Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three

I have played some songs recently by Pokey LaFarge and the South City Free from their great new album called "Middle Of Everywhere". LaFarge is keeping the traditions of REAL American music alive. He combines country, blues, swing and old time jazz into a heady mix of "old-time" Americana.

Check out the clip for the tune "So Long Honey Bee"

So Long Honeybee, Goodbye - Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three (Official Music Video) from bill streeter on Vimeo.

Americana Music Association Award Winners

The Americana Music Association announced it's award winners at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Thursday 16th September.

Buddy Miller almost scooped the pool, winning Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Duo of the Year (with his wife Julie) and Song of the Year (written by Julie and performed by Buddy and Patty Griffin). Gurf Morlix won Instrumentalist of the Year (and prevented a Buddy Miller scoop of all the categories he was nominated in). Justin Townes Earle (son of Steve) won the award for New and Emerging Artist. Justin will be in Melbourne at the start of October.

The awards cap off an amazing and difficult year for Buddy. He suffered a heart attached in February and underwent triple bypass surgery soon after. Now fully recovered he has had one of his best years as a musical career to date.


Nominees and Winners (in bold)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Real Animal, by Alejandro Escovedo

Written in Chalk, by Buddy & Julie Miller

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Midnight At The Movies, by Justin Townes Earle


ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Alejandro Escovedo

Buddy Miller

Justin Townes Earle

Raul Malo


INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR

Buddy Miller

Gurf Morlix

Jerry Douglas

Sam Bush



NEW & EMERGING ARTIST

Band of Heathens

Belleville Outfit

Justin Townes Earle

Sarah Borges


SONG OF THE YEAR

“Chalk,” written by Julie Miller, performed by Buddy Miller & Patty Griffin

“Country Love” by the Gourds

“Homeland Refugee,” by Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock, performed by the Flatlanders

“Rattlin’ Bones” by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, performed by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

“Sex And Gasoline,” by Rodney Crowell, performed by Rodney Crowell


DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR

Buddy & Julie Miller

Flatlanders

Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Reckless Kelly

Tune into the show this week to here some songs from the artists listed above.

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions - Through the Devil Softly

Eight years since her last album (Bavarian Fruit Bread) and thirteen years since Mazzy Star's last album (Among My Swan), Hope Sandoval return with a new album - Through the Devil Softly.

The album was recorded with members of the Dublin band Dirt Blue Gene and will also back Sandoval on tour. Her main partner in the Warm Inventions, however, is drummer Colm Ó CíosÓig, better known as a member with My Bloody Valentine. He was also involved in the previous album.

If you are a fan of the previous work of Sandoval then you will enjoy this new album as it sort of continues on from where she left off. The familiar sultry vocals are back. And if you thought you'd never hear from Mazzy Star again, you will be surprised to hear that Sandoval has been working on material with Mazzy Star guitarist David Roback and new material could emerge some time in 2010.

Pavement to Reform!

Amazing news from Matador. Pavement are set to reform next year for a series of shows in New York and a World Tour (hopefully this includes Australia). As mentioned in the press release below, it may not be a permanent thing and no new material is planned. But who knows?

The band split in 1999 but have remained friends ever since.

"Ever since that fateful night in late 1999 when Pavement left the public eye with a final show at London’s Brixton Academy, we’ve often fantasized about the day when we could finally tell the world “yes, Brooklyn Vegan scooped us, Pavement are back.”

After years of speculation, the most important American band of the 1990’s is returning to the stage, with the lineup of Mark Ibold, Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg, Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West reuniting for dates around the world in 2010. Please be advised this tour is not a prelude to additional jaunts and/or a permanent reunion". Matador Records

CLASSIC ALBUMS - Richard Buckner: Devotion + Doubt

Introducing a new segment - CLASSIC ALBUMS.
Focusing on classic albums in the Alt-Country/Americana genre.

In the first of an occasional series, on this weeks show (21/9/2009) I'll be focusing on Richard Buckner's 1997 release Devotion + Doubt.



Released by MCA it is currently out of print, although of course many second hand copies exist and downloads are available.

This was Buckner's second album following his debut, Bloomed, released in 1994. The songs on Devotion + Doubt deal with the painful subject of Buckner's divorce which he went through at the time and the feelings of sadness, loss and lonliness that followed. Hence they are somewhat introspective, low key and maudlin as a result. The album contains two of my favourite all time Buckner songs, "A Goodbye Rye" and "Lil Wallet Picture" and I'll be giving these two songs a spin during the show.

The album was produced by J.D. Foster, a producer of note who has worked with many artists including another show favorite, Richmond Fontaine. It was recorded in the famous Wavelab Studio in Tuscon Arizona by Craig Schumacher and Nick Luca. Future Calexico members Joey Burns and John Convertino, then in Giant Sand acted as the backing band with Howe Gelb and Marc Ribot. The wonderful pedal steel is provided by Lloyd Maines.

Buckner recorded another album, Since, in 1998 for MCA before being dropped by the label. Now days he is signed to Merge and they released his most recent studio album Meadow in 2006. A new album is expected in 2010.

Buckner's Website
(He is obviously not a fan of illegal downloads! But who is?

Drive-By Truckers - The Fine Print

Drive By Truckers (DBT) have been making music together for 13 years resulting in seven critically acclaimed studio albums which could not contain all of the songs written by the band. DBT recently dug into the New West Records vaults and put finishing touches on a selection of songs that were never quite completed. The result of the collaboration is The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008), a 12 track album of previously unreleased and rare songs. The Fine Print features songs written by band members past and present, including Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell. Seven of the songs come from the Dirty South era, a highly creative time for DBT. The record also contains four covers including 'Rebels' (Tom Petty).

Track Listing:

1. George Jones Talkin’ Cell Phone Blues
2. Rebels
3. Uncle Frank (alternate version)
4. TVA
5. Goode’s Field Road (alternate version)
6. The Great Car Dealer War
7. Mama Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken)
8. When The Well Runs Dry
9. Mrs. Claus’ Kimono
10. Play It All Night Long
11. Little Pony And The Great Big Horse
12. Like A Rolling Stone

Black Crowes - Before the Frost ... Until The Freeze

Before the Frost....features 11 new Black Crowes' studio songs. A second album, titled ...Until The Freeze, will be given away for free exclusively through a unique download code included in Before The Frost... CD as a thank you to their fans for two decades of support. The free album ...Until The Freeze has eight new original Black Crowes' studio songs plus a cover version of the Stephen Stills classic "So Many Times." Before the Frost...Until The Freeze, were recorded over a series of five nights at Levon Helm Studios. Although both are studio albums, all the new material was performed and recorded in front of an intimate audience of the band's fans.

Track Listing as follows

Before The Frost… (CD Track Listing)
Good Morning Captain
Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)
Appaloosa
A Train Still Makes A Lonely Sound
I Ain’t Hiding
Kept My Soul
What Is Home
Houston Don’t Dream About Me
Make Glad
And The Band Played On
Last Place That Love Lives

…Until The Freeze (Free Download Album Track Listing)
Aimless Peacock
Shady Grove
Garden Gate
Greenhorn
Shine Along
Roll Old Jeremiah
Lady Of Avenue A
So Many Times
Fork In The River

Band of Heathens - One Foot in the Ether

The new album is available September 15th. Two tracks are available to download free of charge from their website Band of Heathens

Track Listing is as follows

Track Listing
1. L.A. County Blues (free download on website)
2. Say
3. Shine A Light
4. Golden Calf
5. What's This World
6. You're Gonna Miss Me (free download on website)
7. Right Here With Me
8. Let Your Heart Not Be Troubled
9. Somebody Tell the Truth
10. Look at Miss Ohio
11. Talking Out Loud
12. Hey Rider

A.A. Bondy - When The Devil's Loose

A.A. Bondy, (the initials stand for Augeste Arthur) is otherwise known as Scott Bondy and he started out his musical in a rock band called Verbena. Drawing comparisons to bands like Nirvana they eventually came to the attention of David Grohl and he produced their major label debut "Into the Pink" for Capitol Records in 1999. Verbena spilt in 2003. Bondy emerged again in 2007 from his home in upstate New York with a new name, a new folk sound and his debut solo album "American Hearts". Originally on the label Supersonic it was re-released by Fat Possum in 2008 to wide acclaim.

The new album "When The Devil's Loose" was released in late August once again on Fat Possum (Spunk/EMI in Australia) and received even wider acclaim than his debut.



A.A. Bondy on Myspace

The Duke and The King

The Duke and The King are Simone Felice (The Duke) and Robert "Chicken" Burke (The King). They get their band name from two characters in the Mark Twain novel Huckleberry Finn. Simone was the drummer with his siblings in the Felice Brothers. He has apparently now left the band to concentrate on this new enterprise.

The Duke and The King have released their debut album "Nothing Gold Can Stay". They are playing at the East Brunswick Club on October 22nd. This will be the first visit to Australia by any of the Felice Brothers.

The Duke and The King on Myspace
Ramseurr Records

Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs)

Patterson Hood, lead man of the Drive By Truckers has released his second solo album (Killer and Stars was released in 2004). It's released here in Australia by Rubber Records & distributed by Shock (Shock's website has finally been upgraded and is worth a visit).

Hood says that this album has been fifteen years in the making and it includes songs written as far back as 1994 up to 2005. Recording began back in 2005 around the time Hood and his wife were expecting a baby. Commitments to the Truckers and the baby's birth meant that the release date was pushed back four years. Hood resisted the urge to re-work or re-make the album while it sat on the shelf but he did add one new song, “Pride Of The Yankees”, that he wrote in 2006 whilst on tour with the DBT supporting the Black Crowes. More on the story around the making of the album is on Hood's website.



The album was produced by Hood and long-time DBT producer David Barbe (Sugar). Most of his DBT band mates join him on the album as well as Don Chambers, Will Johnson and Scott Danbom from Centro-matic/South San Gabriel. This is also the first time Hood’s father David Hood, famed Muscle Shoals bass player, joins him on a record.


Hood on Myspace
Hood's Website

Download from Amazon

STRINGER LAKE

Stringer Lake come from a place called Stouffville in Ontario Canada. Led by Allan Reesor-McDowell and Aidan Boyd, Stringer Lake create a sound that is similar in sound to maybe Belle and Sebastian but with more Americana - or should that be Canadiana! Pedal steel, dobro, lap steel, electric, and twelve-string guitars are used to create their sound which is pleasant, relaxed and very good. The only complaint is that the album is not long enough!

Listen out on the show on 29/6/09 for the tracks "Reap What you Sow" and "Time (Is all I need)"

Stringer Lake on myspace.

Download the album from Amazon.

ALELA DIANE - TO BE STILL

Originally from California, singer-songwriter now calls Portland Oregon home. Now signed to Rough Trade, "To be Still" is the follow up to her debut album from 2006 called "The Pirate’s Gospel". Diane has been likened to Sandy Denny and Karen Dalton, both being valid comparisons. She has toured with The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, Akron/Family and Vashti Bunyan and has a big following in Europe, especially France.

myspace
Rough Trade

TODD SNIDER - THE EXCITMENT PLAN

Regular listeners to the show would know that Todd Snider is one of my particular favourites. He has made a habit of releasing albums on a regular basis and his latest "The Excitement Plan" is out now on Yep Roc. Once again it a beauty! Made with the help of legendary producer Don Was it's a more personal album than last years "Peace Queer". Snider's greatest gift is his talent for words and once again each song has you listening intently for words of wisdom. For me, Snider has the ability to articulate the way I feel and think about things better than I ever could and I think that's why I love his work so much. The album also contains a duet "Don't Tempt me" with Loretta Lynn.

As always it best to leave it up to Snider himself to tell us what it's all about;
"Initially The Excitement Plan (June 9th on Yep Roc Records) wasn't supposed to be about anything. I was just trying to come up with the best... most open hearted ... well-thought-out lyrics I could come up with. I wanted every song to be sad and funny at the same time, vulnerable and entertaining at the same time, personal and universal at the same time. I wanted every song to be as uniquely written as possible and then I wanted to perform them in a studio loose and rugged and hopefully as uniquely as I could. My hope is to be hard to describe and/or new…I'm not saying I am. I'm just saying that's the hope."

It's available from YepRoc and eMusic or in all good record stores.



Website
Myspace

FROG HOLLER - BELIEVE IT OR NOT

"Believe it or not" is the sixth full length album by the Berks County, Pennsylvania based band. Still fiercely independent, the band put the album out on ZoBird Records earlier this year. Originally a bluegrass outfit they have evolved over the years but still maintain that original element in their music.

The band convenes every Tuesday night at the house of one of the band members to play music and share a meal. They have a rehearsal space and a recording studio at the house and the album was put together in these comfortable surrounds. Frog Holler sings songs about hope for the future in uncertain times and that the lessons learnt from the past will be remembered.The album is available from eMusic or CdBaby



Band Website
MySpace

LEO RONDEAU - DOWN AT THE END OF THE BAR

Originally from North Dakota, Leo Rondeau’s now lives Austin, Texas. His 2007 debut, "Bangs, Bullets and the Turtle Mountains", mixes traditional country and bluegrass and is mostly about stories of his younger days in ND. His latest album is called "Down at the End of the Bar" and it continues on from where his debut left off. And as with the first CD, it is self-released via cdbaby or iTunes.

Rondeau possess that classic gravel-based country voice that sounds as old as time itself and much like other new kids on the block, Ryan Bingham and Hayes Caryl, he is sure to keep gaining new fans.

myspace

THE LOW ANTHEM - ON MY GOD, CHARLIE DARWIN

The Low Anthem hail from Rhode Island USA. It's probably the first time I've played a song from a band from there. The band are Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams. The album "Oh My God, Charlie Darwin" was originally released in 2008 in a limited run of only about 2000 copies with cover art hand painted by the band. Nonesuch have re-released the album in the USA this month. No news on a local release but the album is available from itunes, eMusic and Amazon.

All three members of the band are multi-instrumentalists and they shared around different instruments while making the album. Described as chamber folk and compared to the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Sam Beam and even Nick Drake the album is a gem. Recommended also for those who enjoyed the likes of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver last year.

Low Anthem Website
Myspace
Nonsuch

John Doe and The Sadies - Country Club

John Doe and the Sadies have delivered a great album with "Country Club". The result of a drunken promise made a while back when The Sadies were playing with Doe's band The Knitters. It really is a corker.

They pay homage to their country music heroes by covering songs by Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and late-night ballads by Tammy Wynette and Roger Miller. They also provide four originals, three of them by The Sadies (two are instrumentals) and one by Doe with his long time musical partner (X and The Knitters) Exene Cervenka.

John Doe has made the country album he has always threatened to make and it's a fine tribute to the Bakersfield and Countrypolitain Nashville sounds of days gone by.

More at Yep Roc

As Heard on 5 Feet High and Rising

Here is some information of some of the new music heard on 5 Feet High and Rising recently. Come back often as I hope to make posts here more frequent:-)

Strand of Oaks - Leave Ruin



Following on the heels of the success of Justin Veron and his band Bon Iver we have another quirky folk album by another relatively unknown artist called Timothy Showalter. He records under the name Strand of Oaks. Showalter spent some time in the highlands of Northern Pennsylvania recording “Leave Ruin”, his debut album. Showalter wrote the songs for this album after he lost his house in a fire. Using borrowed instruments he wrote the songs in hotel room and on park benches. His style has been compared to Will Oldham and like Oldham you can hear the longing and desperation in his voice. All told a great debut from an artist to watch in 2009.

Doug Paisley - Doug Paisley



Not to be confused with his namesake Brad, Doug Paisley is a Canadian artist with a fondness for his countrymen Neil Young and The Band, Levon Helm in particular (yeah I know Helm was a yank) and enjoys writing and singing low key quieter songs. . Paisley also has a similarity to Bonnie Prince Billy (Will Oldham) whom he toured with recently. Pedal steel and piano fill the tracks as does harmony vocal from Simone Schmidt. It’s all done with just enough of a country feel to keep us interested.

Phosphorescent - To Willie



Matthew Houck, who records under the name Phosphorescent has made an album length tribute to Willie Nelson, simply called “To Willie” – a play on one of Willie’s own albums released in 1975 called To Lefty from Willie, a tribute to Lefty Frisell. Sounding even more laid back than Nelson (if that’s possible) Houck and a revolving cast of collaborators has produced a loving and respectful tribute to one of the greats. Houck has trawled through the extensive Nelson catalogue and has resisted the urge to cover Nelson’s better known tunes. Instead he has chosen some lesser known gems, the results of which are stunning and well worth a listen – or two.