Los Straitjackets with Nick Lowe @ The Mod Club, July 21

Los Straitjackets are joined by Nick Lowe at The Mod Club on Tuesday at 7 pm. Check out a few performances and interviews. 

Tickets for the Los Straitjackets & Nick Lowe show at The Mod Club on Tuesday (July 21) are $66.25 and available here.

Play It Loud! star Jay Douglas plays Blues Mondays @ Union Station, July 20

A soul-stirring performance by Jay Douglas will be the highlight of Blues Mondays at Union Station today at 5:30 pm.  

Jay Douglas & His All Stars will be performing a free show at Union Station from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. More info here.

Happy Birthday Chris Houston!

Cheers to singer/songwriter and story teller deluxe Chris Houston – still kickin' in the Hammer! Check the clips below. 

LINKS

Listen to Chris Houston's albums via Spotify... "Evil Twang" right here and "One Mania To The Next" right here.

That time Billy Butler & Andre Williams worked on a tune for Sheryl Swope

Windy City soul greats Billy  Butler & Andre Williams conspired on "One Moment" for Sheryl Swope on Duo.

R.I.P. Jennifer Finch of L7, 1966-2026

Sadly, Jennifer Finch, longtime bassist with L7, has passed away far too soon at the age of 59. She'll be greatly missed. 

Nichol Robertson & Kelsey McNulty @ The Cameron House, Saturday

Kelsey McNulty (Carlo, Great Lake Swimmers) joins Nichol Robertson for a delightful duo set at the Cameron from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Oakland Hiero heroes Souls Of Mischief @ The Phoenix, Saturday

Bay Area hip hop legends Souls Of Mischief make a rare T.O. appearance at the Phoenix tonight – get tickets right here. 

Happy Birthday singer/songwriter Evie Sands!

Raising a glass to Evie Sands on her birthday with a few vintage clips and an appearance on Art Fein's Poker Party. 

One For The Weekend: The Huns

Chicago garage-rockers The Huns are in Steven Krakow's Secret History feature for the Reader. Check out "Destination Lonely"

Writes Steven Krakow...

Once again VERY EXCITED to present the tale of a band I SO DIG in the new Secret History of Chicago Music in the Chicago Reader. The Huns told me a lot of their snotty/sublime garage-rockin’ story for the first time! Their suburban history is tied into the legendary club the Cellar AND The Nuge! (Plus opening for Buffalo Springfield and Strawberry Alarm Clock, aka pure gold in my world). 

Their lone 45 "Destination Lonely" b/w "Winning Ticket" is coveted by collector-types, but it’s a DOOZY of primal fuzzed angst and Mersey-like beauty! The legendary Cheater Slicks covered the A-side. 

They’re reforming for a show at Hey Nonny Arlington Heights on Aug. 1 and I WILL BE THERE OR BE SQUARE! 

This will be in the big Aug print issue too, thanks Philip Montoro for doing some heavy lifting while sick, hero!  Read The Huns story in the Chicago Reader right here. Listen to both sides of The Huns single below. 

 

LINKS
Garage Hangover  The Huns "Destination Lonely"

Nichol Robertson y Los Falsos @ The Cameron House, Friday

Nichol Robertson, Vivienne Wilder and their Los Falsos compadres bring a Latin swing to the Cameron tonight at 10 pm. 

Adrian Younge takes aim at dance floors with Afro-Disco Makossa

Adrian Younge launches his new dancefloor assault with "Feel The High Life" off "Afro-Disco Makossa" – time to get down!

Here's the scoop...

What would a Ghanaian producer in ‘76 have made if he set out to create an American disco record for his hometown? Adrian Younge finally answers that question.

The latest single from Afro-Disco Makossa, “Feel the High Life” is out now. Afro-Disco Makossa the first Linear Labs record built purely for the dance floor. Afrobeat, funk, and disco, recorded to tape. Built for the DJ of any era. Get a copy of Afro-Disco Makossa on vinyl from Linear Labs right here. Listen to "Feel The High Life" below. 

Remembering Stooges' guitar great Ron Asheton on his birthday

Remembering Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton on his birthday with a few interview clips you may have missed. 

Jake Xerxes Fussell returns with The Old Beloved Path in September

Durham, North Carolina picker Jake Xerxes Fussell continues to thoughtfully mess with tradition on The Old Beloved Path.

Here's the scoop...

Singer, guitarist, and folk music interpreter Jake Xerxes Fussell returns with his new album, The Old Beloved Path, in stores September 18th. Over six unique and very personal studio albums, Fussell has found his musical future by reimagining, re-orchestrating, and reunifying the past. By combining different traditional music sources in a completely original way, he routinely creates fresh works of art that are at once rooted in history and ingeniously modern. 

Writes Jake... 

"Here are some things about this record. It features Dominic Billet on drums, percussion, & piano, Isa Burke on fiddle, piano, mandolin & harmony singing, Wayne Horvitz on the harmonica, Ben Whiteley on bass & organ, & Ken Whiteley on the bass harmonica. 

"Alli Rogers recorded it at Betty’s near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound did the mastering. Ben Whiteley mixed & produced it. I am fortunate to have worked with such a stellar cast of players & am immensely grateful to all of them. 

"The record cover & jacket layout were  designed by Max Taeuschel & it features a photograph of a street scene from my hometown, Columbus, Georgia, taken in the early 1980s by my dad Fred Coulter Fussell. The album’s title is borrowed from my late friend & guitar teacher Billy Winn, 1938-2026. 

"Like my other albums, this is a collection of mostly traditional songs sourced from a number of contexts, people & situations. More about those soon…!"

'The Old Beloved Path" will be released in full by Fat Possum Records on September 18. You can pre-order it now via your platform of choice right here. Listen to Jake's arrangement of 'Rock Island Line' along with a recent live performance (below). 

The Old Beloved Path – Jake Xerxes Fussell

1. No 1

2. Rock Island Line 

3. Every Time I Go to Town

4. Rosin Some

5. Boney

6. Early Early in the Spring

7. Boll Weevil

8. Sandy Land

9. Of Al the Beast-es in the World

Midweek Mixdown: Honky Tonk Jukebox #166 – Drinkin'

For the latest Honky Tonk Jukebox show, host Bryan C returns to the old reliable drinking song which has become a lost art. 

Straight outta Dallas, DJ Bryan C presents another well-curated collection of rare country 45s, focusing once again on the elbow-bending pursuits of barstool warmers courtesy of Rod Morris, Johnny Shedd, Barbara Clawson, Leon Rausch, Lee Harmon, Frank Taylor, Maxine House, Little David Wilkins, Benny Lindsay and many other regional stars who never enjoyed chart success.

Have a listen via Mixcloud right here and check the tracklisting below followed by a slightly tipsy audio clip of Johnny Shedd's self-released "Drink With A Fool" for a taste of what's in store.

 

Honky Tonk Jukebox #166: Drinkin' 

Rod Morris - Three Empty Bottles ( Capitol )

Jack Kane - Bottle Of Wine ( Starday )

Johnny Shedd - Drink With A Fool ( Shedd )

Bill Wilburn - The Bottom Of The Glass ( Topic )

The Tunesmiths - There's A Bottle Where She Used To Be ( Columbia )

Jimmie Skinner - Twenty Beers ( Starday )

Barbara Clawson - One Mr. Budweiser ( Stop )

Leon Rausch - Glass Of Pride ( Sims )

Maxine House - The Bottle Took Control Of You ( Lincoln Land )

The Texas Playboys & Leon Rausch - Someday I'll Sober Up ( RIC )

Benny Lindsey - Liquid Hurt ( Galaxie Star )

Little David Wilkins - King Of All The Taverns ( MCA )

Carl & Pearl Butler - Bottoms Up ( Columbia )

Lee Harmon - Two Empty Glasses ( Stop )

Frank Taylor - Bubbles In The Glass ( Chart )

Jimmy Dawson - Big Black Bug Boogie ( K Ark )

David Frizzell - I'm The Bartender's Best Friend ( Capitol )

Red Sovine - Champagne To Beer ( Chart )

David Rogers - Bottle Do Your Thing ( Columbia )

Tom Harvey - Mommy You Love A Bottle ( New Star )

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Longboat Hall, Thursday

Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears make a rare Toronto appearance at Longboat Hall on Thursday. Get tickets right here.

Remembering Roky Erickson on his birthday

Raising a glass to psych legend Roky Erickson on his birthday with a few performances and interviews you may have missed. 

Buddy Guy launches his 90th birthday tour @ Massey Hall, Wednesday

Blues legend Buddy Guy turns 90 on July 30th but he's starting the celebration tonight in Toronto – 59 years after his first visit. 

Happy Birthday Doug Carn!

Celebrating Doug Carn's 78th birthday today with live performances, a few of his spiritual jazz gems along with an interview.

Jack White rocks RBC Amphitheatre, Tuesday

Jack White – who just turned 51 – returns to Toronto to play RBC Amphitheatre tonight with Angine de Poitrine opening!  

B-Side Wins Again: Death Comet Crew feat. Rammellzee

Check out the amazing performance of NYC rapper, graf artist and sculptor Rammellzee on DCC's "Exterior Street" 

LINKS
New York Times The Many Faces Of Rammellzee

Remembering Spanish saxophone great Pedro Iturralde on his birthday

Raising a glass to flamenco jazz innovator Pedro Iturralde with a swinging performance and more. 

Watch Butch Hancock and son Rory play Creekbottom in Santa Fe

Hey, it's Butch Hancock's birthday so we're celebrating with a show he played with his son Rory in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Summer In The Garden: Montuno Cubano @ Harbourfront Centre, Sunday

Music In The Garden at Harbourfront features Jorge Peña's Montuno Cubano today (Sunday, July 12) at 4 pm. It's free!   

Here's the scoop...

Montuno Cubano’s vibrant rhythms span bolero, guaracha, salsa, rumba flamenca, sucu sucu, son, son Cubano, guajira and romantic ballads, offering audiences a rich taste of Cuba’s musical heritage. Their performances seamlessly blend original compositions with distinctive interpretations of beloved Cuban classics. Attuned to each setting, they thoughtfully craft programs that connect with every audience and create a memorable musical experience.

In Cuban music, the montuno is the final section of a song — faster, bolder and often semi-improvised. The term “montuno,” meaning “comes from the mountain” in Spanish, reflects a style that originated in their home province of Santiago de Cuba, widely recognized as the birthplace of traditional Cuban music. While music remains at the heart of every performance, there is always a moment when a musician sets down his instrument to dance — an infectious gesture that often draws audience members into the celebration.

Watch a couple of performances by Montuno Cubano below. 

Happy Birthday Swamp Dogg!

Celebrating the birthday of Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams with a 1969 gem cut for Cotillion and two other overlooked gems.

Bon Scott & Fraternity vs. The Band

Before AC/DC, Bon Scott could knock out a swell version of The Band's "The Shape I'm In" as this Fraternity clip shows. 

Remembering gospel guitar great Rev. Charlie Jackson on his birthday

Celebrating the birthday of Rev. Charlie Jackson with Adam Lore's 50 Miles of Elbow Room tribute and some stellar footage.  

Watch Steve Wynn & Peter Buck play an acoustic version of "Ghostbusters"

Peter Buck & Steve Wynn – who are currently in Athens, GA to work on a new album – played "Ghostbusters" & "Gloria" at the Rialto. Check it out below. 

Writes Steve Wynn...

Peter Buck and I will be heading into Chase Park studio here in Athens, GA to record a bunch of new songs we've written together over the last few months. We'll be joined by Scott McCaughey, Mike Mills, Jay Gonzalez, Linda Pitmon and a few other guests with David Barbe engineering. We aired out six of the songs on stage at the Rialto last night and they felt great so I'm very excited to get going. Nothing like making new music with good friends and I can't wait to lay it all on you sometime very soon. Roll tape!

One For The Weekend: Robyn Hitchcock

Watch the polka dot parisol-enhanced poolside video for "Yesterday's Rain" off Robyn's new album, The Confuser, out July 24th.

Digable Planets w/ DJ Starting From Scratch @ The Phoenix, Friday

The reunited Digable Planets make a rare Toronto appearance tonight at The Phoenix with DJ Starting From Scratch opening at 7 pm.

LINKS

Get tickets for the Digable Planets show at the Phoenix right here

Happy Birthday Mavis Staples!

Cheers to gospel/soul great Mavis Staples on her 87th birthday. Here are a few recent performances worth checking. 

Tom Dunphy returns to the Cameron House on Saturday, Artful Dodger on Sunday

The Rizdales' Tom Dunphy ihits the Cameron with Steve Briggs on Saturday, then joins Steve for Summer Sundays at the Artful Dodger at 4 pm.

Writes Tom Dunphy...

"I'm thrilled to be returning to Toronto's legendary Cameron House on Saturday, July 11, from 8:00–10:00 PM! I'll be joined by an incredible band: Burke Carroll on steel, Steve Briggs on guitar, and Russ Boswell on upright bass. Come early if you can—our friends Big Tobacco and the Pickers kick things off at 6:00 PM and will set the perfect country tone for the evening. It promises to be a fine evening at one of Toronto's great listening rooms."

After the Cameron show, Tom joins Steve Briggs for his Summer Sunday matinee at the Artful Dodger at 4 pm. 

Remembering Lee Hazlewood on his birthday

Remembering the amazing Lee Hazlewood with a few TV appearances including "Summer Wine" with Nancy Sinatra from 1967.

Watch Toronto blues rockers Catl tear up Temple Fest in Normandy

Here's Catl in action on stage at Temple Fest in Osmoy-Saint-Valéry. Catch 'em in Karlsruhe, Germany later today! 

You can also catch Catl on Saturday (July 11) at the Raut Oak Festival in Riegsee. For tickets/directions visit the event site.

Whaddya mean you don't know Eloise Carter

Back in 1961, Eloise Carter of the Ikettes cut a one-off solo single written & produced by Ike Turner – check out "My Man Rockhead"

Guitar Masters: Lorne Lofsky & Reg Schwager @ Hirut Café, Wednesday

Toronto jazz guitar aces Lorne Lofsky and Reg Schwager trade licks at Hirut Café tonight at 8 pm. $20 cash cover.  

New documentary on ska/rocksteady guitar great Lynn Taitt in the works

A feature-length documentary on pioneering ska/rocksteady guitar great Lynn Taitt is way overdue. Watch for a trailer coming soon.

Writes Moss Raxlen...

Happy to announce preproduction has now started on the Lynn Taitt documentary & release of his final LP (and most likely a couple of 45s). Over the next couple months I will be visiting Toronto, Ottawa & more to do research & networking followed by a teaser/trailer for around September. Big thanks to all those that have helped in the past to bring it this far & to all those now stepping in to help - Stay tuned for more info!!

Watch an unrelated mini-doc on Lyn Taitt from the Reggae Appreciation Society below.

Happy Birthday Ned Sublette!

Celebrating the birthday of singer/songwriter & music historian Ned Sublette with a discussion of Cuban music and more.

Get a copy of Ned Sublette's book Cuba and It's Music via Chicago Review Press right here.