I saw Cotton Mather at SXSW this year, a group that had long ago broken up and which had just come back together. Here’s My Before and After, a track from that band from their 1997 album Kon Tiki.
Music Video: Cotton Mather – My Before and After
May 5, 2012
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Posted by Eliot
Music Video: Uncle Lucius – Keep the Wolves Away
April 8, 2012I had never heard of Uncle Lucius until I saw them at SXSW a few weeks ago. They played a set that night which consisted of mostly rockers. I don’t remember them playing this much quieter song, recorded by the folks at Music Fog a few years ago, but it seems appropriate for a Sunday morning.
Leave a Comment » | Music Videos, SXSW 2012 | Tagged: Keep the Wolves Away, Music Fog, Music Video, SXSW, SXSW 2012, Uncle Lucius | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
Music Video: Lydia Loveless – Steve Earle
March 26, 2012
One of my personal highlights of SXSW 2012 was seeing Lydia Loveless for the first time. Here’s a video of Lydia singing Steve Earle, a song from her latest album, Indestructable Machine. Not it’s not about Steve, but a Columbus, Ohio Steve Earle wannabe.
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Posted by Eliot
Music Video: The Heartless Bastards – Only For You
March 21, 2012
I caught my first glimpse of The Heartless Bastards last Tuesday at SXSW. They were playing in an extremely hot and extremely crowded club and the place was so uncomfortable that I decided to leave before I was dehydrated, trampled or both. When I did catch the band play a full set a few days later, I knew I had found a winner. This video is really just a picture of the cover of Arrow, the new record from the band, but the song, Only For You, is a keeper.
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Posted by Eliot
SXSW 2012: A Few Final Thoughts
March 20, 2012
A few more words about Chuck Prophet‘s show at The Yard Dog Party on Saturday: This was a show to remember for several reasons. Everyone there seemed to be a long time fan of Chuck. That lead to some songs becoming virtual sing alongs. So when the power to the stage died the first time (it did so twice), the audience just keep singing along to the song, even if Chuck and the band had stopped playing. And when Chuck played You Did (the verses of which end with “you did”), the audience of about 100 would first sing “you did” and point at Chuck, and then he would return the favor. It was just electric.
As I’ve mentioned previously, Every year at SXSW I run into my classmate from 12th grade math, music and sports writer Billy Altman. It happens without planning but with almost clockwork-like precision. When we ran into to each other this year we started by talking about where we were staying. Billy was in the hotel I usually stay at; his first choice was sold out. Billy’s first choice was where I was staying; I was shut out when I tried to get my first choice. We contemplated that the only way possible, over a couple of beers.
2 Comments | SXSW 2012 | Tagged: Chuck Prophet, SXSW, SXSW 2102, Yard Dog | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
Music Video: Shooter Jennings – Outlaw You
March 19, 2012Shooter Jennings and his band, The Triple Crown, were at SXSW 2012. Although I did not see him then, I ran into Alana Amram (of Alana Amram and The Rough Gems) who told me that Shooter was amazing when he played this song. I would have expected that to be the case anyway, as the couple of times I saw Shooter and The Triple Crown play this song here in NYC, amazing was the description of the song I would have used too.
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Posted by Eliot
SXSW 2012: Saturday’s Box Score
March 18, 2012
If a single picture can sum up the spirit of SXSW, this one probably comes close. Here is Garland Jeffreys playing in the alley behind an art gallery while Chuck Prophet (whose set was next) watches.
Here is the box score from Saturday, this time with a couple of hits and even a home run.
| Bands | Comments |
|---|---|
| The dBs | Yes, a second time. The band has reformed with its original members and have an album coming out in June. Lyric driven rock. |
| Joe “King” Carrasco and The Crowns | Back after 30 years, this Tex-Mex party band still has it. |
| John Fullbright | I caught the end of his set. Solo singer-songwriter. |
| Mike Farris | Folk-gospel played solo. Mike has one of the most amazing voices out there and it feels like he’s channeling all his emotions into each song. |
| Garland Jeffreys | An NIHE favorite. Garland just killed it. Most of his songs were from his last album, The King of In Between, with a bunch of old favorites as well. A hit! |
| Chuck Prophet | Another NIHE favorite. Chuck’s live shows are always something and this was no different, even though the power went out twice during his set. Although Chuck mostly played songs from his new album, Temple Beautiful, he closed with You Did which seemed to have the whole crowd dancing. A home run! |
| Norah Jones | Norah played just her new album, Little Broken Hearts with her new band. It’s musically interesting. Lyrically, it’s another break up album, probably the same break up which fueled her last album, The Fall. Update: Nope, this is a different break up! |
| Cotton Mather | Somewhat jangly Byrds-REM type rock. |
| Lydia Loveless | Rock, Americana, alt country and even alt Fleetwood Mac (she covered Go Your Own Way). Lydia has a voice that’s somewhat reminiscent of Kelly Willis and Gina Villalobos. A hit! |
1 Comment | SXSW 2012 | Tagged: Chuck Prophet, Cotton Mather, Garland Jeffreys, Joe King Carrasco, John Fullbright, Lydia Loveless, Mike Farris, Norah Jones, SXSW, SXSW 2012, The dBs | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
SXSW 2012: Friday’s Box Score
March 17, 2012
Two hits; one error. But one of the hits was a home run, exactly the reason one comes to SXSW.
| Bands | Comments |
|---|---|
| Gary Clark Jr. | Solo show. The blues expertly played by a fantastic guitarist and an expressive singer. |
| Shearwater | Tuneful indie rock that never fogets that rock has a beat. |
| Blitzen Traper | Neo-classic rock. Most of what I heard would have been right at home in 1974, but some of their quieter stuff lacked umph. |
| The Heartless Bastards | Straight ahead rock with a female lead singer. I had seen a song or two from them on Tuesday night before I had to leave a excessively hot and crowded club; this time the surroundings were better. I can’t say enough about this band; the real rock deal. A hit? No, more than that; they are a home run! |
| The War on Drugs | Trance rock. I saw them at Austin City Limits, but the sound was so loud, that even though I was wearing musicians’ earplugs, I left ASAP. I’ll score this one an error. |
| Sydney Wayser | An NIHE favorite with a new album about to be released (March 27th). This time around Sydney’s indie sensibilities are joined with more muscular arrangements. Last night was the first time I heard Sydney perform a reggae infused number. |
| Rachel Yamagata | Pop ballads and rock; Rachel’s set was unfairly cut short by technical issues. |
| Uncle Lucius | Blues based rock with some soulful vocals; a hit by my score. |
| Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds | Another NIHE favorite. Arleigh and the band played a set that veered more heavily to funk than what I have seen them do in the past. But the band and the audience were all having a great time. The last six months on the road for Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds have honed their show. |
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Posted by Eliot
SXSW 2012: The Boss Gives The Keynote Speech and Thursday’s Box Score
March 16, 2012
The first part of the day on Thursday was taken up by Bruce Springsteen’s nearly hour long keynote speech about music past, present and future. Bruce was at times a professor, at times a musician and at times the guy down the block as he spoke for nearly an hour. He tied how things happening in music affected him during his long career, and he gave some advice to musicians playing today. If you can, put aside the time and view the speech here.
As for the rest of the day, it went like this:
| Bands | Comments |
|---|---|
| Carrie Rodriguez | I saw half of Carrie’s set at Twangfest. She played as a duo and by the time I got there she was playing newly written songs (co-writen with Chip Taylor) that will be on her next album. |
| John Doe | John also played as a duo (with his back up singer). He played for about 40 minutes and sang songs from all parts of his career. |
Thursday night was taken up with the Woody Guthrie Centennial Tribute produced by The Grammy Museum. The artists taking part interpreted Woody’s songs. The line up was:
| Garland Jeffreys | Ruthie Foster | David Garza |
| Hobart Brothers & Li’l Sis (Freedy Johston and Susan Cowsill without John Dee Graham |
Carrie Rodriguez | Ray Benson |
| Lila Downs | Michael Fracasso | The Mastersons |
| Colin Gilmore | Joel Rafael | Shannon McNally |
| Max Gomez | Jimmy LaFave | Arlo Guthrie |
2 Comments | SXSW 2012 | Tagged: Arlo Guthrie, Bruce Soringsteen, Carrie Rodriguez, Colin Gilmore, David Garza, Freedy Johston, Garland Jeffreys, Hobart Borthers, Jimmy LaFave, Joel Rafael, John Dee Graham, John Doe, Keynote, Lila Downs, Max Gomez, Michael Fracasso, Ray Benson, Ruthie Foster, Shannon McNally, Susan Cowsill, SXSW, SXSW 2012, The Mastersons, Woody Guthrie | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
SXSW 2012: Wednesday’s Box Score
March 15, 2012
Wednesday was a very productive day. Here’s how it went:
| Bands | Comments |
|---|---|
| The Gilded Splinters | Rock with both Southern Rock and Neil Young influences |
| Deadman | Roots rockers influenced by The Band. Band includes 2 electric and and acoustic guitar and a b3 organ. Caught them for the first time at last year’s SXSW and they did not disappoint. A hit! |
| James McMurtry | Played solo; an excellent guitarist |
| The dBs | The band has reformed with its original members and have an album coming out in June. Lyric driven rock. |
| Michael Kiwanuka | Folk-blues; played with a second guitarist |
| Alabama Shakes | The “it” band this time around. “It” is soul and blues. They are excellent, and you may like them, but for some reason I can’t explain, I just don’t connect with them. |
| Harper Blynn | The NIHE favorites played with pop tinged rock while fighting sound problems. Still an excellent set. |
| Fiona Apple | I guess this is her comeback; all I can say is that I did not like her. |
| Will Sexton | Country, Americana and rock. Excellent show and another band with two electric and an acoustic guitar. |
| The Mastersons | Another NIHE favorite band playing an excellent show of Americana and rock. |
| Treetop Flyers | Americana and rock from England and yet another band with two electric and an acoustic guitar (is this now officially a trend?). Some of their material is reminiscent of the 70s band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. |
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Posted by Eliot
