I'm finding myself really impressed and slightly obsessed with a band called Lucero at the moment. I first looked them up a couple of years ago when NQ Arbuckle covered one of their songs at the Trout Forest Music Festival. That song was "Slow Dancing" off their album Tennessee, and it's still probably my favourite song of theirs, although I'm digging into the catalogue and finding some other gems. Last night I stayed up too late watching a documentary DVD called "Dreaming in America," which really shows them as they are, warts and all. The band is one of the few who can really claim to straddle the line between punk and country and pull it off (many claim, but I've heard few that can back it up.) They're schooled on country but play with piss & vinegar that can only come down the line from punk rock. Some very interesting, vivid lyrics and a kick ass band to back them up make for some of the most interesting music around. They've got a bunch of records out. I'd seek them out if you haven't already. Definitely one for the Steel Belted crowd more than the Band Go Home crowd, but I think pretty much anyone will find something to like. Check 'em out.
March FAR Report - #116
I'm part of this roots/folk/americana list called the FAR Report. Every month nerdy DJs like me send in their 6 favourite albums of the month and the head dude, John Conquest, makes up this list that's supposed to represent what we're really liking/playing. The funny thing is, most of the top albums on the list are absolute crap. I have a feeling I'm not the only one that votes strategically/politically. I try to give a boost to folks who I think deserve it, even when they're not necessarily my favourites of the month. I also try to figure out what Stu & Terry are going to submit, because I love it when we get a Nathan or Romi Mayes high up on the chart, even though nobody else knows who they are. It's kind of fun.Anyway, here's my list for this month. Take it with a grain of something:FAR #116
Jeff Robson
Tell the Band to Go Home
CJUM 101.5 UMFM
Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.tellthebandtogohome.com
Artist: Album (Label) *JR
1. LeE HARVey OsMOND: A Quiet Evil (Latent Recordings) *JR
2. Romi Mayes: Achin’ in Yer Bones (self)
3. Antje Duvekot: The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer (Black Wolf)
4. Richard Shindell: Not Far Now (Signature Sounds)
5. Gurf Morlix: Last Exit to Happyland (self)
6. Jeffrey Foucault: Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes (Signature Sounds)
Great New Tunes
The show is always the best way to know what I'm listening to, but in the spirit of T-Bar's great short reviews at the Steel Belted site (www.steelbeltedradio.com), I'll try to let you know about the new arrivals that are catching my ear. Tom Wilson's new project Lee Harvey Osmond is definitely growing on me big time (as almost all of Tom's records have done over time). It features Tom (Junkhouse, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, etc. etc.) as well as a bunch of Cowboy Junkies, a couple o' Skydiggers, and a bunch of other heavyweights. It's a more groovy, soulful brand of folk music that should appeal to just about anyone with an ear. It's available on CD locally at Music Trader or online at Maple Music (although they rip you off with their crazy shipping fees, so I avoid them these days) or you can buy the digital download at a site called Latent Recordings (although it appears to be temporarily closed!), which is the online source for Cowboy Junkies and a bunch of their pals. A great US Label called Signature Sounds has some pretty fine new releases. I just got Richard Shindell's long-awaited new album "Not Far Away," which is, as usual, pretty great. Richard's last CD was an album of covers that showed how great he is and got me hungry for some new originals. This one does not disappoint. Not on Signature, but part of their "discoveries" series is a CD produced by Shindell and featuring some real heavyweights (Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, and more). The lady's name is Antje Duvekot, and boy is she impressive. A great looking CD, impeccably produced, and featuring such stellar guests can't go wrong really, but she's got the songs and the pipes to back it all up. She sounds like she went to the Shawn Colvin school, but has a distinctive sound all her own. Well worth checking out. Also on Signature is Jeffrey Foucault's new CD of John Prine covers, "Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes." Obviously the songs are great (I'm kind of glad to see no "Sam Stone" on here, I mean, it's such a great song, but such an obvious choice. Many of the choices are obvious, but ther are some lesser known gems as well), but Foucault is as usual great as well. His rich, deep voice and expressive playing really bring the songs to life all over again, and put a distinctive original spin on things. Lots of great guests on here including Foucault's beautiful wife Kris Delmhorst, their pal Peter Mulvey, and some stellar players. Highly recommended.Labels: New Music
At long last we'll be visited once again by Chris Neufeld. You may recall (although it's been a long time) that Chris was on the show years ago and wowed us with his great CD, "Colorado Low." Since then, he's been busy teaching, but word came down a little while ago that he was preparing a new CD. This time, he's got some help in the form of fellow Mennonite singer/songwriter Donovan Giesbrecht. Together, they're known as The Other Brothers, and they're releasing their CD with a show at the Park Theatre on Friday night. They'll stop by to chat and play for us this Sunday. I'll try to behave so Chris doesn't avoid me for another 3 years. I promise!
Tonight on SBFRR - Slaid Cleaves!
Here's a last minute announcement that I didn't have time to make to the email list. Tonight (March 26) we'll be talking to Slaid Cleaves. We've been singing Slaid's praises since he was at the folk festival 8 or 9 years ago. For reasons I cannot comprehend, he hasn't been back to Winnipeg since. Maybe he's been too busy putting out some of the finest records of the past few years, including his stellar Wishbones CD and his great album of covers of under-appreciated songwriters, Unsung. The Steel Belted crew has travelled to Grand Forks and Dauphin just to see the guy, but finally, he's coming back. He'll be opening for the legendary Guy Clark on April 5 and he's got a new CD coming out shortly after that. We'll catch up with him and talk about the above and much more when we chat tonight on Steel Belted Radio. Tune in at 6:30 pm central time.Oh, and as if that weren't enough... we've got tickets to the Guy Clark / Slaid Cleaves concert to give away! You won't want to miss it.
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