Free Show: Bodeco at Ear X-tacy - Saturday December 18th

Just a quick note to let you know that local favorite's Bodeco will be playing a free in store show at Ear X-tacy this Saturday, December 18th.  Show starts at 8 pm.

Free Music: Kent Goolsby's Wide Eyed Son

Kent Goolsby, singer/writer/guitar player for The Only Sons, has made his first solo album Wide Eyed Son available for free download from the TOS website.  Wide Eyed Son was recorded by Glossary's Joey Kneiser and will get you through the winter until The Only Sons release their next LP American Stranger in February 2011 on Sophomore Lounge Records.  While you are on the download page, be sure you pick up their 2008 release Steel Hearts while it is free too.

Ronnie Fauss - Mulligan

Ronnie Fauss is an alt-country artist based in Dallas that has put out three EP's to date on FTG Records.  His latest, Mulligan, carries on a streak of simple arrangements paired with observant lyrics that are memorable but manage to avoid cliches, similar to John Prine's approach.  My favorite number off of Mulligan is the honky tonk "It's a Long, Long Way," which I've posted below (click the link to download).  New Songs for the Old Frontier Vol. 1, Ronnie's previous release, had Slobberbone's fingerprints all over it with Brent Best producing and Jess Barr doing the banjo work.  So for your enjoyment (and because I don't want to post two songs off of a six song EP) I've posted a good track off of that EP as well.  Look for New Songs for the Old Frontier Vol. 2 in the near future.
Also, if you go to Ronnie's Noisetrade page you can download his other EP, I Can't Make You Happy for free.


Ronnie Fauss - It's a Long, Long Way  (from Mulligan) (Buy)

Ronnie Fauss - The Last  (from New Songs for the Old Frontier Vol. 1) (Buy)

Truckstop Darlin'

I may be late to the party stumbling across this band, but I'm damn glad I did. From the first verse of the album opener, "Tired Old Prom Queens," I could tell Truckstop Darlin's self-titled debut album was going to be a good one. But it wasn't until I'd let all twelve tracks play through that I realized I had an instant classic in my hands. I've always considered Wilco's - A.M. and the Drive-By Truckers' - Decoration Day the best examples of what alt-country is, but Truckstop Darlin' defines the genre just as well. The songwriting covers the essential dark country topics, but in a way that is unique but still familiar. Guitar hammer-ons give a nod to classic southern rock and the pedal steel mixed up front sets the mood on most tracks (see "Grandpa" below), with the bass and drums locking in to fill out the sound behind the gravelly lead vocals. The band [John Phelan (vocals/guitar), Eric Kotila (drums), Nick Foltz (bass/vocals), Michael Winter (pedal steel)] is based in Portland, Oregon so it may be a while before they make it to Louisville, so the best thing you can do for yourself is go buy their album until they do come through town. This is definitely one of the best albums I've heard in a long while and I am already looking forward to their next one.  Check out a couple tracks below.

Truckstop Darlin' - Grandpa  (from Truckstop Darlin')(Buy)


Truckstop Darlin' - King of the Highway  (from Truckstop Darlin')

Chris Knight: An IMBR Primer

This is the first in what will be a series of In My Basement Room Primer posts: a handful of my favorite tracks from what an artist that I consider absolutely essential. The idea is that those of you not familiar with a Primer artist will have the chance to hear some of their better tracks and ultimately become a fan.

To start off the series, I could think of no artist better suited than Chris Knight. With seven albums released to date, Chris has not recorded a single bad song, where most artists with that size back catalog will have at least one complete dud of an album. Chris is consistent: he may make you wait two or three years between albums, but it is worth it. He's the best songwriter I've heard, with only Prine, Springsteen, and Dylan giving him a run for his money. But Chris's songs resonate more with me than those more prominent writers. His songs are about regular folks, usually down on their luck or in the wrong place at the wrong time. Card cheats, truck drivers, and pool hall townies (you get the idea) mixed in with murders, affairs, and child abuse.

I've selected six tracks for this first Primer. If you like Chris Knight (and if you are reading this blog chances are you will), go see him when he comes through your town and pick up his albums here.

Here it is -- Chris Knight: An IMBR Primer.

"William" (from Chris Knight)
"Hard Edges" (from The Trailer Tapes)
"A Train Not Running" (from The Jealous Kind)
"Down the River" (from A Pretty Good Guy)
"Run From Your Memory" (from Chris Knight)
"It Ain't Easy Being Me" (from Trailer II)


This is a really good read on Chris from about ten years ago courtesy of No Depression.

And here is a great video from the musicfog.com folks of Chris doing "North Dakota."

Kelsey Waldon - Anchor in the Valley

Anchor in the Valley is the first album from west Kentuckian Kelsey Waldon. On the whole it is definitely a country album, but there is something thankfully unique in the combination of Kelsey's songwriting (she wrote all ten tracks), the beautiful vocals, and the steel guitar driven instrumentation. You can pick up the album for $5 on bandcamp or Amazon and Itunes if you prefer. Kelsey is finishing up a new EP to be released this coming spring and will feature another outstanding backing band.
First, here is one of my favorite songs from Anchor in the Valley.

Kelsey Waldon - The Light (from Anchor in the Valley) (Buy)

Next, here is a really nice video of "Mississippi Ride", another great song on the album.
 

"Ballad for Modern Times Pt 2" another good one from the album.


This last one is an audio Youtube of a Neil Young cover, "Don't Let it Bring You Down." Maybe this is the Neil Young cover that will be on the upcoming EP. No video, but be sure you check it out; it's good.

Jason Isbell covers Patterson Hood

This one came up on the shuffle today.  "The Assassin" is, in my opinion, Patterson Hood's best song and also my favorite of the select covers Jason does.  Patterson put the song on his his 2004 acoustic solo release, Killers and Stars, but Jason and the 400 Unit make it a top shelf rock song, slide guitar and all.  I've heard there is a studio version from Jason's Sirens of the Ditch sessions floating around, but I don't have it and I can't imagine it lives up to the raw live versions.

I've posted a couple audio tracks and good quality video version to check out.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - The Assassin (live in 2007) (Buy)
Patterson Hood - The Assassin (from Killers and Stars) (Buy)

Mountain Heart - That Just Happened EP

I've been a Mountain Heart fan for years.  I have a few of their of their albums (as well as Jim VanCleve's and Clay Jones' solo albums) and  and have been to many, many of their shows.  They are among the best in the business when it comes to live performances, and I can't begin to convey the energy that their live shows have. 

That said, I have not seen them in probably three years.  I have heard mixed reviews from friends concerning the new lineup/style, mostly from fans of the traditional bluegrass sounds.  I, however, appreciate a band, especially in the bluegrass genre, that tries to evolve and add something new to the music.  Hey, J.D. Crowe was scorned (I hear) when he brought in drums to the New South in the late 80's, and he is one of my favorites.  There are thousands of great bands that play the same old covers, but I respect a band that writes it's own music (or at least finds some original songs). 

About half of the songs on their new EP, That Just Happened, are written by vocalist/guitarist/(gasp!..pianist) Josh Shilling (who replaced Steve Gulley, but if you are familiar with Mountain Heart you already know that) and/or fiddler Jim VanCleve.  The covers aren't the typical bluegrass standards either.  Okay, one of them is, but it is done quite nicely, and the other two are a Greg Allman cover and a David Allan Coe cover.  To be completely honest, I did not care for the title cut that opens the album, "That Just Happened."  It is very slick, very catchy, and very power chord pop sounding, so much so that it is something you are likely to hear on modern country radio.  It doesn't seem to fit the band or the rest of the EP, but I suppose it goes along with the new sound/image they are creating.  I would have picked "Same Old Heartache" as the song to push, but what do I know?

Anyway, ignoring the title cut, the rest of the EP is a good listen and is a snapshot of band that is evolving and could possibly be on the verge of creating another new-grass/progressive movement in the genre, one that may translate well to the modern country crowd.  The band has all the pieces necessary.  Everyone is a master of their instrument, and Josh has a very good voice that blends well with Barry (Abernathy) and the others.  All Mountain Heart has to do is keep writing/finding good songs.  If you have the chance to see these guys soon, you should do so.  They have more energetic shows than a lot of rock acts I've seen.  Just remember: it ain't exactly grandaddy's bluegrass.  Check out two tracks from That Just Happened below.

Mountain Heart - Same Old Heartache (from That Just Happened EP) (Buy)
Mountain Heart - The Ride (you know, the one David Allan Coe made famous but didn't write)

YouTube Bluegrass: J.D. Crowe & the New South

J.D. Crowe & the New South circa 1975.  Best bluegrass group ever?  You can certainly make a strong argument that they were.  Consisting of the banjo master himself along with Tony Rice on vocals/guitar, Ricky Skaggs on vocals/mandolin, Bobby Slone on fiddle/upright bass, and Jerry Douglas on dobro, the New South at this time was a supergroup for sure.  Each of these gentlemen will surely be members of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame (Crowe already is).  The video below is of "The Old Home Place," one of their most well known songs from the classic 1975  self-titled album.

The Famous - Come Home to Me

I've been sitting on this album for too long, but I have a halfway decent excuse.  I've had the album at work since I got it and it hasn't really left my CD player (yeah, I still have one of those).  Better late than never.

The Famous is a four piece out of San Francisco that sound like they've spent a lot of time in Bakersfield.  Their latest album Come Home to Me has plenty of jangly twang guitars but is mixed equally with punching pop power chords that combine for some really memorable hooks.  Think Buck Owens meets the Old 97's.  The Famous is Laurence Scott (Vocals, Guitar), Victor Barclay (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Chris Fruhauf (Drums), and G.D. Hensley (Bass).  Definitely check this album/band out if you are a fan of great alt-country guitar and songwriting.  No dates listed on the website, and I'd imagine they don't make it this far east too often, but maybe they'll come around soon.  In the meantime you can pick up Come Home to Me and their 2005 release Light, Sweet Crude on the buy link below.

The Famous - Off My Mind (from Come Home to Me) (Buy)
The Famous - Moving On