from our hometown of Nashville.
Lari White and Delbert McClinton on Sandy Beaches 2015
This year’s artists include Keb’ Mo’, The Mavericks, Marcia Ball, Jimmy Hall, Mingo Fishtrap, Alyssa Bonagura, Seth Walker, The Quebe Sisters, Band of Heathens, Teresa James, Lee Roy Parnell, Fred Eaglesmith, Mike Zito and the Wheel, Big Joe Maher, Anson Funderburgh, Doyle and Debbie, The McCrary Sisters, Bruce Channel, Etta Britt, Clay McClinton, Lari White, Chuck Cannon, Red Young, Whitey Johnson, Bob Dipiero, Brian Dunne, Tom Hambridge, World Famous Headliners, The Damn Quails, Halley Anna Finlay and The Bluz House Rockers.
You’ll find more info on the cruise on Delbert McClinton’s site. You’ll find our past coverage of Sandy Beaches here.
Nick Lowe and his Quality Holiday Revue rolled into Nashville tonight at the City Winery. It’s an entertaining hybrid of slightly warped Christmas songs and Lowe’s rich catalog, abetted by Los Straitjackets.
Nick Lowe in Nashville
For a long-time Lowe fan, the show offers a chance to hear energetic (if slightly slower) takes on “Raging Eyes,” “Half A Boy and Half A Man” and “Without Love.” For those who just wandered in off the street, it’s a warm and often funny holiday show, fueled in large part by Los Straitjackets and unexpected and unconventional songs like a revved-up “Linus and Lucy.”
Highlights abounded, including Lowe’s plaintive rendition of (“What’s So Funny About) Peace Love and Understanding,” famously performed by Elvis Costello and included in the mega-selling Bodyguard soundtrack.
Los Straitjackets are given their own mini-set during the show, and oddly enough, play the first two songs of the encore.
The rich and rewarding evening closed with Lowe’s quiet acoustic performance of Costello’s “Alison,” a song he produced on the groundbreaking My Aim is True.
We’ve seen Lowe’s solo shows in recent years and have always come away impressed. But this one was special — fast-paced, fun and vibrant.
Peter Cooper – Depot Light: Songs of Eric Taylor – Red Beet Records – Peter Cooper insists this isn’t a tribute album to the under-recognized and brilliant songwriter Eric Taylor. Disclaimer aside, you’ll come away with a much better appreciation of Taylor after hearing Cooper’s impressive renditions of songs spanning Taylor’s career. We knew Taylor’s work primarily from recordings by Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett, but this collection is a revelation.
Drive-By Truckers – It’s Great to Be Alive – It’s a measure of the full-throttle new live album from the Drive-By Truckers that the review bore a sticker warning radio stations that 17 songs could get you in trouble with the FCC. The band didn’t hold anything back on “It’s Great to Be Alive,” a three-disc collection recorded in late November a year ago at the Fillmore in San Francisco. It’s a raucous retrospective that should please fans and convert others.
Butchers Blind – A Place in America – Electric Giant – We admired Butcher Blind’s “Destination Blues” for the same reason we’re enjoying their new EP A Place in America: Thoughtful lyrics matched with hook-laden melodies, from the reflective “Ghosts” to the affirming “Only Love.” There’s some Wilco in their music, but Butchers Blind consistently delivers a fresh sound.
Max Stalling – Banquet – Blind Nello Records – This new album produced by Lloyd Maines opens with the spirited “Night’s Pay in My Boot” and closes with a country cover of the Beatles’ “Two of Us.”
T.G Sheppard – Legendary Friends & Country Duets – Goldenlane Records – T.G. Sheppard’s new rlease is disnticntly old school ,but pleasingly so. Singing partners include Merle Haggard, George Jones, Delbert McClinton and Lori Morgan, with the album’s most memorable moments coming from Jerry Lee Lewis on “The Killer” and Willie Nelson on “In Texas.”
Nashville singer-songwriter Seth Timbs has just released a fine new album called New Personal Record. Timbs, formerly the leader of Fluid Ounces, offers up a melody-laden collection of smart and engaging songs. That includes album opener “Give Up On Your Dreams,” the exact opposite of a pep talk. It sounds like Schmilsson-era Nilsson, no small feat. Another highlight is “Far Away From Here,” a thriller screenplay in song.
Here’s Timbs in performance at War Memorial Auditorium:
Andrea Zonn – Rise – Compass Records – This is a truly beautiful album from a fine vocalist and violinist who has played with some of music’s best, including James Taylor, Vince Gill, Linda Ronstadt and Lyle Lovett. The album combines an all-star rhythm section – Willie Weeks and Steve Gadd – with an impressive array of songs co-written with some of Nashville’s most substantive songwriters.
Highlights include “Another Side of Home,” a thoughtful look back written with Bill Lloyd and Thomm Jutz, “Another Swing and a Miss” written with Peter Cooper and Jutz, and the Kim Richey-Zonn-Jutz composition, “Where the Water Meets the Sky,” featuring harmony vocals from Sam Bush.
James Taylor shows his respect by singing harmony on “You Make Me Whole,” an affirming contribution to this reflective and rewarding collection. (Ken Paulson)
Lucero – All A Man Should Do – ATO Records – This album recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis is already at # 20 on the Americana Music Association airplay chart. Lucero is on tour now, with upcoming stops in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Utah, Washington and Oregon.
Jonas Carping – Cocktails & Gasoline – Recorded in a cabin in rural Sweden, but the album doesn’t sound like it. Lots of emotional peaks and valleys, propelled by ambitious production.
Andy Hackbarth – Panorama Hotel – This Colorado artist’s new album was “written and recorded in the wake of a messy breakup,” according to press materials.
Stephen Young and the Union – Eagle Fort Rumble – The new album from this Irish Americana band is set for release Nov. 27.
The Dappled Grays – Las Night, Tomorrow – The third album from the talented bluegrass group. The band had two songs featured in Trouble with the Curve
Chris Laterzo – West Coast Sound – The fifth studio album from this LA-based artist will remind you of Tom Petty’s solo work.
Leroy Powell – The Overlords of the Cosmic Revelation – Cleopatra Records – A space opera from Shooter Jennings’ former guitarist. Powell promises (with tongue in cheek) that “this is the greatest record ever recorded by anyone and of all time.”
Jeff Crosby and the Refugees – Waking Days – Coming Nov. 6, Jeff Crosby’s new album was recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville.
Electric Rag Band – My Side – Horton Records – The sixth album from the Tulsa-based father and son duo.
Soul Searching Volumes 1 and 2 – Jim Lauderdale – Music should always be about quality and not quantity, but there’s something astonishing about Jim Lauderdale’s output over the years. In a 30-year span, he’s released 28 albums of real merit. Apparently concerned about underachieving, he has now released the double-disc Soul Searching collection, with one disc recorded in Memphis and the other in Nashville. They’re both excellent, though we’ll admit to being partial to the Memphis set, recorded at Royal Studios with Charles and Leroy Hodges, Alvin Youngblood Hart and other soulful players. Luther and Cody Dickinson appear on both discs.
Get Together: Banana Recalls Youngbloods Classics – Grandpa Raccoon Records – Founding Youngbloods member Lowell Levinger aka “Banana” offers up a spirited collection of what John Sebastian once described as “good time music.” An agreeable colleciton of jugband and folk music includes appearances by David Grisman, Ry Cooder. Maria Muldaur and the late Jesse Colin Young.
Devil Music – Randall Bramblett – New West Records – We were impressed by Randall Bramblett’s The Bright Spots and Devil Music is a worthy follow-up, with appearances by Chuck Leavell, Derek Trucks and Mark Knopfler.
Cold and Bitter Tears: The Song of Ted Hawkins – Eight 30 Records – Ted Hawkins was a street singer whose talent transcended those humble origins. His first release on a major label came just a year before his death in 1995, but his musical legacy remains vibrant. This collection of his songs features an amazing array of Hawkins fans, including Kasey Chambers, Mary Gauthier, Tim Easton and James McMurtry, plus an
Hear the Bang: The Life and Music of Denny Lile – Big Legal Mess Records – The music business has always been tough, and countless talented players have never recieved the recogniton that their talent warranted. This new release is a case study, chronicling the career of Denny Lile, a Louisville singer and songwriter who seemed destined for great things. Four decades after Lile’s debut album, a documentary and CD tell us what we missed.
It was a night of sentiment and celebration at the Country Music Hall of Fame tonight as the Oak Ridge Boys, the Browns and the late Grady Martin were inducted into the hall at the annual Medallion Ceremony in Nashville.
Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks perform in honor of the Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys, whose roots go back seven decades to a group called the Georgia Clodhoppers, were honored for the modern incarnation of the quartet – Duane Allen, Richard Sterban, Joe Bonsall and William Lee Golden – who have earned 34 top ten hits, with 17 of those going to number one.
The group’s biggest hit came in 1981 with “Elvira,” which soared to the upper tier of both the pop and country charts.
Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood performed the Oak Ridge Boys’ “I’ll be True to You,” while the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Jeff Hanna contributed “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.”
The Browns – Jim Ed, Maxine and Bonnie – had steady chart success from 1955 to 1967, when they disbanded.
In 1959, they recorded “The Three Bells,” a song first made popular by Edith Piaf. It was a huge pop and country hit. “Scarlet Ribbons” and “The Old Lamplighter” were other crossover hits for the trio.
Jim Ed Brown went on to a robust solo career and passed away in June. He received the Hall of Fame’s medallion in a private event shortly before his death.
Dierks Bentley
Carolyn Martin and Chris Scruggs performed the Browns’ “Looking Back to See” and the Isaacs recreated “The Three Bells.” Dierks Bentley was on hand to do his version of Jim Ed Brown’s biggest solo hit “Pop A Top.”
Also inducted was Grady Martin, who died in 2001, but left behind an astonishing musical legacy. He played fiddle for Hank Williams. It’s his guitar that helped propell Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” and Marty Robbin’s “El Paso.” He worked on the sessions for “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy,” “Honky Tonk Man,” “Saginaw, Michigan,” “Satin Sheets” and dozens of other hit records.
His son Joshua Martin told us that his father’s gift was to play exactly what was needed on any particular recording session.
Vince Gill played Martin’s guitar part on “El Paso” along with Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Duane Eddy and Mandy Barnett teamed up for a version of “Don’t Worry,” showcasing Martin’s groundbreaking “fuzz tone.”
As a little boy, I heard more Marty Robbins LPs than Disney records.
My Uncle Don couldn’t get enough of Robbins’ Gunfighter Balladsand Trail Songs album and played it over and over on the family stereo. I still know the words to “Big Iron.”
Grady Martin’s son Joshua at the Country Music Hall of Fame
But the most riveting track was, of course, “El Paso,” propelled by the amazing guitar work of Grady Martin.
A couple of years later, Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” exploded onto AM radios, driven by Martin’s electric guitar.
And on it goes: Martin’s guitar work is on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Honky Tonk Man,” “Saginaw, Michigan,” “Satin Sheets” and many more hit records. It turns out we’ve all been listening to Martin our entire lives.
Martin is being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this month, along with the Oak Ridge Boys, Jim Ed Brown and the Browns.
”He didn’t use one recognizable sound,” Bob Moore, Martin’s celebrated sessions colleague, told the Tennessean’s Peter Cooper after Martin’s death in 2001”What he did was so varied, but the things he came up with were always outstanding, no matter the style. I think he’s the single greatest guitar player we’ve had here in Nashville.”
Grady Martin’s son Joshua was at the Country Music Hall of Fame earlier this month at an informal event honoring Martin and fellow inductees the Browns. He shared his thoughts on what made his father’s work so special:
Jason Isbell at the Americana Music Festival Honors and Awards show in 2014.
Nashville – Jason Isbell’s opening show at the Ryman Auditorium for a four-night run drew a rave review from the Tennessean’s Juli Thanki, who wrote:
“Isbell isn’t a flashy performer. Instead, he lets his lyrics do the heavy lifting, and the packed house was enthralled, singing along with songs like “Codeine” and a stunning rendition of “Cover Me Up.”
Isbell will be at the Ryman through Oct. 26, but here’s the schedule for the rest of the tour:
10/29 – Amarillo, TX – Potter County Memorial Stadium
10/30 – New Orleans, LA – Voodoo Music Experience
11/6 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
11/7 – Boone, NC – Schaefer Center for the Arts
11/8 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre
11/12 – Madison, WI – Capitol Theater
11/13 – Eau Claire, WI – State Theatre
11/14 – Green Bay, WI – Meyer Theatre
11/19 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
11/20 – Roanoke, VA – Berglund Center
11/21 – Savannah, GA – Lucas Theatre for the Arts
12/9 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
12/10 & 11 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
12/12 – Omaha, NE – Sokol Auditorium
1/6 – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
1/7 – Stockholm, Sweden – Bern
1/8 – Gotenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
1/9 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
1/11 – Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
1/12 – Hamburg, Germany – Knust
1/13 – Cologne, Germany – Blue Shell
1/15 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
1/16 – Brussels, Belgium – Orangerie
1/18 – Paris, France – La Maroquinerie
1/19 – Brighton, UK – Concorde 2
1/20 – Bristol, UK – Trinity
1/22 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
1/23 – Manchester, UK – Ritz
1/24 – Glasgow, UK – O2 ABC Celtic Connections
1/31-2/6 – Miami, FL – Cayamo Cruise
2/11 & 12 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
2/16 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
2/17 – St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House
2/19 – Indianapolis, IN – The Murat Theatre
2/20 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
2/25 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
2/27 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
2/29 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
3/1 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
3/2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
3/5 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Random thoughts and observations about the Americana Music Festival week that was: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band‘s 50th anniversary show at the Ryman was the perfect kick-off and an extraordinary event. Take the four current members of the Dirt Band – Jeff Hanna, John McEuen, Jimmie Fadden and Bob Carpenter – and add Byron House, Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas, and you have the ultimate Americana band. Then you add appearances by Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, John Prine, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell and returning Dirt Band member Jimmy Ibbotson and you have a singular evening. Recorded for PBS, the show’s few flubs just meant we had a chance to hear the classics twice – most notably Jerry Jeff Walker and the band doing his “Mr. Bojangles. …Based on their most recent album, we had high hopes for Dustbowl Revival and they absolutely delivered, even inspiring some City Winery patrons to dance, a scene we hadn’t witnessed before…
Dustbowl Revival at the City Winery
Our single favorite song of the week was Steve Earle doing “Mississippi, It’s Time,” a stirring song about the Confederate flag that reminded us how powerful truly topical songs can be….On the same stage, we saw Loretta Lynn, whose stage show probably hasn’t changed much in the past 40 years – and that’s just fine…We used the new app for our schedule all week and just have one request: build bios into the app for artists and panel members rather than passing us through to websites….We were honored to present the Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music award to Buffy Sainte Marie on Wednesday night and then sat in when she visited with Middle Tennessee State University students the next day. They loved her energy and sage advice: “Don’t believe any of that junk about genres.”…We saw some tremendous unbilled shows at various receptions around town, including the new trio Applewood Road…. The Americana Music Festival remains the best single week for music in Music City –and that’s saying something.
Darrell Scott – The Couchville Sessions – It’s a measure of Darrell Scott’s depth as an artist and songwriter that he could record an album’s worth of material 15 years ago and then put it on the shelf. The Couchville Sessions was worth the wait, highlighted by the haunting “Waiting for the Clothes to Get Clean” and covers of Johnny Cash’s “Big River” and James Taylor’s “Another Grey Morning.”
The Honeycutters – On the Ropes – Organic Records – Rich new album from the Honeycutters is their fourth. The title track sets the tone with equal measures of defiance and resignation:
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