Interviewed by Harry Kaplan
TwangriLa: First I want to say that I love the album, it is fantastic. (more…)
Interviewed by Harry Kaplan
I was fortunate enough to interview Arrica Rose and Mark W. Lynn of the band Dear County. Dear County is a five piece band consisting of Mark W. Lynn (lead guitar, vocals), Arrica Rose (lead vocals, guitar), Michael Smartt (drums), Nelson Saarni (bass, vocals), and Julia Napier (percussion, vocals). Their musical influences include the likes of Gram Parsons, Eagles, Dusty Springfield, Big Star, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, and The Replacements. As you will hear in the interview, their aim is to pay respects to their influences while creating something uniquely their own. Let’s meet them, shall we? (more…)
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
Everyone has heard the proverb you can’t judge a book by its cover. Well, I am going to add a line to that one. You can’t judge a performer by the size of the audience. Last night Ray Wylie Hubbard played Hill Country Barbeque in Washington DC. To me, it goes down in the annals as one of the most memorable evenings in a long time. Seeing him in the room of 200 (which was sold out) was better than seeing anyone else, anywhere. And the crowd knew it as well. Mr. Hubbard is a legendary performer with nearly a 50 year career.
Ray is very punctual. The ticket said the start time was 9:30 and he and the band came out at precisely 9:30. That may seem like a little thing, but to me is shows respect and reverence. An acknowledgement that our time is just as important as his. What humility! He is a very humble guy. As he told stories between songs, he interjected self-deprecating humor. It was more of a way for him to down play his many accomplishments in a clever and entertaining way. It came across as sincere and as a man without a big ego. If anyone deserves to carry around a little bit of an ego it is Ray, but he doesn’t at all. A true testament to his character.
Backing Ray were his son and guitar virtuoso, Lucas Hubbard. This wasn’t a case where the baseball coach lets his son pitch just because that’s his son. Oh no! Lucas can flat out play! I can’t think of anyone better to play Ray’s music with him. As my father gets older, I also have a special place in my heart when I see fathers and sons doing things together. Seeing them on stage choked me up a little bit. Also in the band was drummer and backing vocalist Kyle Schneider. Another tight musician who complimented Ray perfectly.
Ray and the band played for almost 2 hours! The crowd surely got their money’s worth. He played all of the songs we hoped he would play and then some. The third song out of the gate was Drunken Poet’s Dream and Ray nailed it.
He played Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother towards the end of the show and told a funny story about the song that happened that very night. Some people prior to the show asked Ray if he was going to play it and he stated he doesn’t play it every night. Apparently, the people stated that if they didn’t hear it, they would be disappointed. So Ray brought up a story where he saw Bob Dylan and the one song he wanted to hear was Masters Of War and Dylan didn’t play it. Well he didn’t think Bob played it. That was when Dylan was going through his phase where most of his songs performed live were unrecognizable. And the crowd roared.
Sometimes you don’t always know when a moment is special until after it occurs. Luckily, I knew this evening was exceptional as it was unfolding and was able to savor every moment. I wanted to have that evening etched in my memory in perpetuity. For once I succeeded. It wouldn’t have been possible without Ray Wylie Hubbard and his fine band.
Review By Harry Kaplan
All Cooley, all the time. I am not sure if non Drive By Trucker fans would enjoy this that much. But for Trucker fans like me and the other 300 people or so in attendance, this was pure Cooley bliss. Cooley played all of his hits that it would take 2 or 3 nights of Trucker shows to hear. He belted out Gravity’s Gone, Self Destructive Zones, Carl Perkin’s Cadillac, When the Pin Hits The Shell, and Uncle Frank, just to name a few. It was an intimate evening with Cooley on acoustic guitar.
If I have to make one small complaint, it was that U Street Music Hall is not the ideal place to see an acoustic performance. The stage is quite low and the venue is very long and narrow. If someone was not in the first couple of rows in the front, it was difficult, if not impossible to see. The acoustics were good throughout, but if you like to see as well as hear, not the best venue for that. That was the only small complaint I had.
For me and the rest of the Trucker fans in attendance, you could not ask for a better night. Mike was very comfortable in front of the enthusiastic crowd, spoke freely in between songs, and exchanged some banter with the audience. Instead of a concert, it felt more like seeing a performer in someone’s family room and inviting 300 of your closest friends. It did not have the electricity of a full Drive By Truckers rock show, but it was a great evening nonetheless.
I am perplexed by the name of this band. Is it about girls that smoke marijuana? Is it about girls (and guys) who play a derivative of bluegrass music? Well bluegrass is a bit of a stretch. Kinda’ sorta’ bluegrass. Maybe I should ask them. Either way, what’s in a name? The name piques your curiosity, the music retains it. If I had to harbor a guess as to a musical description, I would call it a cross between country music and 90’s alternative. I am going to coin a name right here for this genre: “Twangle Pop”. I know. They can’t all be winners.
Unlike my attempt at creating a musical genre, this album is surely a winner. Beautiful singing, harmonies, and guitar work. It is all wrapped up in a beautiful package. When I listen, I find myself thinking: Wow! Perfect song composition! Sometimes I listen to a song and think, well I would have arranged it differently. Not with Girls On Grass. I can honestly say that I can’t think of one moment where I would have arranged a song in a different manner.
Girls On Grass also delivers a heaping helping of twang and feedback. You know how I feel about twang, heck it’s in the name of the website. I love feedback too! It may be my favorite instrument. And Girls On Grass has it. Not too much, but in the perfect measurement. This is adult angst, not teen angst. The songs are very cleverly written. Not too literal, they make you think about the song.
There are a couple of recurring themes on this album. One is career decisions on tracks such as Father Says Why and Pissin Down A Road. Another reappearing topic is people that need an attitude adjustment. Drowning In Ego, When The Pleasure Ends, and Return To Earth cover this subject matter beautifully. Have a listen on their Bandcamp page. Once you hear, you will want to buy some “Grass”.
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
Bluesy, rootsy, and old timey with a modern twist. All that is old is new again. Blueberries and Grits is the new album by Sunday Wilde. Wilde is a native of a rural town in Ontario, Canada. Even though she is from the country, her songs are urban and sophisticated. I have mentioned before that I am a sucker for a strong female voice. Check. I also like clean recordings with out a lot of outside distractions such a popping or scratching. Check. In fact, Blueberries And Grits is the best of both worlds. That nostalgic bluesy, vaudeville-esque music recorded in a modern studio. You can have your cake and eat it too!
Wilde’s voice is sultry and bawdy, especially on tracks such as Show Me A Man, That Man Drives Me Mad, and Daddy Daddy. She is not afraid to sing about, shall we say, relations between a man and a woman. But she does it in a discreet and sophisticated way, most of the time. I won’t bring up John The Conquer Root. You guys can figure out what it’s about. There are strong elements of delta blues throughout this album as well. The final track is straight up gospel entitled Come On In, and it is a beauty. This is a fine offering from Miss Wilde. Go to her website here and order a copy of Blueberries and Grits.
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
I found these fellas because I was searching for new music to review. I came across their EP entitled Tres Grand Serpent released June 10, 2016. It is only two songs but I really liked what I heard, given the small sample size. Then, I hit the mother lode. I found their self-titled album that was released a year ago. I was speechless. I was alone when I heard this, but I was speechless nonetheless.
There are 12 tracks on this album and it is extremely difficult to pick out favorites. I could get lazy and write they are all great. That would solve my dilemma of trying to write about individual songs. The truth is, they are all great. However, I will do my best to pull out some of the tunes that I feel are more memorable than the rest. It will not be easy.
Let’s start with Simple And True (Track 10 ). This song is a relatively slow ballad. Not something I would normally be drawn to, but the lyrics and vocals are so powerful, I had no choice. I blame the song! The use of harmonica and pedal steel makes this song an instant classic. Time To Believe In (Track 8 ) is classic country down to the atmospheric guitar riffs, whistling, and vintage style vocals. Strong notes of Ghost Riders In The Sky (written by Stan Jones in 1948 ) with a bit of a slower tempo. The writing style of this tune would make you think that is much older than it actually is. Less Honkin’ More Tonkin’ (Track 4 ) is an up tempo rockabilly number. A real toe tapper and fits in nicely with all of the crooner type ballads. Fought The Blues And Won (Track 1 ) sounds like a mix between Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, and Professor Longhair. Maybe even a little bit of Lefty Frizzell. Those comparisons really don’t matter, I guess. This song stands firmly on its own merits. It does not need comparisons to music legends to give it support.
A total throwback to the early days of rock n roll and classic country. I don’t think to say this is unbelievable is an overstatement. It is melodic and well written which really harkens back to the days of Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. If I said this was released 50 years ago, you would have no reason not to believe me. The only tip off that it wasn’t is the modern production and clean, crisp sound. But the music will take you back in time. This is not just a throwback album, it actually fits perfectly in today’s musical climate. They took the freshest raw ingredients from days gone by and created their own masterpiece. I did say masterpiece, and I mean it.
To those who think that country music is dead, this will prove you DEAD wrong. I am not sure how they captured that nostalgic sound with today’s methods of recording, but they did it. The overarching point here is that you have a limited window of opportunity before these guys are well known. If you like seeing live music in small venues, act fast. This could be your last chance to see these boys in a non-arena setting. It is hard to get a flavor of how good these fellas are from reading a review, so I urge you to listen to and buy this album. There is a song on this album called The Real Deal. They did not write this about themselves, but that is what they are. They ARE the real deal. “Come on guys, it’s so simple! Maybe you need a refresher course!” If you do, this is a good place to start.
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
Drive Til U Die by Hymn For Her is a stunner. Hymn for Her is a male/female duo made up of Wayne Waxing and Lucy Tight. They create a style that is really indescribable +and not appropriate for labels. That is because they cover a lot of ground, from Americana, rockabilly, hillbilly, punk, and just hard rock and roll. What a mix it is. It totally works and Drive Til U Die is living proof. For two people, they make a lot of noise. Waxing, plays acoustic guitar, harmonica, drums and sings similar to the way Jesse Fuller used to do it. He is definitely a multi tasker. Tight, plays a three string guitar made out of a broom handle and a cigar box. They really aren’t like anyone you have ever seen or heard before. Totally original, unconventional and exactly what moves me.
Drive Til U Die comes out of the gate strong like a thoroughbred racing for the finish line with the barn burner Devil’s Train. It tones down a bit for the next 3 tracks and picks up steam on Hi Ho Silver. This number is about their travails across the country in their antique silver Airstream trailer. Comparing their trailer to the legendary horse of the Lone Ranger. This is one for heavy rotation for me. If you like talented musicians with great harmonies who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty every now and again, this is for you. You can see the video here for the song Shine, which will be on the upcoming album. Drive Til You Die will be officially released on August 12, 2016. I will provide details regarding purchase information as they become available.
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
The Coal Men are Dave Coleman, Dave Ray, and Paul Slivka. They have been together 17 years and both Coleman and Ray are founding members. This is their 5th full length released and it is a good one. I had never heard of them prior to this album, and that is a shame. These guys are another band that are too good not to be recognized. It seems they are “musician’s musicians”, as Coleman is well respected in the ranks of Americana. This just shouldn’t be. Based on their material, The Coal Men should be well known. Unfortunately, the music industry is tough and isn’t exactly fair.
The title Pushed to the Side is a very interesting title considering Dave Coleman’s fears of his music not being sexy enough for widespread media coverage. I hope this isn’t the case as Pushed to the Side is a wonderful album. It has plenty of well written songs, good vocals, and plenty of haunting guitar riffs throughout each track. This release is definitely a slight departure from earlier albums, which sees the trio playing more ambient and atmospheric tunes. Most songs are not fast tempo or excessively high energy, but they are catchy and infectious. The two exceptions are The Payoff and Speeding Like a Demon which are quite rocking numbers.
Willy Jet (Track 4) is a great tune. Definitely reminiscent of John Prine. Not necessarily the vocals, but the song construction and writing seems like a song Prine could have written and sung himself. Willy Jet is a song about a hard drinking vagabond who tries to change his ways but can’t really do it. The lyrics are quite vivid and you can really see Willy Jet in your mind’s eye thanks to the descriptive lyrics: “A child at play, expectation and regret, those were the ways of Wanderin’ Willy Jet”. Excellent songwriting and smart lyrics that still leaves something for the imagination. With other standouts, such as Depreciate (Track 1) and Stones River (Track 11 – watch video here), this album will have real staying power. Git yer copy when it is released on August 19th!
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
Jackson’s Flank is a talented group of musicians from the Fredericksburg, VA area. They derived their name from the Jackson’s Flank Offensive during the Battle of Chancellorsville in the Civil War. It was one of the most successful battles for the Confederate Army during the War. I think Jackson’s Flank’s fate will be more successful than that of the Confederate Army’s. It is hard to deny their grunge leaning style. Although grunge is prominent, so is southern rock. This hybrid gives them a sound all their own. The musicianship, vocals, and lyrics give this EP a very professional and polished sound. Not too polished, though. It still has a rawness and some edge.
Can’t Say Goodbye (Track 1) starts off with a riff reminiscent of the Drive By Trucker’s song Angels and Fuselage. That is where the similarities end. The song quickly adds vocals and really nice harmonies in the chorus: “Tell Me Why, I Can’t Say Goodbye”. A great song about a broken relationship and trying to get over a lost love. The song has a moving guitar solo followed by a nice sensitive section and ends in a nice crescendo. I would say that this is my favorite song right now. Here I Go (Track 2) is a good follow up to Can’t Say Goodbye. Another song about troubles in a relationship. This song is a little less noisy, but still has its hard driving moments. Great guitar work, vocals, and harmonies really add accents to this tune. Thank You (Track 3) delivers great melodies, vocals, and guitar solos. A perfect blending of hard and soft. Another very nice ballad. The EP ends on a strong note with a bit of a rocker called Got To Fly. This song is definitely something that most closely resembles southern rock. It is about leaving a relationship and again blends the soft and the rocking seamlessly. The guitar solo really builds and I could see this song getting some serious airplay.
My only complaint is it’s too short. Only four songs. That is an appetizer portion. I want the main course. Hopefully, they will oblige us shortly with an entrée portion full length release.
You can choose how you wish to purchase and listen to this EP here.
