She's the star of the new web-based series from MTV and director Craig Brewer entitled Five Dollar Cover . She can "triple-slap the upright bass like Willie Dixon on Steroids" (according to Jim Dickinson). She can sing like a siren. She's been on tour the world around, playing packed-out shows at places like the Royal Albert Hall. And tonight, Memphis-based upright bass player, vocalist and film engeneue Amy LaVere, will be the musical guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight, Monday night (Feb. 2). [...]
Memphis siren Amy LaVere plays Conan O'Brien tonight and you should definitely tune in to watch. But, you can also catch her here this morning on the latest installment of the Sun Studio Sessions (select "high quality" for best picture): Amy had a great year in 2008, with highlights including playing Bonnaroo, touring Europe and performing on Jools Holland. This year is shaping up to be even
I first discovered the sultry, "gypsy jazz meets country soul" sound of Amy LaVere during my final months in radio back in 2006 with the release of her debut album This World is Not My Home (Archer Records). Later that same year I saw LaVere perform live at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville, TN as part of the 7th Annual Americana Music Conference and she set the room on fire that night with her smoky twang vocals and her knock 'em dead style on the upright bass, a style that I [...]
MTV Shows Memphis, get ready to stand up. $5 Cover , the highly-anticipated new web series from director Craig Brewer has already made its introductory splash to audiences at the Sundance Film Festival this past weekend. In the weeks and months to come, the rest of the world will have an opportunity to find out what those of us in Memphis have long known and understood: the richness and depth of our tightly-knit music scene and those involved. For now, take a minute to check [...]
...and really just about anything at all. Amy Lavere is always a breath of fresh air and she wows everyone who gets to see and hear her. She'll soon be appearing in a new show from producer/director Craig Brewer entitled 5 Dollar Cover along with a number of very talented Memphis musicians and performers. Here's her video for the song "Pointless Drinking". If you were one of the lucky ones who got to see her across the pond recently, hang onto your soul because it's obviously [...]
I've been getting a little static lately from the readers of this blog about the lack of posting frequency here. This is a blog. It's not my job, but it feels like it. A few months ago and I had to explain this to my son. He's kind of impressed at how many people actually read this (and I am too) but confused at how much time his Dad spends doing it. Today, on the phone he asked me how to download the songs here. So, rather than compose another one of my long winded and angular diatribes [...]
"killing him didn't make the love go away," sings amy lavere on the song "killing him," her seductive and jazzy turn at classic outlaw country stories-in-song, and the lead track on her new record anchors & anvils . make no mistake, this is a love song, tragic for its ending, heart-rending for the misguided devotion - "she'd have to kill him to get him to stay" - of a wife teetering on abandonment, and lavere's deft songwriting and delivery bring that complexity to bear. amy lavere - killing him [...]
Saturday, May 10, 2008 Langhorne Slim And The War Eagles - Mohawk - Austin, TX Amy LaVere I believe that the original plan was to have two opening acts, but it ended up just being Amy LaVere and her band. Fortunately, she was more than enough to get the crowd and myself excited for Langhorne Slim. Her setup was similar to Langhorne's in that there was a standup bass, a guitar and drums, but the [...]
Band: Amy LaVere From: Memphis, TN Sound: country and jazz-tinged ballads touched with breathy vocals to help the weighty subject matter go down nice and smooth Similar Artists: Jenny Lewis, Katharine Whalen, Norah Jones, Dolly Parton Listen Now: "Killing Him" Okay sure, let's point out the obvious; technically, Amy LaVere should be classified as an "artist" rather than a "band", so "Band of the Week" in this case is perhaps a bit of a misnomer. Fine. But, lest you think [...]
(in the makeup chair) Amy acts as Wanda Jackson in Walk the Line . She was also in Black Snake Moan . Her music is a blend of old-time country twang, backroom jazz and a whole lot of attitude. Listen: Amy LaVere ~ Pointless Drinking Amy LaVere ~ Killing Him Further study: Website myspace Wiki IMDb YouTube More MP3s: Hype [...]
The annual music issue of Oxford American is always a treat and the 9th, on shelves now, isn't the exception that proves the rule. Their free CD includes plenty of good blues, jazz, soul, R&B, country, folk, and pop. The magazine includes profiles (some with interviews) of all 26 artists represented on the CD and 3-page liner notes (including the Editor's thoughts on the goal of the compilation/any "mix tape"). Other articles include a feature on Writers Who Rocked and a piece on the making of Blonde on Blonde . A partly handwritten manuscript page [...]
I picked up this year's Oxford American Music Issue yesterday. OA's ninth edition of music essays and accompanying CD gathers some of the South's best music, old and new, including offerings from a forgotten 60s pre-punk band called the Zachary Thaks, early doo-woopers The Clovers, and even dirrrty south rapper David Banner. A fantastic essay on the recent Betty Davis reissues blew me away, as
There are several quality shows in DC tonight. It's really good for a Tuesday and I guess that you have to thank CMJ travel for that. Summerbirds in the Cellar - credit In what should be a tremendous triple bill, The Octopus Project , Summerbirds in the Cellar and Shout Out Out Out Out are at Rock 'N Roll Hotel tonight. Also, A Decent Animal is playing Velvet Lounge . The Octopus Project [...]
This review comes your way courtesy of new podcast (sorry, they're a radio show, I know, but I listen to the podcast) The Waiting Room. I heard this on their show a couple of weeks back and bought the album. Smart move. Although at times it can be a little bit too country for me, this [...]
This is a bit of a mutual back-scratching exercise, so I thought I'd better confess my motives up front, but I think you all know me well enough to know I'd never plug something I didn't genuinely like. The Waiting Room is a two-hour weekly podcast by a couple of muppets who actually give the [...]
You know, I look back at how I live-blogged ACL and Lollapalooza last year by myself, and this year I brought a photog with me and I think I am totally more worn out. I don't know how I did it in 2006 - have I aged that much over one year? These after parties are gonna be the death of me. Of course, last year I wasn't invited to as many and also there have been a lot more technical difficulties with getting online this time around. And then there was that whole fire situation that broke [...]
You may think The Duke is gonna post 2007 songs by ladies. And that kind of thing might happen based on some of his previous lists/posts. But that's not the case. Below are some women who released stellar albums this year, women that I couldn't really find any other way to feature. Johnette Napolitano ~ All Tomorrow's Parties RIYL: Concrete Blonde covering Velvet Underground Zap Mama ~ Affection RIYL: Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, Les Nubians, Jill Scott KT [...]
<a href="/images/cds/mariamckee_l atedecember_02.jpg" rel="lightbox" title="<span class="artist">Maria McKee</span> <span class="album">Late December</span> <a href=" http://phobos.apple.com/WebObj ects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum? id=251572224&s=143441" target="new">iTunes</a> | <a href=" http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M RA88A?tag=womenfolk-20&camp=0& creative=0&linkCode=as1&creati veASIN=B000MRA88A&adid=0RCNTR0 979B5ENZP9BQV&" target="new">Amazon</a> "> Maria McKee Late December Never one to shy away from something bold, fresh and new, songwriter Maria McKee emerges again with the superb Late December , her sixth album as a solo artist. Where previous works have been dipped in country, bluesy rock and acoustic faire, Late December finds McKee in the mood to snap [...]
Beat Surrender
A n alternate Valentine selection box on offer today, kicking of with a couple of tracks from The Handsome Family, purveyors of some wonderful macabre americana, the tracks appear are taken [...]
Loudersoft
EARVOLUTION
the velvet rut
Boogie Woogie Flu
anyone's guess
Side One: Track One
EAR FARM
This Recording
The Late Greats
Kofi's hat
My Life is a Stereo
Instrumental Analysis
Song, by Toad
Scenestars
Womenfolk
Wear My Heart On My Sleeve
[REMIX] Ra Ra Riot & Delicate Steve – Valerie (Steve Winwood cover) (Friendly Ghost remix w/ Eric Prydz)
Friends: Manifest!
How To Dress Well – Ocean Floor For Everything
Cadence Weapon - Hope in Dirt City (album stream)
