2011: A Year in Music
06 Dec 2011 7 Comments
in Music Tags: Amanda Shires, B.J. Christy, Black Friday, Blake Clayton, Bloodshot Records, Bob Wayne, Caitlin Rose, Caleb Klauder, Chris Miler, Cracker Swamp Productions, Down in the Barnyard, El Santo Grial: La Pistola Piadosa, Facedown in the Dirt, Farmageddon Records, Foghorn Trio, Friend of the People, Hank 3, Hank Williams III, Hillgrass Bluebilly, Husky Burnette, IBWIP, It Burns When I Pee, James Hunnicutt, Jashie P., Jay-Z, Jayke Orvis, JB Beverley, Kanye West, Leroy Virgil, Lil Kilm, Little Lisa Dixie, Lone Wolf, Lucinda Williams, Lupe Black, Lupe Fiasco, Muddy Roots, Olds Sleeper, Outlaw Carnie, Outlaw Radio Chicago, Own Side Now, Plainspoken, Rachel Brooke, Rev. Nix, Rusty Knuckles, Seven Devils, Slackeye Slim, Soda, South Congress Sessions, Sud De La Louisiane, The Boomswagglers, The Dad Horse Experience, The Goddamn Gallows, Tim Pop, Triggerman, Willie Tea Taylor
What an amazing year for my underground favorites! Hank 3 became free, Muddy Roots was the festival of all festivals, the podcasting world became my CNN, and record labels turned out greatness like it’s their job.
As for hip-hop, I don’t have anything that gives off fireworks. ‘Lil Kim’s single “Black Friday” was an awesome dis war against Nicki Minaj but then face-planted with the ill planned release of her mixtape. The uber spectacle of Jay-Z and Kanye’s “Watch the Throne” just didn’t do it for me (though I kinda love the fun factor of the Otis video). There’s a new mixtape out by Lupe Fiasco called “Friend of the People” that’s been floating around. The final product is supposedly cancelled and what I’ve heard is very political and just what I’ve missed about hip-hop, but I’ll wait until the release to review it because I’m unsure if my copy’s legit.
A L B U M S :
Bob Wayne: Outlaw Carnie – As much as I think Bob Wayne walks on songwriting water, this cd is just too clean and polished for me. I’m too loyal to the previous releases of most of the songs. That said, I’m on the edge of my seat for his next release which will have the song I saw him write at Muddy Roots!
Caitlin Rose: Own Side Now – Thanks to Triggerman’s review, I bought this cd and it’s always somewhere in my rotation. The songs are well done and I look forward to listening to her future projects. (see video below)
Caleb Klauder’s Foghorn Trio: Sud De La Louisiane – I went to a house party where they played and was instantly captivated by their talent. I got a bit on YouTube and recommend this to anyone whose interested in the country French sounds of the Louisiana bayou. (see video below)
The Goddamn Gallows: Seven Devils – How I love this band! They are so talented and just about nothing beats their live shows. They reminds us why we love punk and what punk should be. More
Muddy Roots Festival 2011: My Review
09 Sep 2011 4 Comments
in Gigs I've Seen, Music Tags: Aran Buzzas, Baby Genius, Banjer Dan, Cracker Swamp Productions, Farmageddon Records, Hillgrass Bluebilly, IBWIP, It Burns When I Pee, Jayke Orvis, JB Beverley, Last False Hope, Left Lane Cruiser, Outlaw Radio Chicago, Owen Mays, Possessed By Paul James, Rachel Brookle, Rusty Knuckles, Saving Country Music, Ten Foot Polecats, The Goddamn Gallows, Wayne Hancock
(photo: to the left is Lone Wolf, one man band and master craftsman <not only is he perfect, he’s Italian too!> and to his right is BluesBeaten Redshaw who you need to know about)
I have no idea how I’m going to capture the magic of what just happened to me over the past week. I’ve taken notes, saved receipts, downloaded photos from Facebook, and am working on a YouTube playlist.
We arrived at Muddy Roots Friday night and I saw Baby Genius in the sign-in line. We looked like kids at Christmas. Everybody was so stoked to be there. We camped across the dirt road from the people I’ve been conversing with online via blogs and podcasts. The whole night was surreal like you’re walking through a dream state but it’s really happening. We met up and the conversation was so easy and effortless. There was also this great kismet level of timing that I encountered repeatedly with Aran Buzzas. My first star-struck moment was when Pier came and got us to see JB Beverley play Rolling Stones covers while he sat on the trunk of a car. It was surreal. You know that voice like you know your own skin. After that experience, I vowed to wander. So I walked past our tent, up a small hill (the one Miller faceplanted onto) and first thing I found was Bob Wayne’s trailer with him and some friends sitting outside writing a song. And I’m watching the creativity process from Mr. Bob Wayne himself. It was awe inspiring. He’s cool as hell. He remembered me and my friend from the Brooklyn show in July and my heart just about lept out in celebrity joy. Walking around became an adventure. Everybody was there. It was like a family reunion for the family you wish you had. Rachel Brooke was just beaming with fiancé happiness. More
Best of 2010 in Music
10 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Music, Product Review Tags: Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Eminem, Farmageddon Records, Hank III, Hank Williams III, Hillbilly Fever, It's All Been Said, Jashie P., Jayke Orvis, Kanye West, Lucky Tubb, Outlaw Radio Compilation vol. 1, Rachel Brooke, Tom Waits, Triggerman
The best part about this year was it felt like the musical floodgates opened and all this really great stuff came pouring out.
BEST ALBUM: Outlaw Radio: Compilation Vol. 1 To me, it’s controversial to put a compilation on an all encompassing award. (My review here) But this cd still in my stereo and I like it so much, I bought a few more and sent them out to friends. It gave me gifts of new songs by artists I already know are awesome and introduced me to bands that I had no idea were awesome. Thank you Jashie P. for putting this out there. My favorite album as a whole is Jayke Orvis: It’s All Been Said. Jayke is one of the best our movement has to offer and he brings all his friends with him. More
Jayke Orvis: “It’s All Been Said”
06 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in Music, Product Review Tags: Bleeding Cowboy font, Farmageddon Records, James Hunnicutt, Jayke Orvis, Joe Buck, Rachel Brooke, The .357 String Band, The Goddamn Gallows
This year has launched some fantastic projects and one of the most anticipated is Jayke Orvis’s solo debut, “It’s All Been Said”. I saw Jayke live last year-ish back when he was with The .357 String Band when they opened for Joe Buck in a little Polish nightclub here in Brooklyn. That show is going in the annals of awesomeness. A lot has changed since then. He’s now on the road with The Goddamn Gallows (you must see the show!) and has this solo cd aaaand will be on tour with Rachel Brooke and James Hunnicutt (coming to New Haven, CT on Sunday, October 3rd). More
