September Feel Bad For You

Only a month or so late! From your favorite bloggers, twitterers, forum members at AltCountryTab.ca, and other slack-jawed yokels, September's mix tape! Check out the homepage at Feel Bad for You. Stream or download the comp below.



1. Blue Oyster Cult - Astronomy
Secret Treaties (1974)
Submitted by: Shooter Jennings
Comments: Part of one of the most expansive and confusing concept albums ever written which involves Aliens, Dark Mirrors and Lesbians (supposedly).

2. Nicki Bluhm - Stick With Me
Driftwood (2011)
Submitted by: noteethleroy
Comments: This one has gotten under my skin lately, to me it brings back memories of the classic duets I grew up on.

3. Jonny Corndawg - Red on the Head
Down On The Bikini Line (2011)
Submitted By: toomuchcountry
Comments: As the calendar turns to September, what comes to mind? State fairs. And with state fairs, what comes to mind? Corn dogs, right? Well, maybe. I first heard Jonny Corndawg in 2009 when he opened for the legendary Billy Joe Shaver at Nashville’s Exit-In. In the two years since, I’ve learned he is a leather worker, an avid runner, a gypsy-like touring machine, and an artist with a brand new release with some pretty witty – even bordering on juvenile – lyrics. Right in my wheelhouse.

4. Brontide - Matador
San Souci (2011)
Submitted By: Erschen
Comments: Interesting instrumental rock. Kind of all over the place.

5. Mic Harrison and the High Score - Keep On Letting Me Down
Great Commotion (2010)
Submitted By: annieTUFF
Comments: I might be a little partial to this band…. But, I truly love this song, it was my instant favorite from this album (Great Commotion), and I think it stands as one of my top songs from Mic and The High Score.

6. Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Space Guitar.mp3
From: Single (1954)
Submitted By: Bowood
Comments: This record influenced everyone from Dick Dale to Jimi Hendrix. Watson later made records that influenced 70′s funk and 80′s rap. Great performer and singer. Quite a character too.

7. Lauderdale - Stars Fell
Moving On (2011)
Submitted By: Corey Flegel
Comments: My favorite song I’ve heard this year…Yeah, I’m biased and I don’t care. Go get it here if you want: www.thisisamericanmusic.com

8. Emmylou Harris - Orphan Girl
Wrecking Ball (1995)
Submitted By: Phil Norman
Comments: A Gillian Welch tune, sung by Emmylou, produced by Daniel Lanois. One of my all-time favorite albums.

9. David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Roamin' and Ramblin' Blues
Alan Lomax Field Recording, 1942, taken from Delta Bluesman (1992), Earwig/Indigo Records
Submitted By: Brad Kelley
Comments: This one was easy. Honeyboy Edwards died August 29, 2011, at the age of 96. He traveled and performed with Robert Johnson during the 1930s. He moved to Chicago and performed nearly 100 shows a year until 2008, but continued to play concerts until earlier this year. This guy is the real thing, and his death is the end of an era. He knew and played with everyone in that first generation of Delta Blues. (This might look like two mp3s, but the first is just a brief introduction by the folklorist Alan Lomax.)

10. The Whiskey Gentry - Eula Mae
Please Make Welcome (2011)
Submitted By: Bryan Childs
Comments: Band out of Atlanta I really dig.

11. The Hangdogs - The World Is Yours.mp3
Buy (mp3): Beware Of Dog (2000)
Submitted By: Truersound
Comments: Been in a conspiratorial anti-gov mood lately, and this song follows that trail nicely.

12. Coma Cinema - Blue Suicide
Blue Suicide (2011)
Submitted By: Lord Summerisle
Comments: Just discovered this band in August only to find that they are calling it quits at the end of this year. All of their stuff is available for free download at http://comacinema.org/sounds.html.

13. Frank Bang and the Secret Stash - Burning up the Wind
Wonder Woman (2011)
Submitted By: popa2unes
Comments: Chicago based, unsigned Kick Arse Rock n Blues band – Frank "Bang" Blinkal – Vocals/Guitar Bob Spelbring – Drums/Vocals Josh Hyland – Bass/ vocals – Tony MacQuaid – Guitar/Vocals and by the way, ifin ya like em 3 downloads available on their Reverbnation or Facebook page.

14. Lou Reed - September Song
Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill (1994)
Submitted By: mikeorren
Comments: It’s September. Kurt Weill was German. Lou Reed is back, doing an album about a German character, with Metallica. So, all logic screams that this is the only song to submit this month.

15. Trombone Shorty - Hurricane Season.mp3
Buy: Backatown (2010)
Submitted By: Gorrck
Comments: Gorrck’s Axiom: Carrying a trombone simultaneously increases *AND* decreases your risk of being detained by law enforcement authorities.

16. Prison Book Club - Six Pack
Prison Book Club (2011)
Submitted By: TheOtherBrit
Comments: I love this album and this band.

17. Stephen W. Terrell - Solar Broken Home
Picnic Time for Potatoheads (2003)
Submitted by: Adam Sheets

18. Nirvana - Verse Chorus Verse (aka In His Hands)
With the Lights Out (2004)
Submitted By: Verbow
Comments: This month marks 20 years since the release of Nevermind. In 1991, I was an 11 year old with horrible taste in music (MC Hammer anyone?). One day I stopped on MTV while the video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was on, and I was hooked from there on out. More than anything, Nirvana was a gateway to a whole new world of music that I continue to explore to this day. Is Nevermind my favorite album of all time? No, but its one that I still enjoy and still takes me back to that time like no other. Since everyone knows most of those songs by heart, I thought this outtake from the Nevermind sessions would be a good selection. Enjoy.

19. Dolorean - Benito’s Dust.mp3
From: 7″ Split with Holy Sons (2004)(out of print)
Submitted By: Slowcoustic
Comments: Just your standard hard luck song to rip your guts out.

20. The Cute Lepers - Noisy Song
Adventure Time (2011)
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: Retro pop-punk from Seattle.

21. The [REDACTED] - Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
The [REDACTED] (1968)
Submitted By: Mario Garcia
Comments: I’ve been obsessed with this song over the last few days so it seemed like a good one to submit. It’s one of the best songs ever and a top 5 for me from The [REDACTED]. Great riff, great energy, great lyrics.

22. The Afghan Whigs - Gentleman.mp3
Buy: Gentlemen (1993)
Submitted By: Now This Sound Is Brave
Comments: The Afghan Whigs formed in 1986, disbanded in 2001 and remain my favorite band. Gentlemen is a practically perfect album. "Gentleman" is a practically perfect song. Rough, depraved, menacing… perfect.

23. Little Lisa Dixie - Bonnie and Clyde
Little Lisa Dixie (2011)
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22
Comments: An artist I stumbled onto quite some time ago. Just learned she put out an album in March 2011. Nice debut.

24. Star Anna - Alone In This Together
Alone In This Together (2011)
Submitted By: Cowbelle
Comments: A six-minute song is a little obnoxious but worth every second.

25. Glen Campbell - Ghost on the Canvas.mp3
Buy: Ghost On The Canvas (2011)
Submitted By: Rockstar Aimz
Comments: How bad-ass is it that Campbell selects a song written by Paul Westerberg.

SXSW First Timers Guide #3: Eating and Drinking

My Canadian Rock Grrrl Rad Jen comes through again with another killer guest post! Which is extra sweet for me since I've been drawing the bloggers-blank lately. Y'all need to eat at SXSW, correct? Here are your eating/drinking suggestions for the week. And you in Canada know that NAFTA didn't exactly come through for Tex-Mex food, so gorge yourself while in Austin.

__________________________________________

Great Texas food should be part of your fun at SXSW. Get your share of great authentic BBQ, Tex-Mex, tacos, gulf shrimp, and the incredible explosion of "foodie" food trailers. The trick is to balance the eating with the drinking: don't be so desperate that you end up eating 6th Street pizza slices for the whole trip and don't do daytime drinking on an empty stomach.

TIMING: WHEN TO EAT
If you are planning on catching the punk rock bands playing on the pedestrian bridge at 3:00am, you should probably stop reading right now. I can't help you. Otherwise I recommend the following 1) eat a big breakfast, 2) eat an early dinner.

The daytime bands and FREE BEER start at NOON. You need to eat before noon, even if you are not a breakfast person. Luckily, Austin invented the breakfast taco and Mexican restaurants offer breakfast 24/7. Then there is the dinner crowd line up situation: there are a 100,000 people in town for SXSW, and almost every single one of them decides to have dinner at 7ish, before the night shows start. If you eat dinner early at 5 or 6, you have a MUCH better chance of getting into a restaurant. Otherwise you walk around for 2 hours wasting time in restaurant lineups. You can always have a late night pizza slice or taco truck snack. I try to eat a big Mexican breakfast as a drinking base, maybe a taco or pizza slice in the afternoon if necessary, and then dinner AND COFFEE around 5 or 6 for the night shift. Keep in mind that I do not have the luxury of a nearby hotel room to nap in. I go out and stay out. It's like going to war.

BREAKFAST
A big deal in Austin. Everyone goes out for breakfast, almost every day. And why wouldn't they? The breakfast taco is genius: Order two. Egg and potato, chorizo, whatever, you can't go wrong. Even non-Mexican places offer these. Even the 7-11. My usual order: eggs scrambled with tortilla chips, usually with potatoes, beans, chorizo. Tortillas on the side. You are allowed to drink Bloody Marys or a Tecate beer with breakfast. No one will bat an eye. But plan your nap time.

Recommendations:

• COUNTER CAFE - on Lamar, near Waterloo Records. Really excellent diner breakfasts and burgers. Small. I love this place
• 24Hr DINER - on Lamar right beside Waterloo Records. Very good. Big
• MARIA'S TACO EXPRESS - South Lamar, far south. Big. Hippie gospel church there on Sundays.
• POLVO'S - on South First. My fav Mexican restaurant. Good to go here before you go to Yard Dog/South Congress day shows. Giant breakfast tacos. Killer margaritas.
• BOULDIN CREEK CAFE - on South First, near Polvo's. Breakfast tacos, great coffee.
• JO'S - on South Congress, near the San Jose. Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!

LUNCH/DINNER
Lots of good stuff here, so I am just going to categorize my recommendations. Remember, I do a big breakfast, then grab a late lunch/early dinner.

MEXICAN
All the Mexican places above serve lunch/dinner options as well. Other Recommendations:

• EL NARANJO - on Rainey St. near the Convention Centre. Rave reviews. Want to go.
• Z TEJAS - around the corner from Waterloo Records. A bit more upscale.
• GUERO'S - on South Congress. Pronounced "wwwwher-o's." Everyone ends up here at least once. Great bar and patio. Really part of the SXSW scene.
• POLVO'S - I am repeating POLVO'S because it is really good food. While you are waiting for your table, order a margarita and hang out in the parking lot. Fun!
• La CONDESA - upscale Mexican across from the W hotel. Excellent but $$$$.

BARBECUE
This is a noun in Texas, not a verb. Order ribs or brisket. Sides are separate: beans, coleslaw, pickles. You will also get white Wonder bread.

• ARTZ RIBS - on South Lamar. Excellent.
• FRANKLIN Barbecue TRAILER - Rave reviews. 11th Street. Want to go.
• IRON WORKS BBQ - downtown near Convention Center.
• LAMBERTS BBQ - very good, but $$$.
• STUBB'S - on Red River. OK. A convenient location.
• SALT LICK - car ride north of city if you have time.
• THE COUNTY LINE BBQ - car ride north of city if you have time.
• LOUIE MUELLER'S BARBEQUE - in TAYLOR, TX. If you have time for a day trip before or after SXSW, I highly recommend this place. About an hour away. Completely authentic. Wild west. Great building used in a zillion movies - great photo ops. People will believe you actually WERE in Texas. Award winning food.

DOWNTOWN: 6TH ST/RED RIVER/CONVENTION CENTRE AREA
This is tough. There is mostly crap food right in the heart of the bar area where you will be most evenings. These are the edible exceptions.

• FOOD TRAILERS off Red River - You will see people lined up for KEBAB-A-LICIOUS for a reason. I expect even more Food Trailers this year.
• RAINEY STREET - up and coming n/s hipster street near the convention center. Good restaurants like EL NARANJO and GARAGE MAHAL. BYOB.
• DRISKILL HOTEL - on 6th Street. Fast way to get decent food on 6th st: eat at the bar in the hotel cafe. Also, order drinks and hang in the crazy wild west lobby.
• CASINO EL CAMINO - 6th Street. The best burgers in town, according to the Fearless Critic. I am too fearful to eat there myself: very punk rock. You eat in the dark surrounded by the pierced and tattooed. The red head rock goddess Sabrina of A Giant Dog is a cook there, FWIW.
• FRANK - West off Congress. You can see the sign painted on the building. Hot dogs, cold beer. Lots of hot dog options. And bacon-infused Makers Mark.
• IRON CACTUS - on 6th Street. Pedestrian Tex-Mex, but edible.
• THE BOILING POT - on 6th Street. Cajun, crawfish, etc. You wear a bib and the boiling pot gets dumped on the table. Fun!

SOUTH CONGRESS AREA
All the restaurants on this strip are good to very, very good. Try to eat here before you head back to 6th street.

• GUERO'S - everyone ends up here.
• HOME SLICE PIZZA - excellent.
• PERLA'S - Fantastic seafood restaurant. Expensive, but worth it. Try happy hour.
• VESPAIO - very good Italian.
• ENOTECA - Vespaio's little sister, very Terroni-ish (Toronto reference!)
• SNACK BAR - global organic.

EAST AUSTIN
This area has exploded in the last year...like Ossington/Dundas (Toronto reference!). Lots of new restaurants/bars --- and a FOOD Trailer Park here.


PROTOCOL/MISCELLANEOUS
Only the more upscale restaurants take reservations during SXSW, but many will tell you what the wait time is and take down your cell number and call you when your table is ready. Ask. This frees you up to drink in their parking lot or a neighboring bar. ALWAYS ask if you can order drinks if you need to wait. You'll make friends. Some restaurants are dry, but allow you to bring in your own wine or beer. Madam Mam's Thai on Guadalupe is one of these.

FOOD TRAILER PARKS: most are dry, but many allow you to bring in your own beer or wine (which you can buy in the gas station, y'all.) Nothing more fun than sitting outside on a warm Texas night eating great food at a picnic table, under Xmas lights, with your own cheap wine or beer. So civilized.

You may ask for a "Go Box" for leftovers. Perfectly acceptable and often done, but you have to fill the styrofoam box yourself, which I find hilarious. Alamo Drafthouse movie theaters serve food, wine and beer. Yes, while you watch the movie. Don't eat before the movie. I always order the deep fried pickles.

DRINKING

• BEER: Lots of local Texas and micro brew beers to try, as well as Mexican. (Texas was settled by German and Czech immigrants! Who knew?)
• WATER: Every bar has a water cooler and plastic cups at the end of the bar. Look for it. Keep yourself hydrated. Do yourself a favor and have a glass of water once in a while.
• TOPO CHICO: Mexican mineral water in glass coke-like bottle. SO REFRESHING! I try to balance one Topo Chico per two beers.
• ICED TEA: This is real unsweetened ice tea. Not the sugary stuff we get in bottles. Again, really refreshing when you've been drinking all day.
• MEXICAN COCA COLA: For Coke addicts, this IS the real thing. Look for bottles with the paper sticker on the side. Pure sugar cane or something.
• MARGARITAS: With the freshest of lime juice. Yum. Every bar/restaurant makes them a different way. Again, I love POLVO'S.

THE BEER KOOZIE!
Yes, the foam beer cooler thingy: bands, bars, and parties will be handing these out. Get them, keep them and use them. Learn to love them. Texans keep them in their back pockets. Really.

TIPS!!!!
Please tip your servers and bartenders!!! Tip the volunteer serving up that FREE Beer! Tip the waitress on her third 16hr shift! Texans tip $1.00 on a $3.50 beer. Do not act like a Yankee cheapskate.

WHERE NOT TO EAT
Jovitas: Drink there but don't eat there.
6th Street Pizza
Dog and Duck Pub: Chips, yes. Fish, no.

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Damn! Thanks for the info Jen! Now I'm hungry and thirsty.

Here are three more bands which I would check out if I was going to SXSW, which I am not. Feel bad for me.

Whitey Morgan and the 78's - I Ain't Drunk.mp3
Buy: Whitey Morgan and The 78's (2010)

SXSW Schedule
FRI 18 Yard Dog Party, 3:00pm
SAT 19 Bloodshot Records Showcase, Red Eye Fly, 1:00am

Sharon Van Etten - One Day.mp3
Buy: Epic (2010)

SXSW Schedule
WED 16 UT-FM Live Broadcast, Hilton Lobby, 10:30am
WED 16 Brooklyn Vegan Showcase, Swan Dive, 12:00am
THU 17 Other Music Party, French Legation, 3:00pm
FRI 18 The Onion A.V. Club Party, Mohawk, 3:00pm
SAT 19 Red Ryder Showcase, Central Presbyterian Church, 8:30pm

Dolorean - The Unfazed.mp3
Buy: The Unfazed (2011)

SXSW Schedule
THU 17 End of an Ear, 4:00pm
FRI 18 Brooklyn Vegan/Partisan Records Party, Swan Dive, 2:00pm
FRI 18 Overtone Party, J. Blacks Feel Good Lounge, 4:45pm
FRI 18 Knitting Factory Showcase, Rusty Spurs, 9:00pm