Tag: Kevin Gordon

Review: Hard Working Americans

 in Reviews

Hard Working Americans by Paul T. Mueller

It’s hard to tell whether Hard Working Americans, #2 on this week’s Americana Music Association airplay chart, is a one-shot deal or a long-term project. But even if the band’s self-titled debut turns out to be a one-off, it seems like it was worth the effort.

Hard Working Americans is fronted by singer-songwriter Todd Snider, sounding grittier and more subdued than he used to. His colleagues include guitarist Neal Casal of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Ryan Adams’ Cardinals, bassist (and co-producer) Dave Schools from Widespread Panic, keyboardist Chad Staehly of Great American Taxi and drummer Duane Trucks from Col. Bruce Hampton’s School of Music.

All 11 songs on Hard Working Americans are covers, and these guys picked some good material. “Another Train,” a rowdy love song by former Snider guitarist Will Kimbrough, gets a riff-heavy rendition that recalls mid-’70s bands like Montrose. Casal’s guitar fuels the world-weary “Down to the Well,” by Kevin Gordon and Colin Linden, while Staehly’s piano, Trucks’ percussion and harmonica from guest John Popper give Hayes Carll’s “Stomp and Holler” a nice honky-tonk vibe.

Snider’s take on Kevn Kinney’s “Straight to Hell” is more understated than Kinney’s all-out redneck rock approach, but the trailer-park drama still comes through, punctuated by a nice Casal solo. Other highlights include an uptempo rendition of the Bottle Rockets’ “Welfare Music” and a suitably folky take on Randy Newman’s “Mr. President, Have Pity on the Working Man.” The album closes with a quiet version of David Rawlings and Gillian Welch’s hard-living tale “Wrecking Ball.”

It’s nice to hear what these talented musicians bring to other writers’ songs, but it should also be interesting to hear what they do with their own material, if they decide to go that route.

 Follow Sun 209: Americana Music News on Twitter at @Sun209com.

 

Americana Music Festival releases 2012 line-up

 in Americana Music, Americana Music Festival, Nashville music, Reviews

Americana Music News – The Americana Music Association has announced an impressive line-up for the Americana Music Festival & Conference September 12-15 in Nashville , with more performers to be named later.

As usual, the roster includes a good mix of accomplished veterans and emerging artists.

Among the biggest names: Billy Joe Shaver, the Punch Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Richard Thompson, Sara Watkins, John Hiatt, Steve Forbert and Rodney Crowell.

Also booked are newer artists who have enjoyed extensive airplay on Americana music radio, including honeyhoney, John Fullbright, The Deep Dark Woods, Shovels & Rope and Eilen Jewell.

The full list: American Aquarium, Amy Helm, Andrew Combs , Angel Snow, Anthony da Costa, Bearfoot, Belle Starr , Bill Kirchen, Billy Joe Shaver, Black Lillies, Blue Highway, Blue Mountain, BoDeans, Brandi Carlile, Brennen Leigh, Buddy Miller, Buxton, Caitlin Harnett, Chastity Brown, Corb Lund,Cory Branan, Darrell Scott, The Deep Dark Woods, Della Mae, Derek Hoke, the Dunwells, Eilen Jewell, Felicity Urquhart, Fort Frances, Gretchen Peters, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, honeyhoney, Humming House, Immigrant Union, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Jill Andrews, Jim Lauderdale, Jimbo Mathus and the Tri-State Coalition, John Fullbright, John Hiatt, Jordie Lane, Julie Lee, Kasey Anderson and the Honkies, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, Kevin Gordon, Lera Lynn, Lydia Loveless, Mandolin Orange, Mary Gauthier, the Mastersons, Max Gomez, McCrary Sisters, Mindy Smith, Nicki Bluhm and The Gamblers, Phoebe Hunt, Punch Brothers, Reckless Kelly, Richard Thompson, Robert Ellis, Rodney Crowell, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Sara Watkins, Shovels and Rope, Sons of Bill, Sons of Fathers, Star and Micey, Starr Anna, Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Forbert, Teresa Williams, Larry Campbell, Tift Merritt, Turnpike Troubadours, Two Gallants, Wheeler Brothers, Whitehorse, The WoodBrothers and The World Famous Headliners.

You’ll find more details on the Americana Music Festival on their home site.

Follow Sun209: Americana Music News at @sun209com.

Interview: Kevin Gordon and “Gloryland”

 in Interviews, Reviews

By Ken Paulson
—Kevin Gordon is one of the most respected singer-songwriters in Nashville, which is saying something. Gloryland, his latest album, elicited rave reviews in the New York Times, USA Today and the Tennessean. Here he talks about the album and “Colfax,” a song about both his school marching band and courage in the face of adversity:

listen to ‘Gordon’ on Audioboo

Ben Kweller, Kevin Gordon enter Americana music chart

 in Americana Music

There are just two new albums on this week’s Americana music airplay chart, as the Little Willies continue to hold onto the number one slot with For the Good Times.

New to the chart:

–          Ben Kweller’s Go Fly A Kite at #34

–          Kevin Gordon’s Gloryland at #37

(Gordon’s Gloryland album release party is scheduled for Feb. 17 at the Family Wash in Nashville.)

Most added albums this week include Amos Lee’s As the Crow Flies, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer’s Little Blue Egg and the self-titled release by Sugar + the Hi-Lows.