In case you missed it, the lineup for this year's Wakarusa Music Festival was finalized late last week. Topping the bill is a solid eclectic mix with Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers and Primus all set to headline the festival, with LMB favorites Umphrey's Mcgee, Girl Talk, Ghostland Observatory, Big Gigantic, EOTO, Orgone, Blitzen Trapper [...]

The ninth annual Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival runs May 31st to June 2nd at Mulbery Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas. Today, the festival revealed the first of three phases to its its 2012 lineup. Leading the way are Pretty Lights, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, and an acoustic performance by Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, The Black Crowes' Chris Robinson, and Jackie Greene. Other notable includes include G. Love & Special Sauce, Beats Antique, Railroad Earth, Keller Williams, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, 12th Planet, RJD2, Green Velvet, SOJA, MiMOSA, Balkan Beat Box, The Heavy [...]

I guess I lose what little blogger cred that I have if I don't post an end-of-the-year "Best Of" list before 2012. I'm getting it in just under the wire. These are my favorite albums on this day, the 31st of December, in the year of our lord 2011, and it is subject to change whenever I feel like it. Seriously, it's been a great year for music, and it was really difficult for me to make this list. Feel free to heap praise on me or call me a pretentious overbearing wretch. [...]
Check out the top 50 cover songs of 2011! Read our reviews and download every one.

well, here it is the unofficial captains dead top 14 of the year list. i say unofficial because as there are a few more contributors lurking about, they may have their own top whatever list, and i hope they share said list with the class. not much has changed since i did my premature list back a few months ago. at least in the top 5/6 department. i went through the site and re-listened to everything i had tagged as "best of 20113 and after listening to these records, some changes definitely needed to be made. most notably the inclusion [...]
oh hey another website/magazine that isnt mine got the premiere of jason and his 400 unit's video for "alabama pines." their "here we rest" sits comfortably at number 2 in my top 10 of 2011 list. [...]

We talked to the L.A. band before their big tour with Blitzen Trapper // Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.

Jason Isbell Jason Isbell has been an ex-Drive-by Trucker nearly as long as he was a Drive-by Trucker. Still, to most music fans he's known almost exclusively for his work with that band. That's a shame, because since his departure Isbell has put out three wonderful records both on his own and with his current backing band, the 400 Unit . The first anyone heard of Isbell's voice was likely Outfit, one of Isbell's two contributions to the DBT's 2003 album Decoration Day . In the song Isbell sings [...]

Your monthly comp from bloggers, twitterers, altcountrytab.ca forum members, geeks, weirdos, and musical miscreants. Download or stream below. Download 1. The Everybodyfields - T.V.A. Half-Way There: Electricity and the South (2004) Submitted by: Brad Kelley Comments: To me, this song is almost perfect. Great lyrics about a real historical event from the area I grew up in (I'm sure my relatives would have taken this view), great harmonies and picking, and it really sets a mood. 2. [...]

Here are our picks for the best albums of 2011 so far. We selected 20 in total and most won't come as a big surprise for long-time readers. We've long expressed our love for bands like Fleet Foxes, Okkervil River, Other Lives, Jason Isbell, Drive-By Truckers and The Low Anthem. We also found some bands flying under the radar, like Ohio's Southeast Engine and their phenomenal concept album Canary . David Wax Museum stunned us with their blend of Mexican and American folk music that reminded us of Paul Simon. Charles Bradley and Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears [...]
It's been a week of surprises. Surprising amount of alcohol consumed last weekend. Surprisingly bad hangover for MM. (Well shouldn't have surprised him, really.) An unexpected travelling companion to Isla – nice surprise. Youngest sprat had a birthday – felt surprisingly emotional about the passing of time. Social misfit with the big red face reprises her role as Nurse Ratched by threatening me with a large jug of juice and a few choice words in front of the younger sprats – BIG surprise. One flat tyre and three bald ones – ouch, unexpectedly expensive. Out of the blue [...]
About a minute into Hayes Carll 's first song "Chances Are" a big cheer erupted from the crowd. No, the crowd wasn't cheering for the protagonist in this heartfelt ballad. They were celebrating the fact that the Boston Bruins had just beaten the Montreal Canadians in double overtime. For a second there I thought I was back in Canada, but then I remembered that the Leafs never make the playoffs. I hope the Texans on the stage weren't confused either. Welcome to Boston! Carll headlined the sold out gig on Saturday, April 23, at the [...]

Business as usual here after a sunny Queensday, so get ready for the 58th edition of Wild Weekend . What's in store this time around you ask? Well, there's Bonnie Prince Billy's brother in the new folk department, some Culture for all you roots lovers out deh , while Mickey Newbury takes care of the country side of things. Enjoy and please do have a wild one. But first we'll witness some trademark weirdness by David Thomas and his merry Cleveland gang, from their so-called 'difficult' third album. In my [...]
It has been over four years since Jason Isbell and The Drive-By Truckers went their separate ways. While it might become tiring for both camps, I think the fact that nobody can write about one without mentioning the other proves that the fan base has been keeping a mental scorecard since the split. There have been a few strikes and a couple of tip ball fouls, but neither camp has been able to hit that home run the fans having been begging for. Well, I'm here to tell you that in my opinion Here We Rest [...]
I finally got my live Soundgarden CD. I ordered it on the 24th of March and received it on the 12th of April. That's what I got for the $5.50 they charged me for the speedy delivery option. I'm glad I didn't pick the freight price. I wouldn't have received the CD until the next reunion tour. Here's the kicker, I ordered this from Soundgarden's own website. Shouldn't that have great service

While an album drenched in tradition, finding it's niche somewhere between rock, country, soul and R & B might not be particularly good for record sales - it makes for some damn good listening. Here We Rest, the latest full length from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit begs to differ with the old adage "They don't make em like that anymore". Just as with 20092s self titled release, there isn't a weak song in the bunch. These boys are on a roll. Here We Rest may not be chalk full of the harder rock tunes one might [...]
So I kinda disappeared for a week or so, but I am back with a monster post. I love lists so much, and am constantly working on them. I rarely share them, because by the time I finish them, they are usually pretty outdated. Well I have resolved to making time to finish them in a timely manner. So I am bringing you my favorite songs of the first quarter of 2011. I started out aiming to give you my top 25 songs thus far, but it has been such a fantastic year for music thus far that [...]