31 October 2011
SCOTT H BiRAM cooks with BAD iNGREDiENTS
Scott H Biram's Bad Ingredients album is aptly titled. His most blues-based work, is also his most sonically dynamic and lyrically accomplished.
Demons seem loose-leashed, tempered, but no less vicious, no less snarling. Brother Biram's straight in control now and crackin' the whip.
Scott's roots grow deep and strong and his guitar work is at it's best here, concise, muscular and nimble. His stomp-box sounds like its made of basalt and iron wood. Biram's trusty '59 Gibson hollowbody has always been a weapon in his hands, throwing out dirt clods of distortion. The tone cuts like rusty jagged sharply-honed knives or touches like a dog's paw.
All that mess is refined here not only by Biram's relentless touring, but by his obvious comfort in his own studio which he uses now as an instrument, the fifth Biram if you will. Scott has never been skeered to broaden and challenge his blues/country/metal sonic palette but he's got it down to a science this round and his fans will happily line up and volunteer to take his medicine. Biram never delivers snake oil. He's 100% patent and potent.
Bad Ingredients is not sonically enhanced in any way that would not allow him to throw the same party live as he does in the studio, but Scott's a listener. As such, he can throw down his sound and reinforce it with floydian textures in the nearly epic fourth track, Victory Song or make it sound like he and his acoustic are sitting across from you on a moonlit back patio.
The slow, dirty blues of Born In Jail walks on hind legs with grace at dusk, scratching signs in the dust and spitting raw sapphire-toned leads. Biram's breakin' it down for those who came before, son.
Broke Ass tells a story you're awful gawddamn glad isn't yours, but you know when he sings, "yeah, come on down and take a look at my bad dream" that if it's Biram's, he'll somehow live through it.
Mojo Hand i'm totally diggin'. Biram likes taking chances, just as he has in past work with Black Diamond Heavies and them. Accompanied here by Austin's Walter Daniels on saxophone, this is classic Scott H Biram.
Hollerin', stompin, and gettin' nasty.
Y'all read the story behind the song right Here.
Hollerin', stompin, and gettin' nasty.
Y'all read the story behind the song right Here.
His cover of bluegrass master Bill Monroe's Memories Of You Sweetheart is plaintive and real. As it should be. Biram played in bluegrass outfits early on and it remains a powerful element of his style. The other cover here, Lightnin' Hopkins' Have You Ever Loved A Woman displays Biram's formidable and burly picking skills.
I gotta admit, Killed A Chicken Last Night is Biram 101. It's like he's covering himself, but doing it better than the original. Let that boy boogie-woogie. It's in 'im and its got to come out. Y'know, I don't think he's done an album without a chicken song or two. But he can always be trusted to put one song on the album that makes you say, "huh?" but you end up diggin' it anyway. Gotta respect that.
Black Creek Risin' is Biram's "I Asked For Water...," vs. Cool Drink of Water vs I Asked For Whiskey. Ain't a damn thing wrong with that, and that ain't sellin' nothin' short neither. It's straight up classic blues that'll make yr straightblues hatin' or lovin' pal turn and cock their head and say, "what's this?"
Hang Your head and Cry is, again, classic Biram.
A rompin' Stompin barnburner and barbeque, ya muthrs.
A rompin' Stompin barnburner and barbeque, ya muthrs.
I don't know if Scott has been listening to some Dylan/Guthrie-related junk or what, but the lyrics continue to expand upon the growth we've seen with his last three albums. Musically he shines hard. There is a serious and effortless confidence here that is at once familiar, and inspiring.
Scott H Biram is like a quality self-built dirt-floored yard shed. Filled with all the tools you love. Old Loppers and big ol' saws from your Grandpa's tool box. A couple over-size wood-handled standard screw drivers that more than do the job. Your first vice-grips. Bags of rich, deeply fertilized and loamy dirt. Stacks of sacks of chicken feed. A box of those good red shop rags. But back behind the shed? Bad luck and trouble crawls in the dark through the scrub wood and grass, a dark bird calls it's lonesome song and the hard wind howls, carrying lost voices through the live oak.
I don't believe in best anything. But if I did, Scott H Biram's Bad Ingredients would be high on that list. Biram brings what he knows, and what he knows is that you don't get many chances. So you better have a good time, break some hearts and get broke. You damn sure better take it to the stage right and full on.
Scott H Biram more than deserves your money.
Send it to him and buy all of his stuff.
I don't believe in best anything. But if I did, Scott H Biram's Bad Ingredients would be high on that list. Biram brings what he knows, and what he knows is that you don't get many chances. So you better have a good time, break some hearts and get broke. You damn sure better take it to the stage right and full on.
Scott H Biram more than deserves your money.
Send it to him and buy all of his stuff.
30 October 2011
29 October 2011
28 October 2011
26 October 2011
25 October 2011
24 October 2011
PURGATORY HiLL - iNViSiBLE PiSTOLS From the Forthcoming LOWEBOW FEST DVD
Purgatory Hill // Crackerswamp Productions - Home of The Lowebow Fest // Nobrow Productions -Creators of fine quality moving pictures for you and for me
RiCH HALL's THE DiRTY SOUTH. A BBC Documentary on Hollywood's Exploitation of The South
Via Matt Mudlow!
"Rich Hall sets his keen eye and acerbic wit on his homeland once again as he sifts truth from fiction in Hollywood's version of the southern states of the USA. Using specially shot interviews and featuring archive footage from classic movies such as Gone With The Wind, A Streetcar Named Desire and Deliverance, Rich discovers a South that is about so much more than just rednecks, racism and hillbillies."
Part 4, for some crazyass reason, is non-embeddable.
Go here.
SACRED HARP of HOBOKEN - Short Emmy-winning doc on 150 years of Sacred Harp/Shape Note Singing in Hoboken
If you are interested in learning/hearing more about Sacred Harp/Shape note singing see my previous post HERE.
23 October 2011
19 October 2011
GUADALUPE PLATA! NEW SiNGLE OUT NOW! FREE DOWNLOAD AT BANDCAMP!
You now have a reason to live another day!
The great Guadalupe Plata have a new single out and it's a free download from their Bandcamp page.
I've raved about these guys before, and their new single, Casino El Camino Parte 1 and Parte 2 is every bit as wicked as previous.
Speaking of previous, you can still snag their two albums for free as well from their Bandcamp page.
Go! Vamanos! Skedaddle! Git it!
By the way...check out these two videos which feature the music from the single!:
Guadalupe Plata - Casino El Camino (parte 2) from Toni Anguiano on Vimeo.
SCOTT H BiRAM - New Video of Scott's cover of Omie Wise
Scott Biram has a deep catalog to choose from but for some reason his cover of Omie Wise (the version from his Rehabilitation Blues ep) has always moved me. If I had to pick my 3 favorite Biram songs this would be on the list. He's a little older now, his voice a little richer, and he does a beautiful job with the song.
18 October 2011
JiM O'NEAL - Founder of Living Blues Magazine & Rooster Blues Records Has Cancer and No Insurance. Please Help!
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| Jim O'Neal (second from left) with Bobby Plant |
Jim O'Neal, the founder of Living Blues Magazine and the late great Rooster Blues Records has been diagnosed with Lymph cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Like so many in the music industry, and blues in particular, Mr. O'Neal does not have insurance. You can help Mr. O'Neal and his family by sending a donation and helping to spread the word. It's good karma, baby!
A fund has been set up at
Commerce Bank in Kansas City.
Checks may be sent to:
Jim O'Neal Blues Fund,
P.O. Box 10334,
Kansas City, MO 64171.
You can also donate at www.paypal.com
to the account onealbluesfund@aol.com
Of course, musicians being who they are are always quick to help their own and a series of benefit shows are being arranged. If you live near any of these locations please show up for a night of great music for an even greater cause. The good that Jim O'Neal done for blues music and musicians can hardly be repaid. But here is your opportunity to try.
THE JIM O'NEAL BENEFIT CONCERT SERIES
OCT. 20, 2011
SURF CLUB, HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND
With Memphis Gold and others
OCT. 28, 2011
KNUCKLEHEADS, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS Kenny Neal, Memphis Gold and others
NOV 19, 2011(date is tentative)
BUDDY GUY'S LEGENDS, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Kenny Neal, Memphis Gold, Eddie Clearwater, Eddie Shaw, Billy Branch, Elmore James Jr., Nora Jean Bruso and others
For further details and confirmations of time and artists, please check
www.Stackhouse-Bluesoterica.blogspot.com
17 October 2011
11 October 2011
08 October 2011
C.W. AYON - Music Of The Delta Played From The Desert
@ Facebook // ReverbNation // CDbaby //
He's got a great new album out called Ain't No Use In Moving. Ayon is a fine songwriter with a soulful voice that recalls the Black Crowes Chris Robinson, and a slide style that'd make any North Mississippi Mama proud. All the songs on the album are original except for a cool take on Junior Kimbrough's Feel So Bad.
He has a groove on bass drum and foot-operated snare so deep that it almost falls out of the pocket, yet at times is akin to a heartbeat. He doesn't let the fact that he's a one-man band particularly show or get in the way, and he shouldn't. He runs a great balance of solid, muscular riffs with a sexy, vigorous, and dextrous delivery.
Somebody needs to pony up and get this kid a smart, sympathetic, recording engineer for his next album and let him run bad and nationwide. Dude's capable. Let's move.
C.W. gave me permission to post one song from each album but i'm posting two because y'all need to know.
C.W. Ayon - Ain't No Use In Moving - Walkin'- mp3
He has a groove on bass drum and foot-operated snare so deep that it almost falls out of the pocket, yet at times is akin to a heartbeat. He doesn't let the fact that he's a one-man band particularly show or get in the way, and he shouldn't. He runs a great balance of solid, muscular riffs with a sexy, vigorous, and dextrous delivery.
Somebody needs to pony up and get this kid a smart, sympathetic, recording engineer for his next album and let him run bad and nationwide. Dude's capable. Let's move.
C.W. gave me permission to post one song from each album but i'm posting two because y'all need to know.
C.W. Ayon - Ain't No Use In Moving - Walkin'- mp3
C.W. Ayon - Ain't No Use In Moving - You Make Me Feel Good - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Is What It Is - Things You Do - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Is What It Is - Call My Name - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Gone - Women - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Gone - Moan Song - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Is What It Is - Things You Do - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Is What It Is - Call My Name - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Gone - Women - mp3
C.W. Ayon - Gone - Moan Song - mp3
07 October 2011
LONNiE PiTCHFORD's Perfectly Unique Gravestone.
Via the wonderful Ukeleleist Shelly Rickey
Lonnie Pitchford (October 8, 1955 – November 8, 1998) was an American blues musician and instrument maker from Lexington, Mississippi. He was notable in that he was one of only a handful of young African American musicians from Mississippi who had learned and was continuing the Delta blues and country blues traditions of the older generations.
In addition to the acoustic and electric guitar, Pitchford was also skilled at the one-string guitar and diddley bow, a one-string instrument of African origin.
If you look closely at the picture you will see a Diddley Bow permantly mounted to the right-hand side of his gravestone.
In this wonderful documentary by Alan Lomax called 'The Land Where The Blues Began' you can see and hear Lonnie Pitchford demonstrating his amazing technique on the Diddley Bow beginning at 3:58.
In addition to the acoustic and electric guitar, Pitchford was also skilled at the one-string guitar and diddley bow, a one-string instrument of African origin.
If you look closely at the picture you will see a Diddley Bow permantly mounted to the right-hand side of his gravestone.
In this wonderful documentary by Alan Lomax called 'The Land Where The Blues Began' you can see and hear Lonnie Pitchford demonstrating his amazing technique on the Diddley Bow beginning at 3:58.
06 October 2011
OLD GRAY MULE - A Day In Mississippi, A Night In Texas
@ Facebook // G+ // OnLine // Twitter // Free mp3
"I pledge allegiance to the Groove, the whole Groove and nothing but the Groove, so help me R.L., T-Model, and Junior. Amen." - Old Gray Mule guitarist C.R. Humphrey
That other little ol' band from Texas, Old Gray Mule has whipped up a sweet new disc of odds, sods, seeds and dirty ends for their trip down under this month.
Comprised of ten tracks, including live recordings from their annual Junior Kimbrough Birthday Party, and four tracks with Mississippi's legendary Bill Abel, who has played guitar for Paul Wine Jones, Big George Brock, T-Model Ford, and others.
This tough lil' set will be available stateside at OGM gigs or you can give Charlie a holler when they get back home. You can also send yr digits to OZ and get the good folks at Stobie Sound to send you a copy.
Physical only.
No Downloads.
As it oughta be.
Old Gray Mule just straight get it.
They feel the humid North Mississippi vibe, shake it and push it thru their own hand-hammered and home-made south central Texas sieve, leaving in the gravel, grit, and groove. What else do y'all need?
That other little ol' band from Texas, Old Gray Mule has whipped up a sweet new disc of odds, sods, seeds and dirty ends for their trip down under this month.
Comprised of ten tracks, including live recordings from their annual Junior Kimbrough Birthday Party, and four tracks with Mississippi's legendary Bill Abel, who has played guitar for Paul Wine Jones, Big George Brock, T-Model Ford, and others.
This tough lil' set will be available stateside at OGM gigs or you can give Charlie a holler when they get back home. You can also send yr digits to OZ and get the good folks at Stobie Sound to send you a copy.
Physical only.
No Downloads.
As it oughta be.
Old Gray Mule just straight get it.
They feel the humid North Mississippi vibe, shake it and push it thru their own hand-hammered and home-made south central Texas sieve, leaving in the gravel, grit, and groove. What else do y'all need?
04 October 2011
MELiSSA SWiNGLE (Trailer Bride, The Moaners) & Laura King (The Moaners, Grand National) Talk about Hasil Adkins
Clip from the forthcoming Hasil Adkins documentary My Blue Star:
02 October 2011
R. CRUMB's Heroes Of The Blues
ViA Metafilter
R. Crumb's Heroes of the Blues
R. Crumb's Heroes of the Blues
In the 1980s, R. Crumb produced a set of trading cards called The Heroes of the Blues.
William Moore -- Raggin' the Blues
Peg Leg Howell -- New Jelly Roll Blues
Clifford Gibson -- Blues Without a Dime
Blind Blake -- West Coast Blues
Frank Stokes -- I Got Mine
Jaybird Coleman -- I'm Gonna Cross The River of Jordan Some O' These Days
Blind Willie Johnson -- Dark Was the Night
Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell -- When The Sun Goes Down
Blind Lemon Jefferson -- See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
Curley Weaver & Fred McMullen -- Wild Cat Kitten
Whistler & His Jug Band -- Foldin' Bed
The Mississippi Sheiks -- He Calls That Religion
Rube Lacey -- Mississippi Jailhouse Groan
Skip James -- Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues
Bo-Weavil Jackson -- I'm On My Way To The Kingdom Land
Furry Lewis -- Judge Harsh Blues
Sam Collins -- My Road is Rough and Rocky
Ramblin' Thomas -- No Job Blues
Sleepy John Estes -- Someday Baby Blues
Cannon's Jug Stompers -- Minglewood Blues
Memphis Jug Band -- Coal Oil Blues
Big Bill Broonzy -- Worried Man Blues, Hey Hey, How You Want it Done
Roosevelt Sykes -- .44 Blues
Blind Gary Davis -- Death Don't Have No Mercy
Papa Charlie Jackson -- I'm Alabama Bound
Charley Patton -- High Water Everywhere, Part 1 & High Water Everywhere, Part 2
Buddy Boy Hawkins -- Awful Fix Blues
Barbeque Bob -- Mississippi Heavy Water Blues
Ed Bell -- Leaving Train Blues
Blind Willie McTell -- Broke Down Engine
Son House -- Death Letter Blues
Memphis Minnie -- If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home)
Mississippi John Hurt -- Stack O' Lee Blues
Tommy Johnson -- Cool Drink of Water Blues
Peetie Wheatstraw -- Four O'Clock in the Morning
Bo Carter -- My Baby
William Moore -- Raggin' the Blues
Peg Leg Howell -- New Jelly Roll Blues
Clifford Gibson -- Blues Without a Dime
Blind Blake -- West Coast Blues
Frank Stokes -- I Got Mine
Jaybird Coleman -- I'm Gonna Cross The River of Jordan Some O' These Days
Blind Willie Johnson -- Dark Was the Night
Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell -- When The Sun Goes Down
Blind Lemon Jefferson -- See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
Curley Weaver & Fred McMullen -- Wild Cat Kitten
Whistler & His Jug Band -- Foldin' Bed
The Mississippi Sheiks -- He Calls That Religion
Rube Lacey -- Mississippi Jailhouse Groan
Skip James -- Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues
Bo-Weavil Jackson -- I'm On My Way To The Kingdom Land
Furry Lewis -- Judge Harsh Blues
Sam Collins -- My Road is Rough and Rocky
Ramblin' Thomas -- No Job Blues
Sleepy John Estes -- Someday Baby Blues
Cannon's Jug Stompers -- Minglewood Blues
Memphis Jug Band -- Coal Oil Blues
Big Bill Broonzy -- Worried Man Blues, Hey Hey, How You Want it Done
Roosevelt Sykes -- .44 Blues
Blind Gary Davis -- Death Don't Have No Mercy
Papa Charlie Jackson -- I'm Alabama Bound
Charley Patton -- High Water Everywhere, Part 1 & High Water Everywhere, Part 2
Buddy Boy Hawkins -- Awful Fix Blues
Barbeque Bob -- Mississippi Heavy Water Blues
Ed Bell -- Leaving Train Blues
Blind Willie McTell -- Broke Down Engine
Son House -- Death Letter Blues
Memphis Minnie -- If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home)
Mississippi John Hurt -- Stack O' Lee Blues
Tommy Johnson -- Cool Drink of Water Blues
Peetie Wheatstraw -- Four O'Clock in the Morning
Bo Carter -- My Baby
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