By Paul T. Mueller – Robert Earl Keen, who earlier this year announced his intention to retire from touring after more than four decades, probably could have phoned in his farewell tour. His legions of fans likely would have eaten it up in any event. Instead, the beloved Texas singer-songwriter seems to be taking his last go-round very seriously, while…
Tag: Robert Earl Keen
Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Begins April 3
One of our favorite musical events of the year in Nashville is the annual Tin Pan South Festival, a celebration of songwriting in the world capital of that art. It begins this year on Tuesday, April 3 and continues through Saturday, April 7.
Review: Robert Earl Keen’s “Happy Prisoner”
Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen returns to his bluegrass roots with Happy Prisoner – The Bluegrass Sessions.
New releases: Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle
New releases in Americana music, folk and blues
Review: Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett in concert
The Sept. 11 gig featured Robert Earl Keen opening for friend and former college classmate Lyle Lovett, who was winding down his usual summer tour with his Large Band.
Rounder, New West, Lost Highway top Americana labels
Among the joys of Americana music is the range of artists and labels. Indie labels often break through, leading to dark horses and pleasant surprises. Yet this year’s Americana Music Association list of the top 100 albums from November 16, 2010 through November 14, 2011, serves as a reminder that the bigger labels still play a major role. An analysis…
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…
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…
Goat Rodeo Sessions enter Americana Music Chart
Ryan Adams’s Ashes & Fire won’t budge from the top of the Americana Music Radio Chart, holding on to #1 for yet another week, followed by Robert Earl Keen’s Ready for Confetti and The Jayhawks’ Mocking Bird Time. The big changes are all at the bottom of the chart, with The Goat Rodeo Sessions featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar…
New to Americana chart: Deep Dark Woods, Carolyn Wonderland
Ryan Adams’ Ashes & Fire holds on to first place on the Americana Music Chart for a second week, with Robert Earl Keen remaining in second with Ready for Confetti. New to the chart this week: Deep Dark Woods’ The Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill) at #36 and Carolyn Wonderland’s Peace Meal (Bismeaux Productions) breaking in at #37. The…
New to chart: Billy Burnette, Red Molly and Kenny Vaughan
Nashville is well-represented on this week’s Americana Music Chart, as Music City guitarists Billy Burnette and Kenny Vaughan enter the list. Burnette, the son of rockabilly legend Dorsey Burnette, and most recently a member of John Fogerty’s band, breaks in at #30 with “Rock ‘n’ Roll With It.” Vaughan, a mainstay of Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives, is at #37 with…
Hank Williams’ “Notebooks” enters Americana chart
The highest entry on this week’s Americana music chart (# 17) is “The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams,” a collection of songs built around handwritten lyrics found on the day he died. The mix of artists is remarkable, and includes Bob Dylan, Alan Jackson, Lucinda Williams, Jack White, Norah Jones, Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Levon Helm, Jakob Dylan, Sheryl Crow,…
Will Hoge, Wilco surge on Americana Music Chart
The top five spots in this week’s Americana Music Association Chart remain unchanged, with the Jayhawks, Robert Earl Keen, John Hiatt, Gillian Welch and Guy Clark ranked one through five. Will Hoge’s “Number Seven” jumps from #26 to #13. Fresh off two triumphant nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Wilco enters the chart at #21 with “The Whole Love.”…
Del McCoury featured in new in-studio video series
Three years ago, Steve Fishell, a one-time member of Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and later a producer of a number of cool country and Americana acts, launched the Music Producers Institute in Nashville. It was a studio with a twist. Fishell’s business model gave artists an economical way to record a new album, while inviting recording students and fans to…
Robert Earl Keen’s “Ready for Confetti” tops Americana chart
Robert Earl Keen’s “Ready for Confetti” hits number one on this week’s Americana Music Association Chart. That’s no surprise. The album first appeared on the chart a month before release and its climb has been relentless. John Hiatt’s “Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns” falls to third after a long run at the top. Elsewhere in the top ten, the Jayhawks…
Ollabelle and Guy Clark move into Americana music top ten
Ollabelle and Guy Clark are new to this week’s Americana Music Association chart, with their new albums ranked seventh and eighth respectively. The marketing and merchandising around the Guy Clark live CD “Songs and Stories” has been fascinating. It was available as an MP3 for one day on Amazon for $3.99, but you can also buy the CD, an autographed…
Review: Robert Earl Keen’s “Ready for Confetti”
Robert Earl Keen’s 16th album “Ready for Confetti” is a musically adventurous, almost joyous-sounding album that lives up to its playful title. Keen has said he approached this album differently, writing on the road for a change and encouraging lots of feedback. It worked. “Ready for Confetti” is a diverse, yet focused collection, packed with memorable songs. Fron the upbeat…
Americana Music chart: Keen’s “Ready for Confetti” soars
Robert Earl Keen’s fine new album (reviewed here this week) “Ready for Confetti” moved into sixth on this week’s Americana Music Chart, while the top five places were unchanged, with John Hiatt, Gillian Welch, the Jayhawks, Kasey Chambers and Joe Ely in the top five spots. New to the chart: The Bottle Rockets’ “Not So Loud” at 40. (Pictured)