Country's Cousins
By BARRY MAZOR, Wall Street Journal
Feb. 9, 2010
Nashville, Tenn.
When, back in the '70s, Waylon Jennings sang of Nashville, "It's the home of country music, on that we all agree," he did not feel called on to add to that lyric the footnote "Of course, a lot of the time, I play rock songs myself."
It is, by this point, something of a local amusement among performers in Music City, U.S.A. (which never was called simply "Country Music City," after all) to spot the articles that appear every few months, quite dependably, in music and travel sections in the national press—the ones heralding the shocking new discovery that there is so much quality music being made here that isn't country at all.
The rest is at http://tinyurl.com/yazezvt
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
2/7/10 Playlist
1. The Resophonics: Joy Comes Back (Diamonds in The Ground), self www.resophonics.com
2. Sara Watkins: Where Will You Be (Sara Watkins), Nonesuch www.sarawatkins.com
3. Jim Post: Beautiful City (Reach Out Together), self www.jimpost.com
4. Amy Speace: Dog Days (The Killer in Me), Wildflower www.amyspeace.com
5. Dave Rawlings Machine: How's about You (A Friend of A Friend), Acony
6. Laura Love / Orville Johnson: Cotton Eyed Joe (The Sweeter The Juice), Octoroon Biography www.lauralove.net
7. The Loose Acoustic Trio: One Man Band (Sorrow Be Gone), Big Book www.looseacoustictrio.com
8. Shannon Lambert-Ryan: The Wind That Shakes the Barley (Across the Pond), self www.myspace.com/shannonlambertryan
Upcoming concerts:
9. John McCutcheon (Sounding Board 2/13): Sydney / Joe Hill (Untold), Appalseed www.folkmusic.com
10. Hot Soup w/Ann Mayo Muir: Two Fine Friends (Soup Happens), SOUPer Music
11. Hot Soup (U'n'I Coffeehouse 2/13): Dead Egyptian Blues (Hot Soup on Stage), SOUPer Music www.HotSoupTrio.com
12. Greg Brown (Infinity Hall 2/12): Verona Road (Dream City), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
13. Heather Maloney (Buttonwood Tree 2/12): Let It Ache (Cosy Razor's Edge), self www.heathermaloney.com
14. James Keelaghan (Music for A Change 2/12): Medusa (House of Cards), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
15. The Sweetback Sisters (Iron Horse 2/11): It Don't Show on Me (Chicken Ain't Chicken), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
16. The Ebony Hillbillies (Mark Twain Theater 2/18): Cluck Old Hen (I Thought You Knew), self www.ebonyhillbillies.com
17. Karan Casey & John Doyle (Iron Horse 2/10): Sailing Off to The Yankee Land (Exiles Return), Compass www.compassrecords.com
18. Mark Erelli (Stone Soup 2/13): Hope Dies Last (Delivered), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
19. Gerard Edery Sephardic Ensemble (Branford Folk 2/13): Entre las Huertas (Sampler), private
20. Archie Fisher (Blackstone River Theater 2/13): Ride through The Rainbow (Windward Away), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
21. The Electric Trains (Willi Coop 2/13): Texas 1947 (Demo), self jackcollins50@hughes.net
I read Susan Campbell's "A Day of Triage for The Uninsured" [http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-campbell-free-clinic-020710-column,0,5232761.column], then played, from "Care for All," VermontCareForAll.org,
22. The Devil Makes Three: Never Learn
23. Si Kahn: Care for All
24. Anais Mitchell/Maddub w/Bernie Sanders: Suffering of The People
The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Ed Gerhard's "Counting The Ways," Virtue Records (Ed's at Roaring Brook 2/13)
Here in CT there was a huge explosion at a power plant which was about 92% completed -- the only parallel I could think of quickly was with explosions in mines:
25. Molly Slemp: West Virginia Mine Disaster (Music of Coal), Lonesome Records & Publishing www.lpoy.org
26. Charlie Maggard: Explosion at Derby Mine (Music of Coal)
There's a lovely column by Jenna Woginrich in Paste magazine called "Night Rounds," about the soundtrack to her farming. I read it between two Tim Grimm songs from "Farm Songs," Vault Records www.timgrimm.com
27. She Remembers
28. Autumn Garden
New-ish:
30. Meg Hutchinson: Hard to Change (The Living Side), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
31. Bela Fleck et al (Jorgensen 2/23): Kinetsa (Throw Down Your Heart), Rounder www.rounder.com
32. Euphonia: Let the Bullgine Run (The Old Jawbone), self www.sylviaherold.com
33. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
2. Sara Watkins: Where Will You Be (Sara Watkins), Nonesuch www.sarawatkins.com
3. Jim Post: Beautiful City (Reach Out Together), self www.jimpost.com
4. Amy Speace: Dog Days (The Killer in Me), Wildflower www.amyspeace.com
5. Dave Rawlings Machine: How's about You (A Friend of A Friend), Acony
6. Laura Love / Orville Johnson: Cotton Eyed Joe (The Sweeter The Juice), Octoroon Biography www.lauralove.net
7. The Loose Acoustic Trio: One Man Band (Sorrow Be Gone), Big Book www.looseacoustictrio.com
8. Shannon Lambert-Ryan: The Wind That Shakes the Barley (Across the Pond), self www.myspace.com/shannonlambertryan
Upcoming concerts:
9. John McCutcheon (Sounding Board 2/13): Sydney / Joe Hill (Untold), Appalseed www.folkmusic.com
10. Hot Soup w/Ann Mayo Muir: Two Fine Friends (Soup Happens), SOUPer Music
11. Hot Soup (U'n'I Coffeehouse 2/13): Dead Egyptian Blues (Hot Soup on Stage), SOUPer Music www.HotSoupTrio.com
12. Greg Brown (Infinity Hall 2/12): Verona Road (Dream City), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
13. Heather Maloney (Buttonwood Tree 2/12): Let It Ache (Cosy Razor's Edge), self www.heathermaloney.com
14. James Keelaghan (Music for A Change 2/12): Medusa (House of Cards), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
15. The Sweetback Sisters (Iron Horse 2/11): It Don't Show on Me (Chicken Ain't Chicken), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
16. The Ebony Hillbillies (Mark Twain Theater 2/18): Cluck Old Hen (I Thought You Knew), self www.ebonyhillbillies.com
17. Karan Casey & John Doyle (Iron Horse 2/10): Sailing Off to The Yankee Land (Exiles Return), Compass www.compassrecords.com
18. Mark Erelli (Stone Soup 2/13): Hope Dies Last (Delivered), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
19. Gerard Edery Sephardic Ensemble (Branford Folk 2/13): Entre las Huertas (Sampler), private
20. Archie Fisher (Blackstone River Theater 2/13): Ride through The Rainbow (Windward Away), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
21. The Electric Trains (Willi Coop 2/13): Texas 1947 (Demo), self jackcollins50@hughes.net
I read Susan Campbell's "A Day of Triage for The Uninsured" [http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-campbell-free-clinic-020710-column,0,5232761.column], then played, from "Care for All," VermontCareForAll.org,
22. The Devil Makes Three: Never Learn
23. Si Kahn: Care for All
24. Anais Mitchell/Maddub w/Bernie Sanders: Suffering of The People
The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Ed Gerhard's "Counting The Ways," Virtue Records (Ed's at Roaring Brook 2/13)
Here in CT there was a huge explosion at a power plant which was about 92% completed -- the only parallel I could think of quickly was with explosions in mines:
25. Molly Slemp: West Virginia Mine Disaster (Music of Coal), Lonesome Records & Publishing www.lpoy.org
26. Charlie Maggard: Explosion at Derby Mine (Music of Coal)
There's a lovely column by Jenna Woginrich in Paste magazine called "Night Rounds," about the soundtrack to her farming. I read it between two Tim Grimm songs from "Farm Songs," Vault Records www.timgrimm.com
27. She Remembers
28. Autumn Garden
New-ish:
30. Meg Hutchinson: Hard to Change (The Living Side), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
31. Bela Fleck et al (Jorgensen 2/23): Kinetsa (Throw Down Your Heart), Rounder www.rounder.com
32. Euphonia: Let the Bullgine Run (The Old Jawbone), self www.sylviaherold.com
33. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
Thursday, February 4, 2010
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Winners 2010
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS WENT TO:
Nanci Griffith and Dick Gaughan
GOOD TRADITION AWARD:
Transatlantic Sessions
FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR:
And the winner was: Jon Boden
Other nominees were:
Cara Dillon
Jackie Oates
Martin Simpson
Lots more at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/folk-awards-2010/nominees/
Nanci Griffith and Dick Gaughan
GOOD TRADITION AWARD:
Transatlantic Sessions
FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR:
And the winner was: Jon Boden
Other nominees were:
Cara Dillon
Jackie Oates
Martin Simpson
Lots more at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/folk-awards-2010/nominees/
The Banjo Project
The Banjo Project -- A Documentary
One of the most defining aspects of the bluegrass sound is the addition made by the 5-string banjo. It is the most “American” of all the instruments comprising a bluegrass band. There is a lot of lore, and misinformation, about the origins of the instrument and how it came to be what it is today. The banjo has played an interesting role in American culture over the years. If you’ve ever been interested in the history of this unique instrument, then you’re sure to be interested in The Banjo Project.
More at
http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/category/bluegrass-filmmovie-news/
and a LITTLE more at
http://thebanjoproject.org/
and at the bottom of THIS page, Mark Twain is quoted:
"The piano may do for lovesick girls who lace themselves to skeletons, and lunch on chalk, pickles, and slate pencils. But give me the banjo... When you want genuine music—music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whiskey…ramify your whole constitution like the measles, and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose—when you want all this, just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!" (Early Tales and Sketches, Vol. 2)
One of the most defining aspects of the bluegrass sound is the addition made by the 5-string banjo. It is the most “American” of all the instruments comprising a bluegrass band. There is a lot of lore, and misinformation, about the origins of the instrument and how it came to be what it is today. The banjo has played an interesting role in American culture over the years. If you’ve ever been interested in the history of this unique instrument, then you’re sure to be interested in The Banjo Project.
More at
http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/category/bluegrass-filmmovie-news/
and a LITTLE more at
http://thebanjoproject.org/
and at the bottom of THIS page, Mark Twain is quoted:
"The piano may do for lovesick girls who lace themselves to skeletons, and lunch on chalk, pickles, and slate pencils. But give me the banjo... When you want genuine music—music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whiskey…ramify your whole constitution like the measles, and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose—when you want all this, just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!" (Early Tales and Sketches, Vol. 2)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Dylan to perform at White House for first time
Emily Tan, Jan 26th 2010 1:35PM
Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is set to perform at the White House for the first time. As part of 'In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement,' Dylan, Natalie Cole, John Mellencamp and Smokey Robinson will perform songs from the Civil Rights era.
Hosted by President Barack Obama and his family, the show will take place in the White House East Room and will air on Feb. 11 at 8PM ET on PBS stations nationwide. Other performers include Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Seal, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Howard University Choir.
Hosted by President Barack Obama and his family, the show will take place in the White House East Room and will air on Feb. 11 at 8PM ET on PBS stations nationwide. Other performers include Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Seal, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Howard University Choir.
More at http://tinyurl.com/ye5y4ny
Sunday, January 31, 2010
1/31/10 Playlist
Playlist, Sunday Night Folk Festival, January 31, 2010
Grammy winners:
1. Ramblin' Jack Elliott (Trad. Blues): Rising High Water Blues (A Stranger Here), Anti-
2. Levon Helm (Americana): I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (Electric Dirt), Vanguard
3. Loudon Wainwright III (Traditional Folk): Mother's Last Farewell Kiss (High Wide & Handsome), Proper www.properuk.com
4. Steve Martin (Bluegrass): Saga of The Old West (The Crow), Rounder www.rounder.com
5. Steve Earle (Contemporary Folk): Where I Lead Me (Townes), New West www.newwestrecords.com
6. Carolyn Cruso: Natural Disaster (Have You Ever), Blue Heron www.carolyncruso.com
7. Rodney Crowell: The Rise and Fall of Intelligent Design (Sex and Gasoline), Yep Roc www.yeproc.com
8. Katie Moore: Any Day Woman (Only Thing Worse), Borealis www.katiemoore.com
9. Jorma Kaukonen: Trouble in Mind (River of Time), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
10. Matt & Shannon Heaton: Lily of The West (Lovers' Well), self www.mattandshannonheaton.com
11. Kieran Kane: Marriage of Convenience (Somewhere beyond The Roses), Compass www.compassrecords.com
12. Liz Longley: People Get Ready (Somewhere in The Middle), self www.lizlongley.com
13. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers: Satisfied Man (The Bear), Vanguard
14. Sarah Jarosz: come On up to The House (Song Up in Her Head), Sugar Hill
15. Jory Nash: Our Time Again (New Blue Day), Thin Man Records www.jorynash.com
16. Christine Lavin: Good Thing SHE Can't Read My Mind (Cold Pizza for Breakfast), Yellow Tail www.christinelavin.com
17. Tim O'Brien: How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live (Always Lift Him Up -- A Tribute to Bline Alfred Reed), Proper American www.properamerican.com
18. Rose Laughlin: Cold Rain and Snow (The Chicago Sessions), Ramblin' Rose www.roselaughlin.com
19. Linzay Young & Joel Savoy: Missouri Heights (Linzay Young & Joel Savoy), Valcour www.valcourrecords.com
20. Rebecca Troon: Hands of The Musician (Animal Skin), self
21. Gerard Edery and Ensemble: La Comida La Manana (Sampler), private
22. Laurie Lewis: Unfinished Life (Blossoms), Spruce and Maple www.laurielewis.com
23. Laurie Lewis: Cool Your Jets (Blossoms)
The recent Supreme Court decision:
24. Eckstrom & Quinn: Supremely Confident (Songs from Sing Out! v. 47, #4), Sing Out! www.singout.org
25. Pete Seeger & Bernie Asbell: Mad As I Can Be (Songs from Sing Out! v 47, #4)
26. Woody Guthrie: Do Re Mi (Some Folk), ProperBox 115 www.proper.com
27. Tom Paxton: I Am Changing My Name to Chrysler (The Paxton Report), Mountain Railroad LP
28. Gary O'Donoghue: Who Can You Ask When You're God? (Cat Nav: Guide Cats for the Blind Vol. 4), Osmosys www.mrsackroyd.com
29. Wheeler Street w/ Roy Bailey: Ben Kenobi (Cat Nav)
The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Oliver Schroer's "Hymns and Hers," Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
Upcoming concerts:
30. Doug & Telisha Williams: Unrepentant Sinner's Last Prayer (Ghost of The Knoxville Girl), self www.DandTW.com
31. The Sweetback Sisters: Red Shoes Blues (Chicken Ain't Chicken), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
32. Todd Snider: Some Things Are (The Other Side: Music from East Nashville), Red Beet www.redbeetrecords.com
33. Louise Mosrie: Battle of Blair Mountain (Home), self www.loisemosrie.com
34. Geoff Kaufman: You're Nothin' But A Humbug (Sea Song Sampler), Cob's Cobble http://geoffkaufman.com
35. Kate Taylor: Soap Opera Life (Fair Time!), self www.katetaylor.com
36. Mary J. Blige: Kitchen (Stronger with Each Tear), downloaded
37. Molasses Creek: Jolene (Follow the Heron Home), SoundSide www.molassescreek.com
38. Drew Nelson: Stranger (Dusty Road to Beulah Land), Waterbug www.drewnelson.net
39. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
Grammy winners:
1. Ramblin' Jack Elliott (Trad. Blues): Rising High Water Blues (A Stranger Here), Anti-
2. Levon Helm (Americana): I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (Electric Dirt), Vanguard
3. Loudon Wainwright III (Traditional Folk): Mother's Last Farewell Kiss (High Wide & Handsome), Proper www.properuk.com
4. Steve Martin (Bluegrass): Saga of The Old West (The Crow), Rounder www.rounder.com
5. Steve Earle (Contemporary Folk): Where I Lead Me (Townes), New West www.newwestrecords.com
6. Carolyn Cruso: Natural Disaster (Have You Ever), Blue Heron www.carolyncruso.com
7. Rodney Crowell: The Rise and Fall of Intelligent Design (Sex and Gasoline), Yep Roc www.yeproc.com
8. Katie Moore: Any Day Woman (Only Thing Worse), Borealis www.katiemoore.com
9. Jorma Kaukonen: Trouble in Mind (River of Time), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
10. Matt & Shannon Heaton: Lily of The West (Lovers' Well), self www.mattandshannonheaton.com
11. Kieran Kane: Marriage of Convenience (Somewhere beyond The Roses), Compass www.compassrecords.com
12. Liz Longley: People Get Ready (Somewhere in The Middle), self www.lizlongley.com
13. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers: Satisfied Man (The Bear), Vanguard
14. Sarah Jarosz: come On up to The House (Song Up in Her Head), Sugar Hill
15. Jory Nash: Our Time Again (New Blue Day), Thin Man Records www.jorynash.com
16. Christine Lavin: Good Thing SHE Can't Read My Mind (Cold Pizza for Breakfast), Yellow Tail www.christinelavin.com
17. Tim O'Brien: How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live (Always Lift Him Up -- A Tribute to Bline Alfred Reed), Proper American www.properamerican.com
18. Rose Laughlin: Cold Rain and Snow (The Chicago Sessions), Ramblin' Rose www.roselaughlin.com
19. Linzay Young & Joel Savoy: Missouri Heights (Linzay Young & Joel Savoy), Valcour www.valcourrecords.com
20. Rebecca Troon: Hands of The Musician (Animal Skin), self
21. Gerard Edery and Ensemble: La Comida La Manana (Sampler), private
22. Laurie Lewis: Unfinished Life (Blossoms), Spruce and Maple www.laurielewis.com
23. Laurie Lewis: Cool Your Jets (Blossoms)
The recent Supreme Court decision:
24. Eckstrom & Quinn: Supremely Confident (Songs from Sing Out! v. 47, #4), Sing Out! www.singout.org
25. Pete Seeger & Bernie Asbell: Mad As I Can Be (Songs from Sing Out! v 47, #4)
26. Woody Guthrie: Do Re Mi (Some Folk), ProperBox 115 www.proper.com
27. Tom Paxton: I Am Changing My Name to Chrysler (The Paxton Report), Mountain Railroad LP
28. Gary O'Donoghue: Who Can You Ask When You're God? (Cat Nav: Guide Cats for the Blind Vol. 4), Osmosys www.mrsackroyd.com
29. Wheeler Street w/ Roy Bailey: Ben Kenobi (Cat Nav)
The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Oliver Schroer's "Hymns and Hers," Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
Upcoming concerts:
30. Doug & Telisha Williams: Unrepentant Sinner's Last Prayer (Ghost of The Knoxville Girl), self www.DandTW.com
31. The Sweetback Sisters: Red Shoes Blues (Chicken Ain't Chicken), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
32. Todd Snider: Some Things Are (The Other Side: Music from East Nashville), Red Beet www.redbeetrecords.com
33. Louise Mosrie: Battle of Blair Mountain (Home), self www.loisemosrie.com
34. Geoff Kaufman: You're Nothin' But A Humbug (Sea Song Sampler), Cob's Cobble http://geoffkaufman.com
35. Kate Taylor: Soap Opera Life (Fair Time!), self www.katetaylor.com
36. Mary J. Blige: Kitchen (Stronger with Each Tear), downloaded
37. Molasses Creek: Jolene (Follow the Heron Home), SoundSide www.molassescreek.com
38. Drew Nelson: Stranger (Dusty Road to Beulah Land), Waterbug www.drewnelson.net
39. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
Friday, January 29, 2010
Phoebe Snow hospitalized
From Phoebe Snow's manager to John Platt of WFUV:
"She had a brain hemorrhage due to high blood pressure. She is still in a
coma, but healing well physically. She shows all good signs of waking up,
but no one can predict when she will. You can say that on the radio and tell
people to send her great thoughts. Tell them that she was in the middle of
rehearsing a new band and had just recorded new songs and was getting ready
to start touring on March 23.
coma, but healing well physically. She shows all good signs of waking up,
but no one can predict when she will. You can say that on the radio and tell
people to send her great thoughts. Tell them that she was in the middle of
rehearsing a new band and had just recorded new songs and was getting ready
to start touring on March 23.
"It's obviously all on hold, but ready to be put back when she's ready. Let's
all be hopeful."
all be hopeful."
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