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| Since Kurt Vile is in town for a show at History on Tuesday, here's his trip to the Verve Vault, a performance and some Philly love. |
Monday, June 15, 2026
Kurt Vile, The Sadies @ History, Tuesday
Remembering singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson on his birthday
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| Raising a glass to Nilsson on his birthday with a BBC radio doc, rare footage and the right tune for a Knicks championship celebration. |
Robbie Fulks joins members of the Waco Brothers for new Davy Crockett musical
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| Frontiersman Davy Crockett's political career is the focus of Congressman Davy with catchy tunes voiced by Robbie Fulks and his Chicago pals. |
Davy Crockett for President? It almost happened!
Congressman Davy recounts that fascinating slice of U.S. political history in a new musical with 22 new songs by Deano from the Waco Brothers (aka Dean Schlabowske) and award-winning playwright/journalist Richard Byrne (Nero/Pseudo, Burn Your Bookes, Hotel Mayflower).
Some of the most distinctive voices in Americana to help tell this tallest of tales, including Robbie Fulks, The Mekons' Jon Langford & Sally Timms, The Meat Purveyors' Jo Watson, Four Lost Souls' Bethany Thomas,The Flat Five's Nora O’Connor & Kelly Hogan along with Chicago's Gerald Dowd and Kent Rose. As Davy might say: “Just go ahead and give it a listen!” Check out a few songs from the CD following a synopsis below.
Congressman Davy – Synopsis
It is 1833. Legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett is running to return to the U.S. House of Representatives. (Tennessee voters kicked him out in 1831.)
Anne Royall is the first American woman to publish her own newspaper. (“The Ballad of Anne Royall”) She travels to Tennessee to watch Davy Crockett lay out his populist platform. (“Poor Man’s Friend”) Crockett wins.
In Washington City, boarding house proprietor Mrs. Ball and her employee, Sarah, await Crockett. Yet they face competition from Mrs. Brown – who runs a fancy hotel across the street. The two women joust over their vision of Washington’s future. (“Washington City”)
The 1833 election created a nation deeply divided between the Democrats supporting President Andrew Jackson and the Whigs opposing him. The two parties address their differences in a song. (“A Faction.”) as they try to claim Crockett as their own. But Crockett lays out his own independent vision. (“A Permanent State of Affairs”)
Mrs. Ball and Mrs. Brown’s skirmish ends when Crockett chooses the cozy familiarity of the boarding house (“The Comforts of Home”). Mrs. Brown plots with the Lead Whig to bring Crockett to her hotel.
Anne Royall notices the forlorn figure of Edgar Allan Poe – who has been evicted from Mrs. Ball’s establishment to make room for legislators. They bemoan the anti-intellectualism of the time. (“The Bitter End”)
The moneyed Whigs want Crockett as their presidential candidate. (“The Proper Party”) But how can they convince The Poor Man’s Friend? Mrs. Brown appeals to Crockett’s vanity and desire to advance in life. (“The Finer Things”) He moves to her hotel and joins the Whigs as he evokes his famous motto: “Be sure you're right, then go ahead!” (“Just Go Ahead”)
Act Two
Sarah sings a short mournful song (“Sarah’s Song of Hopeless Longing”) before Anne Royall and the Whig Party sweep Crockett up into a frenetic political tour. (“Davy Crockett’s Tour to the North and Down East”) The frontiersman also discovers the power of industry. (“Busy Hands”)
Mrs. Ball and Mrs. Brown’s feud continues. Anne Royall chides them both for seeking to influence politics from behind the scenes. (“A Song About Power”)
The Democrats scheme to defeat Crockett. Lead Democrat advocates chicanery (“Hickory Dockery”). Adam Huntsman – a lawyer who lost his leg in war – volunteers to run against Crockett. (“Down A Peg”)
Edgar Allan Poe’s return to town unleashes more tumult. He seeks high minded journalism (“Poison Pens”), but Crockett uses Poe’s negative review of his book as target practice and then blazes deeper into populism to win votes. (“The Betsy Song”).
The Whigs commission a portrait of Crockett with a stuffed Bear. When Crockett falls asleep, the Bear becomes his nightmare. (“A Bear’s Life).
On the day the votes arrive back in Washington City, Mrs. Ball tries to pluck Crockett’s conscience and recall a happier moment. (“I Don’t Need You”)
When the tally is announced, Crockett loses. (“The Song of the Great Licking”) He takes leave of Washington for a new life in Texas with a brazen farewell song (Hell or Texas”).
You can get a CD version of the Congressman Davy soundtrack via Bandcamp right here. Listen to a few of the songs voiced by Robbie Fulks below. Stay tuned for a radio play version of the entire show that debuts on June 29, 2026, weaving the songs into the text of the musical.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Happy Birthday Monsieur Jeffrey Evans!
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| Raising a glass to Jeffrey Evans with a few performances with the Gibson Bros, 68 Comeback and solo you may have missed. |
LINKS
Read a Razorcake interview Jeffrey Evans conducted by Ryan Leach right here.
90s Nostalgia: Stereolab
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| Here's Stereolab playing an in-store at Mod Lang in Berkeley back in 1993 and some other early footage. |
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| Here's Stereolab's 1993 single for Slumberland, back when Laetitia Sadier was still going by "Seaya" and Martin Kean played bass. |
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Kentucky's All Seeing Eyes, Equator, Lunchmeat @ The Monarch Tavern, June 13
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| Soledad Brothers fans should check out that Johnny Walker's All Seeing Eyes are putting down at the Monarch Tavern on June 13. |
All Seeing Eyes, Equator, Lunchmeat
at The Monarch Tavern (12 Clinton St)
Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 advance
The All Seeing Eyes
Born of a parade, the All Seeing Eyes are the pride of Dayton, Kentucky. The three-piece of multi-instrumentalists developed into the house band at Masonic Sounds Studios in that Kentucky river town. Housed in a Free Mason Blue Lodge, they created the new LP “In Us We Trust”, now available on Mauvias Foi Records (available via Bandcamp right here). The trio was recently defined as “the MC5 of the country blues” by Tav Falco, in the truest of descriptors.
Trone des Fleur, their second LP, is a brilliant follow-up to their debut and is set to explode.
Johnny Walker fronts the band, playing harmonica and guitar. He is the progenitor of the Soledad Brothers, Pearlene, and Cut in the Hill Gang who has toured singing for MC5/DKT. It should be noted that Walker has done session work with the White Stripes, the Detroit Cobras, the Greenhornes, Low Cut Connie and James Leg, and dozens more. Walker has also been championed by noted DJs John Peel and John Sinclair. Kane Kitchen (bass) has been keeping time for Barrance Whitfield and Savages and alt-country singer Jeremy Pinnell. Lance “Lucky” Kaufman is a multi-instrumentalist playing drums and singing for the All-Seeing Eyes. Lucky has toured the world with his trad-rockabilly band, the Star Devils, his collaboration with Cut in the Hill Gang as well as lending his talents to many session recordings and many other bands.
The All-Seeing Eyes was formed to play a party on a parade route for the largest annual celebration in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was quickly realized that the trio could fill the role as house musicians for Walker’s newly established recording studio, Masonic Sounds Studios, across the Ohio river. The All Seeing Eyes began writing and recording their LP in earnest while working in and recording for various artists in the Masonic Sounds Studios. They have played extensively in the Midwest and South of the United States, the UK, and France.
The bands live set has been showcased warming up for Jon Spencer, the Cobras, the Demolition Doll Rods, Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds,Dead Weather, Cedrick Burnside, Tav Falco, CATL, the Melvins, and so on. They have managed to play over 60 shows a year, in spite of Walkers professional obligations as a psychiatrist and MD. The All-Seeing Eyes will be performing at Blues, Psych Rock and Garage Festivals all over the US and Europe in 2026 with a stop in Toronto for a show at the Monarch Tavern with Equator and Lunchmeat on Saturday, June 13. Advance tickets are $20 online @ Leap (Showclix) here.
Check out the All Seeing Eyes below...
The Flashing Lights, Absolute Losers @ Lee's Palace, Saturday
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