Hidden Gems Part 2 - Jewly Hight

Previously I identified Twilight Hotel as a gem that could be easily missed in the plethora of releases on July 29th. The other one is Jewly Hight - Darlin' Understand. Hight is a music critic who is releasing her first album. In fact, you have probably read her in No Depression. Well, she needs to consider putting down the pen and picking up the microphone full time. She is a talented songwriter. Additionally, the arrangements and influences she includes in her compositions allow her to stand out in the crowded female singer-songwriter marketplace. Lyrically you would expect a writer who lists Flannery O'Connor as one of her biggest influences to deliver, and she does. The songs range from Blues to Gospel to country to rock all wrapped in a sort of Southern Gothic package. Some songs like "White Knuckles" are more ethereal others like the Gospel of "Answer" are more upbeat. The Rock numbers range from the guitar heavy "Wheels Come Off" to the Southern Soul of "Poke Salad." Her voice, which sounds similar to Rosanne Cash, allows her to pull off all of these style changes without a hitch.

If you are not convinced yet, check her out on MySpace

This review also appears on Twanville

Hidden Gem Part 1 - Twilight Hotel

As I've already mentioned Tuesday is going to be a big day for new releases. Because of this fact, a couple of Gems releasing on 1-29 that could easily get lost in the Hoopla. Twilight Hotel Highway Prayer is the first one I would like to point out. This Winnipeg based male-female duo enlisted fellow Canadian Colin Linden to produce the album, However, the project was recorded in Nashville with a stellar group of musicians. The band's version of Americana can be a little dark, but Linden did an excellent job of producing the album and it is certainly no downer. For example the Rockabilly influenced opener "Viva La Vinyl" Kick things out of the chute. Overall though, the album is typified by a mellow and contemplative brand of Folk and Americana.

"Viva La Vinyl"


This review is also posted on Twangville

1-29 Addendum Oop!! I missed one!!!

A shout out to my buddy Large Benjamin who informed me of this new release that is garnering a lot of buzz. VW's sound is infectious this should be good release.

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

1-29 Releases

January 29th appears to be the first big day of the year for new releases. There is a lot coming out that day but I thought I would highlight a few of the releases.

Shelby Lynne - Just a Little Lovin' Shelby doing a Dusty Springfield tribute Need I say more.




Willie Nelson - Moment of Forever Okay this album was produced by Kenny Chesney which makes me skeptical but the first single "Gravedigger" is excellent and it is on Lost Highway. Not to mention it is Willie so I bet it is good.

Listen to "Gravedigger"

Malcolm Holcombe - Gamblin' House "Rich in idiosyncratic epigrams with echoes ranging from Guy Clark to Bob Dylan, Holcombe (with "Jelly Roll" Johnson's ever-ready harmonica adding emphasis) delivers elusive tales of a life that may not have always been wisely lived, but was always worth writing about." Billboard Magazine

Sample it on his website

Dailey & Vincent Dailey & Vincent - One of the most highly anticipated Bluegrass debuts in recent memory. Dailey is along time member of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Vincent has been playing with Ricky Skaggs for 10 years.

Sample at Rounder records

Joe Jackson - Rain Heard a cut off this one on Reg's Coffeehouse sounds like it will be a good one. Welcome back Joe.

Blind Boys of Alabama - Down in New Orleans After forming over 50 years as kids in a deaf school in Alabama, The Boys have garnered 4 Grammys in four years and recorded with a lot of different artists like Ben Harper. This records takes them quite obviously to the crescent city where they team up with Allen Toussaint, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Hot 8 Brass Band.




There are also a couple of releases from artists you might not have heard before:

First is:

Twighlight Hotel - Highway Prayer This band out of Canada plays a brand of roots music that is sometimes haunting but always steeped in the traditions of American music. I encourage you to check these guys out. I will do a full review in a few days.



Jewly Hight- "Darlin' Unerstand" This album Counry, Soulful and altogether Suthern. As a lyricist she is as inflnced more by Flannery O'Connor than any musician. She is a music jornalist but is also a talented musician. The album is self-released. I will also do a full review of this one in a few days.

Check her out on MySpace

Settin' the Woods on Fire: This Week's Charts

This is a bi-weekly feature in which I post on AWT the top albums and debuts in the airplay charts from Americana Music Assoc., XM Cross Country and FMQB Non-Commercial Adult Alternative chart. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list. These are the first charts I am posting for 2008.

Americana Music Association - Airplay Week og January 7th
1) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
2) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
3) Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer
4) John Fogerty - Revival
5) Ryan Bingham - Mescalito
6) Shooter Jennings - The Wolf
7) Dwight Yoakam - Dwight Sings Buck
8) Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez - Live from Ruhr Triennale
9) Gougers - A long Day for the Weathervane
10) Various - Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino

Debuts
33) Tift Merrit - Another Country
37) Sara Cox - Crowded is the New Lonely

XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking week of Jan. 7th
1) Ryan Bingham - Mescalito
2) Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer
3) Bleu Edmondson - Lost Boy
4) The Bridge - Th Bridge
5) Miles from Nowhere - Bloodlines
6) Dwight Yoakam - Dwight Sings Buck
7) Shooter Jennings - The Wolf
8) Deadstring Brothers - Silver Mountain
9) Cross Canadian Ragweed - Mission California
10) Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez - Live from Ruhr Triennale

Debuts
47) Red Stick Ramblers - Made in the Shade
48) Steeldrivers - Self-Titled
49) Marah - Angels of Destruction

FMQB AAA Non-Commercial - Airplay Week of Dec. 31st
1) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
2) Bruce Springsteen - Magic
3) Iron & Wine - The Shepherds' Dog
4) Radiohead - In Rainbows
5) Neil Young - Chrom Dreams II
6) KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
7) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
8) Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild
9) Spoon - GaGaGaGaGa
10) Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer

Debuts:
18) Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static
22) Sheryl Crow - Detours
24) Keller Williams - 12

Drive-By-Truckers: Brighter than Creation's Dark

When a band has a shakeup in its' lineup critics will often look skeptically at their follow up album. But when the follow up is an epic 70 minute 19 song project, even a reasonable critic has to wonder if they can pull it off. Fortunately for us the Truckers not only pull it off, but they deliver an instant classic. In fact, front man Patterson Hood feels that Brighter than Creation's Dark is their best work. It is hard to argue with him, although I personally love the Truckers music to a degree that makes it hard for me to single out one album as their best.

The loss of Jason Isbell was significant but Hood and Mike Cooley had a recipe for success. Take away one electric guitar (Isbell) but add Pedal Steel (John Neff) and one legendary keyboardist (Spooner Oldham) along with a female voice (Isbell's ex Shonna Tucker). The resulting entree' these ingredients make could make Martha Stewart proud. However, Martha would need to get liquored up and go back to prison in order to truly appreciate this meal.

The album is full of all of the things that make the Truckers great. It is reminiscent in some ways of Southern Rock Opera. Patterson Hood can still tell the story of the struggling Southern working man like no one else. His stories are also able to resonate with everyone trying to navigate their way through this life. Take "Righteous Path" as an example. On this song Hood sings, "I don't know God but I fear his wrath. I'm just trying to stay on the righteous path."

Mike Cooley can still deliver tales of excess and debauchery with the best of them. "Three Dimes Down" and the hilarious country song "Lisa's Birthday" are the best examples of this. But on this album Cooley's lyrics have more depth and self-reflection than ever. On "Perfect Timing" Cooley says "I used to hate the fool in me but only in the morning. Now I tolerate him all day long."

Shonna Tucker contributes and sings three songs on the album. Her voice is good and has a touch of a rough soulful quality that fits nicely on the album. You can especially hear the soulful edge on "Home Field Advantage."

Patterson Hood's song "man I Shot" is a song about a soldier in Iraq that I think anyone can appreciate. Much like Jason Isbell's "Dress Blues" the tragedy of war is shown in a way that is moving no matter your political affiliation. Also true to form for the Truckers, drug addiction in rural America is discussed in a few songs like "You and your Crystal Meth." Indeed the Truckers have mixed what has always made them great with some new twists that show they are going to continue to be great for some time to come.

Check out a few of their new songs on the DBT MySpace Page

This review also appears on Twangville

Bluegrass Mecca in the OC

The organic and social nature of Bluegrass is one of the main attractions of the genre. As a culture we are losing our sense of community and our pace of life seems to be ever accelerating. That is why this "Hillbilly Music" is now attracting such disparate participants. There are few better ways to find connection than "roots" music.

Consider this quote from the Orange County Register:

"But those looking to gawk at hillbillies wearing straw hats, sporting gap-toothed grins and playing washboards should look elsewhere.

'We are not one-shoulder strapped overalls, minus teeth and no education. … We don't go around making the pigs squeal,' says Spiegel, a Southern California fiddle champion.

A 'good 70 percent' of the people who play bluegrass music have college degrees, says Spiegel, a fiddle teacher who's counted doctors, lawyers and scientists among her students."

Read the Full Article online:
Bluegrass Mecca in an Archery Range

Settin' the Woods on Fire: This Year's Charts

The Overall Charts for 2007. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list. Expanded lists are available there

Americana Music Association - Top 10 of 2007
1) Lucinda William - West
2) Ryan Adams Easy Tiger
3) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
4) Son Volt - The Search
5) Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
6) Marty Stuart - Compadres
7) Jay Boy Adams - The Shoe Box
8) Joe Ely - Happy Songs from Rattlesnake Gulch
9) Various Artists - Endless Highway: Music of the Band
10) Greencards - Viridian


XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking Top 10 of 2007
1) John Fogerty - Revival
2) Lucinda Williams - West
3) Kelly Willis - Translated Fom L:ove
4) Jay Boy Adams - The Show Box
5) Blackie and the Rodeo Kings - Let's Frolic
6) Bill Kirchen - Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods
7) Son Volt - The Search
8) Southern Culture on the Skids - Countrypolitan
9) Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch
10) Kendel Carson - Rearview Mirror Tears

New Year Releases

The New Year releases will get kicked off a little slowly but there are several that have cought my eye. So since Dick Clark rang in the year in all of his Nipped, Tucked and Botox glory you can focus on some early year releases. By the way he co-hosting this year with Ryan Seacrest. So your Rockin' Eve was hosted by the ageless one and the classless one. As for me, I watched Superbad instead and ignored the whole damn embarassing spectacle. Back from my Digression let us talk about new music.

1-8

Marah - Angels of Destruction! Does anyone rock with more passion than the kids from Philly?
Check out a couple of new Tunes on MySpace

Rhonda Vincent - Good Thing Going Supposedly more country and less traditional it will be interesting to here this one.

Sample at Ronder

1-22

Drive-By-Truckers - Brighter than Creation's Dark - More on this later. I will be posting a review thia weekend. However, it is yet another great one from the Truckers.

The Preview on myspace

Norh Mississippi Allstars - Hernando I'm fired up for this one. The Allstars and the Truckers on th same day! It needs to be declared a national holiday.

Sample tracks Here

Matt Costa - Unfamiliar Faces This will be the first good Singer-Songwriter albums of 2008.

Check out Mr. Pitiful on his website.

Dan Israel - Turning

A late release in 2007 that I almost overlooked is Dan Israel's Turning. Israel has been around a while from the Midwest to Austin and back again. He has opened for acts as diverse as Morissey, Spoon and Peter Himmelman. He has won songwriter awards in both Austin and Minneapolis, including Minnesota songwriter of the year in 2006. He has done albums solo and with his backing band The Cultivators. This album is a combination of friends and members of The Cultivators. The friends who join him are a who's who of the Midwest Music scene. Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks), Dave Boquist (Son Volt), John Munson (Semisonic) and Jesse Green (Foo Fighters and Wilco) just to name a few.

All of these different contributors come together under the singular vision of Israel to make a cohesive album. If you like roots rock there is something for you here. The first three songs on the album prove this. The album opens with "Triangle," which showcases Israel's singer-songwriter side. This leads into the lose rocking and rootsy "Counting on You." The next song "Hurt and Love" is an Americana song with a gentle banjo and fiddle inter-play the creates a musical metaphor to the tug of war in relationships that the song addresses. The album's highlight is the power pop anthem "News to Me." Also, the slide guitar work on "Song for Africa" makes that song stand out. In all honesty there is no weak link on this album. It is strong from start to finish.

Check out his MySpace page

This review also appears on Twangville

Merry Christmas from the Family !!!

Bing Crosby and Burl Ives have nothing on Rebert Earl Keen:

Merry Christmas from Cracker !!!!

Cracker sent an e-mail to music bloggers asking them to spread a little Christmas Cheer. This is the song they released around Christmas in 2001. They are now circulating an MP3 link for free.

So Merry Christmas I hope Santa brings you all some Cracker Soul!!!

Merry Christmas Emily Free MP3

Sara Lynn Single and Video to be Released to US Country Radio in early 2008

Steel Jack Music Group released Sara Lynn's debut album Thing for You on September 30th. However, they are going to do a major US radio promotion for the album and the first single, which is the title cut, in early 2008. The Canadian Country Diva has all of the ingredients to a popular mainstream country star in the US. The only problem is that she plays "real" Country music. However the recent success of Miranda Lambert and others offers hope to more traditional artists and suggests a new willingness on the part of Nashville to play more traditional music.

Sara Lynn both exemplifies and defies the typical Nashville formula. She exemplifies the formula because she is good looking and has a voice that is equally as stunning. She defies the Nashville formula in that she was not "created" by the industry. She is a truly well rounded and talented artist. In fact she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album, and co-produced it along with Todd Ostrowercha and Tim Hearsey. The album was recorded in her hometown of Vancouver, but was mixed and engineered in Nashville.

The songs she writes reflect on her personal experiences and feelings. The album is typified by catchy, high-energy tunes in which she mixes in fiddle and even some accordion to pump the energy into the album. Although she grew up on Country music she also sites The Band, Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones among her influences. I hope Nashville picks up on her. She certainly has what it takes and US mainstream audiences deserve the opportunity to experience her for themselves.

Check out her Website

Check out her video:


This review also appears on Twangville

Grammy Nomination for Some AWT Favorites

Although I don't really care for the Grammys, there are some AWT favorites that received nomination and I wanted to point them out

Feist - Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album
Paul McCartney - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Solo Rock Performance
U2 - Best Pop Performance By a Group, Best Rock Performance By a Group
Plant & Krauss - Best Pop Collaboration
Beck - Best Solo Rock Performance
Bruce SpringSteen - Best Solo Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Album
White Stripes - Best Rock Performance By a Group, Best Rock Song, Best Alternative Album
Wilco - Best Rock Album
John Fogerty - Best Rock Album
The Shins - Best Alternative Album
Alison Krauss - Best Country Female Vocal Performance
Miranda Lambert - Best Country Female Vocal Performance
Trisha Yearwood - Best Country Female Vocal Performance
Steve Earle - Best Country Collaboration
Willie Nelson - Best Country Collaboration
The Greencards - Best Country Instrumental
Jim Lauderdale - Best Bluegrass Album
Cherryholmes - Best Bluegrass Album
Tony Trischka - Best Bluegrass Album
Ricky Skaggs - Best Bluegrass Gospel Album
Bettye Lavette - Best Contemporary Blues Album
Doyle Bramhall - Best Contemporary Blues Albumn
Peter Case - Best Traditional Folk Album
Levon Helm - Best Traditional Folk Album
Charlie Louvin - Best Traditional Folk Album
Steve Earle - Best Contemporary Folk Album
Patty Griffin - Best Contemporarey Folk Album
Tom Waits- Best ContemporaryFolk Album

Tift Merrit is joining Teddy Thompson for Darfur

I'm passing this on from Tift Merrit's mailing list:

December 19th at the Highline Ballroom in NYC. Tift Merrit will be a part of Teddy Thompson's Evening with Friends to benefit Sudan (www.savedarfur.org). The evening will also include Rufus and Martha Wainwright and others. Sounds like a great show for a good cause.

Ron Block of Union Station Finishing Production of Album by Mandolin Prodigy

As Allison Krauss tours with Robert Plant in Spring of 2008 members of Union Station are going to be working on various projects. One of these projects is currently under way. Ron Block is working on production of an album by 15 year old Bluegrass Mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull. The album will be released in the Spring of 2008 on Rounder. Contributing musicians include Tony Rice, Dan Tyminski and Rob Ickes. However, dont't think that she will intimidated sharing the studio with these legends. She has already shared the stage with Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, IIIrd Time Out and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. She also appeared on the Randy Khors video on CMT that has been previously featured here on AWT. She wrote several of the songs for the album, which will be her second release. She released her first album Angel Mountain in 2002 when she was only 10.

She has done all of this by the age of 15 and what have I done my life? Well to quote Jimmy Buffett "I'm an over 40 victim of fate."

Check out this video:

The Wreckers release live CD/DVD

WAY BACK HOME: LIVE FROM NEW YORK is the new Live CD/DVD from The Wreckers it was released Tuesday. The recording was done at the Bowery in New York. They are an sign of life in "Mainstream" Country music. Also, let's face it they are as easy on the eyes as they are on the ears. They are both also planning on releasing solo projects next year that we can look forward to.

Here is their number 1 hit "Leave the Pieces"

Settin' the Woods on Fire - This Week's Charts

This is a bi-weekly feature in which I post on AWT the top albums and debuts in the airplay charts from Americana Music Assoc., XM Cross Country and FMQB Non-Commercial Adult Alternative chart. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list.

Americana Music Association - Airplay Week of November 26th
1) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
2) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
3) Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer
4) John Fogerty - Revival
5) Dwight Yoakam - Dwight Sings Buck
6) Various - Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino
7) Shooter Jennings - The Wolf
8) Ryan Bingham - Mescalito
9) Kane Welch Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin
10) Lyle Lovet and His Large Band - It's Not Big It's Large

Debuts
35) Bridge - The Bridge
37) Bleu Edmondson - Lost Boy

XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking week of Nov. 26th
1) John Fogerty - Revival
2) Emmylou Harris - Songbird
3) Legendary Shackshakers - Swampblood
4) The Sadies - New Seasons
5) Shooter Jennings - The Wolf
6) Cross Canadian Ragweed - Mission California
7) Jim Lauderdale - Bluegrass Diaries
8) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
9) Dwight Yoakam - Dwight Sings Buck
10) Miles from Nowhere - Bloodlines

Debuts
None

FMQB AAA Non-Commercial - Airplay Week of Nov. 26th
1) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
2) Bruce Springsteen - Magic
3) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
4) Iron & Wine - The Shepherds' Dog
5) Mark Knopfler - Kill to Get Crimson
6) Neil Young - Chrom Dreams II
7) John Fogerty - Revival
8) Marc Cohn - Giving Up the Ghost
9) Ben Harper - Lifeline
10) Chuck Prophet - Soap & Water

Debuts:
28) Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
29) Ween - La Cucaracha

Best of 2007 - Final

This is My final Best of 2007. Wilco is still #1. The debuts are Deadstring Brothers at #5, The Boss at #9, John Fogerty at #16, Larry Cordle at #22, Ryan Bingham at #25, Band of Horses at #33, Little Big Town at #39 and Levon Helm at #46 Also, as usual, I did some rearranging based on further reflection.

Because the list stopped growing at 50, some albums had to come off. My apologies to the artists. However, like the AP College Football Poll I have an others receiving votes type of honorable mention category at the bottom to recognize albums that came close to making it. For a year in which you hear so much negative press about the music industry, 2007 is a banner year. The major labels may have committed Pop suicide but the indie world is as or even more prolific as ever. Enjoy the list and feel free to tell me how you agree or disagree. Also, make no hesitation to trash me or my intelligence in any way you see fit. I'm used to it.

1) Wilco - "Sky Blue Sky"
2) Patty Griffin - "Children Running Through"
3) White Stripes - "Icky Thump"
4) Kelly Willis - "Translated From Love"
5) Deadstring Brothers - "Silver Mountain"
6) Lyle Lovett - "It's Not Big It's Large"
7) Wrinkle Neck Mules - "Wicks Have Met"
8) Jason Isbell - "Sirens of the Ditch"
9) Bruce Springsteen - "Magic"
10) Assembly of Dust - "Recollection"
11) Kane, Welch, Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin
12) Hackensaw Boys - "Look Out"
13) The Shins - "Wincing the Night Away"
14) Ryan Adams - "Easy Tiger"
15) John Doe - "A year in the Wilderness"
16) John Fogerty - "Revival"
17) Son Volt - "The Search"
18) Peter Case - "Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John"
19) Oakley Hall - "I'll Follow You"
20) The Broken West - "I Can't Go on I'll Go on"
21) Elliot Randall - "Take the Fall"
22) Larry Cordle & Lonsome Standard Time - "Took Down & Put Up"
23) The Basement - "Illicit Hugs and Playground Thugs"
24) Josh Ritter - "The Historical Conquests of"
25) Ryan Bingham - "Mescalito"
26) Paul McCartney - " Memory Almost Full"
27) Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles - "Diamonds in the Dark"
28) Kim Richey - "Chinese Boxes"
29) Joe Henry - "Civilians"
30) King Wilkie - "Low Country Suite"
31) Modest Mouse - "We Were Dead Before he Ship Ever Sank"
32) Giant Bear - "Giant Bear"
33) Band of Horses - "Cease to Begin"
34) Feist - "The Reminder"
35) Iron & Wine - "The Shepherds Dog"
36) Olav Larsen and the Alabama Rodeo Stars - "Loves' Com to Town"
37) Elizabeth Cook - "Balls"
38) Mary Gauthier - Between Daylight and Dark"
39) Little Big Town - "A Place to Land"
40) Dale Watson - "From the Cradle to the Grave"
41) Spoon - "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
42) The Gourds - "Noble Creatures"
43) The National - "Boxer"
44) Slider Pines - "Road, Avenue, Railroad"
45) Alberta Cross - "The Thief and the Heartbreaker"
46) Levon Helm - "Dirt Farmer"
47) Infamous Stringdusters - "Fork in the Road"
48) Adam Hood - "Different Groove"
49) Steep Canyon Rangers - "Lovin' Pretty Women"
50) Rocky Votolato - "The Brag and Cuss"

Other Notables (In no particular order):
Kevin Deal, Terri Hendrix, Plant-Krauss, Randy Khors, Chuck Prophet, Jim Lauderdale, Dwight Yoakam, Joe Ely, Josh Rouse, Grace Potter, Bettye LaVette, Charlie Louvin, Nathan, Steve Earle, Cadillac Sky, Eillen Jewell, Pieta Brown, 2 Cow Garage, Willy Mason, Pela, Brandi Carlisle, Martin Sexton, Okkervil River and The Derailers.

Deadstring Brothers Live @ Zydeco in Birmingham, AL

I always thought how inspiring it must be for a musician to walk on stage in fromt of 12,000 screaming fans. But what about when it is 12 fans? How inspiring is that? Pretty damn inspiring if the Deadstring Brothers are any example. In reality there were more than 12 people at Zydeco two nights before Thanksgiving, but to say there were 25 would be generous. What they gave the fans that night was an inspired set that had the feel of a private show for friends. It is so refreshing to see a band play because they love it, which clearly these guys do.

The cozy setting allowed the band to develop great rapport with the crowd. In fact , they were very curious about the Southern Phenomenon of the fried turkey. Which the lead vocalist Kurt Marschke is apparently willing to "eat the ass out of that bird." I don't think I would want to witness that but I bet they found some fried turkey on Thanksgiving to try. The musical highlights of the show included from the new album "Heavy Load" and "Queen of the Scene," which are consumate live songs. The best song of the evening though was "Sacred Heart" from Starving Winter Report. Another highlight came in the encore when they did a steeple rockin' version of the gospel song "Uncloudy Day."

Check out these video clips I shot at the show. The audio isn't the best but you will get the idea:

"Tennessee Sure Enough"


"Queen of the Scene"


"Singing Gospel"

Apparently McCoury Music Only Thinks it Knows Bluegrass

Check this out on Twang Nation

The Grammy nominating committee would not consider Merle Haggard's Bluegrass Sessions for a nomination in the Bluegrass category because they felt it wasn't Bluegrass.

Let's look at the facts. It was produced by McCoury (as in Del) Music, who decided to call it Bluegrass. It features Bluegrass musicians and it was recorded at Ricky Skaggs place. That sounds a lot like Bluegrass to me. Also, if you go to any Bluegrass fstival you will see that the Bluegrass community casts a pretty wide net as to musical styles. I definitely think there is room in that net for this album.

Talk about hypocricy! If you can't call Haggard's album Bluegrass then please don't call Faith Hill or Shania Twain country.

Alison Krauss, Robert Plant and T-Bone Burnett on Charlie Rose

Many thanks to Ashley. Whose comment let me know about T-bone, Robert Plant and alison Krauss on the Charlie Rose show today.

Here is an excerpt from the interview

Hope for an Indie Artist - Randu Kohrs gets grassroots support on CMT

Defying the odds, resophonic guitarist Randy Kohrs' video "Who's Goin' With Me" (from his excellent album Old Photograph) has risen up to number 3 on the listener picked CMT Pure 12 Pack countdown show. He is also starting to get a bit of notice from radio outlets. Anyone who understands how things work in Nashville can understand how difficult it is for an independent label and artist to get this kind of play. I take this as a sign of life for the Nashville mainstream music scene. Maybe they are willing to try something new in the wake of declining sales. If the Nashville music industry's greed and desire for revenue begin to favor "real" and indie country artists for a change, that will be the ultimate irony. We can only hope.

See the article on Cybergrass

Give him a vote on CMT

The Results Are In!!!!

Winners of the Americana Music Honors & Awards held November 1st at the Ryman in Nashville:

• Album of the Year-Patty Griffin/Children Running Through

• Artist of the Year-Patty Griffin

• Duo Group of the Year-Avett Brothers

• Instrumentalist of the Year-Buddy Miller

• New/Emerging Artist of the Year-Avett Brothers

• Song of the Year-"Hank Williams' Ghost"-by Darrell Scott


Additional Awards went to:

• Lyle Lovett - Trailblazer Award

• Joe Ely-Lifetime Achievement for Performance

• Mavis Staples - "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award

• Ry Cooder-Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist

• Willie Nelson-Lifetime Achievement for Songwriter

• Jim Dickinson-Lifetime Achievement for a Producer Engineer

• Townes Van Zandt-The Presidents Award

Settin' the Woods on Fire- This Week's Charts

This is a bi-weekly feature in which I post on AWT the top albums and debuts in the airplay charts from Americana Music Assoc., XM Cross Country and FMQB Non-Commercial Adult Alternative chart. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list.

Americana Music Association - Airplay Week of November 5th
1) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
2) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
3) John Fogerty - Revival
4) Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer
5) Various - Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino
6) Dwight Yoakam - Dwight Sings Buck
7) Lyle Lovet and His Large Band - It's Not Big It's Large
8) Kane Welch Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin
9) Emmylou Harris - Songbird
10) Shooter Jennings - The Wolf

Debuts
32) Will Hoge - Draw the Curtains
33) Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II
39) Iron & Wine - The Shepherds' Dog

XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking week of Nov. 5th
1) John Fogerty - Revival
2) Emmylou Harris - Songbird
3) Shawn Camp & Billy Burnette - The Bluegrass Elvises
4) Cross Canadian Ragweed - Mission California
5) Kane Welch Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin
6) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
7) Toni Price - Talk Memphis
8) Lyle Lovet and His Large Band - It's Not Big It's Large
9) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
10) Korby Lenker - King of Hearts

Debuts
45) Shooter Jennings - The Wolf
46) Blue Rodeo - Small Miracles
47) Miles from Nowhere - Bloodline
48) Matt Powell - New Kind of Something

FMQB AAA Non-Commercial - Airplay Week of Nov. 5th
1) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
2) Bruce Springsteen - Magic
3) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
4) John Fogerty - Revival
5) Mark Knopfler - Kill to Get Crimson
6) Ben Harper - Lifetime
7) Iron & Wine - The Shepherds' Dog
8) Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquest
9) Various - Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino
10) Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight

Debuts:
17) Neil Young - Chrome Dreams
19) Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer
27) Ingrid Michaelson - Girls & Boys