Let's all help cowboys sing the blues (Weekly Show 7/4/08)

The show this week featured some new music from a new project from M Ward called "She and Him", a song from Chuck Prophet's tribute to Waylon Jennings called "Dreaming Waylon's Dreams" and a couple of tracks from the fantastic new album by Justin Townes Earle called "The Good Life"

Local music came from new albums by Clinkerfield, Silver City Highway & Kasey Chambers with her husband Shane Nicholson from their forthcoming album "Rattlin Bones".

To view the full playlist click here.

Firstly, Justin Townes Earle.

Justin is Steve Earle's son. If that wasn't enough to raise expectations Justin has the added burden of carrying the name of one his Dad's heroes Townes Van Zandt. His debut album, out on Bloodshot Records is called "The Good Life". At 25 Earle has already packed alot into his short life. A veteran of a few bluegrass combos he also playing in his fathers touring band until Earle senior kicked him out due to various bad "habits".

Justin has since cleaned up his act to release this great album.

The Good Life is produced by RS Field (Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth) and Steve Poulton. The album was recorded (with the exception of “Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving”) at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Younts (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley. - Bloodshot Records



She and Him - Volume One

She and Him are Zooey Deschanel & M Ward. M Ward I know of course but if you heard the show you would know that I had no idea who Zooey was. I admit it OK. After a bit of research I know who she is now - an actor as well as a singer. She was on Weeds - one of my favourite shows amongst other things.



The She & Him story begins when in 2006 , renowned one man band M. Ward, recorded a duet with a girl named Zooey Deschanel. A delightful recording session, the experience lead to a dialogue between the two about collaborating further. This, in turn, led to Deschanel admitting to secretly making dozens and dozens of home demos and hoarding them like acorns for the winter. Sick and tired of being stingy and secretive about music, Deschanel realized that if songs were acorns then this was indeed her wintertime: she sent the recordings to Ward and these demos became the basis for their first record, entitled Volume One.

Ward’s unique arrangements and virtuostic guitar playing paired with Deschanel’s affinity for vocal harmony give Volume One its characteristic sound . Ward and Deschanel share a mutual affection for the songs they grew up hearing on Los Angeles radio stations - and keep in their hearts the records that most DJ’s aren’t playing anymore: Les Paul and Mary Ford, The Ronettes, Nina Simone, Chet Atkins, Linda Ronstadt, the Carter Family and about a hundred others. Aiming to achieve the warmth and charm of pop and country records from the early and mid part of the twentieth century, Ward, who also produced the record, and Deschanel, who wrote most of the music, called upon the help of a number of extraordinary musicians including: Rachel Blumberg, Adam Selzer, Mike Coykendall, Tom Hagerman, Peter Broderick, Mike Mogis, and Paul Brainerd. Without whom this record would just be two people with no drums, bass, strings or pedal steel. - Spunk Records

See. She was in Weeds!



Chuck Prophet - Dreaming Waylon's Dreams

Chuck Prophet was a member of Green on Red. He has issued a very rare tribute to Waylon Jennings "Dreaming my Dreams" called "Dreaming Waylon's Dreams". It is a track by track tribute featuring Max Butler, Stephanie Finch, John Murry, JJ Wiesler, Mark Pistel and others.. Only 1000 copies have been made. Some may be available to order here otherwise you can download it from emusic

Local music this week came from Kasey Chambers & husband Shane Nicholson. Also we heard a couple of tracks from the new albums by Clinkerfield & Silver City Highway.

Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson release their first collaboration together later this month. It's called "Rattlin Bones". Here is the video.



Clinkerfield launched their album "A Head Full Of Rain & A Heart Full Of Puddles" last week at the Corner in Melbourne with the Idle Hoes. The album is out through Green Media/MGM Distribution on their own Waste Management label.

Silver City Highway are launching their new album on April 26th at the Tote. The album's called "Everything Is Breaking” through Green Media/MGM Distribution. Playing with them at the launch will be Abbie Cardwell and band, The Ukeladies, Van and Cal Walker, and The Family Hour (featuring Henry Wagons).