Americana Music News — Delta Rae closes out the Wednesday night showcases at the Americana Music Festival’s opening day with a performance at the Rutledge. Here’s a sampling of their music:
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Luther Dickinson
Americana Music News — Most of the Americana Music Festival’s showcase events take place in Nashville’s city’s top clubs, but Thursday night is an exception as the festival moves to the great wide open at the city’s “Live on the Green.” This downtown space boasts performances by many of the top names in music and tonight features the Wallflowers, Dunwells and Delta Spirit.Back indoors, the “Music of Memphis” evening at the Rutledge celebrates the music of Alex Chilton and Big Star, plus performances by Jim Lauderdale and the North Mississippi All-Stars, a solo turn by Luther Dickinson, the Bo-Keys and Star and Micey.
The Mercy Lounge features some of the best emerging artists and a couple of Americana all-stars. The up-and-comers include Turnpike Troubadours, John Fullbright and Jason Boland and the Stragglers. In the middle of that line-up are the always outstanding Billy Joe Shaver and Steve Forbert, both touring behind new albums.
The line-up for Thursday, Sept. 13:
THE BASEMENT
8:00 Lydia Loveless
9:00 Angel Snow
10:00 Sons of Fathers
11:00 The Deep Dark Woods
12:00 The Black Lillies
THE STATION INN
8:00 The Amy Helm Band
8:45 Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell
9:20 The Dirt Farmers
10:00 Mary Gauthier
11:00 Richard Thompson
THE RUTLEDGE
The Music of Memphis
8:00 Star and Micey
9:00 Luther Dickinson
10:00 Jim Lauderdale and the North Mississippi Allstars
11:00 The Bo-Keys
12:00 Songs of Big Star
MERCY LOUNGE
8:00 Turnpike Troubadours
9:00 Billy Joe Shaver
10:00 Steve Forbert
11:00 John Fullbright
12:00 Jason Boland & The Stragglers
THE HIGH WATT
8:30 The Mastersons
9:30 Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
10:30 Eilen Jewell
11:30 Julie Lee & The Baby Daddies
CANNERY BALLROOM
8:00 Blue Highway
9:00 Sara Watkins
10:00 Paul Thorn
11:00 Punch Brothers
LIVE ON THE GREEN
6:30 The Dunwells
7:15 Delta Spirit
9:00 The Wallflowers
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Brandi Carlile
Americana Music News — It will be a terrific first night of showcases at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville. The Wednesday line-up ranges from a salute to Levon Helm (arguably the father of Americana music) to the up-and-coming Shovels and Rope.It’s really a matter of just picking a venue and hanging out for the evening. Every club is deep in talent. The Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom and High Watt are all in the same building, which makes choosing between the Helm tribute, Brandi Carlile and Chris Stamey one of the toughest choices of the week.
We called the new Shovels and Rope album one of the best Americana albums we’ve heard this year and they should be great live at the very cozy Basement.
Nashville’s own Gretchen Peters is always great and she opens the evening at the Rutledge.
You also don’t want to miss Corb Lund, who plays at the Mercy Lounge at 10.
The Wednesday night line-up:
THE BASEMENT
10:00 Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside
11:00 Blue Mountain
12:00 Shovels and Rope
THE STATION INN
10:30 The Carper Family
11:30 Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
THE RUTLEDGE
10:00 Gretchen Peters
11:00 Bearfoot
12:00 Delta Rae
MERCY LOUNGE
10:00 Corb Lund
11:00 This Wheel’s On Fire: A Tribute to Levon Helm
THE HIGH WATT
10:30 Whitehorse
11:30 Chris Stamey
CANNERY BALLROOM
10:00 Star Anna
11:00 Brandi Carlile
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Americana Music News — The Americana Music Association’s annual festival and conference kicks off Wednesday night with its Honors & Awards show. Tickets are in short supply, but this year fans can watch or listen to the show from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on AXS TV, NPR.org, Sirius/XM and WSM in Nashville.
Americana Music News — The Americana Music Festival returns to Nashville this week. It’s a world-class music festival at a very economical price. For $50, you have access to shows by an amazing array of artists over four nights. Details here.
The 2012 Americana Music Festival line-up:
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 12
THE BASEMENT
10:00 Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside
11:00 Blue Mountain
12:00 Shovels and Rope
THE STATION INN
10:30 The Carper Family
11:30 Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
THE RUTLEDGE
10:00 Gretchen Peters
11:00 Bearfoot
12:00 Delta Rae
MERCY LOUNGE
10:00 Corb Lund
11:00 This Wheel’s On Fire: A Tribute to Levon Helm
THE HIGH WATT
10:30 Whitehorse
11:30 Chris Stamey
CANNERY BALLROOM
10:00 Star Anna
11:00 Brandi Carlile
THURSDAY SEPT. 13
THE BASEMENT
8:00 Lydia Loveless
9:00 Angel Snow
10:00 Sons of Fathers
11:00 The Deep Dark Woods
12:00 The Black Lillies
THE STATION INN
8:00 The Amy Helm Band
8:45 Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell
9:20 The Dirt Farmers
10:00 Mary Gauthier
11:00 Richard Thompson
THE RUTLEDGE
The Music of Memphis
8:00 Star and Micey
9:00 Luther Dickinson
10:00 Jim Lauderdale and the North Mississippi Allstars
11:00 The Bo-Keys
12:00 Songs of Big Star
MERCY LOUNGE
8:00 Turnpike Troubadours
9:00 Billy Joe Shaver
10:00 Steve Forbert
11:00 John Fullbright
12:00 Jason Boland & The Stragglers
THE HIGH WATT
8:30 The Mastersons
9:30 Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
10:30 Eilen Jewell
11:30 Julie Lee & The Baby Daddies
CANNERY BALLROOM
8:00 Blue Highway
9:00 Sara Watkins
10:00 Paul Thorn
11:00 Punch Brothers
LIVE ON THE GREEN
6:30 The Dunwells
7:15 Delta Spirit
9:00 The Wallflowers
FRIDAY SEPT. 14
THE BASEMENT
8:00 Caitlin Harnett
9:00 American Aquarium
10:00 Cory Branan
11:00 Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll Boys
12:00 Buxton
THE STATION INN
8:00 Red June
9:00 Della Mae
10:00 McCrary Sisters
11:00 Steep Canyon Rangers
12:00 Humming House
THE RUTLEDGE
8:00 Mandolin Orange
9:00 Mindy Smith
10:00 The World Famous Headliners
11:00 Belle Starr
12:00 BoDeans
MERCY LOUNGE
8:00 Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition
9:00 Holy Ghost Tent Revival
10:00 Dylan LeBlanc
11:00 Darrell Scott
12:00 Reckless Kelly
THE HIGH WATT
8:30 Max Gomez
9:30 Two Gallants
10:30 Sons of Bill
11:30 Andrew Combs
CANNERY BALLROOM
8:00 Shelly Colvin
9:00 Amanda Shires
10:00 Robert Ellis
11:00 John Hiatt
12:15 Jason D. Williams
SATURDAY SEPT. 15
THE BASEMENT
8:00 Anthony da Costa
9:00 Chastity Brown
10:00 Fort Frances
11:00 The Pines
12:00 Chris Scruggs
THE STATION INN
8:00 Brennen Leigh
9:00 Phoebe Hunt
10:00 Marvin Etzioni
11:00 Rodney Crowell
THE RUTLEDGE
8:00 Felicity Urquhart
9:00 The Wood Brothers
10:00 Kevin Gordon
11:00 Jordie Lane
12:00 The Trishas
MERCY LOUNGE
8:00 Lera Lynn
9:00 honeyhoney
10:00 Tift Merritt
11:00 Buddy Miller & Lee Ann Womack
THE HIGH WATT
8:00 Jill Andrews
9:00 Derek Hoke
10:00 Kasey Anderson and the Honkies
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By Paul T. Mueller
—Steve Forbert has been around for a long time – can it really have been more than 34 years since Alive on Arrival? – and there’s some weariness showing on his latest album, Over With You. Most of the 10 songs deal with the difficulties of relationships – maintaining one (“Baby I Know,” “All I Ask of You”), losing one (“Over With You”), looking for a new one (“All I Need”), even fantasizing about restarting an old one (“That’d Be Alright”).
Forbert brings to this subject a lot of experience and a plaintive, wistful tone that’s well suited to his material. “Forever’s such an easy word to say or write on paper/All things end in time,” he sings in the title track, a gentle goodbye that transcends the pain of a breakup to wish a former partner happiness and peace of mind.
Forbert takes on a bigger theme in “Pollyanna,” which deals with the struggle to make it in tough economic times. “Your west side home they foreclosed on/is someone else’s dream come true today,” he sings, before concluding, “The world and how to work it/is a book you should have read.”
Forbert gets instrumental help from Ben Sollee on cello and bass, Jason Yates on keyboards, Michael Jerome on drums and Sheldon Gomberg on bass. Ben Harper contributes guitar on several songs, including a nice part on the bouncy “That’d Be Alright.”
Those who remember Steve Forbert mostly from his biggest hit, the breezy “Romeo’s Tune” from 1979, might find this rather somber collection hard to like. But he’s still an intelligent and perceptive writer, and his distinctive voice, grittier with the years, delivers his words convincingly.
(Steve Forbert will appear at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville on Sept. 13.)
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By Ken Paulson
–Kathy Mattea revisited her roots on multiple levels tonight at the Bluebird Café in Nashville.
She reminisced about appearing at the Bluebird 30 years ago and the performance that led to her first recording contract.
But she also explored far deeper roots at this album release show for Calling Me Home, a collection of Appalachia-infused music, building on her earlier Coal.
The 90-minute concert drew from the new album, most notably “Hello, My Name is Coal,” “West Virginia Mine Disaster” and “The Wood Thrush’s Song.” These are songs of integrity, performed impeccably by an outstanding band. Mattea even picked up the banjo for two songs.
Although the evening had a somewhat solemn tone to it and Mattea urged the crowd to have a second glass of wine, there was no mistaking the exuberance of her cover of “Gimme Shelter” as a storm gathered outside. It was as though Mick and Keith had grown up in West Virginia.
Although Mattea’s music is now fueled by bluegrass and folk, she didn’t neglect the hits, performing “Love at the Five and Dime,” “Lonesome Standard Time” and the always touching “Where’ve You Been, and leading the audience in a sing-along of “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses.”
Fans of the “Walking Away A Winner” era may be surprised by the more traditional Kathy Mattea, but she’s walking her own path now, embracing the music she loves and performing it very well.
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By Ken Paulson
–Today marks a couple of important moments in the 2012 presidential race. The Democrats open their convention in Charlotte and Ian Hunter declares his own candidacy for the nation’s top office with the release of his 20th studio album, When I’m President.
Of course, Hunter’s announcement is tongue in cheek, but the release of a new album is still welcome news. Since his days fronting Mott the Hoople, Hunter has been a vibrant and distinctive voice, with a remarkably consistent body of work.
The 73-year-old Hunter’s last two albums were very political, fueled by anger over the Bush administration. There’s more variety here, although the title track does offer some reflections of what this Brit turned Connecticut resident would do in high office: “No more bargains in the basement when I’m president.”
Hunter’s Rant Band offers full-velocity back-up worthy of the Faces on hard-driving and anthemic songs like “What For,” “Saint” and album opener “Confortable.”
Like Ray Davies, Hunter is defying our expectations about rock stars fading away. When I’m President stands with his best work. He’s not going to be elected, but long may he run.
Americana Music News — Update on new albums due this fall: Steve Forbert’s Over With You on Sept. 11, Kathy Mattea’s Calling Me Home on Sept. 11, Patterson Hood’s Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance on Sept. 11, Guy Forsyth’s Freedom to Fail on Sept. 11, the Coal Porters’ Find the One on Sept. 18, a reissue of Bill Wilson’s Ever Changing Minstrel on Sept. 18 from Tompkins Square, Jimmy LaFave’s Depending on the Distance on Sept. 18, Goodnight, Texas’ A Long Life of Living on Oct. 2, the Giving Tree Band’s Vacilador on Oct. 2, Darrell Scott and Tim O’Brien’s We’re Usually a Lot Better Than This on Oct. 9, Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs’ Sunday Run Me Over on Oct. 9 and Derek Thomas’ Topanga Ranch Motel on Oct. 16
We’ve written about Mike + Ruthy’s fine NYC EP, but recently received a very cool vinyl single of two of the songs.
Here’s the couples’ video from their “co-write” with Woody Guthrie, “My New York City:”
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Americana Music News — One of the most anticipated acts at this year’s Americana Music Festival in Nashville is Corb Lund, whose new album Cabin Fever broke into the Americana Music airplay chart this week at # 24. Lund will play at the Mercy Lounge at 10 p.m. on Sept. 12, opening night of the festival.
If you can’t attend the festival , here’s a list of upcoming shows:
Aug. 10 – Dawson County Fair – Glendive, MT
Sept. 21 – Firehouse Saloon – Houston, TX
Sept. 26 – The Blue Light – Lubbock, TX
Sept. 27 – Mercury Lounge – Tulsa, OK
Sept. 28 – Love And War In Texas – Plano, TX
Sept. 29 – Cattlelacs Chainsaw Art Gallery – Manchaca, TX
Oct. 1 – Bar SS – Laporte, CO
Oct. 2 – Bar SS – Laporte, CO
Oct. 3 – The Soiled Dove Underground – Denver, CO
Oct. 4– Oskar Blues – Lyons, CO
Oct. 5 – Turn Of The Century Saloon – Montrose, CO
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Americana Music News – Now this is the way history needs to be told. The 1861 Project has announced a second volume of contemporary songs that revisit the Civil War and the events of 151 years ago.
We admired the first collection and look forward to From the Famine to the Front, which features Jerry Douglas, Maura O’Connell, Peter Cooper, Stephen Maguire, David Olney, Jim Rooney, Irene Kelley and Sierra Hull.
Volume 2 will be released on Sept. 25, but you can preview the songs and take advantage of a pre-Labor Day download offer here.
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By Ken Paulson
There’s good news for power pop fans on both the new album and reissue fronts.
The new album is Ignition from Shoes, an album title that sounds like a new band launching. (See Jefferson Airplane Takes Off.)
But no, Shoes have been around for more than three decades, pioneers in DIY recordings and creators of consistently engaging and hook-filled music.
Eighteen years after their last studio album, Ignition picks up where the band left off.
The three original members – John and Jeff Murphy and Gary Klebe – are still at the core, turning out driving rock ‘n’ roll that stands with their best.
From the classic sound of opener “Head Vs. Heart” to the edgier “Hot Mess,” Shoes have retained the sound that made them a respected, if under-recognized band, but there’s also new ambition here, perhaps the result of being away for almost 20 years.
In 1977, the year Shoes released their groundbreaking Black Vinyl Shoes, another young band was beginning to take shape in Los Angeles as Oklahoman Steve Allen moved to the West Coast. Allen, Ron Flynt, Mike Gall and Chris Silagyi soon formed 20/20, releasing their debut album in 1979.
That first album has long been regarded as a classic among power pop and New Wave fans, with “Yellow Pills” the best known track.
That album has been packaged along with Look Out!, the band’s second album, in a new collection from Real Gone Music.
The revelation is just how good Look Out! is. No, it’s not as focused as the debut, but it’s energetic and adventurous, particularly on “Nuclear Boy” and “Strange Side of Love.” Like Shoes, 20/20 had an impressive body of work, but never saw the commercial success they deserved.
By Ken Paulson
–(The World Famous Headliners will perform at the Americana Music Festival on Sept. 14 at 10 p.m. at the Rutledge in Nashville.)
The World Famous Headliners’ name is tongue-in-cheek, but at the band’s core are some world-class songwriters.
Al Anderson (ex-NRBQ), Shawn Camp, Pat McLaughlin have teamed with the expert rhythm section of Michael Rhodes on bass and Greg Morrow on drums on a debut album that’s all over the map musically and fun throughout.
I suppose the closest parallel was the union of Ry Cooder, John Hiatt and Nick Lowe in Little Village, but these guys are enjoying themselves a lot more.
“Give Your Love to Me” sounds like a lost Dave Edmunds track, “Mamarita” smacks of Little Feat and Levon Helm would have nailed “Ball and Chain.” There’s also some era-hopping here, with the classic country sound of “Heart of Gold” and “Take Me Back” and “Can I,” a bit of garage rock that could have charted in 1967.
The debut album – derivative and original at the same time – will be released on Aug. 21.
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After four decades, first two albums from Clover (pre-“My Aim is True”) now available http://t.co/Q1rTmP1n @realgonemusic#
Maia Sharp: Walking Through the Process http://t.co/N99ccap2 via @HuffPostCulture#
Bonnie Raitt goes track-by-track through her latest album. http://t.co/njZDN4fU#
New to Americana music chart: Zoe Muth, Heritage Blues Orchestra http://t.co/PnwEfu8z#
By Ken Paulson –We came to know Rosie Flores when she lived in Nashville in the late ‘90s, and have always been impressed with her music – and her heart.
Both are in abundance on The Blanco Sessions, the final album from Janis Martin, the late rockabilly pioneer, set for release on Sept. 18.
Martin was billed as the “female Elvis” by RCA Records, and that wasn’t all hype. Her “Will You Willum” single reportedly sold more than 750,000 copies in 1956.
Martin’s career never took off after that, and she put her musical career on hold in 1960. Still, her early singles became collector’s items and her legend grew.
Flores, a rockablly artist with great respect for her roots, recruited Martin to sing on her Rockabilly Filly album, and in 2007, produced this new album. Sadly, Martin died months after the recording and Flores wasn’t unable to place the recordings with a label.
But Rosie persevered. Five years later, and thanks to fans on Kickstarter and the Cow Island Music label, The Blanco Sessions will be released on Sept. 18.
It’s a wonderful collection of rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll classics, performed with joy and energy by a woman who first tackled this music five decades earlier. From Jesse Stone’s “As Long As I’m Movin’” to Cowboy Jack Clement’s “It’ll Be Me” and Dave Alvin’s “Long White Cadillac,” Martin absolutely delivers. Highly recommended.
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By Paul T. Mueller
–It’s hard enough to write a CD’s worth of intelligent, engaging songs in one’s native language. To do so in one’s second language, as Russia-born singer-songwriter Natasha Borzilova has with Out of My Hands, is a pretty impressive achievement.
On her third solo release (she’s a former member of Bering Strait, a country band she started in her homeland and later brought to the United States), Borzilova explores themes including new love, lost love, depression, new motherhood, the loss of a parent and even Russian lullabies. She does this with a world-class voice and a Russian poet’s sensibility.
For example, on “Gypsy,” she sings, “I’m not asking for your heart/Just let me read your hands/I saw the future in your palms/But I didn’t find myself.” Combined with Billy Panda’s beautiful mandocello, it’s enough to break your heart.
Borzilova plays guitar, but her best instrument is her warm, expressive voice, which is capable of wide emotional and musical range. She uses it to great effect on the album, which she also produced.
Backing is provided by an impressive cast of Nashville veterans: guitarist (and bandleader) Panda, guitarist Bob Britt, bassist Alison Prestwood, drummer Tommy Harden and keyboardist Michael Rojas. Borzilova’s husband, John Caldwell, recorded and mixed the album, and contributed some hip-hop vocals to “Long Night,” which also features Borzilova singing verses from traditional Russian lullabies.
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Americana Music News: Out today: Radney Foster’s Del Rio, Texas, Revisited: Unplugged and Lonesome, a revisiting of his debut solo album 20 years ago.
Foster, then fresh off his collaboration with Bill Lloyd in Foster and Lloyd, quickly established himself with the energetic and impressive Del Rio, Texas, lauching his solo career with classic songs like “Just Call Me Lonesome” and “Nobody Wins.”
This is a re-envisioning of that respected album rather than a remake, re-casting the album in a fresh, acoustic and informal way. Playing with Foster are Martie Maguire, Jon Randall Stewart, Glenn Fukunaga, Michael Ramos and Steve Fishell. Impressive company and impressive album.
Foster is touring in support of the album. Upcoming dates:
August 29 – Antone’s, Austin, TX
August 30 – Dosey Doe, The Woodlands, TX
August 31 – Cheatham Street Warehouse, San Marcos, TX
September 6 – Michael Hearn’s Big Barn Dance Music Festival, Taos, NM
September 27 – Main Street Crossing, Tomball, TX
September 28 – Poor David’s Pub, Dallas, TX
October 4 – Leaside, Columbia, SC
October 25 – Mucky Duck, Houston, TX
November 1 – Natasha’s Bistro and Bar, Lexington, KY
November 16 – Mile High Station, Denver, CO
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