The No Sleep Round-up w/Lucero, Western Centuries, and ...Cardi B?

by Robert Dean

Well, howdy folks. I had one of them weeks last week that would test a lesser man’s mettle and sent them spiraling down the road toward their local dive without so much as a breath of fresh air. I ain’t gonna say I didn’t need a night to get loaded up on the Lone Star beers and some kush that’ll blow the doors off, but I’m back in fighting shape after a few kicks in the teeth. 

I’m gonna write some longer stuff for the site, so if you’re waiting on anything long form from me, it’s gonna happen soon. 

This brings us back to the rodeo and what’s popping off this week and last week: a combo of musical stuff that’s crossed my desk. 

Cardi B dropped a new record, “Invasion of Privacy” last week. I gotta say, for as much shit as she gets, I like her. We’re beaten over the head with manufactured idiots that have nothing to say, and for once we’ve got someone in popular culture that’s being honest about her experience and what she expects of the world in return. 

Sure, you don’t have to enjoy the music, but when we’re overloaded with constant trash, I can respect someone’s nerve to tell the story of being a stripper, what men in the business expect of her, along with building a career with no one’s help. As someone’s who’s never been handed a damn thing, career-wise if you make it without daddy’s money or a cousin in “the business” props to her. 

Read the new GQ interview with her. You’ll come out of it not hating her, I promise.  Also, reading the bit about how she got a fake ass is fascinating. 

Side note related to Cardi B – I’ve recently discovered Migos Stir Fry and I love the beat. Not a new cut by any means, but for someone who doesn’t dig Trap, I like that one. Takashi 69 is still straight garbage, tho. But this Gary Owen takedown is straight up amazing. 

Back to country stuff, Western Centuries has recently dropped Songs From The Deluge, and it’s pretty damn solid. If you’re looking for a good honky tonk record that feels a little Dale Watson meets Dwight Yoakam, Western Centuries play in that cerebral ballpark. The vocals even offer a little John Popper vibe, but without the wailing harmonica theatrics. 

Sometimes, when bands try to pull off that joint beer funk, most of the time, they screw it way, way up. Western Centuries doesn’t do that whatsoever; in fact, they sell it with precision and flair. Upon first listen, I was flabbergasted the band was from Seattle and not my backyard of Austin. Give these dudes a listen ASAP. You won’t be disappointed. 

In news that warms my heart, Lucero was recently awarded the honor of Lucero Day in Memphis. How dope is that? Resident good dudes getting rewarded for being a great band full of humans that deserve the world. Nothing but respect. 

Once again, don’t forget to donate to Caleb from Cave In’s YouCaring. It’s still such a bummer he’s gone. 

Avenged Sevenfold read mean tweets about themselves. Just like their music, it was uninteresting and pedestrian. Watch it here.

That’s about it from down here in the great state of Texas. Be back next week to talk about whatever crosses my desk or invades my inbox. If you’re in a band, go to my Facebook page www.facebook.com/robertdeansworld and drop a link. 

If it’s in my sonic wheelhouse I’ll either review it or mention it here. Depends on how dope it is. All genres will be considered. Stay frosty. 

Forrest Gump Country Reaction Gifs

 Ashley McBryde is playing in town?

"Hey Lt. Dan! Wanna hear my new Florida-Georgia Line CD?"

When you see her wearing a Tyler Childers shirt

and a Cody Jinks hat

"or is he... a Kane Brown fan?"

"Hey, I've got an extra ticket to Walker Hayes, wanna go?"

When Stapleton goes out for a jog

When Bebe Rexha comes on the ACM Awards Sunday

[the house is country radio]

Blackberry Smoke Covers Zeppelin's "Tangerine"

Honest Radio Promo Ad: Craig Campbell "See You Try"

Exclusive Single Premiere: Buffalo Gospel "High Time to Hang Fire"

Today we've got the exclusive introduction to the new single by a Farce favorite, Buffalo Gospel. From their upcoming release, On the First Bell, it's a plaintive ballad called "High Time to Hang Fire" that laments the loss of a good friend. Steel guitar sets the mood and Ryan Necci's soulful vocals tell the tale. Falling somewhere between tear in your beer country and classic R&B, the song brings wrenching emotion to the smoky barroom.  It's an impressive welcome back for Buffalo Gospel.

From the band:

We’ve experienced a lot of loss over the last decade or so. Relatives, friends, wives and bandmates. By no means are we the only ones who have had to struggle with loss, but in the proud tradition of country and western music, we write about the truth — about our truths. After all, that’s what ‘gospel’ means. We wrote these songs in the hopes that they could provide some relief and some comfort to others. There is strength in numbers and knowing you’re not alone when things get dark can be incredibly powerful.

Loss often comes without warning and that’s what makes it so crushing. ‘High Time to Hang Fire’ is a belated goodbye letter to a close friend. We always think we'll have more time to tell our loved ones the things we want to — to tell them what they’d meant to us. We see their fight with mortality and we want so desperately to let them know that there is no shame in resting easy.  One last goodbye, a little too late.

More information about Buffalo Gospel's forthcoming album, On the First Bell, below the song player. It's out May 4th.

Buffalo Gospel to Release Long Awaited Second Full-Length Album

Milwaukee, WI - Critically acclaimed, Milwaukee-based, Country/Americana group, Buffalo Gospel, have announced the release date of their long-awaited second full-length album entitled On the First Bell on May 4, 2018.

On the First Bell was recorded under the mastery of Grammy award-winning engineer, Brian Joseph, who credits include Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and the Indigo Girls, at The Hive outside Eau Claire, Wisconsin 

On the process of creating On the First Bell, Lead Vocalist and Guitarist Ryan Necci said

“It's the first time we've left the city to make a record and it really had a profound, positive effect on the work. No distractions, no egos. We were able to focus solely on serving the songs and we're incredibly happy and proud of the results.”

On the First Bell is the follow up to Buffalo Gospel’s 2013 We Can Be Horses, which was described as “minimalist and masterful,” “musically arresting,” and “Milwaukee’s Best Kept Secret.” The band have scheduled an album release celebration show to showcase their new material, as well as old favorites, at Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company in Milwaukee with Joseph Huber in support.

Buffalo Gospel delivers hopped up trucker country and breathtakingly honest ballads through a virtual “who’s-who” of crack Midwestern musicians including, (Ryan Necci, Lead Vocals/Guitar) Kevin Rowe (Bass), Nick Lang (Percussion), Michael Rossetto (Multi-Instrumentalist), and Andrew Koenig (Guitar). Buffalo Gospel begins their tour in support of On the First Bell April 13, 2018, at the Midwest Music Fest in LaCrosse, WI.