‘Live at The Bluebird Cafe’ Concert Series Will Celebrate Americana Artists
- Jim Lauderdale, Sam Bush, Nanci Griffith and Foster & Lloyd have been confirmed to perform as part of the Americana Music Association’s ‘Live at The Bluebird Cafe’ series starting in February.
- Little Big Town announced that bands and musicians can register to compete for an opening slot on the upcoming A Place To Land Tour. Fans will vote for their favorite acts and the top four vote-getters will open shows in March.
- Sony Computer Entertainment product marketing manager Rob Alvarez says SingStar Country was their best-selling title this holiday season.
- The Austin Chronicle‘s Jim Caligiuri on Undone: A Musicfest Tribute to Robert Earl Keen:
No matter how big a Keen fan you are, it’s where you stand on artists such as Wade Bowen, Jason Boland, Randy Rogers, Cody Canada, and the other 18 that appear here that will go a long way on deciding your appreciation for the proceedings, recorded live in Colorado, January 2008. There are outstanding tracks, but the mostly acoustic performances manage to consistently miss the guts of what Keen’s writing about, while also losing most of his melodies.
- Alabama frontman Randy Owen is scheduled to record vocals for Jason Aldean‘s new album Wide Open, which is due April 7. The song he’ll be recording for is a true-to-the-original version of “My Home’s In Alabama.”
- Could Shania Twain be announcing her new album soon?
- If there are any complaints with Bruce Robison‘s recent release of His Greatest, Hickory Wind’s Hal Bogerd says it’d be the number of tracks–he thinks there are too few.
- Charlie Louvin kicks off this year’s tour the night before the Grammys in L.A. If you haven’t checked it out, read Juli Thanki’s exclusive pre-Grammy interview with Louvin.
- Chet Flippo says every now and then, “a Grammy nomination is just so right, just so sweetly right,” that it renews his faith in the awards process. The nomination that has him beaming this year is The SteelDrivers‘ performance of “Blue Side of the Mountain” in the best country performance by a duo or group with vocals category.
- Owen Temple is finishing a new album this week.
- Shanachie Records will release volumes seven and eight of the Best of the Flatt and Scruggs TV Show DVD series on February 10.
- PopMatters‘ Dave Heaton on The Tom Russell Anthology: Veteran’s Day:
Russell’s story-songs often beg to be referred to as cinematic and no doubt have been. Though some detours to France and the UK are abroad, the anthology, as a whole, seems a quintessential American film, with people of all sorts coming into view, living tough yet interesting lives amidst larger forces of constriction, destruction and deterioration.
(Snag copies of “Out In California” and “Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall” for free.)
- Keith Anderson is taking a hiatus from touring to undergo throat surgery.
- Randy Weeks–who first gained attention when Lucinda Williams recorded one of his songs on her breakthrough album, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road–will be releasing a new album titled Going My Way on February 24. In her review of the album, The Austin Chronicle‘s Margaret Moser claims that Weeks’ distinctive voice is sometimes reminiscent of a young Willie Nelson.
- Listen to “What I Mean To You” and “Mama’s Eyes” from Justin Townes Earle‘s sophomore album, Midnight at the Movies, at Bloodshot Records. (via Flop Eared Mule)
- If there’s one thing country isn’t these days, it’s sad. In a recent article, The Houston Chronicle‘s Andrew Dansby explored select tearjerkers from the genre, including “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and asked several musicians to name the saddest song they ever heard. Bruce Robison chose “Country Bumpkin,” which prompted a hearty laugh from Robert Earl Keen, who chose Jim Lauderdale‘s “Run Like You.” Sound off in the comments with the saddest song you have heard.
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January 23, 2009 at 11:13 am
This comment is not in regards to anything posted today, but I want to blame the 9513 for my grades last semester. Somewhere in early-mid December, the 9513 posted something about Dale Watson, which reminded me how much I like his music. For the entire 2 weeks of finals I couldn’t concentrate on school and only wanted to listen to Dale Watson. So, thanks 9513!
January 23, 2009 at 11:14 am
Aside from George’s classic, Wynonna’s “Is It Over Yet” always hit me hard.
January 23, 2009 at 11:32 am
The Bluebird Cafe “Americana” series shows feature soem fine artists to be sure. What disturbs me is that I consider all of the artists listed in your link title to be “country” artists who wound up in the Americana basement for being rejected by the mainstream country music establishment. Still, its always nice to see these artists getting promoted in Nashvegas apart from an occasional Opry visit.
I would love to see The SteelDrivers win that Grammy award. It would be a welcome Toby Keith style “boot in the ass” to the mainstream airhead country music scene.
It appears that relocating to Austin from Los Angeles is staring to pay off for Randy Weeks. Los Angeles is no place for aspiring country and Americana style artists to make any real career progress these days. The regulars at Culver City’s “Cinema Bar” miss Randy’s shows, but Texas is where Randy belongs.
The saddest songs I listen to on a regular basis are Merle Haggard’s spoken word recitations of “The Funeral” and “Doc Brown” off the excellent “Let Me Tell You About A Song” album. Both songs end on a theme of redemption, otherwise they’d be just unbearably sad.
January 23, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I’ll go with Patty Griffin’s “Top of the World” (the Dixie Chicks version). “Theres a whole lot of singing never gonna be heard/Disappearing every day without so much as a word” pretty neatly sums up everything that makes me sad about life.
Outside the country realm, Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” always gets to me.
January 23, 2009 at 12:23 pm
“Top of the World” is a good choice. I like Merle’s version of “No Time To Cry” a little better, and maybe C.W. McCall’s “Roses For Mama” even a bit better than that.
As for Robison’s CD, I think it has the right amount of tracks, but I’m not sure it has the right tracks. It seems to contain mostly songs that were successfully covered by mainstream artists more than what I’d consider to be Bruce’s best songs. There’s some crossover there, but I guess it’s all just a matter of taste. I enjoyed the version of “Poor Man’s Son” that he cut for the album.
January 23, 2009 at 12:40 pm
@SW – Sucks about the grades. To make it up to you we’ll send you a copy of Watson’s upcoming trucker album when it’s released. Hopefully it’s not during the next finals.
January 23, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I’m going to vote for Chiseled In Stone for Saddest Song. I don’t think anything can compete unless someone’s dead in it.
January 23, 2009 at 12:52 pm
“The Evening Train” has to be up there somewhere.
January 23, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Good call, Hope. I love Vern’s original version, but have you heard Randy Travis’? Absolutely stellar!
January 23, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Let me add another oldie but goodie:
“I Never Go Around Mirrors” – I love Keith Whitley’s rendition.
January 23, 2009 at 1:01 pm
No, when did he do it? I love Travis.
January 23, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Travis recorded an excellent version on the Cracker Barrel Songs of the Year compilation, but I still prefer Vern’s original.
January 23, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Oh, and I’d probably go with “Chiseled in Stone” or “No Time to Cry.”
January 23, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I’d have to say that Billy Yates’ “Flowers” is pretty damn sad.
January 23, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I’d have to pick “I Can’t Help It If I’m Still in Love with You” and “Red Dirt Girl.” And maybe Darrell Scott’s “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” though I think I like Kathy Mattea’s version better.
January 23, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Doug Stone, “I’d Be Better Off (In a Pine Box)”.
“Top of the World” gets me too. and Randy Travis “He Walked on Water”
January 23, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I thought Jason Aldean was from Georgia? Why is he recording “My Home’s In Alabama?”
January 23, 2009 at 2:09 pm
The Justin Townes Earle stuff sounds great. He’s so good man.
wow, saddest song ever, there’s no way to really pick just one, but songs that come to mind are Townes Van Zandt’s “Marie”, Merle’s “Kern River”, and “Will the circle be unbroken”
Chet Flippo is such a clown. The Grammy’s have been running roughshod over the notion that American music should be excellent to be recognized for decades, and the Steeldrivers being nominated for best country group vocal performance restores Chet’s faith in the whole process? Even when B&D, Rascall Flatts, Sugarland, and Lady A are the other nominees?
We get it already Chet, you desperately want to believe that despite appearances to the contrary, all is well with American music. Maybe you are the editorial director for Viacom’s beast these days instead of a young, hip reporter for Rolling Stone hanging with the Outlaws in Texas, but the music is still qualitatively as good really, if not quantitatively, right?
So now you’re trying to sell us on the idea that one solid nomination makes the whole laughable awards process worthwhile?
dude, take a vacation or something man, you need to get away from the music business for a minute and get some perspective.
January 23, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Saddest song? TVZ’s Marie is a gut wrencher.
But it’s gotta be He Stopped Loving Her Today.
John Gorka’s I Saw A Stranger With Your Hair get me everytime too.
January 23, 2009 at 2:23 pm
“I would love to see The SteelDrivers win that Grammy award. It would be a welcome Toby Keith style “boot in the ass” to the mainstream airhead country music scene.”
I wish, Rick. But there have been a lot of unusual picks for Grammys in the country category (Ryan Adams, Loretta Lynn & Jack White, even Vince Gill last year for all the airplay he gets now). It never changes things. Mainstream country is too full of itself to ever consider doing anything differently.
January 23, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Are Foster & Lloyd permanently back together (re: first item on their appearance at the Bluebird)?
January 23, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Saddest song ever: Sam Stone–John Prine
As for annoucements, don’t forget Shania COULD be annoucing her retirement.
January 23, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I flew into Nashville in November so anticipating seeing my daughter, a decided spring in my step. On the way to baggage claim, I passed by the large video screen by the CMT store and the Trace Atkins’ Muddy Waters video was playing. I had to stop and watch. I don’t watch TV so this was a first for me. That song was so victorious and melancholy. It made me sad and happy all at the same time. The Dixie Chicks “Top of the World” – I am in agreement . Daggon those girls! I love their music. I am a conservative Democrat, Rick! But, I visit Caitlin and Will’s website frequently and listen to “Address in the Stars”. That song just makes me ache. I lost my sister and most recently my nephew. What I would not give to hug them, talk to them again. That song was written for people like me. God Bless them..
January 23, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Sam G., I wouldn’t expect to see a SteelDriver’s Grammy win change anything at mainstream country radio. Its just the idea of sand getting kicked in the faces of some of the most popoular Top 40 Nashywood artists by an amazing Blues-grass band that I crave! If the SteelDrivers win, I’d love to see a political cartoon of this event with The Steeldrivers being a Charles Atlas type in a vintage Coney Island Beach setting…. (lol) (Yeah, I’m twisted. I guess my posts around here have kind of clued the regulars into this fact! Crikey!)
January 23, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Ooops, Lori I was busy writing my response to Sam G. and missed your post. When I’m “Right Wing Rickie” my tirades are aimed squarley at “Liberals” not conservatives regardless of their party affiliation. Many Southern Democrats are far more conservative that so-called Republicans from the Northeast. My rants are not directed at you, but the left wingers are fair game and especially in this new “Age of Obama” where they are calling the shots unimpeded in D.C. (for the time being anyway).
Vern Gosdin’s duet with Kimber Sparks on “Chisled in Stone” has a different depth as Vern’s weak vocals let you know it won’t be long until his name is chisled in stone as well…
January 23, 2009 at 7:06 pm
“Bubba Shot the Jukebox Last Night” – bubba wouldnt be crying if it wasnt so sad…
January 23, 2009 at 7:39 pm
God Bless Zell Miller. Unfortunately, the Republican party is dead. Rick? are you independently wealthy? You post on here a lot! LOL
I heard today, that in the midst of this economic down turn ( gosh I really hate expressions that underplay bad stuff-but ya gotta love em- I should be ashamed to use em), one thing that Americans are still buying is music. So, perhaps, that bodes well for the Americana genre. I am a recent aficionado of Country music. Don’t you envy me discovering untapped finds? Well, untapped for me anyway. I have been listening to some of the stuff that is talked about on this site. Some is good; Ashton Shephard (SP?) and I love the Begonia album that Caitlin Cary put out. Reba, wow. How old is she? Sorry, but I love some of the pop country-though not Taylor Swift. Catchy, but her songs do not stick in my head. Joey and Rory? Like em, but cannot listen to them all the time-have to be in the mood. I actually have a Joey Martin CD- lovely, and sweet. But sometimes don’t wanna hear sweet. Sad? I am a mama, Bonnie Raitt, “All at once I hear your voice, and time just slips away….Nothing I can say to hold you here.”
January 23, 2009 at 8:22 pm
“As for annoucements, don’t forget Shania COULD be annoucing her retirement.”
I doubt it. She probably feels the need to prove to the world that she can be successful without Mutt.
January 23, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Maybe she can prove herself wrong.
January 24, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Over at Music City TV they have a new four minute feature report on the Loveless Cafe and the Grand Opening of the “Loveless Barn” music venue. The featured act on opening night was The SteelDrivers and though they expected maybe 500 people to show up well over 800 actually did! Most of the report revolves around the history of the restaurant and its signature bisquits, but its quite informative for all of us who have never been there:
Link: http://musiccitytv.com/
(Their video player is “Flash” based, so there is no way to do a direct link that I know of.)
January 26, 2009 at 5:35 am
Saddest song: “Ghost in this House” by Hugh Prestwood
January 26, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I’ll second JD’s pick and make it Alison Krauss + Union Station’s version while you’re at it. Oh and don’t forget Alison’s “Jacob’s Dream”
January 26, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Saddest? That’s hard, but I’m going to float “The Lighthouse’s Tale” by Nickel Creek as one of them.
January 26, 2009 at 3:28 pm
“Ghost In This House” is the saddest song. It destroys me
January 27, 2009 at 11:19 pm
So much news. Thanks, guys, I really enjoyed reading that.