From their soulfully southern-rocking new album, Ramble on Privilege Creek, here's Statesboro Revue with "Fade My Shade of Black." RIYL: The Dirty Guv'nahs, Quaker City Night Hawks, Whiskey Myers, Blackberry Smoke.
Apr 20, 2013
YouTube Junk: David Richt (featuring Colt Ford)
Did you ever think you'd see a collaboration in which Colt Ford was the far more talented participant? Thanks Georgia! And thanks to Taylor Smith for bringing this to my attention.
Note: I command you to watch all of it.
Apr 19, 2013
YouTube Gems: Shinyribs
From their danceable new album Gulf Coast Museum, out this previous Tuesday, here's the (2 year old?) MusicFog recording of "Bolshevik Sugarcane."
Brantley Gilbert Fans eCards #14
These are actual, unedited comments from Brantley Gilbert fans on YouTube.
Apr 18, 2013
Album Review: Javi Garcia - The Great Controversy
I'll admit two things going in to this review: First, I've been a huge fan of Madly In Anger/A Southern Horror since they first came out & was expecting nothing less than a stellar follow up effort. Second, this was one of the more difficult reviews I've had to write partly because of the first.
The album sets a searingly dark tone from the opener and never let's off the throttle. I'm familiar with Javi's fondness for The Rolling Stones & tried to set that aside at first listen. By the time I got halfway through the pounding "Stick To The Facts" I'd completely forgotten about it. This whole record has Sticky Fingers-era Stones all over it, to the point that if it weren't for Javi's scowling & brooding vocals on top of the track it wouldn't surprise you to learn that this was a recently unearthed treasure trove of songs from 45 years ago just now released to the public.
None of that is meant to diminish from the greatness of this work. It can stand side by side with any great work. This is simply meant to acknowledge that, whether he meant for it to or not, Javi's first great musical love can be heard and felt all through this record.
The songs are, as a whole, every bit as dark as the first record. The story telling has grown more distinct than before. Each song tells a chapter of the story, but unlike before they won't let you linger some favorite spot along the way. There is no spot to catch your breath.
I went through about 6 different attempts to go at this on a track by track basis but in the end I couldn't make a single track more important than another and scrapped the format. I tried to come up with a way to not say, "hey, I think this could be the Great Lost Stones Record" but I really couldn't and still be honest in my reaction.
So basically I took away three things from this record:
1) This is the rarest type of album. It requires owning in its entirety, else you miss a large chunk of the story. Yes some tracks (Nightfall in particular) seem more radio friendly than others but that's not the point of any track.
2) Passion still matters for a lot in anything. Passion in the creative process produces great result. This album has the kind of passion to it that tells you it was never an option. It HAD to be made.
3) You could drop songs from this album into a playlist for some old rock n roll fans to listen to, mixed right up next to anything from Sticky Fingers or Exile On Main Street & nobody would bitch. I tried it.
That's why at the end of the day all I can say is that it's a great album, and I think that Mick & Keith would both give their right arm for this kind of album any time in at least the past 30 years.
Even though I've seen him in person, I picture the songwriting Javi as something like Javier Bardem's character in No Country For Old Men. This album is the audio equivalent to that movie. I happen to love both but even if you hate the movie you should really give it a listen anyway.Also, for those of you who didn't jump at your chance to get a pen-and-ink skull drawn by Javi back a couple months ago, you really should have. The man is a great artist in more than one medium.
Sample tracks here.
Listen to an acoustic version of "Josephine" on YouTube
----
Javi Garcia's The Great Controversy can be purchased here and at all the other usual outlets.
Apr 17, 2013
Justin Wells: The FTM Interview
Recently I caught up with
singer Justin Wells (with a little help from bass player Jason
Parsons) from the band Fifth On The Floor to ask him some questions
that all inquiring minds were dying to hear before the band's show at
Tootle's Pumpkin Inn located in Circleville, Ohio.
FTM:
How's the current stretch of the tour (that's ongoing)?
Justin:
It's going really good. I think we've done about 80 miles so far.
It's been real grueling, we played last night and then we're also
gonna play tonight. So.... we're playing two nights back to back. You
know the bands starting to fall apart a little bit. Aaron (drummer
Aaron Graham) had to check out for a little bit and Parsons (bass
player Jason Parsons) has been talking in tongues so we're all ready
to go home.
FTM:
I thought talking in tongues usually waited until the end of the
show.
How much of a relief is it
to finally have your album (Ashes & Angels) out on shelves?
Justin:
I wasn't aware that is was on shelves.
FTM:
That's where people put it after they buy it.
Justin: Yeah,
after they return it. No man, it's great. We started working on the
thing in January of last year and writing a good year before that.
It's a big relief and glad it's out and people are enjoying it. We
want people to keep buying it. Buy two copies if you don't already
have them.
FTM: With
the Moonrunners Festival coming up, are there any acts you would like
to see that you've not seen before?
Justin:
I was thinking about staying sober so I could see Fifth On The Floor
to be honest with you.
FTM: That
would be a first and you know a few of their songs.
Justin:
I seen Scott H. Biram play a couple of times and he's always a real
treat and I'm looking forward to that. The same with Last False Hope
because those guys are all good friends of mine. Really just all of
it. I've never seen Possessed By Paul James and that should be
awesome. I'm just gonna try and stay sober.
FTM: Have
you ever had a problem with standing up fast and your ears popping?
Justin:
Uh, not but I don't stand up real fast. I don't really do anything
real fast. I don't know if you've noticed.
FTM: Yeah,
I've been walking with you.
Justin:
It's taking us 30 minutes to cross the street. (entire interview
conducted within a 1 block walk)
FTM: What
was it like playing on the Grand Ole Opry with George Jones?
Justin: Uh
(laughs)
FTM: Oops,
my bad. I thought you were Charlie Starr from Blackberry Smoke.
Justin:
(much more laughing) Yes!
FTM:
Ashes & Angels is a great album. I love it. But how much longer
will we have to wait before we get a Nelly remix version?
Justin: Nelly
is not available unfortunately so we're going to be bringing in LL
Cool J since he's making a foray into country music.
FTM: He's
done worse already.
Justin: We're
currently working on "Distant Memory Lizzand"
FTM: In
the standard form of measurement, what size hat do you think your
poop wears?
Justin: My
poop? (ha ha ha) My poop. Well today it has been wearing about a 5
gallon hat.
FTM: What's
the dumbest question you've ever been asked in an interview?
Justin: Uh,
what was that question right before this one?
FTM: What's
the worst drink a fan has ever bought for you?
Justin: The
easy answer is Jägermeister. A more complicated answer is, out in
like Iowa and Kansas we found this string of shows where people would
bring us this brandy shit. It was like blackberry brandy. That was
pretty nasty and this one particular one they're all drinking brandy
and this guy gives me this shit and I don't remember what it was
called. Parsons might remember. It was menthol flavored. I don't
think it was legal to sell or own.
FTM:
In one sentence, how would you describe the average Fifth On The
Floor fan?
Justin: Despair, period.
FTM: Well
I guess that's one sentence.
I've noticed that a lot of
your pictures you post on twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are very
fuzzy. When we get done can I wipe off your phone camera for you? I
think it has some pocket fuzz or something on it.
Justin:
It's not fuzz but yeah I would use gloves.
FTM: What
would be the dream act for you guys to open up for?
Justin: Oh
man, that's a tough one. High up there would be The Allman Brothers
Band or Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty).
Most of my dream acts aren't around anymore. I would love a chance to
open for Shooter Jennings because he's not an outlaw and we're not
either. So I just kinda think we could start a new movement of just
law. Not outlaw, just law.
FTM: That
leads right into my next question. How would it have turned out
differently if instead of Dennis Rodman, you had visited North Korea?
Justin:
(laughs) I would like to think that they would sacrifice at least
their first born to me to sooth me.
FTM: So
you're going to be the bad guy to them (the people of North Korea)?
Justin: Not even the bad
guy as much as this benevolent force of nature. Kind of like
Galactus. I would eat their planet.
FTM:
If you could pick one country singer or band to eliminate, who would
it be? They will never sing or touch an instrument again.
Justin: This
is the most difficult question so far.
FTM: You
can not say Fifth On The Floor.
Justin: Eliminate
just one act that I despise. That's a tough one man. You're talking
about in country music? I'd say in country music I'd have to
eliminate LL Cool J. Yeah, that's who I'd get rid of.
Parsons:
I second that.
FTM: What
is your favorite brand of skinny jeans?
Justin: (laughs)
Hey Parsons can you field this one? Let's ask Parsons.
FTM:
Tag, Parsons you're in. What's your favorite brand of skinny jeans.
Parsons:
(long silent look of confusion)
FTM: Is
that your favorite brand that you're wearing or would you like to go
with a different brand?
Parson: What
are skinny jeans anyway? I don't understand the concept of them.
Justin: Tag,
I'm in.
FTM: How
often do you guys get negativity on twitter like pointing out that
you suck?
Justin: We
let management field all of that shit because we've got better things
to think about. I mean, we've been on this tour for 2 day and we're
kinda nuts deep in our careers and can't be looking back at
ex-girlfriends and shit.
FTM: What's
your favorite key to play "Wagon Wheel" in?
Justin: Yes......
The one with a capo. The key of Hootie.
FTM: Is
this the worst interview you've ever done?
Justin:
Yeah. Ol yeah. Absolutely. I don't like you people.
FTM:
Mission accomplished. Brantley Gilbert or Rascal Flatts?
Parsons: Brantley
Justin:
I'd say Rascal Flatts because I'm not very good at shopping.
Parsons:
Can it be a cage match to the death between them?
Justin:
A little known fact is we actually opened up for Brantley Gilbert
years ago and that dude is a mother (f'n) outlaw. That dude is the
dude that Shooter is singing about in "The Gunslinger."
FTM: Well
that ties right into my next question. If you had to give up one
thing would it be your height or your facial hair?
Justin: Golly!
Uh, is weight an option?
FTM: No,
that's too easy.
Justin: Honestly
I could give up either one of those things and still be a guitar god.
(the entire band is now laughing. Justin is not.)
FTM: On
a scale of 1-10, how much do you love the band Florida-Georgia Line?
Justin:
(a long moment of silence) Parsons, do you want this one?
Parsons:
I have not heard a single note they've played. I thought they were a
cover band down south. I'm serious about that.
Justin: Just
don't call them outlaws.
Parsons:
I was just told that they were a real band?
FTM: Believe
it or not we actually have some fan submitted questions. First one is
from Jason A. from Georgia. "How do you expect people to believe
you're a real country band when you don't sing about trucks?"
Justin: Uh
Jason, we wrote the song ...f'n "Georgia"
FTM: Maybe
he's never heard that one. Blake S. from Texas (Editor's note: Blake S. is from Oklahoma) would like to know
"What would it take to get you to join me in a drinking contest
and how many wine coolers do you think you could handle?"
Justin:
My beard could kick your forehead's ass anytime and any day.
FTM: Amy
H from Ohio "Can you pick up toilet paper and milk on your way
home...... Uh oops. That was my wife texting me. My bad.
Justin:
(laughter has now turned to squealing)
FTM: Toby
K from Oklahoma "I've listened to y'alls albums and I can't tell
if you're for the troops or the taliban, please clear this up."
Parsons: We've
all got beards but hell man.
Justin: Our
new album is called "Ashes & Angels". Does that not
answer your question?
Parsons: It's
the symbolism, the symbolism.
Justin: Shhh.
FTM:
Shooter J from California, New York, Tennessee or wherever he's at
right now wants to know "Will you help me get something off of
the top shelf?"
Justin:
(the entire band has now arrived to laugh) Man Shooter, I'll be glad
to help you anytime I can if you'll just take off the f'n sunglasses
when you're inside.
FTM:
Good enough man. Thanks a lot.
Justin: Yeah,
thank you. That's awesome, I want to do another one.
------------------
Fifth on the Floor's latest album, Ashes and Angels, can be purchased here or the usual outlets.
Album Reviews: Futurebirds - Baba Yaga
By Matthew MartinAccording to Futurebirds' website, the making and shopping around of the new album was a massive headache and seemed to be doomed from the beginning. Thus, the name, Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga is a witch in Slavic folklore who could be either good, bad, or ambiguous. Luckily for us, good prevailed, and the album was able to see the light of day nearly 2 years after it was begun.
One thing that really grabbed me about Futurebirds the first time I heard them was the reverb that drenched every song. Also, the reckless abandon that permeates out of the songs like any moment things might fall apart. The whole thing could just collapse. Maybe the reverb holds everything together. Whatever it is, I want neither attribute to change for the Futurebirds.
When the first song, "Virginia Slims" kicks in on Baba Yaga, it's clear that we have the same Futurebirds. You get the distinct feeling that maybe this was all recorded in a church with no air conditioning. The heat of the South seems to drip from every player in the band.
Trading off vocal duties, each track feels very familiar, but very distinct. The straightforward country-rock of "Tan Lines" differs from the slow-burn, dare I say, psychedelic rock of "Death Awaits." The great thing about Futurebirds is they know how to make these styles fit perfectly side-by-side. They transition, with ease, from one style into another.
Lyrically, this feels a lot more mature than previous Futurebirds albums. Themes run the gamut; from death ("Death Awaits") and relationships ("Keith and Donna") to odd character sketches ("American Cowboy").
For many, the reverb added to the vocals is somewhat of a turn off as you can't quite pick up on some of the lyrics. There is a feeling that it was not mixed correctly. But, this is part of the charm that I find in the Futurebirds recordings. If you're curious as to the level of reverb, think My Morning Jacket's The Tennessee Fire.
For me, this is one of the best albums of 2013. It's perfect music for a hot afternoon; to just sit on your porch or patio and drink a beer or 3. This set of songs sees Futurebirds hit their stride and not let up. The band has benefited from years on the road and has grown into a tight-knit band, albeit a tight-knit band that loves playing closely to the edge.
Go listen to the album here. Not sure how much longer it will be up, so do it quickly and discover your next favorite band.
RIYL: My Morning Jacket, Shovels & Rope, Dawes, Calexico
Apr 16, 2013
New Video: Earl Dibbles Jr. - Country Boy Love
Earl Dibbles Jr. has a new video out and it's another humdinger. From Granger Smith's new album (#1 on iTunes country today), Dirt Road Driveway, here's Earl with "Country Boy Love." Probably not safe for work...
Album Review: Dallas Moore Band - Blessed be the Bad Ones
My excitement to get a full listen to this album was pretty high and other than an initial problem with the download, (satellite internet stinks) I was not disappointed. The album kicks off with the perfect starter song for a Dallas Moore record which is also the title track "Blessed Be The Bad Ones." From the first line "To the nights I can't remember and the things I won't forget" you know you're in for a modern-day outlaw country trip into the honky-tonk of your mind. This track provides the perfect cadence and subject matter for Dallas's vocals and rolls into the next track "Sometin' Changed" quite nicely.
Track 3 provides a faster-paced song in "Where You Gonna Be When I'm Gone" that kind of catches you off guard on the first listen, but quickly becomes a tune you'll listen to over and over. Dallas comes in at well above adequate with the rasp in his voice actually dropping to an all time low on this one. The female backing vocals are also spot on. If they would actually play it, FM radio would benefit from this song. "Slippin' and Slidin'" continues with the upbeat pace that rolls you right into "Texas Tornado" for that perfect made for a honky-tonk song that ends up breaking into a bit of a name dropping session, but will be forgiven since it mentions Hillbilly Jim (of WWE and SiriusXM Outlaw Country).
The classic tale of a good person that stumbles in life rings through in "Condemned Behind The Wall." Dallas provides a fresh approach to something that's been written about multiple times and provides a good sing-along and pleasant listen.
Coming in next is "Dirty Rotten Filthy." In my opinion, this along with "All of Those Good Times" are the weakest songs on the album. Without strong context they might bring the album down a notch or so, but luckily each is followed by new versions of classic Dallas Moore Band songs. ("Carolina Sunshine" and "Crazy Again," respectively.)
I'm hoping if you've made it this far into this review, you don't need to know much about "Carolina Sunshine" or "Crazy Again." For those unfortunate souls that aren't familiar with these two songs I'll say this: They're awesome and this may be the best version of "Crazy Again" I've heard. "Carolina Sunshine" is slightly lacking compared to the previous versions I've heard, but is still high in quality for sure.
The final two tracks "The Ballad of Sweet Marie" and "Last Man Standin'" couldn't be more different from each other, but somehow they perfectly compliment to each other. From down and out, murder, and self realization to on top of the world in 8:22 to wrap up the album the way it should be. In the last track Dallas may provide the one line to describe his style of country music perfectly in the lyric "I was a stone cold stunner and a midnight runner cranked up way past 10."
In closing, if you're a fan of anything Dallas or The Dallas Moore Band have put out in the past, buy this album. If you're not, it's time to give them a second chance. If you're not familiar with The Dallas Moore Band but perhaps a fan of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, 70's and 80's Hank Jr or anything Whitey Morgan this album should be on your list to purchase.
Apr 15, 2013
New JJ Grey & Mofro - 99 Shades of Crazy
From their kick-ass new album (out tomorrow!), This River, here's JJ Grey & Mofro with "99 Shades of Crazy."
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