left to right: Burma Shave, Husky Burnette Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee ( home of the National Tow Truck Museum ) Husky Burnette accompanied by drummer Burma Shave brings a rough, shambolic yet fist-tight blues that stomps, honks and grinds it out. My ol' neighbor lady'd say " That's Nasty !" She'd be so right. Husky and Burma rock it like a beast and that's how we like it, baby. Hunched, [...]

Kurt Vile has been writing and recording music since junior high, but he only started receiving mass recognition for his songs recently. After jamming with friends in his hometown of Philadelphia for years, including playing lead guitar for the indie rock band The War on Drugs , Vile's solo work slowly began to gain more attention. He started small with a couple 7 inch releases, but soon began releasing longer-playing collections. His 2008 album Constant Hitmaker was released on Gulcher Records to a steady stream of positive buzz as an album succeeding in mixing the immediacy [...]

Long ago, Steve Earle declared himself an apostate from the Church of Dylan and pledged his allegiance to Townes Van Zandt. On Townes , Earle kicks the dirt loose from Van Zandt's catalog and then grinds it into the crevices for posterity. This is a labor of love - fresh and timeless. Reminds us of : Townes Van Zandt | Justin Townes Earle | Bob Dylan's coffee table Steve Earle : ( Official / Myspace ) [...]
The biggest bands in the world have a concept to promote their tour. U2 did Zoo TV and the 360 Tour , the Rolling Stones had A Bigger Bang ; so when Americana singer-songwriter Israel Nash Gripka and indie garage rockers The Fieros began planning their U.S. jaunt, they decided to be candid and "Sing For Their Supper." In March, the artists will set sail from New York City to the southern United States, stopping along the [...]

Thursday Night used to be jam night. The boys would get together and break out the instruments, amplifiers and vocals. Soon, we didn't sound half bad - maybe 60% good. Encouraged, we continued this musical play for a few years. One of the guitarists, Jim, got into digital home recording studio technology. Whether it was adding a new (or old) computer, a patch bay or shielding the pickups on a Stratocaster, Jim was, and is, always tinkering. He builds, markets and sells homes for a daytime job. His mechanical skills match his tinkering skills. [...]

I'm very excited to see Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry at the Wrongbar tonight in Toronto, the culmination of Ragan's and Barry's Canadian mini-tour. How bad-ass is their tour poster (above)? Ragan and Barry are being supported by locals Cavaliers! and acoustic folk pop artist Dave Hause . Tim Barry put out a tremendous album last year called Manchester . This album contains great rock and folk/rock songs with lots of biting social commentary supported by Barry's strong and gruff vocals. But [...]

In light of Steve Earle's success at the Grammy's with his Townes album from 2009, thought it would be a good time to re-post this Townes Covered post from March last year Thought I'd put together an alternative version of my own, featuring some live & some studio covers of the tracks on the album plus some collaborations and one Townes original [...]

Yesterday Carl posted a Tindersticks video. Also yesterday, Steve Earle won a Grammy for his album of Townes Van Zandt songs, simply titled Townes . My condolences go out to Neko Case whose Middle Cyclone album lost to Earle. Staying apropos, here's Tindersticks covering a compelling version of a Townes Van Zandt song. Tindersticks - Kathleen Townes died 13 years ago last month. On a more positive note, his birthday is coming up in March. Related posts: [...]
We're wrapping up Exit Clov's blog takeover with Em and Suz's personal selections for your Clov-themed weekend to come... Next week it's just me flying solo here at TVD for a change. (Odd, huh?) See ya then. Emily's tracks: Sparklehorse - Don't Take My Sunshine Away (Mp3) Yeasayer - O.N.E. (Mp3) Bluebrain [...]

MP3: Pontiak - Life and Coral from Sea Voids (2009) The prolific Pontiak released two stellar albums in 2009: Maker and Sea Voids , and look to have a new release this Spring. Both albums have garnered considerable critical praise, and they've ridden a steadily rising wave of internet popularity. Their live show is captivating and loud...catch them close out Sonar's Club stage at Aural States Fest II on January 30th. AS: Before releasing Sea Voids you moved back to the Shenandoah Mountains [...]

Ravenna Colt , the new project by Johnny Quaid, debut solo album " Slight Spell " on vinyl is available for pre-order from Karate body on Feb 2 and start hitting doorsteps on Feb 12 ( not bad considering the street date is February 16th !). Pre-order begins at midnight the morning of Feb. 2nd. Cd and physical are being released on Removador Records, the label jointly owned by Johnny Quaidand Jim James. As we mentioned before , Johnny Quaid was one of the founding members [...]

Townes Van Zandt : I´ll Be Here In The Morning [no purchase possible alas; go here to buy all kindsa stuff at Jeanene´s official Townes site] "There's no stronger wind than the one that blows down a lonesome railroad line, No prettier sight than looking back on a town you left behind..." It´s the Late Great from Texas again, a regular [...]
[Pour écouter sans télécharger, allez visiter l'article] Tweet this post ___ Share on Facebook ___ Bookmark on delicious J'aodre lire les commentaires des utilisateurs de YouTube sur des vidéos d'artistes "cultes" comme Townes Van Zandt . C'est toujours la même chose en fait, vous avez ceux qui sont trop jeunes pour l'avoir vu sur scène qui sont éblouis par la classe, le génie du bonhomme, et ceux qui ont eu la chance de le [...]

The phrase "lived to tell about it" seems to fit the legendary Steve Earle pretty nicely. Surviving drug addiction, seven marriages, and time behind bars, Earle has managed to stand the test of time, then write gorgeous songs about it. He remains one of the most talented songwriters of today, and that's why his 2009 release of Townes , a compilation of songs written by his friend and inspiration Townes Van Zandt, seemed so intriguing. It's a fantastic record, complete with romantic ballads and swingin' two-step, but lacking of any of Earle's writing, [...]

I was trying to remember when and how I first came across Seattle's The Walkabouts and after I had just about given up and was going to introduce this concert by saying I could not remember how and when, a little light came on somewhere in the memory as I recalled quite clearly that one of their songs had been included on an Uncut magazine sampler CD, some years ago, (and for the record the promotion worked as I went on to buy many of their albums). Having formed back in 1984, the band have toured [...]
Since honing his chops alongside many of the Texas/Oklahoma acts I used to follow, Ryan Bingham has signed with Lost Highway, released 2 critically acclaimed albums (the latest of which found my Top 20 Albums of 2009 ), and.... Sunday Night, New Mexico born, Texas raised Ryan Bingham won himself a Golden Globe Award. He took home the trophy for Best Original Song for 'The Weary Kind,' a tune written by Bingham for the film Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges. This film caught my eye as soon as the trailer surfaced. With a [...]

Jesse Sykes & I spoke just before hew show at Mississippi Studios on January 13th 2010. Aware of Sykes distaste for many things modern and the attitude "of the 21st century," as she's put it, I asked first: What do you think of irreverence? JS: "Not much." ... You seem a little annoyed... JS: "Annoyed - yeah, I am, it is upsetting. I don't care for it - it's like a play that we write off." OK, (staying with irreverence) so would it be [...]

"Unknown" accurately describes many of these artists, but not because they can't do justice to a Townes Van Zandt song. As of New Year's Day, 2010, Townes Van Zandt will have been dead for 13 years. In that time, there have been remarkably few Van Zandt tribute discs, when you consider the long shadow he still casts. 2007's There's a Hole in Heaven Where Some Sin Slips Through found artists like Steve Wynn, Willard Grand Conspiracy, and Johnny Dowd tipping their hats, but it's nearly impossible to find now. The most notable was 2001's Poet,...

The news runs all night and all day: in the barber shop, at the proverbial watercooler, on the seldom-watched television that has always lurked in the corner of our living room. In class, I ask my students to search news sites and blogs, and report on all the ways that social media - the stuff of postmodern interconnection - serves our global awareness. At night, my daughter and I find Haiti on the map, and I explain: how the houses were poorly built, how the concrete fell on the people: look, there they are in photographs, [...]
After several episodes featuring far too much Elvis Costello and not enough of his guests, this episode seems to find just the right balance. I was still left wanting more (of John Prine , especially), but at least I didn't feel like telling Elvis to STFU. The music was great, and I was so glad to hear Prine singing "Lake Marie." The story of how he wrote the song illustrates how songwriting can be as intensive as writing a novel. Ray Lamotagne's voice is always incredible, and the [...]