Family Good with rhythm gurus Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky
… comes out Tuesday this week (30.4.13) on the independent label: Latent Records.
Brothers’ Dallas, Travis- their mum- Margaret, dad- Bruce, uncle- Larry Good, cousin- D’Arcy – along with the trusty other half of the Sadies Mike Belitsky and Sean Dean, are all in on the act and it’s gonna be a Good’n! So with all due respect – Buy it! – And anything of the Sadies. You won’t be sorry. End of sermon.
Here’s a taste of what’s coming your way on The Good Family Album: Coal Black Hills
I’m taking Carte Blanche and setting off the weekend with first on the menu: Afie Jurvanen, (aka Bahamas) played with the likes of The Stills, Howie Beck, Amy Millan, Jason Collett, Hayden and zeus, and was last in cahoots with Feist as pianist and guitarist. Jurvanen is Finnish/Canadian and plays beautiful music. There’s something reminiscent of Steve Miller on Bahamas second album but take a listen for yourselves. This playlist has a couple of tracks of his and the whole album – titled Barchords, is a well shined pearl.
The last track – Jonathan Wilson with Desert Raven is just one of the tracks from his album Gentle Spirit that delights in a Wichita Lineman and High Lamas kinda of way. Enjoy!
The sad demise of the Austin band The Weary Boys in 2007, saw the end to one of the best live bluegrass blues bands i’d seen perform. They produced six CDs in six years (2001–2007), their energy was boundless, their music: great mix of speedy ‘blues grass’ riffs and high kickin melodies, and last but not least; charisma – they had it by the bucket full. Mario Matteoli – singer and guitarist of The Weary Boys, tells in the Doug Freeman Interview below; “We worked really hard and gave it a good shot, but we burned ourselves out in the process”. http://www.facebook.com/
I found the Article / Matteoli Interview and had to share my excitement – and some of the incredible music The Weary Boys produced. Along with a track from his now band The Preservation. http://www.wearethepreservation.com/
THE WEARY BOYS: FREIGHT TRAIN BLUES
During their career, the Weary Boys emerged as one of Austin’s premier string bands, coupling manic fiddle and upright bass with a raucous rhythm guitar and songwriting that ranged from poignant ballads to hard-drinking honky tonkers. The band formed in Humbolt County, Calif., in 2000, behind Mario Matteoli, Darren Hoff, and Brian Salvi, and moved to Austin shortly afterward, where they picked up bassist Darren Sluyter and drummer Cary Ozanian. With the release of their self-titled debut in 2001 and regular gigs at the Continental Club, the Weary Boys quickly invigorated Austin’s dominant country scene with their bluegrass harmonies and youthful fervor, mixing the local outlaw aesthetic with the emerging sound of punk pickers like Old Crow Medicine Show and the Avett Brothers and locals like the Meat Purveyors. Each year brought a subsequent release from the group, including 2002’s exceptional Weary Blues and the far-reaching gospel album Holy Ghost Power in 2004, and saw primary songwriter Matteoli further honing his craft. Following the release of Jumpin’ Jolie in 2006, Matteoli left the group to pursue a solo career, and the Weary Boys added Matt Downing on banjo for the release of their final album, Coalinga, which features mostly traditional covers. The group finally disbanded in late 2007.
When the Weary Boys rolled into Austin from California in 2001, they set the town on fire with their high-octane take on string music.
Across six albums, the local quintet showcased the songwriting of Mario Matteoli and Darren Hoff atop a blazing fiddle from Brian Salvi, and the furious rhythm of Cary Ozanian on drums and upright bassist Darren Sluyter.
“Everyone remembers our shows,” admits Matteoli. “It was a really fun thing to do in Austin for a while, and I think a lot of people experienced it. It’s just this really fast, simple music, but it had this way of making people happy.
“I think that’s why people remember it and kind of miss it.”
At the moment the new Americana movement was beginning to gain national traction behind acts like Old Crow Medicine Show and the Avett Brothers in 2007, the Wearies disbanded.
“We worked really hard and gave it a good shot, but we burned ourselves out in the process,” Matteoli reckons. “And the bands from that era that have come to more commercial success were on that path anyway. Weary Boys was always really raw and not that commercial.”
While the members have forged new projects – Matteoli’s The Preservation; Darren Hoff & the Hard Times; the remaining trio’s WoodsBoss – the Weary Boys’ chemistry still endures five years after parting, as evidenced by a preview of the one-off reunion two weeks ago at the Do512 Lounge.
“It was pretty natural,” agrees the frontman. “We’ve had it instilled in us, but it’s not our lives anymore and that’s how we want it to stay.
“At the same time, it’s something we can still do and it’s been fun getting together and doing it.”
It’s been observed since April 1970 – was pioneered by John McConnell in 1969. However, a second Earth Day was founded by US State Senator Gaylord Nelson, after he witnessed the consequences of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill in 1969. He planned it as a general educational forum to discuss complicated issues (a Teach-in). While the event was kept Stateside in the beginning, an organisation launched by Denis Hayes- who was the original national coordinator in 1970, made the effort to take it internationally – to 141 nations, and today it’s coordinated by Earth Day Network.
The day’s 30th anniversary in 2000 was used to promote a global call for cleaner energy while 2010 saw the launch an initiative to plant 1m trees. But in light of the report from the IEA (Input To Clean Energy) the figures have been underwhelming and could be doing better: http://www.iea.org/publications/TCEP_web.pdf.
As for the 1 million trees, New York alone has reached 662,111 trees to date, The Big Tree Plant, UK website claims to have planted 239,514 in towns, cities and neighbourhoods over England.
There are always pros and contras and people singing about the Planet, about the dire situation but as Funkadelic so aptly put it with Maggot Brain (the song unintended to be an earth anthem);
Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time
For y’all have knocked her up.
I have tasted the maggots in the mind of the universe
I was not offended
For I knew I had to rise above it all
Or drown in my own shit.
John Denver also wrote the song ‘Plant A Tree’ for the National Arbor Day Foundation, but I can’t quite bring myself to download and blog it. Instead heres ELOs Everyones Born To Die to start your day – a jolly old song where Jeff Lynne seems to be under the Influence of Dylan.
The Deep Dark Wood, Papier Saal, 20.4.2013, Zürich
The Deep Dark Woods, Concert: Papier Saal, Zürich. So I had a beer and plucked up the courage to speak to one of them before they went on stage; Geoff Hilhorst – Keyboard troubadour and who is as tall as the Sitka Spruce was generous enough to share a couple of facts.
The all Canadian band (singer and guitarist Ryan Boldt, bass guitarist, vox Chris Mason, organist and pianist Geoff Hilhorst, drummer Lucas Goetz, along with Clayton Linthicum- replacement for Burke Barlow) hail from Saskatoon and Toronto, they’re signed to Six Shooter Records in Canada and Sugarhill Records in the US, and to experience them play is something like coming in from the cold and rain to a freshly baked apple pie. As the set progresses you realise you’re lost in the deep dark woods as if it’s their aim – to spellbound and slowly intoxicate with the help of light sonic dueling of Boldt’s guitar and Hilhorst’s Keyboard. They’ve been compared to Neil Young among others of that ilk but they have definite personality of their own – they draw their music influences from all over but love stuff coming out of england and Ireland. They’re going to be giants – physically they already are.
If you haven’t had the privilege to see them live yet, it’s a must. They have a new album coming out Autumn/Winter which will be the 5th under their belt: http://thedeepdarkwoods.com/?page_id=7
Plus. Here are the current dates (GO SEE THEM!) and link to their website: http://thedeepdarkwoods.com/?page_id=5
As stated on the 18.3.13 post – RSD is upon us. There’s absolutely tonnes of good stuff happening today. Celebrations over the globe rejoicing in vinyl!
2013 kicked off with 78 percent more vinyl record sales than the previous year – and to add sugar to the figures, 500 plus records have been exclusively produced for the days events – which is a definite incentive for fans to get their hands on limited editions.
In the hope of spreading Art awareness, last year Bedri Baykam presented a proposal suggesting that Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday, April 15, be declared World Art Day (WAD). A whole bunch of countries including Mexico, France, China, Cyprus (Greek), Sweden, Japan, Slovakia, Mauritius and Norway unanimously accepted the proposal by the IAA’s General Assembly. The AA/AIAP, is an NGO operating with UNESCO, comprising artists belonging essentially to the fields of painting, sculpture, printmakers and artists practising other forms of creative work in the visual arts. http://www.facebook.com/worldartday.iaa
Although the music world isn’t included in WAD, there does exist a World Music Day celebrated every year (since 1982) which takes place on 21. June. More of that in June, but for now here is WAD playlist. I have to praise John Langford for his entertaining prowess. He’s just great and this song slaps down on the counter what it’s like to be an artist and entertainer. And it goes without saying that Langford’s other bands, mates and collaborators – Sally Timms, The Sadies and the amazing Mekons – join him in excellence.
Brian (Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle ) Eno, is not only an accomplished master mind musician and author, he created ‘Self Storage’ – an Installation that was exhibited at the Alcan Foil Factory near Wembley in 1995. http://youtu.be/gKxuVtQuIfg. The song Regiment from the Album My Life In A Bush Of Ghosts (Brian Eno, David Byrne)is an amazing, eclectic, sensual mix of east meets west and the Album as a whole was considered ground breaking upon its release in 1981. It is indeed timeless as it brings together electronics, ambience, held together with a beautiful bass line and beat.
Regiment, Brian Eno and David Byrne
There She Goes Again, Velvet Underground & Nico
Andy Warhol, David Bowie
Renaissance Man, Gene Burnett
Architects Dream, Kate Bush
John Langford, Are You An Entertainer
Art For Art Sake, 10CC
Street Life, Roxy Music
I leave you also with the video of Roxy Music’s Street Life. Brian Ferry- well he’s just a walking work of art in a sharp suit.
Through the grey April sky there seems to be a sun beam trying to fight it’s way through and feed us with some vitamin D – I hope it’s the same where you are too. The Silver Jews I sneaked in to let off some steam. Enjoy!
The Beatles Sun King
The Walker Brothers The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine More
On this Day Martin Luther King delivered his ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech. King made the speech one day before his assassination on the 4th April, 1968 at the Mason Temple in Memphis Tennessee. King called for unity, economic actions, boycotts, and nonviolent protest, while challenging the United States to live up to its ideals. At the end of the speech, he discusses the possibility of an untimely death.
I’ve chosen Aint No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell because as part of Kings speech;
we aren’t going to let dogs or water hoses turn us around. We aren’t going to let any injunction turn us around. We are going on.
strives with fervent determination and just a smidgen of good old-fashioned leuve. enjoy.
The first ear-connection I had with Heartless Bastards was on 6 Music. Erika Wennerstrom’s voice blew me away as it is undeniably ‘different’. I think you either love or hate it. Myself and 33,754 others (facebook fans alone) love it. I managed to catch their one-only gig in Switzerland a couple of months ago and Erika Wennerstrom’s voice didn’t seem to match up with her slight frame – A deep, southern, fine-sand-paper twang full of fragility – like it’s just about to break. They played hard to a semi warm appreciative audience and It reminded me again, how much dedication, bloody-mindedness, stubborn determination and a soupscon of madness you have to have to arrive at your goals in the music business. Their sound to me is a mix of grey-granite rock, wide-open prairies, mountain ranges, pools of blood, sweat and tears and heart-ache. They have been likened to The Black Keys- who are fellow Ohioions.
The Heartless Bastards had different line-up at the very beginning in 2003, with Erika Wennerstrom on vocals, piano and guitar, Dave Colvin on drums, Adam McAllister on bass and Michael Weinel on lead guitar. They played their first live show at The Comet bar in Cincinnati 2003 and have meandered their way through the circuits and festivals ever since. The present day members are Erika Wennerstrom, Jesse Ebaugh (bass), Dave Colvin (drums), and Mark Nathan (guitar). They’ve now got their fourth album Arrow (2012) under their belts and it’s not one to miss. Check them out on: www.theheartlessbastards.com Here’s a taster of their brilliance: Nothing Seems The Same, live at SXSW.
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