From the minute Robert Francis — then barely out of his teens — released his debut album "One by One" in 2007, it was clear his was a voice fans of dusty-road Americana would want to heed for years. Or, in the case of recent developments, spend a couple of years waiting to hear again. Vanguard Records today announced it would release Francis' third album, "Strangers in the First Place," on May 22, ending a period of business limbo that saw the 24-year-old singer-songwriter (and brother of songstress Juliette Commagere) extricate himself from his contract with Atlantic Records. [...]
Color me eager to hear new material from these 10 artists: Beachwood Sparks — Yes it's true, the twangy psych-rockers, whose last release was back in 2002 on Sub Pop, have a new album that's being mixed. Bone up on their history . Look for perhaps a spring release. Robert Francis (pictured above) — After his August residency at the Bootleg, I expected news about "Strangers in the First Place," the album that Francis has completed [...]
The latest scribbles in my notebook: ► Word on the smoking patios is that L.A. electro-soul newbies Electric Guest , the Danger Mouse-produced guys who've done audience-building gigs all over town this summer, are doing a deal with Downtown Records. The project, the brainchild of songwriter/composers Asa Taccone and Matthew Compton, has wrapped up an album titled "Radical Miracle." The music [stream three tracks here and another via KCRW ] is squeaky-clean funk-soul, catchy in a way that recalls Broken Bells or an R&B Foster the People. ► Also heard that [...]
Here are Monday's mighty touts: ► Bardot brings two unique female artists to L.A. as part of their It's A School Night series. Although Rickie Lee Jones is a legend in her own right for writing songs that cover every bit of the music spectrum, U.K.'s young Mercury Prize-nominated and pop-dubstep queen Katy B may be the one perking ears up. Unlike Jamie Woon, the BRIT School graduate is staying on top of the mainstream charts while she brightens the pop scene with those Rinse FM fan-friendly beats. [That's [...]
This week goes from 0 to 60 in about 5 shows: ► British songstress Adele , who postponed L.A. dates in June because of a bout of laryngitis, brings the songs from her Top 10 album "213 to the Greek Theatre, a show rescheduled from June 6. That's her video for "Rolling in the Deep," above. She visits the Palladium on Wednesday. ► Fresh from an appearance at Outside Lands, Little Dragon headlines the Roxy. The Swedes released their third album "Ritual Union" last month. ► South Carolina-bred songstress Nikki [...]
Hard to go wrong at any of the free residencies tonight. To recap: ► Expansive Americana with Robert Francis at the Bootleg Theater, where Blair , Papa and Cave Country support. Francis' new material impressed last week, and the singer-songwriter was joined by his sister Juliette Commagere (pictured) for a couple of songs. ► Tuneful indie-rock with the Ross Sea Party at the Silverlake Lounge, where A House For Lions , Spirit Vine and the Dead Ships round out [...]
Deerhunter Play the Wiltern on Tuesday A few good shows this week. Monday 8/8/11 [Pick of the Night] Robert Francis / Papa / Cave Country / Blair @ Bootleg (Free) [...]
[Happy August — where is this summer going? — and happy birthday to Dhani Harrison. Good shows tonight? We've got a few ...] Monday madness: ► Singer-songwriter Robert Francis , largely out of the L.A. eye (but big in Europe) since releasing "Before Nightfall" in 2009, is back with a new batch of songs and this month's Bootleg Theater residency. Here's your tip: Francis' new material is remarkable. Tonight, Boots Electric [...]
If you could see the amount of paper screwed up on my desk you would realise the pain that has gone into choosing my personal top 20 albums of the year. Some of them have featured on the site but for some reason I seem to have overlooked reviewing others. I have found 2010 to be a year of musical discovery as my love of Americana has grown. I hope that you enjoy and maybe discover some artists you might not of heard of. After all, that's the point of me writing the damn thing! #20 The Boy [...]
There's a weathered spirit at work haunting the hallways of Robert Francis ' music. At times, the L.A. native gives way to the muse and he strikes songwriter gold. Other moments, Francis gets in the way and, in the process, pushes back the necessary ghosts circling the studio. Perhaps some clarification is needed. Consider the glut of male singer/songwriters in the digital music ear. Some become the latest sugary lollipop for chicks to fawn over. Most are lost amid the sheer numbers at work. But every now and then, a handful create something transcendent, something that arrests [...]
Never Enough Notes' ADVENT 2010 // 01.12.10 Every day in December, we are bringing you a special musical treat everyday! So do check back to see what else we have in store tomorrow! "I know that for some musicians, writing songs is like therapy and the way they get their e... Read more..
So after much deliberation and soul searching, I have finally managed to put some order into my top ten tracks of 2010. The top five pretty much picked themselves! I hope you have as much fun listening as I did compiling them. #10 Bravestation - White Wolves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =uHPxRrhgGr8 #9 Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =vf9lvU8_JUo #8 Saint Saviour - Woman Scorned http://www.youtube.com/profile ?feature=iv&annotation_id=anno tation_744814&user=oursaintsav iour [...]
Robert Francis - Before Nightfall 9/10 There is something about the assured intensity of Robert Francis that sets him apart from the middle-of-the-road American singer/songwriters. Atlantic Records certainly seem to think so, snapping him up after his debut indie release, One By One . Sure, this new record has a slightly more polished feel to it, but it still retains an edge. Much of this may be down to Dave Sardy whose previous production credits include both Johnny Cash and Band of Horses. [...]
Robert Francis - Before Nightfall 9/10 There is something about the assured intensity of Robert Francis that sets him apart from the middle-of-the-road American singer/songwriters. Atlantic Records certainly seem to think so, snapping him up after his debut indie release, One By One . Sure, this new record has a slightly more polished feel to it, but it still retains an edge. Much of this may be down to Dave Sardy whose previous production credits include both Johnny Cash and Band of Horses. [...]
Farm Aid is back for, amazingly, its 25th year. Initially inspired by an off-the-cuff comment Bob Dylan made at Live Aid, Willie Nelson's annual benefit goes down October 2nd in Milwaukee and boasts a heartland-tastic lineup. Farm Aid board members and annual headliners Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews are back, of course, but joining them will be Kenny Chesney, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Norah Jones, Jason Mraz, Band of Horses, the BoDeans, Amos Lee, and Robert Francis. Chesney, Mraz, and Tweedy (with Wilco) have all played the fest before, but the rest are newcomers. That [...]
When they say they'll play until the cows come home, they're not kidding. Willie Nelson , America's favorite stoner and his crew of do-gooders, including Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews , will be back on stage together again in Milwaukee on October 2nd for Farm Aid 25 . Farmers Still Going Out Of Business Amazing isn't it? Twenty-five years have passed and we still haven't figured out how to return family farms back to a healthy industry. In [...]
As Robert Francis's headlining set was coming to an end last night, I leaned over to Kirk and said, "I'd like Pete Yorn a lot more if he sounded like this." Kirk's response was an instant Tweet classic, "Pete Yorn is a poor man's Robert Francis." The LA-based singer channels some of the last 3 decades best singers - you can hear bits of Bono , Springsteen , Jeff Buckley , Ryan Adams in his delivery - and while he maintains a moderately moody and subdued [...]
Dawes (approx. 9pm) It was just about the last song Taylor Goldsmith wrote before L.A. quartet Dawes hit the studio: "When My Times Comes," a rousing declaration of his hunger to be better, wiser, sharper—as a writer, as a person, as the singer in a band. But now that Dawes' debut album has arrived, it's fair to say that Goldsmith's time is coming sooner than he'd planned. A graceful and poetic set of Southern-tinged yet firmly El Lay rock'n'roll, the [...]
Because there is so much music coming at us from every direction every day, we need to diligently filter the emails to keep only our favorite songs that we in turn share with all of you - something we've been doing for almost four years now. Ordinarily, the mix below would be part of the [...] Related posts:Band of the Week: Dark Dark Dark Has New EP, Sophomore LP in Process and Three Upcoming SXSW Shows The Quickies Playlist, Vol. I: Best of Short Indie and Alt Rock Songs Valentine's Playlist Mix, Vol. II: Bright Eyes, Led Zeppelin, [...]
Every August, the Triple A Radio Conference descends on Boulder. See details below for ticket and date info. FMQB Triple A Conference Schedule: Wednesday August 11th: ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND, GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS and DR. DOG Doors: 07:30PM Show: 08:30 PM Price: $32.50 - 21+ Event *FREE OUTDOOR SHOW* BASCOM HILL and DAWES Show: 08:00 PM Price: FREE - All Ages Thursday August 12th: GUSTER, EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS and DELTA SPIRIT Doors: 07:30PM [...]
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Music Alliance Pact. MAP. February 2012.
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