While Jethro Easyfields works on his new album, Scott Kern reminds us of Easyfields’s last record, Bloodletting, with a behind-the-scenes video of its recording. It’s a nice chance to see how Scott Kern goes about putting an album together. Love the keyboards scattered throughout the room.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/TytCEIm2WNo?]
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One of our faves, (who played a sold out show at the Earth House in July) The Civil Wars, gave a three-song set at the Grammy headquarters (that’s what they call it – who knew?) that included a killer version of “Poison and Wine”, plus “Barton Hollow” and a cover of “Billie Jean.”
They return to Indiaanpolis on November 4 for a show at the Egyptian Room.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1HFoWgBYwA]
roots rock twang news
Roots/Rock: Brian Fallon and the Horrible Crowes, Truth and Salvage Co.
Kudos to the Vogue, for an five-band, all-local bill this Friday night (8.5) – they have Cory Williams Band, Slothpop, Ladymoon, Borrow Tomorrow, and Chad Mills & The Upright Willies all scheduled to play. Borrow Tomorrow opened for Bob Seger at Conseco Fieldhouse in May, while it was just announced that Mills will open for Langhorne Slim at Radio Radio on August 25.
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Recently added, coming November 4, JJ Grey & Mofro play at at the very same Vogue Theatre, with one of our favorite bands, Truth & Salvage Co. opening up. The LA-based band, with Hoosier Tim Jones on vocals and guitar, is also at Rib America on September 3, for a 4:15pm set.
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Brian Fallon (Gaslight Anthem) says he is doing a Revival Tour in Europe this September, playing with his side band The Horrible Crowes, doing their songs as well as Gaslight Anthem songs on this tour. He says on his website that they will be stripped down versions and adds they are also planing to squeeze in some tour dates around the late summer and fall.
The Horrible Crowes is a band he formed with his friend (and his guitar tech) Ian Perkins, and they have a new album “Elsie” coming out September 6. You can hear “Behold the Hurricane” here. It sounds a whole lot like Gaslight Anthem.
Indiana Music: New album from Eric Baker; new music coming from Otis Gibbs, Bobbie Lancaster
Former Elms guitarist Thom Daugherty’s first record as a producer is available as a free sampler. He helmed the knobs for Indianapolis singer/songwriter Eric Baker’s debut album Hope & Thin Space. You can listen here and download four songs by entering your email and zip code. It is a smart slice of American gospel rock and roll.
Baker writes on his website that “My producer, Thom Daugherty, and I went into the studio to record “Kingdom”, (and) we talked about giving it a Killers-like vibe, full of energy, with a sound that hopefully captured the passion of the lyric. And, while other lyrics on the record express struggle and questions, I wanted to kick it off with an acknowledgement of hope and optimism.”
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Indianapolis (now living in Nashville) folk artist Otis Gibbs announced on Wednesday that he has started recording his next record. He wrote on Facebook that “I guarantee that of all the records that have ever been made, this will be one of them.”
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Bobbie Lancaster next album, a live project, is nearly mixed and will be released in Bloomington in August, along with, she says, a new album from The Millbranch String Theory. Lancaster, by the way, is in the process of moving with her family from Bloomington to Greencastle this month. She also continues her summer tour of central Indiana libraries, performing and working on music with children, and hits the road at the end of the month for a pair of John Prine tribute shows.
2011 Americana Music Award Nominees Announced
Here’s the announced list for Americana Music Association Honors and Nominees: The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 13 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. My comments follow each category…
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Band of Joy, Robert Plant
Welder, Elizabeth Cook
Harlem River Blues, Justin Townes Earle
Blessed, Lucinda Williams
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Elizabeth Cook
Hayes Carll
Robert Plant
NEW/EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Civil Wars
Mumford And Sons
The Secret Sisters
Jessica Lea Mayfield
DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Avett Brothers
The Civil Wars
Mumford And Sons
Robert Plant and the Band Of Joy
SONG OF THE YEAR
Decemberists with Gillian Welch- “Down By The Water”
Elizabeth Cook – “El Camino”
Hayes Carll – “Kmag Yoyo”
Justin Townes Earle – “Harlem River Blues”
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Buddy Miller
Gurf Morlix
Kenny Vaughan
Sarah Jarosz
Will Kimbrough
E Street Band's Clarence Clemons Dies
As a music fan, I understand that if we live long enough, it is inevitable that we lose some of our heroes. Clarence Clemons wasn’t so much a hero to me, as an icon in rock and roll music – a symbol of power, spirituality, and an undefinable and immeasurably important piece of the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band equation. A link to the rock sax sounds of the 50’s and 60’s; a bodyguard to the band, even in failing health.
Springsteen introduced him last at shows for a reason: because he was the Big Man. We understood, and waited for Clarence to raise his sax into air and let loose a shout. Bruce would plant a kiss on the Big Man’s lips at the end of “Thunder Road”, sliding across the stage on his knees as Clarence finished the song with a sax solo. It was a beautiful representation of the power of loyalty and love.
Clemons died Saturday night after suffering a stroke on June 12. He was 69. And the rock and roll feels different tonight. How exactly? To be honest, I am not sure. Other musicians, from U2 to Bon Jovi to Eddie Vedder, seem to sense it too – all three heard about his passing while playing their own concerts, and immediately paid tribute from the stage Saturday night.
It’s feels like we have lost a man who seemed to make those around him better, sometimes by playing, and sometimes just by being close. Larger than life? That seems to fit pretty damn well.
And maybe he was. Maybe now he is playing his King Curtis-inspired riffs someplace else.
God, I hope so.
Jungleland – September 19, 1978
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH_NvYPBDY0]
Roots Rock Notes: Jethro Easyfields talk guitar rock, Tim Grimm and Foster & Lloyd release new albums
Jethro Easyfields reports he is “in planning stages and gatherin’ ideas” for his next album. Easyfields says the sound may be an “album full of fleshy guitars” and “is gonna be a doozie.” He’s shopping around for a drummer/bass player combination for the project. He’s prevous outing, 2010’s Bloodletting veered into an interesting wierder-than-Tom Petty territory, and a number of cuts on the album echoed REM sounds, circa Fables of Reconstruction and Life’s Rich Pageant. (read full NUVO review here)
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One of Indiana’s most refined and intelligent folk artists,Tim Grimm, has a new album out, called Thank You Tom Paxton, co-produced by his friend and Prine guitarist Jason Wilber. In addition to helping produce, Wilber played guitar on most of the songs.
For the album, Tim recorded 12 of his favorite Tom Paxton songs. In addition to staying true to many of the originals, Wilber and Grimm also created some new arrangements for some of the tunes. The UK based music magazine Maverick gave the CD 4 stars.
Grimm, joined at some by Wilber, will be playing CD release shows, mostly in the Midwest this summer, but to the east coast at the end of July– with a small ensemble. He’ll be playing a couple of John Prine: A Tribute Concert shows, and a Festival at pal Joe Crookston’s place in Ithaca, NY. He’s heading to Texas in the Fall, then up the West coast, with dates in Washington state and Colorado.
For fans of the 1980’s country/rock/pop duo Foster and Lloyd, a new album called It’s Already Tomorrow, was released May 17, reuniting the Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd after 20 years. For their fourth album together they had an assist from Bruce Springsteen’s E. St. Band bassist, Garry Tallent on the the acoustic-based “When I Finally Let You Go”.