Free Music Alert: Prison Book Club - LIVE in Shepherdstown

WOW!, discovered this from the other Big Bullet Records link I posted a few posts ago. Now I LOVE this band. I love their raw energy and unbridled bar room honky tonk. This is great shit. Fans of the rougher side of Drive By Truckers (i.e. Cooley) would be doing themselves a favor to check this out.

Now as I've mentioned before in my review of their debut album Required Reading, Prison Book Club is a band whose core members are Tucker Riggleman of The Demon Beat, and John Miller from The Fox Hunt (who I must mention have an album coming out later this year). This thing is rough around the edges and you just smell the whiskey and cigarette smoke coming from the speakers when you play it.


Download Prison Book Club - LIVE in Shepherdstown here

(awesome photo courtesy of Ashley Hoffman)

From The Archives: Steve Earle - Radio Sessions 2002-2007

So I'm just trying to clear out some requests while I got time, and this is one of them. This is actually a really good set, and anyone who thinks Steve is not worth listening to after Transcendental Blues should give this a listen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I put this together from 4 different radio shows I had. The outcome is a pretty damned good listen if say so myself. Starting in 2002 in support of Jerusalem, going into 2005 in support of Revolution, and ending with two shows from this year one in preperation, and one in support of Washington Square Serenade. Some nice older tunes on here too. All in all it's a pretty nice set of tunes, mostly acoustic and laid back with the occasional record scratching on the last show....still don't know how I feel about that, but it's not near as bad as it seems like it should be. There are some very interesting interview segments throughout as well.

Also look for Steve in an upcoming play based on Howard Zinn's "People's History of The United States" (a great read if you haven't read it).

MP3

Download Steve Earle - Radio Session 2002-2007 here

Free Music Alert: Big Bullet Records - What's Love Got To Do With It?

Big Bullet Records is a favorite here at A Truer Sound, they are a fairly new record label out of northern West Virginia, and they always have something interesting worth checking out. Here we have a free valentines day compilation (I know, I know it's over a fucking week late.....but it's still good).
Now this is not typical "alt-country/americana" fare but I love Big Bullet Records and there is bound to be some crossover on some of this stuff. I mean I know some of you guys are into the punk stuff and who doesn't like a good cover song anyway?
Highlights on here include Greg Loftus' version of Nirvana's "Molly's Lips", a listenable version of the titanic theme song by a band called The Goddamn Hills that sounds like it could be a Ryan Adams outtake, and thestripped down exile-on-mainstreet-esque version of "I Just Want To Make Love To You" by The Demon Beat and Dandelion Snow.

Download Big Bullet Records - What's Love Got To Do With It? here

(Poke around the Big Bullet Records site for other free download offers)

From The Archives: Old 97's and Chris Whitley - KCRW Sessions

This is probably one of the strangest things I've ever posted, and I often wonder why I did not just seperate these two? They really don't go together at all, and there is nothing really to tie them together....but hey....consider it a double bill....two for one type of thing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an interesting pairing, but I got it like this, so I left it like this. One thing they both had in common at the time was that they were both just starting to reach the top of their games. The Old 97's set is amazing. I mean they are doing promotion for "Wreck Your Life", the songs are still fresh, and the band is hungry. What's particularly intersting are the interview segments....really took me back. I mean they didn't even know what to call their music cause the word "Alt Country" hadn't been popularised yet. And they talk about getting ready to do a show with "a great new band out of chapel hill called whiskeytown"........"they say that kid Ryan isn't gonna make it to 28". This really took me back, cause this was around the time I was really starting to dig into what we now call Alt Country. A great set. The Whitley set ain't too bad either.....searing blues rock as expected.

MP3
Download Old 97's and Chris Whitley here

From The Archives: Drive By Truckers - The Dirt Underneath I O W A (10-18-07)

Trying to clear some requests out. This one I'm listening to now and it's really hitting the spot to tide me over 'til The Big To Do. As stated below The Dirt Underneath tour was in support of Brighter Than Creation's Dark. It features some of those songs, and some older goodies. The best thing about this is the stripped down nature of the songs and the addition of steel guitar and keys to them. Listening to this 2 years later and having become familiar with Brighter Than Creation's Dark I really wish they had played "Perfect Timing", but the version of "Get Your Ass On The Plane", "My Sweet Annette" and a near bluegrass rendition of "Daddy's Cup" on here more than makes up for that little omission.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Killer little DBT boot here from there just wrapped up (I think) Dirt Underneath tour. Now if you don't know, the Dirt Underneath tour was a laid back tour (hence the sit down performances) and featured Soul Session legend Spooner Oldham. There are a few new songs on here worth checking out too, not to mention some seldom heard oldies.....like my favorites "panties in your purse" and "tails facing up". Can't wait for the new album to come out. It's called "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" and it's due to be released January 22nd of '08.

MP3
Downlaod DBT - The Dirt Underneath I O W A here

Kasey Anderson - Live 2005-2008

As promised, some Kasey Anderson live stuff. A little delayed because of the game of virtual tummy sticks Kasey and I were playing trying to get these files up.

This is really damned good. Matter of fact I told Kasey he needs to put out an official live album. I love the stripped down essence of the songs on here, I love the between song dialog and the rapport he has with the audience, and I especially love the version of Sooner Later on here where he switches effortlessly between some songs from his inspirations and back into his own composition.

Highly recommended listening!

1. Save It For Later
2. Bellingham Blues
3. Don't Look Back
4. Home
5. Sooner/Later
6. Union Square
7. Emaline

Download Kasey Anderson - Live 2005-2008 here

Also worth mentioning is Kasey is offering up a free digital sampler on his website. All you have to do is choose any 4 songs you want, email him, and you will get a link to whatever custom sampler you have created. Pretty cool idea.

Random Records: Charlie Daniels Band - Way Down Yonder

Here's a feature I haven't done in a while, and I know I promised a Kasey Anderson live thing, but due to technical problems that will have to wait until tomorrow (hopefully). Now, I dug this album out yesterday while giving the basement a much needed cleaning. I don't know if I have ever even listened to this one before, but man it was the perfect album for that moment.

Now most of you fine folks out there are probably familiar with Charlie Daniels, and hopefully your familiarity extends beyond "Devil Went Down To Georgia". Now don't get me wrong, I love Devil Went Down to Georgia. What person my age doesn't. I Guarantee you every one of us in our early 30's have childhood memories of singing "Granny does your dog bite no child no!!!". No....just me...? Well regardless, the Charlie Daniels well is much deeper than that.

You see by the time Urban Cowboy came along and propelled "Devil Went Down To Georgia and Charlie Daniels" into the pop and country charts, CDB had put out around 11 studio albums, and 4 Volunteer Jam live albums. You see before Urban Cowboy....Charlie Daniels Band had been primarly known as a Southern Rock Band. After Urban Cowboy, they began to morph into strictly a mainstream country band that has kind of an edge. This album, Way Down Yonder is a testament to the early southern rock era.

Way Down Yonder was released in early 1974, right before what I consider CDB's finest album Fire On The Mountain, from the same year. Listening to Way Down Yonder and listening to Fire On The Mountain is almost like listening to 2 different bands. Way Down Yonder marks the end of one era and Fire On The Mountain marks the beginning of another. You see, this album is what some call SOUTHERN BOOGIE. Think Allman Brothers. This is heavily blues and country influenced rock...this is Southern Rock, and this is good southern rock (unlike Molly Hatchet).

The track I pulled off this album for you all to hear is a fine, FINE example of what this first southern boogie CDB phase sounded like (the other phases of course being country rock CDB, mainstream country CDB, gospel CDB, and patriotic CDB). The song jumps right out of the gate with an opening lick that just screams SOUTHERN ROCK, before being joined by one funky ass bass line and a Duane Allman like slide lick. This is the foundation of the song, and it's a solid foundation. Now like the Allmans, this song gets a little jammy, but I love how they start layering on the other instruments towards the end until you can't tell where the slide guitar stopped and the fiddle began.  Listening to this song on the computer.....doesn't really do it justice. I had this puppy pumping through my vinyl rig with the big ass all wood house speakers and that bassline....man that bassline.

Recommended if you dig southern rock.

Listen to Charlie Daniels Band - Low Down Lady here

Album Review: Kasey Anderson - Nowhere Nights

Here is a review I've been needing to write for a while now. The album, released on Kasey's own Red River Records comes out next Tuesday but has been available via pre-order for some time now and includes a download card so you can listen to the songs early. I would recommend picking up the vinyl as it's wonderfully pressed and sounds oh so good (you will also get a download card with that as well). The album is also available right now via iTunes.

Now, I've had this album for quite a while....actually I have had it so long that when I listen to the album now all the songs have that type of familiarity that only great albums offer after repeated listening. Now, I know a lot of bloggers and writers like to shy away from easy comparisons, not me. I embrace the easy comparison. Matter of fact I think the easy comparison is great for letting potential fans know that "hey, I might dig this". With all that said, the obvious easy comparison for Kasey is Steve Earle. I'm talking fresh out of prison and kicking ass Steve Earle, not "I'm holding onto the last few hairs on my head and  hate republicans" Steve Earle.  Matter of fact, I bet ol' Steve wishes he would have written a song about the Iraq War as potent and inspiring as Kasey's "I Was A Photograph". Which I've mentioned multiple times on here, and I still think it is not only the stand out track on this album, but the song of the year (I'm calling it right now!).  I will post this link again, because it is a story that needs to be read : Story of I Was A Photograph

But wait, that's just one song.....and well worth the album price, but lucky for us Kasey saw fit to put 10 other killer songs on this thing.  The other songs on the album share a common theme of leaving and trying to find one's place. There is a good reason for this, as the album was written while Kasey was in the midst of moving from his longtime home of Bellingham, Washington to spend a year in Germany (from which he just returned). The opening track, aptly titled Bellingham Blues sets the tone for the whole album and states "This ain't ever been my home/I woke up here one morning and 15 years were gone".  Later in the album on the title track  Nowhere Nights he sings "I used to walk around like they built the damn town up around me while my back was turned"....man I love that line.

Now I know journalists are supposed remain objective, but fuck it, I'm not a journalist and I never claimed to be. Me, I'm a blogger and more importantly a music fan. As a music fan I love Kasey Anderson's music. As a blogger I have forged somewhat of an online friendship with Kasey. Most of you know he is one of the bloggers over at Ninebullets.net, and some of you may have interacted with him on Twitter or Facebook as well. Judging by his online self, he is one of the nicest musicians and folks you could ever have the pleasure to meet. He is also one of the most prolific online motherfuckers I believe I have ever seen. He has so many blogs and sites that I can't even keep track. I do know that he deleted his old blog which is a shame because it had a song by song write-up for Nowhere Nights, which you are going to want to read after you listen to these songs. Kasey, if you are paying attention, put those posts back up!

Listen to Kasey Anderson - Bellingham Blues here
Listen to Kasey Anderson - From Now On here

Official - Blog - Facebook - Myspace

Additional note: Look for some Kasey Anderson live stuff that will be posted tomorrow

Concert Report: Will Kimbrough @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall - Roanoke, VA 1/31/10

This Sunday I had the rare treat of seeing Will Kimbrough. I say rare because  it's rare that a good show comes through this area. Hopefully that is all changing because the venue Will was playing at, Kirk Avenue Music Hall in Roanoke is a very "Folk/Alt Country/Americana" friendly venue. Chris Knight played there a few months back (which I didn't find out about until after the fact), Dave Alvin will be playing there in a couple of weeks, and Tom Russell will be playing there early this summer. Those are just some of the bigger acts, they pretty much have a good show every week, check out their schedule, and it is highly recommended if you are in the Roanoke area. The place is right downtown, easy to get to, ample parking (of course that could have been due to the recent snowstorm and snow covered streets). Also, any bands reading this, this would be a great venue to stop at when you are driving up 81 from Knoxville or Charlotte to Charlottesville or Richmond (which most of you do).

Now, about the show....AMAZING. Will is such an incredible guitar player, such an incredible songwriter, such an incredible singer, and most importantly such an incredible entertainer. Will played from 7:30 to 10:30 taking about a 30 minute break in between. Nothing but Will, an acoustic guitar, and a happy audience. The most remarkable thing to me was just how much sound was coming from this one man and his guitar. It took me a few songs to catch on to what he was doing. He had a loop pedal and he was playing leads over his own rhythm playing. A couple instances he even laid down bass lines, and percussion by beating on his guitar....all this without missing a beat and in some cases playing harp to boot.

I went into this show a casual Will Kimbrough fan, knowing him from his many producing and sideman credits (such as Todd Snider, and Rodney Crowell), and I came out of this show a HUGE fan. So much so I can't wait for his new album Wings which comes out the Feb. 23rd, and pre-orders begin Feb. 3rd at www.willkimbrough.com (watch this vid where Will tells you all about it). You can also download the song "Three Angels" here.

Now I did take a lot of vid this time, but I will only post a couple. The first is the title track off the upcoming album "Wings". He prefaced this to say that Jimmy Buffet will also be recording his own version of this song, but his is a little different.




Next up is a vid of the rousing tribute to Chuck Berry and Yo Yo Ma.....the aptly titled Yo Yo Ma. This one includes the intro which will explain everything you need to know. This vid also shows off his loop pedal skills and just how much sound one man can make.....also some of the wildest Chuck Berry-ish guitar playing you are likely to ever see done on an acoustic guitar.



More Videos: Like Laughing - Philadelphia, MS - Piece Of Work