Sunday in Boston

What kind of sick April Fool's joke is it to have two killer concerts in that same city on the same night? While I am at the Revival Tour tonight at the Middle East, which I believe is sold out, I want you to check out Jonny Corndawg with Shovels & Rope and Robert Ellis at the Great Scott.

Here's our main man Jonny Corndawg with his Couch by Couchwest performance (more on Couch by Couchwest later).



He may be eccentric, but he's one of the few country musicians who doesn't take himself too seriously, and actually adds some much needed humor to country music. He's one entertaining dude.

Jonny Corndawg - Night Rider.mp3
Buy: Down on the Bikini Line (2011)

Shovels and Rope are husband/wife duo Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent. They have a handful of solo albums between the two of them, and their first proper duo release was entitled Shovels and Rope, which they now use as a band name. It's a great country album, and wow, does Hearst have some pipes! I can't wait to hear more from this duo.

Cary Ann Hearst & Michael Trent - Gasoline.mp3
Buy: Shovels & Rope (2009)

Robert Ellis is an up-and-coming country/folk singer from Houston who pens lyrics miles beyond his 22-years. Someone on Amazon referred to him as Texas's Nick Drake. I've heard nothing but stellar things about his live show.

Robert Ellis - Westbound Train.mp3
Buy: Photographs (2011)

Poll: Who was hotter in 1969?

I just found the poll widget on blogger (evil laugh). I'm going to try to throw up some ridiculous polls every now and then. Tonight I caught the Woodstock documentary on cable, and I couldn't get over how hot Roger Daltrey looked in his leather fringe in 1969. Know who else was pretty damn hot in the late 60s/early 70s? Robert Plant. Both Brits, both lead singers of massive bands, both with amazing vocal ranges, both hot as hell in their primes. In the summer of 1969 Daltrey was 25 years old with four best-selling albums under his belt. Plant was 21, coming off of the early 1969 release of Led Zeppelin's many-times platinum self-titled album.

So who was hotter in 1969? Daltrey or Plant? Vote on the right sidebar.

The Who - Listening to You-See Me, Feel Me.mp3
Buy: Tommy (1969, reissued 1996)

Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused.mp3
Buy: Led Zeppelin (1969, reissued 1995)

EDIT: I realize that the poll text may not be showing up. This is a Blogger issue. Daltrey is on the top, and Plant on the bottom. (TWSS)

Earl Scruggs 1924-2012

I'm seeing news over twitter tonight that Earl Scruggs has passed away at age 88. Scruggs is arguably the greatest banjo player to have ever lived. His influence on bluegrass, folk, and country music is immeasurable. You can read more about his remarkable life in this New Yorker article, and I am sure that dozens of more biographical articles will be popping up on line throughout the next few days.

Here he is with his buddy Doc Watson doing the old time country tunes "Old John Hardy" and a little bit of "Cripple Creek." Any idea what year this is from?




Performing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" in 1965 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville with his musical partner of 20+ years Lester Flatt.




In 2001 he appeared on Letterman to promote his 23rd album Earl Scruggs and Friends with Glen Duncan (fiddle), Randy Scruggs (Earl's son, acoustic guitar), Steve Martin (banjo), Vince Gill (Telecaster), Marty Stuart (mandolin), Gary Scruggs (Earl's son, harmonica), Albert Lee (Music Man custom), Paul Shaffer (piano), and Jerry Douglas (Dobro).

Slaid Cleaves: Sorrow and Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge

One of the largely overlooked albums of 2011 was the fantastic live album by Slaid Cleaves, Sorrow & Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge. I caught Cleaves at Club Passim in Cambridge this past summer just before the album's release, and I can assure you that this album very faithfully reproduces Cleaves' live show. I took my 65-year-old parents to that show, and they loved it! Cleaves is truly a master of modern folk and alt country music, and my mom even said that he reminded her of Woody Guthrie.

This album spans his career, from 1991 when he moved from his native Maine, to Austin, Texas, where he still resides. This album is a great primer for the newly initiated to Cleaves' music, and is an essential record for his long-time fans.

Drinkin' Days.mp3
Horses.mp3
Buy: Sorrow & Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge (2011)