Author: Twangri-La

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

My, oh my, this is fantastic! If you like down and dirty blues, you will dig the heck out of this. This is not just your standard hard blues band. Midwestern Exposure can get loud and rambunctious, and they do. But they can also sing and play at a lower volume. Their sound is really explosive but also contains tons of feeling. A hard combo to pull off effectively. Clearly this trio are very adept at their instruments. And all the instruments blend really well together. Even the drums, which are usually just background sounds, are astonishingly noticeable. And played at the highest level. Jeff Goldman does a dynamite job on the kit with help from Forrest Wright with some of the percussion duty. Wright also does some backing vocals and some lap steel work. Cam Clark has the guitar, vocals, and harmonica under control.  (more…)

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club from left to right: Todd “The Peeler” Moore (standing), Dwight Pentecost (standing), Rebecca Vera, Slim Cessna, Munly Munly, Ian O’Dougherty
Interview by Harry Kaplan
I had the great fortune of sitting down with Slim Cessna, who is one of the front men for Slim Cessna’s Auto Club (SCAC). They have been together for going on 25 years now. The Commandments According To SCAC is their 10th studio album. One thing they pride themselves on is that none of their studio albums sound like the others. Also, they pride themselves on their live performances. After seeing them for the first time, I can see why. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. It was part concert, part performance art, and part Broadway musical. I have never seen a person use a violin bow on a pedal steel or see someone get feedback out of a banjo. I saw both for the first time that night. It was an enlightening experience seeing SCAC live. It was also enlightening speaking to the man the band is named after, Slim Cessna.
SC = Slim Cessna, TW = Twangri-La (more…)

Reviewed by William Tokash

This is the third of 12 installments reviewing nominees in each category of Dale Watson’s 2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards. Voting is now over for this year’s batch of nominees but I’ll carry on with the review over the next month with a look today at this year’s Western Swing Male nominees. Here is a Spotify playlist with available songs by this year’s Western Swing Male nominees discussed below. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

This album is ten years old but due to a technicality,  a vinyl reissue, it is fair game for review. I am quite elated that I could find a “loophole” to qualify this album for review. I jest, but normally I would not review a release that is ten years old. I have standards, ya know. If there ever was an older release that would get review consideration without a new event, this would be the one. It is flawless from note one through the final sound. Eilen (pronounced ee-lin) has a perfect voice in the same vein as Nora Jones, Gillian Welch, and Madeleine Peyroux. I am astounded that I have never heard of Miss Jewell before now. I will use my canned excuse, so much music – so little time. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Disclaimer: If you are offended by cartoon nudity, maybe you should pass on this review. There is a hand drawn female nude next to a skeleton and she is holding a foreign object that may be offensive to some people. OK, this concludes my public service announcement. I don’t get the feeling that Bullrider is that concerned about offending people. Their songs are full of references to sex, meth, heroin, booze, and smoking. Having said all that, this is a great album. It is well produced, has great vocals and musicianship and well written lyrics. Definitely not for the little ones, but a really great listen to those of us over 18 years of age. It is mix of punk, country, rockabilly, and psychedelic rock. Quite a mix and it really comes together nicely.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Nice filthy dirty, uplifting rock and roll record. I hear some AC/DC, Stooges, T Rex, a little Skynyrd, and maybe even some Boston. What that turns out is a very interesting record that is a blast to listen to. It has elements of 70’s rock but the vocals are much rougher and have more of a punk rock feeling. Vocals are definitely more Stooges leaning. This is a great Saturday night listening party record when you feel like breaking something. That is not a prerequisite, but I don’t think the Matt Truman Ego Trip would mind.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Split Lip Rayfield, the quirky bluegrass trio from Wichita, Kansas has been together for about 20 years now. On My Way is their first studio album in over eight years. Understandable, considering the tragic loss of Kirk Rundstrom in 2007. Rundstrom was one of the group’s founding members. The band made a decision to continue after Rundstrom’s untimely death. I cannot imagine the bittersweet emotions that the surviving members have been holding onto for the past nine years or so. Luckily for us, they decided to release a follow up to 2008’s I’ll Be Around.  (more…)

I had a chance to sit down with Jesse Dayton on the final stop of his tour with The Supersuckers and Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. He has had quite a career already, playing with the likes of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, John Doe, and Rob Zombie. He is also a producer, actor, and writer. On top of that, he is a great performer and just released an incredible album called The Revealer. Our interview was like a conversation between two friends, rather than an interview.

For brevity’s sake: TL = Twangri-La and JD = Jesse Dayton (more…)

Review by Bill Tokash

This is the second of 12 installments where I’ll highlight nominees in each category of Dale Watson’s 2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards. I started out with the Honky-tonk Females and now I’ll tackle the Rockabilly Males. Vote here using the free Ameripolitan Ballot Buster app until Jan. 8, 2017 (Last day of voting!) and check out this year’s batch of nominees right away! Here are Spotify and SoundCloud playlists with songs by this year’s Rockabilly Male nominees thumbnailed below. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

This is described on Apple Itunes as aggressive Americana. If that is another name for blues on meth and steroids, then I agree. This in not your parent’s Americana. This may not be for everyone, but it is definitely for me. Listening to this is like kick boxing. It is very physical and interactive. I don’t have to go the gym after a listen. Gun provides enough of a workout for me. This music is super fuzzy and distorted, loud, aggressive, noisy, and just downright filthy. And addictive. Once I start in on the first note, it is difficult to turn off. I hear elements of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Jesus Lizard, and Left Lane Cruiser. If you are a fan of any of those acts, you will love this one.  (more…)