Remembering singer/songwriter Tom T. Hall on his birthday

Remembering Tom T. Hall with a 2011 performance of "That's How I Got To Memphis"  and a couple of his Hee Haw appearances. 

Watch the trailer for way overdue streaming series "They Called Us Outlaws"

"They Called Us Outlaws" – reassessing the legacy of Billy Joe Shaver, Waylon Jennings, Guy Clark, etc – premieres at SXSW '26.

Happy Birthday Buddy Miller!

Celebrating Buddy Miller's birthday with a a Tom T. Hall tune, a guided tour of his crib, rig rundown and a gig with Emmylou. 

One For The Weekend: The Tone Rangers

Toronto's Tone Rangers just put their own spin on the Tom T. Hall classic "That's How I Got To Memphis" – have a listen. 

You can also hear it via Spotify right here. 

Remembering singer/songwriter Tom T. Hall

Since it's Tom T. Hall's birthday, here are a few renditions of his classic "That's How I Got To Memphis" starting with his own.

R.I.P. Country music's storyteller Tom T. Hall, 1936-2021

Sadly, songwriter Tom T. Hall – who penned many more classic tunes than Harper Valley P.T.A. – has passed away. He'll be missed.

Sharon Ely remembers Tom T. Hall

Tom T. Hall having a cold one at Stubb's BBQ in Lubbock, Texas.

Tom was a great friend to STUBB’S and Joe Ely and Paul Milosevich 

STUBB’S had nailed the curtains down in all the booths so people would quit wiping there greasy bbq hands on the curtains. 

Tom T Hall never told STUBB’S as long as they were friends that he was a vegetarian.  

One night At STUBB’S, Joe and Tom played a pool tournament with an onion as cue ball in STUBB’S back room where he kept all the food to cook with . The pool table was back there and sometimes served as a bed for STUBB’S when he couldn’t make it home. 

I secretly stole the cue ball that night when tom and joe were in the back playing pool continuously –thinking they would come out front and play music for all the people waiting to hear them since there was no cue ball. It was in my back pocket. 

Instead Joe found a bag of onions and pulled one out and grabbed a broom for a cue stick. They continued to play pool. 

Tom T. won because Joe scratched the cue ball/onion.

Then Tom wrote “The Great East Broadway Onion Championship of 1978”

R.I.P. Tom T. Hall

Happy Birthday Buddy Miller!

Celebrating the birthday of Buddy Miller – singer, guitarist and someone you'd want as a sideman.

Behind The Scenes w/ Joe Ely, Stubb, Tom T. Hall

Joe Ely shares a brew with BBQ legend Stubb & Tom T. Hall at the 1978 East Broadway Onion Championship. 

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

One For The Weekend: Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison