It’s just five days until Christmas, but thanks to digital delivery, there’s still time to buy a fresh batch of holiday music. Among recent releases of note: – David Mead and Bill DeMain (of Swan Dive) have teamed up on Instant December, a five-song EP that is melodic, endearing and a little twisted. From the subtle sadness of “Christmas Eve…
Review: The Great Unknowns’ “Homefront”
Sometimes you back into the meaning of an album. I first heard the D.C.-based “Great Unknowns’ Home Front after meeting Altay Guvench, bass player for the the band, at the Americana Music Festival. He gave me an early promotional copy, which meant no liner notes, lyrics or press release. And so I listened. I heard a solid band, a tasteful blend of…
Hayes Carll tops 2011 Americana music airplay chart
The Americana Music Association has just released its list of the 100 most-played Americana music albums, with Hayes Carll’s KMAG YOYO in the top slot. Their top 20: 1) Hayes Carll, KMAG YOYO / Lost Highway 2) Lucinda Williams, Blessed / Lost Highway 3) Steve Earle, I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive / New West 4) Alison Krauss…
Will Kimbrough’s Lick of the Day for Dec. 14th
A “wintry sound” from Will Kimbrough:
Registration opens for 2012 Americana Music Festival in Nashville
Early registration for the 13th annual Americana Music Association Festival and Conference, set for Sept. 12-15, 2012 in Nashville is now open. This is one of the best music festivals in the nation, and always attracts an intriguing mix of artists. This year, Gregg Allman, Robert Plant, the Civil Wars and a Muscle Shoals tribute were all on the bill. The…
Damn Quails, Willie Nelson enter Americana airplay chart
There’s little change in this week’s Americana music chart, with Ryan Adams’ Ashes & Fire once again in the top position, followed by Robert Earl Keen and the Jayhawks. At long last, Will Hoge’s Number Seven settles in at #7. The only new albums on the airplay chart are Damn Quails’ Down the Hatch at #26 and Willie Nelson’s Remember…
Dobie Gray: An appreciation
Obituaries reporting the death of Dobie Gray this week focused on his big hit “Drift Away” and his ’60s breakthrough “The In Crowd.” The casual observer might be left with the impression that Gray was a one-hit wonder in two successive decades. The truth is that Dobie Gray was something of a pioneer, an African-American coming to Nashville and working…
Suzy Bogguss interview: Revisiting classic songs
Suzy Bogguss is appearing this afternoon at the Country Music Hall of Fame, performing Christmas music, songs she recorded with Chet Atkins and presumably material from her latest album, American Folk Songbook. Songbook is an ambitious collection of traditional songs that have resonated with several generations. Boggus keeps it simple, singing warmly and with obvious affection for songs like “Shenandoah,”…
Americana artists salute John Lennon
Americana artists were well-represented at last night’s John Lennon tribute at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville. The concert, designed to raise awareness about gun violence and to celebrate Lennon’s music, ran for almost four hours and showcased the talents of a number of Americana music performers, including: – Bill Lloyd on “Girl” – Kenny Vaughan on “Cry Baby Cry” and…
Christmas fingerpicking with Will Kimbrough
Today’s Lick of the Day offers up Christmas music and a remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Will Kimbrough is a respected solo artist and a member of DADDY who has toured with Jimmy Buffett and Emmylou Harris. His “Lick of the Day” appears here each Wednesday.)
Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, John Hiatt and a new generation
One of those only-in-Nashville evenings: On Dec. 19, 3rd and Lindsley will host the Generations Against the Death Penalty benefit concert. The idea is to pair famous parents with their talented kids in support of the cause. The line-up includes: – Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell and their daughter Chelsea Crowell – John Hiatt and daughter Lilly Hiatt – Gail Davies…
Kathleen Edwards’ “Voyageuer” rising fast; Danny Barnes, Little WiIllies enter chart
Kathleen Edwards’ Voyageur is the hottest album on Americana music radio this week, moving from #13 into the top four, right behind Ryan Adams, the Jayhawks and Robert Earl Keen. New to the chart this week: The Little Willies’ For the Good Times (#26), Etta James’ The Dreamer (#34) and Danny Barnes’ Rocket (#40.) Primed to enter the charts soon…
Eric Brace interview: “I Love” is nominated for a Grammy
I Love: Tom T. Hall’ Songs of Fox Hollow is one of those rare kids’ albums that will enchant children and adults in equal measure. We reviewed it enthusiastically in April and it’s great to see this salute to Tom T. and the original Fox Hollow album nominated for a Grammy for best children’s album.. Eric Brace of Last Train…
Glen Campbell Ryman show cancelled, Jan. 3 date set
Glen Campbell, who delivered an inspiring set at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last Wednesday, had to cancel a return trip to the fabled hall tonight. The statement from the Ryman: “Glen Campbell has been forced to postpone his December 5 performance at the Ryman this evening due to a case of laryngitis. He will perform a make up date…
“Imagine No Gun Violence:” Nashville Lennon tribute
One of the best annual music events in Nashville each year has been the “Imagine No Handguns” concert, a celebration of the music of John Lennon and an effort to build awareness about gun violence. The show ran in Nashville from the mid-’90s through 2005, and is now back after a six-year break with the updated “Imagine No Gun Violence”…
Jim Lauderdale interview: Robert Hunter, Americana
Jim Lauderdale joined Suzy Bogguss, Will Kimbrough and Eric Brace in an in-the-round show at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville last night. It was as engaging and entertaining an evening as that line-up suggests. Lauderdale has been Americana music’s best friend, hosting the annual awards show at the Ryman auditorium, while also releasing some of the genre’s best music. His…
2012 Grammy nominations: Americana, folk and blues
The 2012 Grammy nominations are out, with the winners to be named on Feb. 12. The Americana music-related categories and nominees: For Best Americana Album: Emotional Jukebox -Linda Chorney Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down – Ry Cooder Hard Bargain -Emmylou Harris Ramble At The Ryman -Levon Helm Blessed -Lucinda Williams For Best Bluegrass Album Paper Airplane- Alison Krauss…
Will Kimbrough’s Lick of the Day for Nov. 30
Will Kimbrough’s Lick of the Day: Will Kimbrough, solo artist and member of DADDY, records a cool “Lick of the Day” one day each week.
Concert review: Glen Campbell at the Ryman in Nashville
It was a sad and exhilarating evening at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville tonight. It’s wasn’t sad because Glen Campbell is suffering from Alzheimer’s or that his performance was part of his “Goodbye Tour.” He’s 75 and ailments strike us all. It was sad because this is the last tour of one of America’s great pop singers, interpreters and guitarists,…
The Moody Blues and Nashville
Tickets for the Moody Blues’ March 21 date at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville go on sale this Friday, Dec. 2. The band that got its start with the 1964 hit “Go Now” still has three long-time members, Graeme Edge, John Lodge and Justin Hayward, and puts on a good live show that spans more than four decades of music…