By Terry Roland —Kin is among the best Americana albums of 2012. It may be among the best albums of 2012 without the genre qualification. It takes a restless sense of risk and some degree of confidence in your artistry and craft to make a bold move crossing the border between lyrical songs and modern literature. Imagine if Stephen Foster…
Free Wallflowers concert at Americana Music Conference
Americana Music News — The Americana Music Festival is heading outdoors Sept. 13 in partnership with Live on the Green, an annual series of free concerts at Public Square Park in front of the Metro Courthouse in Nashville. The concert, featuring the Wallflowers, Delta Spirit and the Dunwells is part of the 2012 Americana Music Festival and Conference, scheduled for Sept.…
Review: The BoDeans’ “American Made”
By Ken Paulson — Americana Music News – Continuing its steady climb on the Americana music radio charts, the BoDeans’ American Made moves into the top 30 this week. It’s a pivotal album for the veteran band, marking Sam Llanas’ departure and leaving Kurt Neumann front and center. Disruptive personnel moves, particularly those involving founders and songwriters, have sunk many…
B.J. Thomas: The Complete Scepter Singles
By Ken Paulson For decades, America’s pop singers drew on Tin Pan Alley and other professional songwriters for the material that fueled their careers. Then came the Beatles and a new expectation that performers would write their own material and play their own instruments. That meant the occasional work of art – and large volumes of dreck. It was the…
Sun209: The week in Tweets
Tonight at @the Ryman, Ringo Starr celebrated his birthday singing "And now I'm 72 and all I wanna do is boogaloo." Amen. @RingoStarrmusic # No one rocks harder at 72. Ringo Starr at the Ryman. #Beatles http://t.co/TZSF2hrQ # Refreshing version of "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Kim Richey at tonight's Music City Roots @musiccityroots @kimrichey # Mary Chapin Carpenter's 'Ashes…
Zach Broocke: “Enjoy the Ride”
Americana Music News —In a town full of co-writers, Zach Broocke has chosen to make Enjoy the Ride Solo Writes 2001-12 all his own. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has compiled a collection of his solo compositions from an 11-year span, melding unreleased material with some of his best work from past albums and EPs. It’s a smart step for a talented…
Review: Ringo at the Ryman
“The latter had a brand-new lyric: “Now I’m Only 72 and all I want to do is boogaloo.””
Sun209: The week in Tweets
Terrific show by@theWaymores at Puckett's in Franklin, TN last night, closing with "P.S. I Love You." # Review: Steve Poltz’s “Noineen Noiny Noin” http://t.co/sRyOAy26 # New to Americana music airplay chart: Mary Chapin Carpenter, @BoDeans #americanamusic http://t.co/RmhKuLOB # The Avett Brothers at Red Rocks. http://t.co/5UjU12De via @rvrb #americanamusic # The Harmed Brothers' new music: folk-rock, Americana magic – SFGate http://t.co/7XEsfaXK…
Review: “O’ Be Joyful” by Shovels and Rope
By Ken Paulson–On the new Shovels and Rope album, O’ Be Joyful, there’s a recording of a club manager admonishing the audience to listen to the band and not talk. That shouldn’t have been a problem. It’s very hard to talk with your jaw dropped. Shovels and Rope are just that surprising. The Charleston, South Carolina duo of Cary Ann…
Sept. 7 set for Allen Thompson Band release
Americana Music News: There’s much to like about the Allen Thompson Band’s Salvation in the Ground album, due for release on Sept. 4. This East Nashville band covers a lot of terrain musically, with strong songwriting at the core. Our favorite tracks:”First Apology,” “Payback” and “Love One Another.” You can see the Allen Thompson band live at the following Nashville-area…
Brandi Carlile, Lumineers: “Down on the Corner”
This is entertaining. Brandi Carlile and the Lumineers play John Fogerty’s “Down on the Corner,” a 1969 hit for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Follow Sun209: Americana Music News on Twitter at @sun209com.
Review: Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison in concert
By Paul T. Mueller–Titles are easy to throw around, and sometimes they’re just so much music-biz hype. Not so in the case of Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis. Partners both on and off the stage, they have been called “The First Couple of Texas Country Music” and “Americana royalty,” among other things. At McGonigel’s Mucky Duck in Houston on June…
New to Americana chart: Mary Chapin Carpenter, BoDeans
Americana Music News – The first five positions in this week’s Americana Music Association radio chart remain stable, with Willie Nelson’s Heroes, JD McPherson’s Signs and Signifiers and Paul Thorn’s What the Hell Is Goin’ On? in the top three positions. New to the chart this week are albums by veteran performers with deep and impressive bodies of work. Mary Chapin Carpenter’s…
Dar Williams and Gary Louris: “As Cool As I Am”
Americana Music News: A new and topical take on Dar Williams’ “Cool As I Am” with Gary Louris: Follow Sun209: Americana Music News at @sun209com.
Americana Music Festival releases 2012 line-up
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,…
Review: “Steve Poltz’s “Noineen Noiny Noin”
Americana Music News: We first saw Steve Poltz in 1998 after the release of One Left Shoe. It was pretty clear from the performance that this was a talented singer and songwriter who would be sticking around. What was less clear was whether he would build on the success of writing the pop hit “You Were Meant for Me” and…
Sun209: The week in Tweets
Review: Jack Saunders and Robbie Saunders showcase new album. http://t.co/THR9siRB @tweedeq # Revew : JD McPherson and Broncho at Cains Ballroom http://t.co/c8Z1Xf0Q via @tulsaworld # We finally had a chance to hear J.D. McPherson’s “Signs and Signifiers.” Wow. Suddenly it's 1957. http://t.co/ElOAW0pZ # Willie Nelson tops Americana music airplay chart, @shovelsandrope, Chris Smither, Honeycutters debut. http://t.co/64pKSykS # Good news: "When…
Review: New Christy Minstrels 1962-1970
By Ken Paulson –The New Christy Minstrels, a highly commercial folk ensemble formed in 1962, is perhaps best known today for the musical achievements of alumni, including Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes and Gene Clark. Former band members went on to play in the Byrds, the Association and the First Edition, a measure of the rich recruiting done by founder Randy…
Don Williams tour dates set
Americana Music News– Don Williams, fresh off the release of new album And So It Goes, is about to embark on a summer tour, beginning July 12 in Wisconsin. The tour dates: 7-12 Rhinelander, WI – Hodag Country Festival 7-14 Craven, SK – Craven Country Jamboree 7-16 Billings, MT – Alberta Bair Theater 7-18 St. Cloud, MN – Paramount Theatre…
Review: Maia Sharp at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville
By Ken Paulson—Maia Sharp teamed with guitarist Linda Taylor in a surprisingly rocking set at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Maia told the audience they wanted to prove you could rock without drums, a bass guitar – or guys. They backed it up. Much of the evening’s set was drawn from Maia’s upcoming album Change the Ending. It sounds very…