Sunday, March 31, 2013

Quantic's old-school Panamanian tipica 45s


The heartache, melancholy and joy in Panamá's Tipica sound is hard to match and like no other to experience. It comes from a rich background of regional musical traditions, carnival rivalry and hotbeds like the legendary Festival en Guarare.

As I understand it, Panamanian cumbia was first played on violin until the arrival of accordions on the Isthmus, most early acordeoneros were violinists first and foremost. This mixtape comprises of some of the best 45s from the Herrera and Los Santos provinces, from the mid 50s through to late 60s. Over the last few years I've had the good fortune to meet several of these wonderful artists. Featured here: Dorindo, Papi Brandao, Oswaldo, Fito Espina, Ulpiano, Ceferino and more. Viva Panamá!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Friday, March 29, 2013

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Nardwuar vs. Fred Armisen

Nardwuar ran into SNL's Fred Armisen in Austin during SXSW with typically comical results...


One For The Weekend: Howlin' Wolf

Howlin' Wolf on Shindig with James Burton (guitar) and Billy Preston (piano) from 1965.

Happy Birthday Steve Turner!



Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Hear the dope new Congo Natty track

Congo Natty's new Jungle Revolution album is out on Big Dada June 17.

"UK Allstars" (Congo Natty meets Benny Page) by Congo Natty

Calexico plans to issue RSD live album many fans already own


If you already believe that Record Store Day has devolved into nothing more than a cynical cash grab, ANTI-'s announcement that they'll be re-releasing Calexico's live album Spiritoso on April 20 should do nothing to convince you otherwise. As longtime fans of the desert-dwelling titans of twang are no doubt aware, the 12-track disc  – which the UK-based City Slang label issued last year – features songs spanning Calexico's 23-year career performed live in Germany backed by the Radio Symphonie Orchestre Wien. Those who own the City Slang version of Spiritoso which Calexico has been selling at shows, won't need this straight repressing that is said to be limited to 3000 copies.

Whether Calexico is creatively tapped of unique RSD release ideas or couldn't be bothered to come up with something new and exciting their most dedicated followers would appreciate, the decision to simply put out an album previously issued in another territory sets a new low bar for Record Store Day product previously set by labels pressing up limited vinyl versions of their CD-only titles.  

Considering how thoroughly Calexico documents just about every note they play, it doesn't seem like it would be too difficult for them to assemble a unique release for Record Store Day just out of leftover demos and live tracks. How much trouble would it have been to cobble together a few songs they've contributed to tribute albums and various collections over the years? 

Their inspired takes of Casey's Last Ride (off Nothing Left To Lose: A Tribute to Kris Kristofferson), Tulsa Telephone Book (from Real – The Tom T. Hall Project) and Will Oldham's I Send My Love To You (from I Am Cold Rock, I Am Dull Grass) would make one great side of a fantastic10" EP, with maybe John Fahey's Dance of Death (off I Am The Resurrection), Alejandro Escovedo's Wave (from Por Vida) and Arcade Fire's Ocean of Noise on the flip. Who knows, the covers concept record might even introduce the wonders of Calexico a whole new audience. Of course, it would require some effort and a little ingenuity so you may have to settle for the clip below. 



For the wineskin equipped interested in seeing Calexico in the great outdoors, the group will be appearing at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee as well as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Wakarusa Festival and the Nelsonville Music Festival in the coming months. They've also booked some club and soft-seater dates, most notably being a stop at the Mod Club in Toronto on June 12. Here's the complete tour itinerary so far...

Live Dates: 

Sun 4/28 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz and Heritage
Thu 5/30 Ozark, AR Wakarusa Festival
Fri 5/3 Iowa City, IA The Englert Theatre
Sat 6/1 Nelsonville, OH Nelsonville Music Festival
Mon 6/3 Chicago, IL City Winery
Tue 6/4 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Thu 6/6 Tarrytown, NY The Tarrytown Music Hall
Fri 6/7 Portland, ME Port City Music Hall
Sat 6/8 Pawtucket, RI The Met Café
Sun 6/9 Buffalo, NY Asbury Hall @ Babeville
Tue 6/11 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
Wed 6/12 Toronto, ON Mod Club
Thu 6/13 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
Fri 6/14 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival


LINKS
Record Store Day site
Calexico HQ
ANTI- site

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Memorable Backstage Moments: The Sadies

When not performing or working out, The Sadies enjoy hanging out with pals Neil and Garth.


Saturday, March 23, 2013

Remembering piano great Bebo Valdés



Heidi Happy ♥'s Canada - really!

Canada crushing Swiss miss Heidi Happy plays an unlikely CMW show at The Cameron Saturday at 10 pm.

Friday, March 22, 2013

One For The Weekend: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

Out on April 30 from Analog Africa!

True Country Confidential: Eddie Miller

Eddie Miller (at the microphone) with his Oklahomans in Los Angeles circa 1950.

In an attempt to redress some of the damage done in the name of country music by Nashville's nouveau riche, we're launching True Country Confidential, a recurring feature presenting criminally overlooked classics from the past which you'll never hear on commercial country radio.

Let's kick things off with the creepy cool Ghost Town by Eddie Miller. Perhaps best known for co-writing the oft-covered divorce plea Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) which was Ray Price's breakthrough hit in 1954, Miller also famously penned Thanks A Lot, Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray, A Church, A Courtroom and Then Goodbye and some 800+ other tunes according to the man himself.

Much like Miller's original 1949 version of Release Me on 4-Star, the former locomotive engineer's haunting Ghost Town for the same label is largely forgotten. Yet six decades after it's release, Ghost Town still has an eerie vibe unlike anything in contemporary music. Incidentally, the "W.S. Stevenson" listed on the label is the pseudonym of 4-Star owner Bill McCall who tacked his nom de disque onto any song he thought might pay big dividends – obviously, it didn't pan out in this case.

Miller tireless continued coming up with song ideas – including two operas – and found time to form the Country and Western Music Academy in 1964 which would eventually become what we now know as the Academy of Country Music before he passed away in 1977 at the age of 57.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Shovels & Rope take on The Boss

Shovels & Rope open for Lucero at the Phoenix on March 26; their version of Johnny 99 is out April 2.


Johnny 99 by SHOVELS & ROPE

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Whaddya mean you don't know Curly Sanders



Happy Birthday Sister Rosetta Tharpe!





Single of the Week: Manateees


Charging out from behind the drum kit, Abe White (Oscars, True Sons Of Thunder) has created Manateees with pals Charms on buckets and Keith on bass (the instrument, not the fish) to unleash an all new Memphis punk rock nastiness upon an unsuspecting world. With their new Cat Food seven-inch for Goner Records (listen below).

Watch out for new Manateees releases on Tic Tac Totally and Pelican Pow Wow Records!

Facebook : www.facebook.com/memphismanateees
Bandcamp : www.manateees.bandcamp.com


Cat Food by Manateees
  

Order the Cat Food single direct from Goner Records:
BLUE VINYL (limited edition) - http://www.goner-records.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=10528
BLACK VINYL - http://www.goner-records.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=10527

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Kid Congo conjures William S. Burroughs


Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds have just released a new video for Conjure Man, directed and shot by Aaron Brookner, from the limited-edition 7-inch single recently issued by In The Red. Conjure Man is a creepy new Kid Congo original, while the B-side is a typically twisted take on the Sky Saxon classic Lose Your Mind' off The Steeds iconic 1966 debut LP. Neither track will be featured on the band’s upcoming album, Haunted Head due next month.

Legendary guitar stylist Kid Congo Powers (The Gun Club, The Cramps, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds) and long time cohorts, bassist Kiki Solis (Knife In The Water), drummer Ron Miller (Up The Academy), and guitarist Jesse Roberts (Sandrider, The Ruby Doe) are set to release their third album for In The Red, Haunted Head, on April 30. Check out the Conjure Man clip which prominently features a dreamachine similar to the one created by Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs' "systems adviser" Ian Sommerville depicted above.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Caitlin Rose hits the Garrison April 5

After wowing 'em in Austin, Caitlin Rose unveils her fab new album The Stand-In at the Garrison.


Remembering Wilson Pickett on his day



Sunday, March 17, 2013

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Sunday, March 10, 2013

See the Matthew Shipp Trio @ Lula Lounge tonight

Matthew Shipp will be rockin' a Mason & Hamlin baby grand at Lula Lounge this evening


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Remembering Townes Van Zandt on his day



Did Gino Washington invent Gangnam Style?

Detroit's Gino Washington thinks Psy's Gangnam Style moves are similar to his Love Bandit dance  




Monday, March 4, 2013

See the James Hunter Six @ The Horseshoe tonight

James Hunter's new Minute By Minute album, produced by Daptone's Gabe Roth, is his best yet.


Happy Birthday Carl Ricky Telfer!



Sunday, March 3, 2013

Terry Allen's Bottom of the World view

Musician, writer and artist Terry Allen has just issued a great new album Bottom of the World