[FairRetailRecordings] #0056 -- Bruce Springsteen -- Hard Times

#0056

We here at FRR HQ are not sad to see 2009 shown the door; not by any stretch of the imagination. Everybody either was or knows someone who lost his or her job or was otherwise impacted by the economic climate. Let's all hope or pray (or whatever you do) that 2010 is a lot better than 2009. Anyway, Stephen Stinkin' Foster said it best and his words come to you via the Boss & the E Street Band....

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Date: 2009.04.05

Venue: The Frank Erwin Center

Track: Hard Times

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0055 -- The Gourds -- Michoacan

#0055

The perfect segue between our Christmas stuff and our New Year's stuff is the Gourds covering Doug Sahm.

Artist: The Gourds

Date: 2009.12.05

Venue: Jovita's

Track: Michoacan

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0054 -- Brock Zeman -- The Triple Crown

#0054

A song about a bar that has a band every day of the year, even on Christmas. And falling in love with a barfly. Yep, that's a country song, friends. Merry Christmas, y'all. And to all a good night.

Artist: Brock Zeman

Date: 2009.09.10

Venue: Riley's Tavern

Track: The Triple Crown

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0053 -- The Gunhands -- Silent Night>Pepe Claus

#0053

Let's continue the Christmas spirit with the double-edged foray from the Gunhands. The spiritual of Silent Night and the secular of Pepe Claus. Ah, Christmas in Texas.

Artist: The Gunhands

Date: 2008.12.11

Venue: The Mean Eyed Cat

Track: Silent Night>Pepe Claus

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

Some Live Christmas Cheer From alt512

Some Christmas-time cheer in the form of some recent live performances by some of our friends here at alt512 that won't make the cut for the Fair Retail mailings until next year (look at us being proactive).

Merry Christmas, y'all.

First off, Mark Jungers covers a few Christmas classics from 2009.12.17 at Gruene Hall:

Run Run Rudolph:

Merry Christmas Throughout The Year:


A pair of Christmas-time originals from Grub Dog & The Modestos from 2009.12.05 at Jovitas.
Merry Christmas From Your Ex-Girlfriend:

Rocking In My Stocking:

[FairRetailRecordings] #0052 -- Slaid Cleaves -- Merry Christmas From The Family

#0052

Slaid covers Robert Earl Keen to kick off our Christmas coverage here at FRR HQ.

Artist: Slaid Cleaves

Date: 2005.11.23

Venue: The Saxon Pub

Track: Merry Christmas From The Family

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

The Bird List...An Aggregate Best Of 2009 List

No need to copy or repeat what's already out there. Check out the list over at A Truer Sound.

Here's the top five.

1. Justin Townes Earle Midnight at the Movies
2. Lucero 1372 Overton Park
3. Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses Roadhouse Sun
4. Buddy and Julie Miller Written in Chalk
5. Dave Rawlings Machine A Friend of a Friend

[FairRetailRecordings] #0051 -- The Spoiled Royals -- Done Going Downtown

#0051

Here's some rock Lonesome George Thorogood & The Delaware Destroyers would be proud to call their own.

We'll start the Christmas-y stuff on Friday.

Artist: The Spoiled Royals

Date: 2009.09.12

Venue: The Mean Eyed Cat

Track: Done Going Downtown

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0050 -- Lew Card -- The Curse In My Blood And The Hole In My Shoe

#0050

I really love this song. It says a lot (to me) about why people do the things they do. Sometimes, you don't have a choice.

Artist: Lew Card

Date: 2009.09.10

Venue: Flipnotics

Track: The Curse In My Blood And The Hole In My Shoe

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

The Best Of 2009...Official Releases

A bunch of OKOM music bloggers got together this year (at the prompting of A Truer Sound) to compile a consensus best of 2009 official release. Officially, the name of this collective is the Bird List. The compiled results will be released in a few days. I had a peek at the ballots and there are a lot of differing opinions on who had the best record of 2009. Didn't seem to me like there was a clear consensus number one record this year. I anxiously await the results.

In the meantime, here's my list. We had to rank our top 20 records of the year. For me, though, once I got past seven, the ranking really ceased to matter. In reality, Bingham's Roadhouse Sun was far and away the best record of the year. Everyone was just pickin' for second.

Alt512's Top Seven:

Ryan Bingham Roadhouse Sun

Corb Lund Losin' Lately Gambler

Sons Of Bill One Town Away

The Devil Makes Three Do Wrong Right

Leo Rondeau Down At The End Of The Bar

Danny Schmidt Instead The Forest Rose To Sing

Gary Floater A Hero Never Learns - The Songs Of Gary Floater

The Best of the Rest:

Reid Wilson & His So-Called Friends Country Music Revolution

Mike Herrera's Tumbledown Tumbledown

Charlie Robison Beautiful Day

Owen Temple Dollars And Dimes

Ben Kweller Changing Horses

Slaid Cleaves Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away

Peewee Moore The Leaving Side Of Gone

Guy Clark Somedays The Song Writes You

Dustin Welch Whisky Priest

Tom Russell Blood And Candle Smoke

Daddy For A Second Time

Justin Townes Earle Midnight At The Movies

The Gourds Haymaker

Brock Zeman Live @ The Acoustic Grill

The Avett Brothers I And Love And You

James McMurtry Live In Europe

Scott Miller Appalachian Refugee

Alt-512's Records Of The Decade

Been a helluva a musical decade. It seems like whatever this music is [called] that we all like, OKOM, for lack a better term, really came into its own. The older [living] guys (Terry Allen, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Billy Joe Shaver, Butch Hancock, et al) really got their dues as they continued putting out some really great new music. The younger guys (REK, Snider, the Robison Brothers, Slaid Cleaves, et al) continued to grew and hone their crafts. And some new/newer acts (Hayes Carll, Corb Lund, Ryan Bingham, et al) clawed their way from obscurity to bring the world some truly amazing records and thousands of amazing live performances. And of course some of the bands that really influenced us in the first decade of the 21st century aren't together anymore (South Austin Jug Band, The Dedringers, The Gougers, The Tennessee Rounders, The Sovines, etc).

As with all of our lists, this one is not in any particular order. With that, I present you with the list of our favorite albums that were released in the first decade of the 21st century. [The noughties?]

Chris Wall Just Another Place

Gary Floater A Hero Never Learns

Sam Baker Mercy

Steve Earle The Revolution Starts Now

The Victrolas Life Like The Movies, Drop The Needle

Jimmy Buffett Far Side Of The World

Scott Miller Reconstruction

Charlie Robison Beautiful Day

Corb Lund Five Dollar Bill, Losing Lately Gambler

Ryan Bingham Roadhouse Sun, Dead Horses

James McMurtry Live In Aught Three, Childish Things

Shooter Jennings Put The O Back In Country

Todd Snider East Nashville Skyline

Adam Carroll Live At Cheatham Street

Bruce Robison Wrapped

Warren Zevon The Wind

Stillwater Pioneers Let's Go Pioneering

The James Hyland Band Place I Call Home

Kasey Chambers The Captain

Reckless Kelly Wicked Twisted Road

Josh Ritter The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter

Gurf Morlix Diamonds To Dust

Deadstring Brothers Starving Winter Report

Fred Eaglesmith Balin

Tim Hus Bush Pilot Buckaroo

Danny Schmidt Little Grey Sheep

Brian Keane I Ain't Even Lonely

Mike McClure [Band] Camelot Falling

Verlon Thompson Everywhere...Yet

John Fogerty Blue Moon Swamp

John Prine In Spite Of Ourselves

Johnny Cash American IV

Jack Ingram Acoustic Motel

James Hyland Place I Call Home

South Austin Jug Band Dark And Weary World

Slaid Cleaves Broke Down, Wishbones

Steve Earle The Revolution Starts Now

Houston Marchman Key To The Highway

The Gourds Blood Of The Ram

Hayes Carll Trouble In Mind, Flowers & Liquor, Little Rock

Daddy At The Women's Club

Brock Zeman Hundred Dollar Difference

Sons Of Bill One Town Away

Peter Cooper Mission Door

The Onion Creek Crawdaddies Irons In The Fire

Leo Rondeau Down At The End Of The Bar

Non-Music

Dave Attell Skanks For The Memories

Patton Oswalt Feelin' Kinda Patton, Werewolves And Lollipops

Dave Chappelle For What It's Worth

[FairRetailRecordings] #0049 -- The Fundamentalists -- Broad Minded

#0049

Traditional Bluegrass. Nothing like it, especially when it's a cover of a Louvin Brothers song.

Artist: The Fundamentalists

Date: 2008.09.11

Venue: Threadgill's Old No 1

Track: Broad Minded

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

The Gourds Recent Two-Night Stand At Jovita's [Audio]

We were fortunate enough to capture two excellent Gourds (site) shows over the weekend at Jovita's here in Austin. Links to the audio are below as well as the embedded player for your enjoyment. Almost a no-repeat two-night stand had it not been for Pill Bug Blues. Check out the full write-up over at the Gourds News (Friday, Saturday) for some pics, videos and annotated setlists.

http://www.archive.org/details/gourds2009-12-04.matrix.flac

http://www.archive.org/details/gourds2009-12-05.matrix.flac

[FairRetailRecordings] #0048 - South Austin Jug Band -- Long Journey Home

#0048

Continuing the week's theme of getting back home, I present the South Austin Jug Band covering this bluegrass standard.

Artist: South Austin Jug Band

Date: 2006.11.04

Venue: The Nutty Brown Cafe

Track: Long Journey Home

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0047 -- Mike Herrera's Tumbledown -- Homeward Bound

#0047

As we head back to Austin from a week plus in Pennsylvania, this seems appropriate.

Artist: Mike Herrera's Tumbledown

Date: 2009.03.17

Venue: Red7

Track: Homeward Bound

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0046 -- Phil King & Daniel Stokes -- Atlantic City

#0046

A day late. The Flatcar Rattlers have a new CD out. If you're in Austin, you should be able to get it at Waterloo. For now, here's the Rattler's singer (Daniel) and guitar player (Phil) accompanied by Cale Thibodeaux on banjo covering the Boss' Atlantic City.

Artist: Phil King & Daniel Stokes [Flatcar Rattlers]

Date: 2009.11.17

Venue: Jovita's

Track: Atlantic City

Support your local music scene.

Flatcar Rattlers Debut CD Release

The Flatcar Rattlers (myspace) are celebrating the release of their debut CD this coming Saturday at the Scoot Inn in east Austin. If you're around, go see them. They won't disappoint. If you want a preview, check out the video below or listen to their show from Jovita's this past July.

http://www.archive.org/details/fcr2009-07-03.matrix.flac

[FairRetailRecordings] #0045 -- The South Austin Jug Band -- The Ballad Of Eddie Mullett

#0045

A Jug Band classic. 'Nuff said.

Artist: South Austin Jug Band

Date: 2006.09.08

Venue: The Mean Eyed Cat

Track: The Ballad Of Eddie Mullett

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0044 -- Verlon Thompson -- If The Creek's Too Hight For Crossing

#0043

Another one from Verlon Thompson. This is from the Columbus Music Hall in 2004. I'm not sure if this is on any of his records or not...

Artist: Verlon Thompson

Venue: The Columbus Music Hall

Date: 2004.04.01

Track: If The Creek's Too High For Crossing

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

The Best Of 2009...Live Shows In and Around ATX

2009 was a weird year. My wife and I joke about how strange (or insert your own adjective here) this year has been. As weird as it was with everything happening, the music in and around Austin was phenomenal.

I know there were more great shows we saw this year (especially SXSW) but here's the immediate list that comes to mind [links to audio of the shows provided where available].

Lew Card's Monday Songwriter Mixers @ The Mean Eyed Cat were a few of my favorites: 2009.04.06, 2009.05.04, 2009.06.01, 2009.11.02

Scott Miller @ The Cactus Cafe 2009.06.25

Reid Wilson & His So-Called Friends w/ Earl Poole Ball @ The Mean Eyed Cat 2009.02.26

Corb Lund @ Threadgill's South 2009.09.29
Hayes Carll @ Threadgill's South 2009.05.24
The Devil Makes Three @ Lovejoy's 2009.03.18
Daddy @ Jovita's 2009.03.19
Mark Jungers & Chris Wall @ Patsy's 2009.03.19
AJ Roach, Nels Andrews & Friends @ Flipnotics 2009.06.05
Doug Moreland's Cattlelac's Calf Fry with Ryan Bingham, Corb Lund, Doug Moreland, Jesse Dayton & The Rustlanders 2009.09.26
The Gourds @ Threadgill's South 2009.10.03
Charlie Robison @ Our House Concert 2009.10.18

The Gourds @ Jovita's 2009.12.04 / 2009.12.05

Damon Bramblett @ The Mean Eyed Cat 2009.12.16

Covers Of The Boss' Atlantic City

Since the first time I heard The Band's cover of Springsteen's Atlantic City, I was absolutely hooked on covers of that song. I love the song, the original from the Nebraska record, I mean, of course. But for some reason, I really love covers of this song. Unlike our list of songs that should cease to be covered, this one should be covered more.

Besides The Band, my other favorite cover of this song is by Hank III which is distinctly more (true) country than any of the other covers I've heard.

Anyway, I was out seeing Phil King and Daniel Stokes (of the Austin band Flatcar Rattlers) last night at Jovita's and they covered it. Never disappoints, this song.

Check out the whole recording here:

http://www.archive.org/details/philking_danielstokes_2009-11-17.matrix

[FairRetailRecordings] #0043 -- Verlon Thompson -- Cato County

#0042

One of my favorite unsung songwriters is Verlon Thompson who's best known for being Guy Clark's sideman but who is a tremendous songwriter in his own right.  This recording comes to us courtesy of Joshua Cain.

Artist: Verlon Thompson

Venue: The Cactus Cafe

Date: 2009.02.27

Track: Cato County


Enjoy.  And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0042 -- Slaid Cleaves -- Texas Top Hand

#0042

Here's another from the dusty back bins.  Slaid Cleaves with Michael O'Connor, Ivan Brown and Rick Richards perform a cover of Don Walser's "Texas Top Hand" from 2004 at the now sadly defunct Little Brother's in Columbus, Ohio.

Artist: Slaid Cleaves

Venue: Little Brother's

Date: April 20, 2004

Track: Texas Top Hand

Enjoy.  And support your local music scene.

Download Jonny Burke's New EP "The Long Haul" Free

If you liked the Dedringers, you're probably like me and disappointed they broke up earlier this year.  Well, despair no longer.  You can download former-Ringer Jonny Burke's new EP for free from the link below.  Burke's been on the road for a big chunk of 2009 opening for the likes of Ryan Bingham and James McMurtry.  So, maybe you've already seen him and know what a talent he is.  If not, grab a free taste here.

Might want to download this soon as I believe this is a limited time offer.  You probably have until the end of November or so.

Enjoy.

http://www.archive.org/details/TheLongHaulEp

[FairRetailRecordings] #0041 -- Charlie Robison -- My Brother And Me

#0041

Another one of Charlie Robison from the house concert. This is by far my favorite of his and Bruce's stuff. Glad he did it for us.

Artist: Charlie Robison

Venue: Our House Concert

Date: October 18, 2009

Track: My Brother And Me

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0040 -- Charlie Robison -- Photograph

#0040

I was really impressed when Charlie Robison played our house concert a few weeks back. Attached, you can find him doing "Photograph".

Artist: Charlie Robison

Venue: Our House Concert

Date: October 18, 2009

Track: Photograph

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.