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Feel Bad For You, February 2012

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The Feel Bad for You February mix is 25 songs worth of badass designed especially for YOU! (The universal you, not you specifically. Get over yourself.) If you’ve never downloaded an FBFY mix before, lovingly crafted by music lovers, music makers and music enablers (for more information about your generous contributors, check the FBFY site), this is the one to start your habit. First hit’s free.

 

 

Download.

 

1. Title: Weight of the World
Artist: Shayfer James
Album (year): Counterfeit Arcade (2011)
Submitted By: Popa2unes
Comments: Shayfer James is devilishly captivating and deliciously unusual. A man of bewitching grace, grisly humor, profound story telling, and whiskey-flavored wit.

2. Title: Don’t Lie to Me
Artist: “Mississippi” Charles Bevel
Album (year): Charles Bevel – Meet “Mississippi” Charles Bevel (A&M Records SP-4412, 1973)
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: First heard this track on an Oxford American Music edition CD a couple of years ago and loved it, always gets me up and dancing around. I’ve managed to track down a dinked 7” single but still looking for the album…….

3.Title: Unmade
Artist: Timothy Bracken
Album (year): Long Untied (2012)
Submitted By: philnorman
Comments: Great songwriting, great hooks, great guitar sounds all over this record. You need these songs. Name your price at http://timothybracken.bandcamp.com/

4. Title: No Draws Blues
Artist: Valerie June
Album (year): 5 Dollar Cover Soundtrack
Submitted By: Autopsy IV (ninebullets.net)
Comments: Stumbled across this song the other day. Had forgotten how much I liked it.

5. Title: You Used to Be a Sweet Clover Shaker
Artist: Robert Pete Williams
Album (year): Mojo: Brotherhood, a compilation of tracks from Mojo, from 2011, I think
Submitted By: Brad Kelley
Comments: Sometimes I think he’s the only blues artist that really matters, then sometimes I think he’s the only artist that matters. There’s nothing like him in the history of blues. His most famous song, I’ve Grown So Ugly, was covered by the Black Keys (on Rubber Factory).

6. Title: One Way Or Another (I’ll Be Free)
Artist: Dirty Bourbon River Show
Album (year): Volume One (2010)
Submitted By: Romeo Sid Vicious
Comments: I have been in a little bit of a slump lately and digging through my older gems to find some solace and rediscovered this little beauty. I love the guys in DBRS and this song has music that’s kind of happy and jumpy as well as lyrics that give a nice big “Fuck you” to just everything bringing someone down. It’s a fun little tune!

7. Title: Behind The Nut Love
Artist: John 5
Album (year): Songs For Sanity (2005)
Submitted By: erschen
Comments: I make to no bones about my metal head past and I love to watch That Metal Show on VH1 Classic. They have a different musician (mostly guitarists) that take them to break on each episode. I was quite intrigued by John 5, unique and varied styles. I knew he was a shredder and was most famous for being Marilyn Manson’s guitarist but I didn’t know that he has been a session guitarist for folks ranging from K.D. Lang to Garbage to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Ozzy. He’s a big Buck Ownes fan and has a penchant for chickin’ pickin’ as well. Really love this track, a bit of twang on this one. He’s fingering the strings behind the nut to make it sound like a pedal steel.

8. Title: Unfolding
Artist: Folk Family Revival
Album (year): Unfolding (2011)
Submitted By: Mike Orren
Comments: My friends literally dragged me out to McKinney, Texas, to catch this young Houston band a few weeks ago and I’ve worn out their album since. In their early twenties, these three brothers and their best friend are turning out some of the most mature, nuanced lyrics I’ve heard in a while with a sound that at times echoes the Avett’s, the 97′s and Ray Wylie Hubbard. It’s spiritual music, but not in a preachy way. It sneaks up on you and manages gravitas and fun in the same number. My only quibble is another tune where they have a beautiful line about being alone and maybe, like Johnny, finding your June Carter when you’re old. (Sorry boyos, I refuse to call 36 old.) That said, it’s a varied and polished disc without a clunker– but this song, the title track is my favorite. It’s become the theme song of my 2012 to date.

9. Title: My Epitaph
Artist: Ola Belle Reed
Album: Rising Sun Melodies (2010)
Submitted By: Truersound
Comments: Beautiful song from one of Appalachia’s most unsung artists.

10. Title: Jack and Joan
Artist : The Bear
Album : 7″ split w/ Belle Adair (2012)
Submitted By: Corey Flegel (This Is American Music)
Comments : Just another Muscle Shoals band…doing good things. This is from their recent split w/ fellow Shoals-ians Belle Adair. This is available via Itunes and you can order the 7″ through Pegasus Records. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that they will have a new record done at some point later in the year. Backtrack to their 2010 self-titled one if need be. I love it…lots.

11. Title: Spotlight
Artist: David Allan Coe
Album: Longhaired Redneck (1976)
Submitted by: Adam Sheets
Comments: The best song from a truly underrated, but deeply divisive songwriter.

12. Title: For You
Artist: Roky Erickson (with Okkerville River)
Album (year): True Love Cast Out All Evil (Deluxe) (2010)
Submitted By: annieTUFF
Comments: Roky Erickson doesn’t need any explanation. And if it does, then watch his documentary “You’re Gonna Miss Me.”
Also, and this is just a silly random note, next time you need to pass anyone anything (for instance…the telephone, salt, the remote, french fries) sing the first line of “For You” but replace an actual lyric with the item you’re handing them. Just like this….”For You, I’d do anything for you, For You there ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do…For you, your beauty makes the sunrise, For You, so I’m passing you these fries” and see if they get it….if they do, give them a high-five and become best friends forever.

13. Title: Don’t Love Me Wisely
Artist: The Setters
Album: Self-Titled (1994)
Submitted By: toomuchcountry
Comments: Though we have no defined theme for the month of February, I felt compelled to submit some sort of love song. Right? The Setters was a Super … err, umm … Way-Above-Average Group featuring Alejandro Escovedo, Walter Salas-Humara from The Silos, and Michael Hall, who once fronted The Wild Seeds before releasing several solo albums. The release was produced by solo performer, guitarist for Lucinda Williams, and champion of the music and legend of Blaze Foley, Mr. Gurf Morlix. Hall – who now writes for Texas Monthly magazine – is on vocals with Escovedo on guitar. Salas-Humara contributed percussion rhythms by riffing on snare drum cases, Tropicana orange juice crates, and metal shelving.

14. Title: I’m So Bored With The U.S.A.
Artist: The Clash
Album (year): The Clash [US] (1979)
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22
Comments: Here I sit, wearing my Clash t-shirt. I wanted to hear something from the 70s, created a playlist, hit play and this was the first song up. Must be an omen.

15. Title: The Gravedigger’s Song
Artist: Mark Lanegan
Album (year): Blues Funeral (2012)
Submitted By: Ryan (Verbow @ altcountrytab.ca)
Comments: Love me some Mark Lanegan. First track off of his new album that should be out by the time this mix is posted (2/7/12).

16. Title: The Great Atomic Power
Artist: The Louvin Brothers
Album (year): Weapon of Love (1962)
Submitted By: Rockstar Aimz
Comments: One of my new years resolutions is to listen to more pre-1970 classic country music. You don’t get much more classic than the Louvin Brothers.

17. Title: Say Goodnight to the World
Artist: Dax Riggs
Album (year): Say Goodnight to the World (2010)
Submitted By: Shooter

18. Title: Marley Purt Drive
Artist: Bee Gees
Album (year): Odessa (1969)
Submitted By: TheSecondSingle
Comments: An unexpectedly great homage to The Band by one of the lamest (and secretly greatest) bands of the ’60s. Sure to turn even the most ardent Bee Gees hater around (however slightly).

19. Title: Angel From Montgomery
Artist: Old Crow Medicine Show
Album (year): Broken Hearts And Dirty Windows (Songs Of John Prine) (2010)
Submitted By: Mike Beebe
Comments: I defy anyone to listen to this song and not instantly be a fan of both John Prine AND Old Crow Medicine Show.

20. Title: Get Your Ass On Out Of Here
Artist: Texas Wettnex
Album: Leaning In (2006)
Submitted by: Mando Lines
Comments: Just discovered Michael Wren in the last couple of weeks. He was the singer songwriter for the Texas Wettnex, now he’s a solo act. His most recent record is Rien Vraiment. You can stream some of his songs at www.michaelwren.com. Good stuff.

21. Title: Sweet Red Wine
Artist: Some Dark Holler
Album (year): Some Dark Holler EP (2011)
Submitted By: TheOtherBrit
Comments: These guys/gal are awesome live plus their EP is FREE on thisisamericanmusic.com!

22. Title: Tar Hani (My Love)
Artist: Bombino
Album (year): Agadez (2011)
Submitted By: April @ Now This Sound Is Brave
Comments: The recent Rubber City Review post about Bombino reminded me that you all need a shot of this desert rock. This is another one of those gems that Rick Saunders introduced me to, and it is sublime stuff. This song is a particular favorite because it makes me think of Sandinista!-era Clash.

23. Title: Drift (Live on InDeKringloop.nl)
Artist: Kim Janssen
Album (year): to be released on “Ancient Crime” – March 2012
Submitted By: Slowcoustic
Comments: As a member of The Black Atlantic, Kim Janssen is no secret to the “folky” community and this song proves he is coming into his own. His sophomoric album “Ancient Crime” should see him gain many fans on the genre. This audio rip is of the video of his performance that can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-r60xATwUg

24. Title: Uncle Sam
Artist: Anthony Leon & The Chain
Album (year): The Pistol, The Bottle & Shaded Pastures
Submitted By: Dusty Vinyl
Comments: Good friends of the Imperial Rooster; Santa Fe’s Anthony Leon & The Chain are really great country rock and roll. This is an awesome song about getting weed.

25. Title: Blood Relations
Artist: The Maldives
Album: Listen to the Thunder (2009)
Submitted By: Captains Dead

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The Parlor Soldiers: Now I Wrestle Every Rhyme

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“You’re a little bi-polar,” he tells her, “and you get on my ass about drinking my liquor and smoking too much grass.”

She parries. “You know, you’re no Johnny Cash.”

“Woman, what’d you say?”

“I said, you ain’t the Man in Black, and I won’t be treated this way.”

But there is a wry, knowing edge in each of their voices that melts into affection by the end of their argument.

 

 

This argument is the third track, “Crazy”, from the Parlor Soldiers’ album When the Dust Settles, and showcases the essence of what makes their songs really work (and if you click up there, you can download “Crazy” for free). Backed by simple, slim but solid Americana-based arrangements, they are playful without coming off as if they are trying to hard to show how clever they are, and they are real without being precious. And their voices are so handsome that you want to date them both.

Forming in Fredericksburg, Virginia, after Alex Culbreth asked Karen Jonas to sing at some gigs with him, the two, each who had already established themselves as solo artists, added upright bass (played by Dan Dutton) to the mix and began writing and playing as the Parlor Soldiers.

“We spent several months coming up with different band names but none of them seemed to fit our style of music,” Culbreth told me. “We came up with The Parlor Soldiers after coming across a list of Civil War terms. It was a derogatory term meaning a soldier who was unfit for war, a poseur, or not a true soldier. We thought that it sounded good, liked the old-timey Civil War connection, and liked the fact that it was an insult.”

When the Dust Settles, which I’ve fallen a little more in love with at each listen, covers themes from giving an abuser his just desserts to being a woman with ramblin’ on her mind to being a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde duo driven to desperate ends by the economy and circumstance, with the singing, playing and songwriting shared evenly by Jonas and Culbreth. And the balance between those three elements is nearly perfect, never sacrificing their enticing musicality to showcase their smart lyrics, never working their chosen genre up into caricature and always singing strong and true.

 

 

 

And each time I listen to When the Dust Settles I want to hear those songs played live. You will, too, so take note of these tour dates.

Jan 25
Courtyard Marriott
Fredericksburg, VA

Jan 26
Kybecca Wine Bar
Fredericksburg, VA

Jan 27
The Dunes
Washington, DC

Feb 03
The Griffin Bookshop
Fredericksburg, VA

Feb 04
Northside Social Cafe & Wine Bar
Arlington, VA

Feb 08
Courtyard Marriott
Fredericksburg, VA

Feb 11
Colonial Tavern
Fredericksburg, VA

Feb 16
The Camel
Richmond, VA

Feb 17
Bar 4
Brooklyn, NY

Feb 18
Caffe Vivaldi
New York, NY

Feb 29
Strange Matter
Richmond, VA

Mar 13
Solly’s U Street Tavern
Washington, DC

Mar 31
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Fredericksburg, VA

Apr 27
Hill Country Barbeque Market
Washington, DC

May 11
The Corner Store
Washington, DC

May 28
Brewer’s Alley
Frederick, MD

Sep 07
Ashland Coffee & Tea
Ashland, VA

Jan 25
Picker’s Supply Concert Hall
Fredericksburg, VA

 

The Parlor Soldiers @ Bandcamp

The Parlor Soldiers @ Facebook

The Parlor Soldiers @ ReverbNation

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Feel Bad For You, December 2011

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With my lack of posting lately, it’s hardly my place to give anyone else shit, but now that Truersound Matt has finally gotten off his ass, I can present you with this month’s FBFY mix, compiled by bloggers, tweeters, music makers and music lovers and powered by love. And hate. And liberal doses of alcohol and caffeine. And possibly narcotics. And electricity. Stream or download below.

 

Download.

 

Title: This Ship Was Built To Last
Artist: The Duke Spirit
Album: Neptune
Year: 2008
Submitted By: Shooter
Comments: Why don’t you go over there and blow me and come back over here and fuck you

Title: The Stranger Song
Artist: Leonard Cohen
Album: Songs of Leonard Cohen
Year: 1968
Submitted By: Adam Sheets

Title: Quarter Chicken Dark
Artist: Yo Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan
Album: The Goat Rodeo Sessions
Year: 2011
Submitted By: Phil Norman – @philnorman
Comments: You should need no comment after seeing the names of the four masters making this music.

Title: Solitary Man
Artist: Sidewinders
Album: Witchdoctor
Year: 1989
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22
Comments: Who can resist a great Neil Diamond cover?

Title: Zane Merite
Artist: Mudlow
Album: Zane Merite
Year: 2006
Submitted By: April @ Now This Sound Is Brave
Comments: I knew what Mudlow looked like (thanks to this photo set on Flickr) a few years before I knew what they sounded like (which seems fair enough since Mudlow takes their time between albums). And what they sound like is the noir soundtrack of my (rougher, dustier) dreams. This song will make a reappearance on their next, just-finished album, so think of it as an early preview.

Title: Presents From The Past
Artist: Billy Joe Shaver
Album: Victory
Year 1998
Submitted By: Truersound
Comments: It’s a Billy Joe xmas

Title: Impermanent Things
Artist: Peter Himmelman
Album: Mission Of My Soul: The Best of Peter Himmelman
Year: 2005
Submitted By: toomuchcountry
Comments: My knee-jerk reaction was to offer Ray LaMontagne’s “Beg, Steal or Borrow” as a Dirty Santa submission for this month’s compilation. However, I’m a sucker for Christmas. I want to believe – I have to believe – that there is still a shred of relevance to it. Even if the time and events surrounding it have been bastardized by black days, cyber weeks, thoughtless gift cards, hair-graying stress over time at “your folks or mine this year?”, apathetic efforts in helping the truly needy, gluttony, etc., there is still something magical about The Day. Being Jewish, Himmelman clearly didn’t write this song about Christmas. Nonetheless, I think its a good kick-in-the-gut reminder where my priorities need to be -and where they shouldn’t. Thus endeth the soapbox. Enjoy the track. And thanks to those who sampled, listened, downloaded, commented, and ignored my submissions this year – and to FBFY overall. See ya in 12.

Title: Up the Junction
Artist: Chris Difford
Album: Uncut Sept 2006
Year: 2006
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: Had this track stuck in my head for a few days now, like this version with a little bit of steel.

Title: This Town
Artist: Don Ryan
Album: Tangle Town
Year: 2011
Submitted By: @popa2unes
Comments: Staying in my own backyard again this month, Don Ryan is from Hawthorne NJ. The 18 song album is available on his bandcamp page, name your price. fantastic witty dark lyrics and multi influenced music mixed together by a mad scientist. “As defeat licks the jaws of victory, The rotten teeth of injury and insult gnaw at me, The local stigmatic handsome gentleman detonates, incinerates the town he’s living in”

Title: Speak Plainly Diana (Live)
Artist: Joe Pug
Album: Live at Lincoln Hall
Year: 2011
Submitted By: Autopsy IV (ninebullets.net)
Comments: A live album with no new songs on it a Top 10 of the year? Better fucking believe it.

Title: Ruby Jack
Artist: Ronnie Lane & Steve Marriott
Album: The Legendary Majik Mijits
Year: 1980
Submitted By: Erschen

Title: Merry Christmas To You
Artist: The High Score
Album: Christmas Split
Year: 2009
Submitted By: annieTUFF
Comments: I know this wasn’t technically a Christmas themed mix, but I’ve been listening to this song a bunch today….so you should too. AND it talks about New Years Eve too…soooo really it’s fitting for the entire month of December (yay).

This is actually one half a free split that Mic Harrison and The High Score put out for download on their website last year (it’s still up, you can download both songs @ http://www.micharrison.com/Download.html. )

By the way, I kept going back and forth between this song, and the Dwarves “Drinkin’ Up Christmas” and the Vandals “My first X-mas As a Woman” so, go find those (slightly offensive) Christmas songs too.

Title: Whiskey Christmas
Artist: Darby O’Gill and the Little People
Album: Christmas Songs For Drunken Atheists
Year: 2007
Submitted By: Rockstar_Aimz
Comments: Christmas brings psychotic family, massive consumerism,
loneliness, huge expectations, and getting stuck overnight in an
airport somewhere during a goddamn snowstorm. But at least there’s
booze!

Title: Foregone
Artist: The Decemberists
Album: Long Live the King
Year: 2011
Submitted By: Ryan (Verbow @ Altcountrytab.ca)
Comments: I never thought I would like anything by the Decemberists, but The King is Dead is my favorite album of 2011. The follow up EP Long Live the King is a pretty good addendum, with “Foregone” being the best of the bunch. Cannot believe this song didn’t make the album proper – listen to that pedal steel!

Title: Destiny
Artist: Riviera
Album: Watching Western Skies (EP)
Year: 2011
Submitted By: Cowbelle (www.morecowbelle.net)
Comments: Riviera were an alt.country group in Chicago, now re-located and re-grouped in Portland, OR.

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JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound in Cleveland TONIGHT!

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CLE, who of you will be out at the Beachland booty-shakin’ with me tonight? JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound will be working out their soul thang in the Tavern.

 

 

You can download an mp3 of the above song from Rolling Stone.

Then get yourself to the Beachland and say hey. As always, I welcome you to buy your favorite blogger a drink.

Thu, Dec 1 | 8:30 PM (8 PM door)
JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
Aphrodite’s Hero
DJ Charles McGaw
$12.00
Tavern | All Ages

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James Leg is Coming to Cleveland (and Other Cities, Too)

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Solitary Pleasure is ingrained with James Leg’s extensive knowledge of the rock and roll canon and the album displays his passion and originality to full effect. Granted, Leg’s gargled-with-goat vocal style could be an acquired taste, but it’s also a quality instrument that, like his keyboard work, will prove powerful, yet supple and dextrous over the course of the album. Imagine Tom Waits doing Bobby “Blue” Bland covers.
– DEEP BLUES

“Long live rock and soul and pianos and devil horns.”
– POPMATTERS

If you’ve been reading NTSIB for a while, you know that I freaking love James Leg (a.k.a. John Wesley Myers of the Black Diamond Heavies) and that his album, Solitary Pleasure, is probably my favorite album of 2011. If not, here’s a little memory refresher.

I already have two James Leg shows under my belt this year, and I’m excited for a third. Sitting down at the keys, Leg generates more energy on stage than most of his more mobile counterparts, leg flailing to the beat and hair flying in his face as he pushes his foghorn howl through the microphone to blast you out and then settle down in the center of your pelvis. But he doesn’t stop there, setting that pelvis to sway, shake and grind as he makes his trusty Fender Rhodes talk like a guitar and growl like a junkyard Rottweiler. The man puts so much effort into making you move your ass that he’s usually sweated through his shirt by the 2nd or 3rd song.

James Leg will be turning Cleveland’s Now That’s Class into a sweatbox on December 5th at 9 PM for $5 a head. Openers will be northeastern Ohio bands White Buffalo Woman and the Buffalo Ryders, as apparently, buffalo are the new indie band animal of choice. Please grab your free copy of the sleazy-in-all-the-best-ways “Do How You Wanna” below and join me on the 5th.

 

James Leg – Do How You Wanna

 

And if you don’t live in the CLE, do what you can to catch James Leg at one of the stops below.

Dec 01: Nashville, TN @ The 5 Spot w/ Blackfaces (members of Immortal Lee County Killers, Soledad Brothers and Be Your Own Pet) and D.Watusi
Dec 02: Huntington, WV @ The V Club
Dec 03: Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
Dec 04: Cincinnati, OH @ Junkers Tavern
Dec 05: Cleveland, OH @ Now Thats Class
Dec 06: Detroit, MI @ PJ’s Lager House
Dec 07: Ft. Wayne, IN @ The Brass Rail w/ Left Lane Cruiser
Dec 08: Lafayette, IN @ Lafayette Brewing Co.
Dec 09: Chicago, IL @ Morseland
Dec 10: Columbia, MO @ The Bridge
Dec 11: St Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Dec 12: TBA
Dec 13: Kansas City, MO @ Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club
Dec 15: Omaha, NE @ O’Leaver’s Pub
Dec 16: Bayport, MN (Minneapolis) @ Bayport BBQ w/ Molly Gene’s One Whoaman Band
Dec 17: Bayport, MN (Minneapolis) @ Bayport BBQ w/ Molly Gene’s One Whoaman Band
Dec 18: Green Bay, WI @ Phatheads
Dec 19: Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Dec 20: Dubuque, IA @ Off Minor

[West Coast March 2012 tour dates to be announced soon]

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JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound: If Life Was Easy As a Song

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JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound release their Bloodshot Records debut, Want More, today and it is a fine, fine soul album that feels and breathes and dances with a deep shimmy, not playing out as a lifeless set-piece as can easily happen when a modern band takes up a sound closely associated with an earlier era. Lyrically, it’s a relatable album that speaks in real terms instead of heart-shaped metaphors. Musically, it’s a straight-up rump-shaker of rich grooves that just seems to grow richer with each listen. And, personally, I was singing along within two or three spins of the album.

JC was kind enough to answer a few questions for us…

 

 

When and why did you start singing? How did the Uptown Sound come together?

Because my mom was always singing, I started singing around the house as a toddler. I did Chorus in elementary and middle school, and formed my first band in high school. JCBUS came together because Ben, our bassist, and I answered an ad put out by Billy, our guitarist, who was looking to make aggressive dance music.

 

>

 

A press release describes your music as “post-punk soul”. What does that mean to you? How do you think your music fits into this era?

Post-punk soul, to me, is emotive music that doesn’t try to fit into the typical “soul” girdle of warmly lit, grease-lensed love. We discuss love in our music, but usually more graphically than traditional soul, and we also don’t only take the point of view that the common portrayal of love is the ‘be-all, end-all’ ultimate goal. We write about the lighter side of lust and the general messiness of love, its hindsight is less hazy and more 20/20 when we write about why a relationship went wrong, etc. I don’t think our music fits into the post-punk era so much, but it does harken to a post-punk aesthetic that’s been pressed through a soul filter.

I hear some Stax influence in your music, like Otis Redding and the Dramatics. Who else are you influenced by?

For me personally: Patti LaBelle and Tina Turner are huge performance influences. Vocally, I draw inspiration from Otis, Teddy Pendergrass, Anita Baker and Amy Winehouse.

For the band: Bad Brains, Gang of Four, Living Colour, The Stooges, Bowie, Tower of Power, The MGs… the list could go on and on.

 

 

How did the idea to soul up Wilco come about?

Well, it started with Billy wondering what Syl Johnson (we were working with Syl at the time for the Numero Group revue) would sound like covering music like Wilco or Bowie, and from there it blossomed into the version we do now.

 

 

How did things come together with JCBUS and Bloodshot?

We stormed the Bloodshot office and held them hostage until they agreed to our demands…

What have you and the band been listening to lately?

Right now, I’m listening to a lot of Adele, Tune-Yards, JD MacPherson, Jill Scott, Joe Bataan… A lot of stuff all the time, really, but the artists I listed above have been getting a lot of play lately.

 

Listen to and download their first single, “Everything Will Be Fine”.

Everything Will Be Fine by JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound

 

JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound Official Website

 

Photos by Nate Burrell, courtesy of KDHX

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Giveaway: The Dead Exs

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Regular readers of our blog will recognize the Dead Exs from previous posts by my co-blogger Jennifer and our friend @Popa2unes. Jennifer has described their sound as “a delicious blues-funk stew lightly seasoned with garage-rock flair”, and their dirty, fuzzed-up grooves fit in well here.

Now Popa has generously donated a signed copy of the Dead Exs’ CD Resurrection for one of you lucky people to own. All you need to do is drop a comment below that includes your name or preferred internet handle and a reliable e-mail address and then wait patiently. The giveaway will close on October 24 at 5 PM EST, and the winner will be chosen at random and announced on October 25.

And while you’re here, you can download the song “More Stuff” by right-clicking on the link below. Enjoy!

The Dead Exs – More Stuff

 

 

 

The Dead Exs Official Website

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Old Gray Mule: A Day in MS, a Night in TX

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This year’s Deep Blues Festival, my first, was full of highlights both music and personal. One of those highlights was seeing Old Gray Mule play, partially because of their musical prowess and service to the groove and partially because watching C.R. Humphrey and C.W. Ayon joke around like a couple of schoolboys on the verge of a giggle fit is so damned enjoyable.

It is great to hear that slightly mischievous, good-time atmosphere brought to OGM’s new release A Day in Mississippi, A Night in Texas. “Alright, this song’s got cussing in it,” Humphrey announces as OGM kicks off a live set, recorded this past July at the 2nd annual Junior Kimbrough Birthday Party in Austin, Texas. After a little more joshing around, OGM ease into their gritty take on “Stagger Lee”, showing not only that service to the groove but also showcasing Ayon’s sharp vocal attitude as he relays the fateful story. Ayon is a good match for Humphrey, who has played with a few different drummers under the Old Gray Mule handle. The swagger of Ayon’s vocals reflect the cool assurance of Humprhey’s guitar playing as Ayon also backs up on drums with a beat calculated for maximum hip sway.

 

Stagger Lee/My Babe Told Me So by Old Gray Mule

 

And can we talk about Humprhey’s guitar playing? From fuzzed-out riffs inspired by north Mississippi hill country blues masters like Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside and T-Model Ford to funked up waka-chika (their take on Burnside Exploration’s “Bitch, You Lie” rolling into Parliament’s “Flashlight”, with Julia Magness of the Original Bells of Joy, is an ass-shaking good time) to the soulful picking that characterizes their cover of Junior Kimbrough’s “I Cried Last Night” (with Meredith Kimbrough of Mother Merey and the Black Dirt) that will have you closing your eyes, nodding your head and wishing you could morph into a guitar string to be so sweetly caressed, Humphrey is sharp.

But before the party night in Texas, there is the day in Mississippi where Humphrey and Ayon record with guitarist Bill Abel who has played and recorded with greats like Paul “Wine” Jones, Hubert Sumlin, Sam Carr and more. For me, the highlight of this four-song section is the sleek, slow-grooving “I’m Bad Like Jesse James”.

 

I’m Bad Like Jesses James by Old Gray Mule with Bill Abel

 

If you need a little more convincing (But why would you? Did you listen to those songs up there? Fucking great!), head over to Deep Blues where Rick Saunders has another taste from the album for you, a little zydeco number. Then get yourself out to a show and pick this up for yourself when Old Gray Mule hits your town (the opportunity will be coming up shortly if you’re in Australia).

Old Gray Mule Official Website

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Lydia Loveless: Being Good is Killing Me Inside

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You’re sitting in a dive bar, looking up into the neon beer signs. It’s one of those joints half full of the lonely and the tired and a few troublemakers. You overhear someone talking from a few bar stools down, a woman telling a stranger her story. While you don’t normally eavesdrop, she keeps saying things that sound like they could have come from your own mouth. Things to do with too many empty bottles littering the floor, things to do with a certain moral ambivalence and an ease with that ambivalence, things to do with isolation and fear. All these things delivered in a voice of world-weary defiance.

You turn to look down the bar and see the speaker of your truths. There you find a small, pale girl who can’t be more than 23. What the hell?

This is Lydia Loveless, a 21-year-old native of Columbus, Ohio, who plays her songs of late nights at the bar and next-day regrets – or a lack of regret – while planting one foot firmly in country and the other foot firmly in rock. Her new album Indestructible Machine is out today on Bloodshot Records. Listen to and download “Can’t Change Me”.

 

Lydia Loveless – Can’t Change Me

 

Lydia Loveless @ Bloodshot Records

Lydia Loveless @ Facebook

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Feel Bad For You, September 2011

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Time for the September installment of the Feel Bad For You mix, lovingly compiled by a miscreant bunch of music makers, music pushers and music lovers. Free for you to stream or download, out of the kindness of our little, black hearts.

 

 

Download

 

Title: Astronomy
Artist: Blue Oyster Cult
Album: Secret Treaties (1974)
Submitted by: Shooter Jennings
Comments: Part of one of the most expansive and confusing concept albums ever written which involves Aliens, Dark Mirrors and Lesbians (supposedly)

Title: Stick With Me
Artist: Nicki Bluhm
Album: Driftwood (2011)
Submitted by: noteethleroy
Comments: This one has gotten under my skin lately, to me it brings back memories of the classic duets I grew up on.

Title: Red on the Head
Artist: Jonny Corndawg
Album: Down On The Bikini Line (2011)
Submitted by: toomuchcountry
Comments: As the calendar turns to September, what comes to mind? State fairs. And with state fairs, what comes to mind? Corn dogs, right? Well, maybe. I first heard Jonny Corndawg in 2009 when he opened for the legendary Billy Joe Shaver at Nashville’s Exit-In. In the two years since, I’ve learned he is a leather worker, an avid runner, a gypsy-like touring machine, and an artist with a brand new release with some pretty witty – even bordering on juvenile – lyrics. Right in my wheelhouse.

Title: Matador
Artist: Brontide
Album: San Souci (2011)
Submitted by: Erschen
Comments: Interesting instrumental rock. Kind of all over the place.

Title: Keep On Letting Me Down
Artist: Mic Harrison And The High Score
Album: Great Commotion (2010)
Submitted by: annieTUFF
Comments: I might be a little partial to this band…. But, I truly love this song, it was my instant favorite from this album (“Great Commotion” ), and I think it stands as one of my top songs from Mic and The High Score.

Title: Space Guitar
Artist: Johnny “Guitar” Watson
Album: single (1954)
Submitted by: Bowood
Comments: This record influenced everyone from Dick Dale to Jimi Hendrix . Watson later made records that influenced 70′s funk and 80′s rap. Great performer and singer. Quite a character too.

Title : Stars Fell
Artist : Lauderdale
Album : Moving On (2011)
Submitted by : Corey Flegel (TIAM)
Comments : My favorite song I’ve heard this year…Yeah, I’m biased and I don’t care. Go get it here if you want : www.thisisamericanmusic.com

Title: Orphan Girl
Artist: Emmylou Harris
Album: Wrecking Ball (1995)
Submitted by: Phil Norman | @philnorman
Comments: A Gillian Welch tune, sung by Emmylou, produced by Daniel Lanois. One of my all-time favorite albums.

Title: Roamin’ and Ramblin’ Blues
Artist: David “Honeyboy” Edwards
Album: Alan Lomax Field Recording, 1942, taken from Delta Bluesman (1992), Earwig/Indigo Records
Submitted by: Brad Kelley
Comments: This one was easy. Honeyboy Edwards died August 29, 2011, at the age of 96. He traveled and performed with Robert Johnson during the 1930s. He moved to Chicago and performed nearly 100 shows a year until 2008, but continued to play concerts until earlier this year. This guy is the real thing, and his death is the end of an era. He knew and played with everyone in that first generation of Delta Blues. (This might look like two mp3s, but the first is just a brief introduction by the folklorist Alan Lomax.)
Addenum: The Asswipe who manages this mixtape is a fuckhead and keeps you from hearing a historically significant audio recording introduction to this song, which is only 28 sec and it’s just talking and technically not a SONG, so you’ll never get to hear it because he’s a dick.

Title: Eula Mae
Artist: The Whiskey Gentry
Album: Please Make Welcome (2011)
Submitted by: Bryan Childs (ninebullets.net)
Comments: Band out of Atlanta I really dig.

Title: The World Is Yours
Artist: The Hangdogs
Album: Beware Of The Dog (2000)
Submitted by: Truersound
Comments: been in a conspiritorial anti-gov mood lately, and this song follows that trail nicely

Title: Blue Suicide
Artist: Coma Cinema
Album: Blue Suicide (2011)
Submitted by: Lord Summerisle
Comments: Just discovered this band in August only to find that they are calling it quits at the end of this year. All of their stuff is available for free download at http://comacinema.org/sounds.html

Title: Burning up the Wind
Artist: Frank Bang and the Secret Stash
Album: Wonder Woman (2011)
Submitted by: @popa2unes
Comments: Chicago based, unsigned Kick Arse Rock n Blues band – Frank “Bang” Blinkal – Vocals/Guitar Bob Spelbring – Drums/Vocals Josh Hyland – Bass/ vocals – Tony MacQuaid – Guitar/Vocals and by the way, ifin ya like em 3 downloads available on their Reverbnation or Facebook page

Title: September Song
Artist: Lou Reed
Album: Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill (1994)
Submitted by: @mikeorren
Comments: It’s September. Kurt Weill was German. Lou Reed is back, doing an album about a German character, with Metallica. So, all logic screams that this is the only song to submit this month.

Title: Hurricane Season
Artist: Trombone Shorty
Album: Backatown (2010)
Submitted by: Gorrck
Comments: Gorrck’s Axiom: Carrying a trombone simultaneously increases *AND* decreases your risk of being detained by law enforcement authorities.

Title: Six Pack
Artist: Prison Book Club
Album: self titled (2011)
Submitted by: TheOtherBrit
Comments: I love this album and this band.

Title: Solar Broken Home
Artist: Stephen W. Terrell
Album: Picnic Time for Potatoheads
Submitted by: Adam Sheets

Title: Verse Chorus Verse (aka In His Hands)
Artist: Nirvana
Album: With the Lights Out (2004)
Submitted by: Verbow
This month marks 20 years since the release of Nevermind. In 1991, I was an 11 year old with horrible taste in music (MC Hammer anyone?). One day I stopped on MTV while the video for Smells Like Teen Spirit was on, and I was hooked from there on out. More than anything, Nirvana was a gateway to a whole new world of music that I continue to explore to this day. Is Nevermind my favorite album of all time? No, but its one that I still enjoy and still takes me back to that time like no other. Since everyone knows most of those songs by heart, I thought this outtake from the Nevermind sessions would be a good selection. Enjoy.

Title: Benito’s Dust
Artist: Dolorean
Album: 7″ Split with Holy Sons (2004)
Submitted by: Slowcoustic
Comments: Just your standard hard luck song to rip your guts out.

Title: Noisy Song
Artist: The Cute Lepers
Album: Adventure Time (2011)
Submitted by: Simon
Comments: Retro pop-punk from Seattle

Title: Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
Artist: The [REDACTED]
Album: The [REDACTED] (1968)
Submitted by: Mario Garcia (@marioegarcia, @imperialrooster)
Comments: I’ve been obsessed with this song over the last few days so it seemed like a good one to submit. It’s one of the best songs ever and a top 5 for me from The [REDACTED]. Great riff, great energy, great lyrics. I just hope its inclusion doesn’t get this blog shut down

Title: Gentleman
Artist: The Afghan Whigs
Album: Gentlemen (1993)
Submitted by: April @ Now This Sound Is Brave
Comments: The Afghan Whigs formed in 1986, disbanded in 2001 and remain my favorite band. Gentlemen is a practically perfect album. “Gentleman” is a practically perfect song. Rough, depraved, menacing… perfect.

Title: Bonnie and Clyde
Artist: Little Lisa Dixie
Album: Little Lisa Dixie (2011)
Submitted by: BoogieStudio22
Comments: An artist I stumbled onto quite some time ago. Just learned she put out an album in March 2011. Nice debut.

Title: Alone In This Together
Artist: Star Anna
Album: (2011)
Submitted by: Cowbelle www.morecowbelle.net
Comments: A six-minute song is a little obnoxious but worth every second.

Title: Ghost on the Canvas
Artist: Glen Campbell
Album: Ghost on the Canvas (2011)
Submitted by: Rockstar Aimz
Comments: How bad-ass is it that Campbell selects a song written by Paul Westerberg.