We interrupt our ongoing series on early 2013 Tribute albums to bring you this specially re-heated feature, originally posted April 1, 2008. As a culture vulture, I have a particular fondness for the iconography of Hip Hop and Hardcore Rap; as a fan of trope and politic, I've always admired the complex rhyme and rhythm they bring to the table. But I never really made a connection with hardcore rap as a cultural form. I'm an outsider on the streets; I can [...]
When I woke up, I thought it was raining. I could hear steady drips from the eaves, but I was delightfully surprised when I saw the sun and a blue sky. The day is warm, winter warm, and the drips are from the roof as the rest of the ice melts. The birds are at the feeders which I filled yesterday. I watched them for a while from the kitchen window while my coffee was brewing. Yesterday was a weird sort of day. As I said, I filled the feeders and while on the deck I also emptied [...]
[Photos courtesty of Mammacass4demsgudbeebles at We Are Cucurbs Wiki .] Johnny reports: "I don't care what kind of mood you happen to be in, there's something about going to see The Gourds that pretty much guarantees a good time. Between the upbeat vibe the band exudes and the raucous, fun-lovin' fans they attract (no doubt infused with copious amounts of alcohol) it's like being at a great party. The expert musicianship, great songcraft and interesting choice of covers they perform definitely help support that atmosphere. We caught our first Gourds concert last year [...]
It’s that time of year. You walk outside and feel the crisp air, see many a changing leaf, and somehow it seems as though the scent of cinnamon is all around. You know it’s fall. Could it be any better? Short answer: yes . This cat has the right idea. This cat loves decorative gourds. We at WGTB want to celebrate this season with a very calm and relaxed Gourds and Chords Open Mic Night, dedicated entirely to the love [...]
Father John Misty / photo by Dave Lichterman We can sum up the somewhat short list of shows this week as follows: all killer, no filler. Starting at the Showbox at the Market on Monday night with Iration & The Expendables and Cisco Adler . Tuesday, Animal Collective and Micachu & The Shapes are at Paramount Theatre, Bob Mould plays Copper Blue and Silver Age at Showbox at the Market , Sweden's Holograms are at Barboza with FF , and James McMurtry and The Gourds [...]
Swans at The Brooklyn Masonic Temple (10/08/10) Photo : Chris Becker Jul 25 Wed The Stationary Set Buy Tickets Amex presale begins: Wed, 06/27/12 12:00 PM Mercury [...]
Full Albums features covers of every track off a classic album. Got an idea for a future pick? Leave a note in the comments! Richard Thompson’s solo debut, Henry the Human Fly, began with a song that contained the line, "Don't expect the words to ring too sweetly on the ear." This would become his songwriting credo, as he penned lyrics that were incisive, emotive, and not the least bit sentimental, bringing them home with an equally biting guitar. His wife Linda sang with a powerful clarity, her voice full of aching, mischief, mourning, celebration, or whatever else the song [...]
The Gourds, Austin's loosest and most literate roots band, rolls into Dan Electro's Guitar Bar tonight. The occasion is the release of the band's latest album, Old Mad Joy. Produced by Bob Dylan... Continue reading "The Gourds on Italian Sandwiches, Jaded Nashville and Life in a Van" >
I asked Kevin Russell, vocalist and lead guitarist for the Gourds , to describe the band's new album, Old Mad Joy , as if addressing both someone who had never heard the Austin rockers before and someone who's been in on the Gourds for years. Musicians are usually pretty bad with - and notoriously irritated by - requests to do such a thing, but I have to hand it to Russell: a few quick turns of phrase that nail what makes the Gourds such a terrific listen. [...]
[Photos courtesy of Cassandra Mullinix at Bucket Of Rock ] Having been playing together for the better part of two decades, The Gourds have drawn favorable comparisons to The Band and Los Lobos. After my first exposure to them, they also remind me at times of The Radiators crossed with the looniness of their Austin, Texas brethren Butthole Surfers. Anyway you want to call it, it's evident that they bring great songcraft, spot-on vocalizing and tightly meshed musicianship to a brilliant combination of blues, country, bluegrass and shake-yer-ass rock 'n' roll. And with two frontmen [...]
The weird guard takes the stage again tonight, as the Gourds bring their astonishing versatility to the Tex-Mex mile, Threadgill's South tonight, 9/23. Old Mad Joy , their 10th studio album overall and their debut on the Vanguard label, was born in Woodstock but still Gourds-like by the grace of God. Also playing FREE in-store @ Waterloo, 5pm. Shiner keg attends. One way or the other, send 'em off on tour in style, they won't be back until December at the Paramount.
The lineup for next year's Suwannee Springfest was just announced featuring Yonder Mountain String Band , Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, Justin Townes Earl and Emmitt-Nershi Band all topping the list of artists announced so far. The festival returns to Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL for the weekend of March 22-25, 2012 and three-day passes are now on sale for $125. Read on for the lineup... 2012 Suwannee Springfest confirmed lineup (so far): Yonder Mountain String Band Peter [...]
The day is cloudy with the possibility of rain. When I woke up, the house was only 62°, and I was darn cold. Obviously Fern and Gracie were too as both of them were leaning against me in bed. I warmed up the house so I can take a shower when I finish here, but it still feels damp and chilly. Life has gone back to the mundane. I've started my daily list of chores and was busy yesterday with the trash, the litter and the dump. Today I have wash. Just over a week ago I was [...]
Your picks for Tuesday: ► Buzz Bands LA's SecondTuesday songwriter night at Lot 1 Cafe goes off with Nik Freitas , the Sister Ruby Band , Ben Heywood of Summer Darling and Adeline & the Philistines . The festivities start at 9; details here . ► We Are Augustines , the new project from Pela's Billy McCarthy and Eric Sanderson who were explosive when they visited the Roxy back in May, swings back through L.A. for a show at the Bootleg Theater behind their album "Rise Ye Drunken [...]
To celebrate today’s crop of releases, here are new mp3s from A Winged Victory For The Sullen, ANR, Astronautalis, Big Harp, Blind Pilot, Blitzen Trapper, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Kevin Devine, Melissa Ferrick, Girls, the Gourds, Glenn Jones, the Kooks, Lydia Loveless, Mates Of State, Memoryhouse, Neon Indian, Pajama Club, Paley & Francis, Chuck Ragan, St. [...]
The Gourds - I Want It So Bad
A recent article about using shock as a marketing tool got me thinking about a different approach. Lady Gaga , The Gourds & The Chemical Brothers all share one characteristic, that of achieving success via creatively shifting the context of aesthetic content and surprising audiences. So, instead of going for the shock, one goes for the creative surprise. Lady Gaga is the most complete example because so much of what she does is lifted from avant garde & performance art [...]
We keep our eyes peeled for new tour dates announcements each week and compile them on Tuesdays for this handy column… In 2007, Lisa Hannigan parted ways with Damien Rice, after recording two critically acclaimed albums, as frustrations arose within their working relationship. The split, which was far from amicable, seemed to have worked out well for Hannigan, as Rice hasn't put out much in the way of new material since 20062s 9 , while the folkie-chanteuse will release her sophomore album Passenger via ATO Records on [...]
Photo by Joe Ryan The Gourds are still around? No kidding. Seems like the Austin five-piece has been around forever, making "music for the well-read and unwashed." Guilty on both charges, folks. For their latest, the band (who are ironically frequently compared to The Band) made their way to Levon Helm's The Barn in Woodstock and holed up with longtime Dylan compatriot, producer Larry Campbell. The result is Old Mad Joy , and it comes out September 13th thanks to the fine folks [...]
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