[FairRetailRecordings] #0074 -- Josh Ritter -- Crystal Chandeliers And Burgundy

#0074

It's Johnny Cash's birthday today which is why we're sending out Josh Ritter covering a JC song. I encourage you to celebrate this day like the Man In Black would have by wearing black, drinking heavily and popping pills. And if you're in Austin, we'll be staying mean at the Mean Eyed Cat tonight for some live music in honor of Dyess, Arkansas' favorite son.

Artist: Josh Ritter

Date: 2007.10.29

Venue: The Parish

Track: Crystal Chandeliers And Burgundy

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0073 -- Graham Weber -- Brisket

#0073

Here's a special Thursday FRR mailing in advance of JRC's birthday tomorrow. One of my favorite topics from one of my favorite Austin transplants.

Artist: Graham Weber

Date: 2007.04.14

Venue: Stingaree Music Festival

Track: Brisket

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

Our Gourd-Love Runneth Deep [Or How I Learned To Stir Up Controversy In Americana Music]

Kevin Russell of the Gourds has never been one to shy away controversy (well, as much as exists in OKOM, anyway), even it's just him talking to an interviewer. And that's a small part of why he's one of our favorite entertainers. Ever. Period.

In a recent preview of a show in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with interviewer Aaron Davis of the JH Weekly, Russell fires shots across the respective bows of two alt-coutry/indie/OKOM/whatever favorites:

“Making the setlist is the hardest part of what I do,” Russell admits. “I’m envious of bands like Old Crow or Old 97s that play the same set every night. I like shows to have a flow and build energy, but we try to use the list as a map and not worry about it too much.”

And that's why people like, no, love the Gourds. They don't want to play the same set every night and the fans don't want the same set every night.

Thank you, Gourds. Thank you Kevin Russell.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0072 -- Peewee Moore & The Gunhands -- Georgia On A Fast Train

#0072

Completely unrehearsed; a man and a band (that's not his own) coming together to knock out a great cover of a Billy Joe Shaver classic. I love it.

Artist: Peewee Moore & The Gunhands

Date: 2010.01.14

Venue: The Mean Eyed Cat

Track: Georgia On A Fast Train

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

The Gourds At The Cactus Cafe, Maybe For The Last Time [Audio]

As the blogotwitbook-o-verse (yes, guilty), reminds us every day, the Cactus Cafe is slated to be closed. In talking to Chris, one of the employees, at the Cactus this past Friday, he seemed optimistic (well, as optimistic as possible, I guess). And that made me optimistic about the prospects for keeping Austin's folk-church open. On the other end of the spectrum, Michael Corcoran over at austin360 is all but sounding the death knell.

If it is over, or ending, or whatever, I would like every band and artist who ever played there to pay tribute as the Gourds did this past Friday night. With their gear en route from Wyoming, the boys had to round up replacement gear from their garages and their friends to pull together a bit of a throwback show that was thick with favorites and rarities from their earlier albums. In between songs, they would reminisce about the shows they saw (or missed) at the Cactus and what it meant to them. A very fitting bit of tribute from one of Austin's finest live bands. The highlight for me was Kev and Keith covering Bill Wither's "Ain't No Sunshine" after a quick encore break. Intentional or not, that song is a fitting tribute to how many feel about the potential closing of the Cactus.

Audio below. Check out the full write-up over at the Gourds News (link) for pics, videos and annotated setlists.

www.archive.org/details/gourds2010-02-19.matrix.flac

[FairRetailRecordings] #0071 -- Bourland -- Freon Cowboy

#0071

I hope you like this. It's a nice blend of fiddle, guitar, washtub bass, turntables and lyrics about a guy huffing freon. Carry on.

Artist: Bourland

Date: 2007.04.30

Venue: Ego's

Track: Freon Cowboy

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

Alt-512's Monthly Album Reviews & Recommendations [Condensed Version]

February, in addition to being intolerably short, has been really busy for us here at the alt512. Thanks to the fine folks over at ReviewShine, we recently listened to a record we wanted to pass along. This gem comes from The Shivering Denizens. Sometimes, it's hard to put into words what you like about a new band but there is no mystery with the Shivering Denizens. In the long line of punks-gone-honkytonk that includes Mike Ness (of Social D) and Mike Herrera (of MxPx). The songs on The Shivering Denizens' self-titled debut would fit well on any punk release. Clocking in at just under thirty minutes, this record is jam packed with brilliant punk sensibilities, not our least favorite of which is their in-your-face vulgarity and explicit material, rocked up (or honky tonked-up, in this case) in true rockabilly style.

With scarcely a weak spot on the record, we're giving this record our highest recommendation. You can buy the record here.

Looks like these guys will be in town for SXSW and we'll be sure to go check them out. We recommend you do the same if they come to a town or dive bar or rehab clinic near you.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0070 -- Robbie Fulks -- Cocktails

#0070

The weekend can never come soon enough. I guess this is a reminder that it doesn't have to.

Artist: Robbie Fulks

Date: 2006.04.06

Venue: The Cactus Cafe

Track: Cocktails

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0069 -- Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics -- What's That Cookin'

#0069

What would Friday be without a song about fried chicken?

Artist: Deke Dickerson

Date: 2008.09.20

Venue: The Continental Club

Track: What's That Cookin'

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0068 -- Austin Homegrown -- Due North>Down South

#0068

This morning's offering comes from another band that's on an indeterminant hiatus. I need bands to stop breaking up around here...

Artist: Austin Homegrown

Date: 2009.07.11

Venue: The Mean Eyed Cat

Track: Due North > Down South

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

Justin Townes Earle Live At Stubb's BBQ 2010.02.04 [Audio]

Thought I'd post the LMA audio from Justin Townes Earle's (site) recent show at Stubb's. He played a few new ones ("Workin' For The MTA" [not to be confused with the Skynyrd song of a similar title] and "Mama I'm Coming Home") that really impressed me.

JTE had Josh Hedley and Bryn Davies accompanying him on fiddle and bass respectively. The crowd was really into it and a bit larger than the show he played at the Cactus in December of '08 [audio link to the LMA]. He's going places, folks. Pay attention.

Enjoy!

[FairRetailRecordings] #0067 -- Brian Keane -- Spinning Wheels

#0067

Another (new?) one from Brian Keane. His first record was E-P-I-C and I hope his next one is in the ballpark. No pressure, Brian. Enjoy.

Artist: Brian Keane

Date: 2009.08.01

Venue: Gruene Hall

Track: Spinning Wheels

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

Chris Wall Performing "A Gal From San Antone" [Video]

We hosted Chris Wall performing in our living room this past weekend. What a show! For now, here's a video of him performing "A Gal From San Antone".

[FairRetailRecordings] #0066 -- Damon Bramblett -- Cloud Of Doom

#0066

As good as January was musically, there was still some of 2009's residual suck in the air. I had this track all picked up before January ended with a thud (work-related stuff) and then an amazing kaboom (Chris Wall in our living room). Here's to February outperforming January.

Artist: Damon Bramblett

Date: 2010.01.20

Venue: The Mean Eyed Cat

Track: Could Of Doom

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[Say It Ain't So] Cactus Cafe To Close

I woke up Sunday morning to the news that the Cactus Cafe on UT's campus is closing. Here's the story from austin360.com. My commentary would only be that I hope it doesn't happen. I hope the university can come to some resolution to keep it open.

The Cactus has long been my favorite place to see and hear live music. It's a fantastic listening room with a wonderful staff and amazing local and touring acts coming through on a continual basis. The Cactus is one of the few places to see live music that's overly civilized - reverence and esteem for the music and history of the Cactus, minimal talking during performances and amazing sound that puts other Austin venues to shame.

Whatever happens to the Cactus, I encourage you to get out to the Cactus often and support as soon as possible. Fred Eaglesmith and Chris Knight are there Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Go. Now. What the hell are you waiting for?