YouTube: State Champion at Ear X-tacy

I stumbled across these videos of State Champion today so I'll share with you.  It appears to be from the Stale Champagne record release show at Ear X-tacy earlier this year, before the store moved to it's new location, which was the first time I caught them live as well.  Watch all four parts and it's like you were there man!  Did I mention that Stale Champagne is one of my favorite albums of this year?  Thanks to whoever shot these and put them up.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Arliss Nancy

I ran across these guys thanks mainly to a review of their newest EP, Truckstop Roses by Front Porch Musings. They immediately became a favorite of mine. Arliss Nancy is on Death to False Hope Records, a grassroots label that helps bands promote their music for free. Most of the albums on DTFH can be downloaded on the pay-what-you-want-principle, and you should check out their entire catalog.  This is one of the first times that I have agreed with a band when they say they are similar to Lucero.  I can definitely hear the influence.  Throw them a few bucks and download the new EP and the full length debut Dance to Forget.
Arliss Nancy - Wrong or Right (from Dance to Forget)

Show Review: Slithering Beast @ Dragon Pub

Friday night Slithering Beast played two sets at the Dragon Pub in Frankfort. It was my first time at the Dragon and I didn't know what to expect. I showed up just as the guys were getting started on the first set. It was a small crowd, maybe due to the UK basketball game, as I noticed a few groups showing up later on decked out in blue. The guys started off with the classics, a new song,and a couple covers (one a nod to In My Basement Room with "Dead Flowers") in the first set. The band (Mark Sieckman-drums, Alex Plamp-guitar, Nick Dittmeier-guitar & vox, Paul Dittmeier-pedal steel, Matt Kavorovic-bass & vox) sounded really good. Bass and drums were really locking in for that unique Slithering Beast rhythm, Nick and Alex were trading guitar licks, and Paul was all over the steel. After a short break, the band came back out with a more of the older songs from the first two albums mixed in with a couple more new songs. They ended the show with a pure rock and roll cover of "In the Midnight Hour" that even had people walking over from the pool tables to check it out. It was a great show and I wish more people had been there to see a really good original band in their own backyard. Nick will be doing an FREE acoustic show with Ryan Davis of State Champion on November 26th (7pm) at Sunergos Coffee House in Louisville.

Classic Flatt & Scruggs

I was browsing you tube and found this nice video of Earl & Lester doing "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy." It is a great closeup of Earl's nice guitar work instead of his usual banjo finesse. Enjoy!

Veteran's Day

Here's a few tracks for Veteran's Day.  If you see a vet today, don't forget to thank them for your freedom.

Reckless Kelly - American Blood (from Bullet Proof) (Buy!)

6 Day Bender - Wartime (from 2008 S/T debut) (Buy!)

Blue Highway - He Walked All the Way Home (from Midnight Storm) (Buy!)

Jason Isbell - Dress Blues (from Sirens of the Ditch) (Buy!)

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Dress Blues (from Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit) (Buy!)

Ben Gilmer & The Sidearms - Heart That Burns

I'm way behind on this one, and I'm not going to make excuses.  I'm posting my favorite song off of the rather short eight track album.  If you are a fan of classic Rolling Stones style country-rock, chances are you'll enjoy this so do yourself a favor and check it out.  I honestly don't know the best way to purchase the album, so contact Ben through his myspace page and see if he can point you in the right direction.

Ben Gilmer & The Sidearms - Wildcat (from Heart That Burns)

6 Day Bender - E'ville Fuzz

Coming straight out of Charlottesville, Virginia is a band with the best name I've heard in a good while, 6 Day Bender. Due to a slight failure in electronic communications I never got around to featuring the band when I first stumbled across their music last year. Fortunately, the new album E'ville Fuzz found it's way to me this year. The band is made up of Luke Nutting (banjo, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), Clayton Avent (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, cello, vocals),
James Keenan (bass, harmonica), and Corey Gross (drums, percussion). A pretty typical country-rock outfit, right? Well, yeah, but where 6 Day Bender differs from the masses is that they hit that mark that everyone else is aiming for but falling short of. The banjo, when used, sounds like it is necessary for the mood of a lyric and not just an addition at the end of the recording session to cater to the "folk" fans.  The songwriting cover all the topics I want from a rough country band, and the guitars, bass, and drums, are just ragged enough to do justice to the vocals of Luke and Clayton.

Since I didn't post anything last year, I'll put up a couple tracks from the new album and the self-titled debut.  E'ville Fuzz features the electric guitars a little more prominently and tends to lean toward pure rock than the debut album.  The musicianship sounds more evolved, as you would expect.  In the end, each album is simply a different side to the same proverbial coin.  You can buy either/both albums and other 6DB goodies here.


6 Day Bender - Wartime (from 2008 S/T debut) (Buy!)
6 Day Bender - Kick Out the Fire (from 2008 S/T debu)

6 Day Bender - Clover (from E'ville Fuzz) (Buy!)
6 Day Bender - Miss Linda (from E'ville Fuzz)


 Check out the video of Deliverance off of E'ville Fuzz from the 6 Day Bender youtube channel.

Cross Canadian Ragweed with Jason Isbell on Guitar

From the show at Iroquois Amphitheater here in Louisville this past summer.

In My Basement Room: Best of the First Year

I started this blog a little over a year ago.  I've neglected it much of that time for more serious responsibilities, but I still think it is in its infancy and has some room to grow.  Over the next few weeks I'll be getting back on track with the quick reviews of albums I happen upon and posting notes about shows I make it too.  I've reached my five-sentence-per-post limit so download my comp, The Best of the First Year.

Of course, be sure to check out an artists website if you like what you hear.  Order up one of their albums and go see a show if they come through your town.

Drive-By Truckers on 91.9 WFPK's Live Lunch

A few weeks late, but still worth mentioning.  The Drive-By Truckers played 91.9 WFPK's Live Lunch series before their show in Louisville last month.  You can also download a free track if you are a fan of DBT on Facebook.