Happy Birthday David Hidalgo!

Raising a glass to Los Lobos mainman David Hidalgo with a few tunes performed with Dave Alvin and other friends. 

Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan's compositions get the spotlight on new multi-artist comp

Ace Records has gathered 19 stellar covers of songs by Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan for Where The Willow and The Dogwood Grow. 

Here's the scoop... 

With undeniable cultural gravity, the team of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan join luminaries such as Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Randy Newman, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Leonard Cohen, Lee Hazlewood, Brian Wilson and Laura Nyro in Ace Records’ long-running series of multi-artist compilations celebrating the great American songwriters of the modern era. Hundreds of artists from all walks of music have recorded songs from Waits and Brennan’s matchless catalogue, 19 of the finest of which comprise the hand-picked selection Where The Willow and The Dogwood Grow (out May 29th), including many chosen by the songwriters themselves.

Few artists have remapped the terrain of popular music, and culture at large, like Tom Waits. Over the course of five decades, he has forged a singular aesthetic that defies genre and turns the marginal into myth. His work is neither fully inside nor outside the mainstream tradition but moves restlessly between them, drawing from vaudeville, blues, jazz, folk, theatre – and just about anything else that catches his ear – to craft something wholly his own. His influence reverberates not just through the underground and avant-garde, but across theatre, film, literature, and visual art. With his long-time creative partner and wife Kathleen Brennan, he has dismantled and reassembled the idea of song itself, crafting works that exist as both raw expression and high art. This collection honours not only the extraordinary versatility of Waits and Brennan’s songwriting, but the importance of an artist who continues to haunt and inspire from the edges inward.

Ace’s selection is sequenced chronologically by song, opening with Bruce Springsteen’s live recording of ‘Jersey Girl’, Waits’ ode to Brennan from 1980’s Heartattack And Vine, and closing with folk matriarch Joan Baez’s version of Waits and Brennan’s anti-war ‘Day After Tomorrow’ from Waits’ more recent Real Gone. “All the great things that came out of New Jersey don’t hold a candle to Kathleen Brennan, at least not in Tom’s eyes,” Bob Dylan said on his Theme Time Radio Hour show. “She rescued me,” reflected Waits in an interview for The Guardian. “Maybe I rescued her too, that’s often how it works. Upshot is that we both got into the same leaky boat. Everybody knows she’s the brains behind Pa, as Dylan might have said. I’m just the figurehead. She’s the one who’s steering the ship.”

In addition to “steering the ship”, Brennan became Waits’ songwriting partner. The couple’s first-released joint composition, ‘Hang Down Your Head’ from Rain Dogs, is heard here in a raunchy rendition by country-blues heroine Lucinda Williams. Elsewhere, performers from the worlds of jazz, blues, gospel, soul and rock put their own stamps on great songs with which Waits devotees will be familiar on Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, Franks Wild Years, Big Time, Bone Machine, Mule Variations, Real Gone and Orphans. Pride of place – because it’s a particular favourite of Waits and proved incredibly challenging to license – goes to the heart-wrenching recording of ‘Down There By The Train’ from Johnny Cash’s late-life masterpiece American Recordings.

Made with the blessing, approval and involvement of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Where The Willow And The Dogwood Grow is an essential collection for any fan of this remarkable artist’s unique work.

Where The Willow and The Dogwood Grow: 

Words & Music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan

1. JERSEY GIRL - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND

2. 16 SHELLS FROM A THIRTY-OUGHT-SIX - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND

3. GIN-SOAKED BOY - SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE ASBURY JUKES

4. JOCKEY FULL OF BOURBON - LOS LOBOS

5. HANG DOWN YOUR HEAD - LUCINDA WILLIAMS

6. TEMPTATION - DIANA KRALL

7. YESTERDAY IS HERE - BETTYE LAVETTE

8. WAY DOWN IN THE HOLE - THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA

9. STRANGE WEATHER - MARIANNE FAITHFULL

10. I DON'T WANNA GROW UP - RAMONES

11. DOWN THERE BY THE TRAIN - JOHNNY CASH

12. HOUSE WHERE NOBODY LIVES - KING ERNEST

13. PICTURE IN A FRAME - WILLIE NELSON

14. HOLD ON - MADISON CUNNINGHAM

15. THE LONG WAY HOME - NORAH JONES

16. 2:19 - JOHN HAMMOND

17. DIAMOND IN YOUR MIND - SOLOMON BURKE

18. TRAMPLED ROSE - ALISON KRAUSS / ROBERT PLANT

19. DAY AFTER TOMORROW - JOAN BAEZ

Get a copy of Where The Willow and The Dogwood Grow directly from Ace Records right here. Check out a few alternate performances by some of the artists included. 

L.A. legends X & Los Lobos cancel their upcoming tour

Sadly, Los Lobos and X have cancelled their much anticipated North American tour including their Massey Hall date Friday.

Los Lobos play acoustic show @ Koerner Hall, Saturday

Even when armed with only acoustic guitars, the mighty Los Lobos can still rock a soft-seat theatre. Show starts at 8 pm.  

Here's the scoop...

The multiple Grammy Award-winning Mexican-American rock band from East Los Angeles, California returns to Koerner Hall for an acoustic show.

Los Lobos effortlessly fuses rock, Tex-Mex, folk, and blues with rhythmic beats and heartfelt lyrics, creating a genre-bending nostalgic experience. Their eclectic sound resonates with authenticity and their traditional Mexican roots, inspiring listeners all around the globe.

Estimated Concert Length: 75 minutes with no intermission. Get tickets here. Watch Los Lobos rip through two songs at recent performance in Portland below. 

 

R.I.P. Motown songwriter/singer Barrett Strong, 1941-2023

Sadly, songwriter Barrett Strong – who cut the definitive version of "Money" in 1959 – has passed away. He'll be greatly missed.

John Doe previews new album with "Never Coming Back" video

"Never Coming Back" is off John Doe's new album Fables In A Foreign Land out May 20th via Fat Possum. 

Stars come out for salute to NRBQ's Joey Spampinato

Party For Joey, a Sweet Relief tribute album celebrating the work of NRBQ's Joey Spampinato, is out now via True North.

Here's the scoop from True North...

True North Records has just released Party For Joey: A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato, which features a lengthy list of friends and fans of the NRBQ founding member/bassist saluting him with 14 versions of their own previously unreleased versions of Spampinato-penned songs.

A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato is an inspired album recorded by an astounding group of musicians including Los Lobos, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Case, Ben Harper, The Minus 5, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale, Chris Spedding, Robbie Fulks, Deer Tick, She & Him, Steve Forbert and Al Anderson who are all generously donating their proceeds from these recordings to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to support Joey with his current health issues. The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability or age-related problems.

Joey Spampinato, a singer, songwriter and bassist, was co-founder of the legendary NRBQ, a rock quartet whose genre-defying music continues to inspire generations of music fans and fellow musicians. Many of those musicians answered the call from Joey’s wife Kami Lyle and producer Sheldon Gomberg when they contacted them about recording one of Joey’s songs for an album to help raise funds for Joey when it was revealed he was battling cancer.

Check out the contributions from Peter Case, Ben Harper (with Keith Richards, Charlie Musselwhite, Don Heffington & Benmont Tench), Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale, The Minus 5 and Al Anderson following the complete track listing below. 

Party For Joey: A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato 

Al Anderson – “You Can't Hide” - Original Release: 1980 on Tiddlywinks 

Los Lobos – “Every Boy, Every Girl” - Original Release: 1987 on God Bless Us All

Deer Tick – “That I Get Back Home” - Original Release: 1980 on Tiddlywinks

Ben Harper with Keith Richards, Charlie Musselwhite, Benmont Tench, Don Was & Don Heffington – “Like a Locomotive” - Original Release: 1989 on Wild Weekend

Peter Case – “Don't Knock At My Door” - Original Release: 1972 on Scraps

She & Him – “How Can I Make You Love Me” - Original Release: 1983 on Grooves in Orbit

The Minus 5 – “Don't She Look Good” - Original Release: 1979 on Kick Me Hard

Steve Forbert – “Beverly” - Original Release: 1986 on Uncommon Denominators

Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale – “How Will I Know” - Original Release: 2013 on Smiles

Bonnie Raitt & NRBQ – “Green Lights” - Original Release: 1978 on At Yankee Stadium

Robbie Fulks – “Chores” - Original Release: 1979 on Kick Me Hard

Penn And Teller – “Plenty of Somethin’” - Original Release: 1997 on You’re Nice People You Are

The Nils & Chris Spedding – “That's Alright” Original Release: 1977 on All Hopped Up

Kami Lyle with Joey – “First Crush”

Los Lobos vs. Barrett Strong

Los Lobos knocked out a fine version of Barrett Strong's "Misery" for their great new Native Sons album.

That time David Hidalgo stopped by Norman's Rare Guitars

Watch Los Lobos mainman David Hidalgo play his 1964 Gibson ES-125TDC at Norman's Rare Guitars in Tarzana, CA. 

That time Alejandro Escovedo & David Hidalgo jammed on "Like A Hurricane"

Back in 2013, David Hidalgo joined Alejando Escovedo on stage in Kansas City. Los Lobos hit Toronto's Koerner Hall on February 22.  

Merry Christmas from Los Lobos!

Los Lobos played a few songs from their Llegó Navidad album for their recent Tiny Desk Concert and also released a video for "Feliz Navidad" 

Watch the video for "Christmas and You" by Los Lobos

"Christmas and You" is off Llegó Navidad, the first-ever Christmas album from Los Lobos – see the making-of documentary clips below. 

LINKS
The New Yorker Shopping For Christmas Records With Los Lobos

Los Lobos @ Koerner Hall, Saturday

Here's that legendary band from East L.A. sounding better than ever after 42 years together. 

The Sadies join Neil Young on the road

The Sadies are pleased to announce that they will be touring Canada in November as support to Neil Young & Crazy Horse (see dates below). They'll be sharing the bill with Los Lobos from Vancouver to Toronto and Patti Smith in Ottawa and Montreal which hopefully means that Patti will be doing a Hogtown show of her own. The Juno-winning Toronto twang troop will be returning to the studio with producer Gary Louris in the fall to begin recording the follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed Darker Circles album which was short-listed for a Polaris Music Prize. That might not seem like much but considering the prevailing indie-rock slant of the Polaris jury pool, a recording by the Sadies getting short-listed is a huge freaking achievement. 

In 2010, the band saw their one-off Neil Young collabo on "This Wheel's On Fire" dispatched to obscurity on the Band tribute disc A Canadian Celebration of the Band (Sony) which became an instant cut-out bin classic largely due to the baffling list of contributors that included Raine Maida, Hawksley Workman, Great Big Sea, The Trews, Chantal Creviazuk, Ian Thornley and others who similarly had no business messing with songs by The Band.  More recently, The Sadies received further accolades for their inspired  studio throwdown with Andre Williams on the Jon Spencer-produced Night & Day (Yep Roc/Outside) album. 

Consisting of brothers Dallas and Travis Good, drummer Mike Belitsky and upright bassist Sean Dean, The Sadies’ reputation as “musician’s musicians” and “a real working band” has been earned in roadhouses and bucket-of-blood bars as well as theaters and festivals all over the world where, for the last 14 years, they have astonished audiences with their earthy arsenal of traditional roots music, country, spaghetti western excursions, surf, garage rock, psychedelia, and the slippery beast known as alt rock, all with uncanny precision and passion.

 Neil Young & Crazy Horse November Tour Dates

November 11^th - Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena with Los Lobos & The Sadies  
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/110048B798E5644D?crosssite=LN_US:736511:139269

 
November 13^th - Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome with Los Lobos & The Sadies
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/110048B6F056A8E7?crosssite=LN_US:736511:139359

November 14^th - Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre with Los Lobos & The Sadies
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/110048B09C115C4A?crosssite=LN_US:736511:139568

 
November 16^th - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre with Los Lobos & The Sadies
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/110048C4AA336AFD?crosssite=LN_US:736511:139625

 
November 19^th - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre with Los Lobos & The Sadies
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/100048C4AE64624D?crosssite=LN_US:736511:131157

 
November 23^rd - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre with Patti Smith and Her Band & The Sadies

http://www.evenko.ca/fr/show/evenement/neil-young-&-crazy-horse-6346

November 24^th - Ottawa, ON @ Scotiabank Place with Patti Smith and Her Band & The Sadies
http://www.capitaltickets.ca/en/default.asp?capitaltickets=12&objId=1593