Blog

Brad Paisley’s Guitar Salvages Country Night at SPAC

In a genre currently dominated by pretty boys, belt buckles and a mundane honky-tonk sound, Brad Paisley sticks out like a sore thumb. Forget the country music industry; Paisley is one of the most talented guitar players on the airwaves today, and he demonstrated his prowess on Sunday night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, perhaps making up for forgettable performances by opening acts Justin Moore and Mickey Guyton.

With Paisley on the stage, sporting a white cowboy hat and a black T-shirt, the focus was entirely on the music. Beginning with his very first song, in which he opened with his 2014 hit “River Bank”, a guitar solo was included in nearly every song. Paisley’s West Virginia roots are evident in his bluegrass style of string plucking, but there was also a certain classic rock influence on his playing. His solos featured rifts up and down the fret board, and he could slide in a way that would make even Steve Miller proud. Between the bluegrass plucking in his right hand and the brilliant fretwork in his left hand, Paisley had remarkable dexterity with all ten fingers, something nearly unparalleled in today’s music scene. His vocal ability isn’t anything spectacular, but his guitar ability was impressive enough on its own merits to make up for it.

Justin Williamson, the fiddle player in Paisley’s band, also gave a memorable performance, taking numerous solos and getting ovations of his own. There were times in the concert that if you closed your eyes, it would sound like you were at a bluegrass festival. When you opened the eyes, you saw the mainstream modern country concert it was. The string playing by everyone on stage was fantastic.

Paisley’s concert team deserves kudos as well for their work on the video boards. During Paisley’s 2003 single “Celebrity,” the video featured satirical newspaper headlines and a man with a Brad Paisley mascot head running amok along the streets of a city wreaking havoc and having fun, poking fun at the different lifestyle that celebrities have. Later on, the board showed an impressive collaboration of New York City time-lapses lined up with the music. When Paisley sang his 2011 duet “Remind Me,” Carrie Underwood sang with him on a FaceTime conversation being shown on the SPAC video board. Paisley and Moore engaged in a duck-hunting video game on the board during the outro of “I’m Still a Guy.”

Compared with many of his country music counterparts, Paisley didn’t engage in much dialogue throughout the concert. All the focus was on the music. Even when he did engage with the crowd, the focus was around the guitar. After an acoustic performance of “This is Country Music,” he autographed his guitar and handed it to a young boy in the front row. A few songs later, Paisley followed up what many bands have done this summer at SPAC by playing a few acoustic songs for the people in the lawn, performing on a platform stationed directly in front of the lawn folks. Paisley poked fun at the lawn’s drunkenness, remarking that “now I’ll play a few songs for the people that won’t remember it in the morning.”

Paisley closed his set with perhaps his best known song “Mud on the Tires” and the new song that lends its name to the tour, “Crushin’ It.” When Paisley came out for the encore, he played “Then”, followed by a song that perhaps encapsulated the evening better than any other song, “Alcohol.”

Justin Moore was the co-headliner of the night, immediately preceding Paisley in the night’s events. Moore, an Arkansas native, won over the crowd with his good looks and some of his commentary, but his music left much to be desired.

Moore showed a strong vocal ability on a few songs, particularly in his 2011 hit “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” which he dedicated to the American troops around the world, but much of his performance was disappointing. Starkly contrasting Paisley, he was sub-par on the guitar,and at times it felt like the six-string was a prop instead of an instrument. I’m sorry, but if your ass faces the crowd more than your mouth, I’m not convinced that you’re worried about the music as much as you should be.

Moore also constantly pandered to the crowd by playing the redneck-card, preaching conservative values. While Paisley (an Obama supporter) restrained from talking politics during his concert, Moore wouldn’t shut up about it, talking about troops and even starting a USA chant at one point. It was disappointing that he wasn’t able to win the crowd over with his music, so he had to use his handsomeness and his rugged political views.

Mickey Guyton, the opening act of the evening, was fine, but not so fine she’d blow your mind. She recognized the concert as an opportunity to build her platform, saying at one point that “it’s such an honor to play for Brad Paisley’s crowd,” and had strong vocal abilities throughout. Guyton appeared a bit nervous for most of her performance, and was relatively fidgety with the microphone, but she loosened up a bit after large ovations for her songs “Somebody Else Will” and “Cool Ya”.

A positive thing with Guyton, being an African-American, is that she helps bring some diversity to a genre that is almost entirely white. It created a certain crude irony, with a black singer performing to a lawn spotted in Confederate flags and paraphernalia.

In all, two out of the three artists were a tad dissatisfying, but the headlining artist absolutely brought it, salvaging the concert. Paisley certainly won at least one fan on Sunday night.

[FinalTilesGallery id=’328′]

July 29, 2015
Trapt’s Chris Taylor Brown Gets in Argument With Local Band in New Jersey

Singer Chris Taylor Brown of Trapt reportedly got into an argument the day after their performance at K-Rockathon 20 in Syracuse. On Sunday, July 26, Brown can be seen arguing with local bad Too Far Lost at the Stanhope House in New Jersey before his band mate ushered him away. A 30-second cell phone video clip popped up on Youtube showing the altercation.

Too Far Lost was one of the opening acts for Trapt that night. According to Andy Bane, frontman for another opening band on the bill called Dangerkids, Trapt told Too Far Lost band members that they could not sell their merch at the show. Bane also stated that Brown proceeded to call the band fat, worthless and told Too Far Lost members, “You’re in a local band so you don’t matter.”

Zach Myers, guitarist for Shinedown, posted a response on a fan’s Facebook page that posted about the Brown incident. Myers said Brown talked $#!t about Brent Smith of Shinedown, and Brent confronted Brown at K-Rockathon, though Brown ignored Brent and the band. Brown later posted on social media that his band Trapt was better than Shinedown. On Monday, Brown released a video on the band’s

Wanted to explain where this rage I’ve had lately comes from. Had a lot to say, so thought I would do so in a video.

Posted by Trapt OFFICIAL on Monday, July 27, 2015

Alternative Press reported that Trapt and Bane were bantering back and forth on Facebook. The post has since been taken down. Bane posted,

“You make a post about bullying and then an hour later tell one of your openings bands (who were required to sell tickets to your shitty show) that they can’t sell their merch? Call them fat and worthless and ‘you’re in a local band you don’t matter?’ Sorry ‘Headstrong’ hasn’t been relevant in over 10 years. Maybe you should hang it up.”

This prompted Trapt to reply by posting:

“Worry about your own band and your own career and maybe writing a song that people like. Our one Top 40 hit, that was the biggest alternative song of last decade, is one of our 12 songs that crossed at least the top 20 in rock, so I guess you can only have a hit if [it’s] on pop stations in your opinion. Douchebag.”

Trapt also posted:

“‘Headstrong’ makes more money yearly than you’ve made in your whole life. You’re so dangerous… No one said they can’t sell merch. That band wanted 3 fucking tables and we wanted our main support to have at least 1 table. That girl in the video bitched and said then we will take our stuff and leave and we said go ahead and then that local band said if they didn’t go out and sell tickets than no one would be at the show, all 20 tickets they sold. The second local was [way] better and did a much better job promoting the show and selling the [tickets]… We rely on hard-working local bands to promote Trapt when we come to town. Fuck you! See you out there sometime!

July 29, 2015
Chase Bryant: Nashville’s Newest Sensation

Music. It evokes feelings, transports me back in time and recharges me almost as though it’s a battery pack. Music for Nashville’s newest sensation, Chase Bryant, is the same. It’s in his blood.

Coming from a musical family in small town Texas, Chase heard Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Lewis Boogie” and that was all it took. From that point on, his course was set. Learning to play the guitar at a very early age, he jokes that there were 20 guitars in his hometown, and he owned all of them. After seeing Chase perform recently at The Taste of Country Music Festival, his hard work and dedication to learning his skill showed as I was floored by his shredding ability and how he made his guitar sing.

Chase Bryant – Taste of Country Festival 2015

As Chase and the Shotgun Rider Tour comes to town Thursday, July 3o to Darien Lake, Chase will open for Nashville favorites Billy Currington and Tim McGraw. He graciously agreed to speak with our readers and share some details to what makes him tick.

Kathy Stockbridge (KS): Hi Chase, thank you so much for agreeing to speak with NYSMusic. You have taken Nashville by storm since your arrival and your fans and our readers just love you.

Chase Bryant (CB): Why thank you.

KS: Music seems to be something that has always been in your blood. For those that aren’t aware you grew up in a family of musicians. Share a little about what that was like for you growing up.

CB: Well it was definitely a loud household. My grandfather was a keyboard player for Roy Orbison, and he played along side him throughout high school and right up until the summer my grandfather bowed out of the band because his mom said he couldn’t play rock and roll music any more. After that he went on to college and played with Waylon Jennings, and then on the Glen Campbell television show in Lubbock Texas, and then my two uncles played in a band called Ricochet and had the hit “Daddy’s Money” back in 1996.

KS: I remember that song! So it was in your blood, you were destined. You were born to do this.

CB: Yep, there was nothing I could do about it, and I’m glad there was nothing I could do about it, because I love it.

KS: Share with our readers a little about your relationship with Barbara and Alex Orbison and how that relationship played a role in your career in Nashville.

CB: Alex I used to say was one of my best friends, but I think he’s now more like a second brother to me. He’s been great to me and we’ve built a really great relationship when it comes to music and life in general. He’s been so supportive of my music and his mother Barbara as well has been one of my biggest fans. I couldn’t thank her enough for signing me. She was a great lady and I was her last signing at her company before she passed away. So that was a pretty awesome experience.

KS: When you came to Nashville, Benny Brown — founder of BBR Music Group — was so taken back by your talent as a producer of your demo tapes, he allowed you to co-produce your album with Derek George, which I must add is not something he does often. Share with us a little about how you taught yourself the production end of recording and how you have grown since those early days as a producer.

CB: I was on a panel the other day and I was asked how do you teach someone producing, and you really can’t. If your ears aren’t there and you can’t hear the music then it might not be for you. There are some great artists that never produced their own records or played on their own records, or maybe even wrote the songs. But they were great records and ones I definitely looked up to. I got lucky and sometimes I think that maybe what I do isn’t always right, but Benny sure has given me an opportunity to expand on it. Whatever my name is or the sound that goes along with it, Benny Brown and Broken Bow and Red Bow Records have really let me carve that path and let me become who I really want to be. I’m thankful for that. I was able to write all the songs on this record, co-produce the record, and I played all the guitars. I didn’t produce it by myself either. I co-produced with my best friend Derek George. We had a blast making that record.

KS: Well the finished piece was amazing and you have a great ear for it.

CB: Well thank you.

KS: In addition to producing, you also write your own music. You say that you wrote 400 lousy songs before you wrote your first good one…what was that one song that caught the attention of Nashville manager, pluggers, and publishers? Did you know when writing that one, it as the one?

CB: I think “Take It On Back” was the first really organic, not left of center or anything that had never been done, but it was one of those songs that defined who I was and that sound that people know me by now. I think it was that, and a song called “Change Your Name,” and probably another one that did it, called “Wish I Was A Plane” was another one that set the radar for the label and set the tone for the record. Now “Wish I Was A Plane” is one we play live (isn’t on record). You have those couple of songs that lead to other songs, and those three definitely lead to probably 15 or 16 songs to be on this record that I would like to say are collectively my best pieces of music I could make at the moment.

KS: Yeah, “Change Your Name” is my fav.

CB: Well thank you. I’m hoping that’s a single in the near future. We’ll see what happens.

KS: It will definitely be a hit. You also are an amazing guitarist. You are a left hand guitarist that plays a right handed guitar upside down. It’s not something you notice either. I shot your set at Taste of Country Festival this past June, which by the way you killed it, and after I read that you had this unique talent…I went back to study the photos and sure enough…you rock that guitar left handed, upside-down! Wow…how did you manage to learn that skill?

CB: I don’t know, I’m still learning. Everybody always says “how do you do that, how do you do that?” There’s times I look at and go “why am I doing it this?” But it just happened. I think a lot of people told me no, and a lot of people thought that I would never play it like that, so I was a stubborn kid growing up and therefore I had to do it. It also saved my mom and dad a lot of money buying me my first right handed guitar because left handed ones are way too expensive. I know my mom thinks I have way too many guitars but in the end it ended up saving us a ton of money.

KS: You recently had the opportunity to do a project with Kia Motors and Michael McDonald in their ground breaking digital series Rediscovered. Share with my readers a little about that project and what that experience was like for you.

CB: Oh gosh! Ya know, I listened to the 70’s records a lot, whether it be Fleetwood Mac Rumours, or The Doobie Brothers Minute By Minute or Takin It To The Streets, any of those records defined who I wanted to be as a singer. Musically I thought Michael was just an absolute genius. The sounds that he had coming as a keyboard player and the tone of his voice; there is no way you could ever hear that voice and undoubtedly not think that was Michael. Nobody else you could think of, could it be. With modern technology today people hit their phone and ask Siri “who is this on the radio?,” and I think that is the quickest response from Siri is Michael McDonald because it’s one of the most recognizable voices of all time.

KS: I have to say when I watched that four part series (which I strongly urge my readers to watch the entire series) you nailed it. I could tell he was genuinely impressed as well. Now in that series you talk about your experience of playing at the Opry. Share with me what it was like for you the first time you performed at The Grand Ole Opry.

CB: Playing the Opry is one of those things that every time I play there I quote “there is no bigger religious experience for a country musician…than standing in that circle”. It’s just one of those things as a country artist, when you step in that circle you don’t know what to expect. I took a friend out to my last performance and the first time they toured the Opry they don’t know what to expect. It’s the same when you are standing in that circle; you don’t know what to expect. It’s one of those venues that are full of people who love country music. It’s not a crowd that’s going to walk into the show and scream and yell your whole entire set. They are there to listen to great music, and I’m just a proud part of that and I’m very glad that they asked me to come back again and again.

KS: Your first EP Chase Bryant charged out of the gate with its hit “Take It On Back.” We love that song and I love that video. How did the setting at the Tennessee Railway Museum for the video come about?

CB: I’m a huge train fan. My grandfather, who was a big influence of course, a huge huge huge influence musically but he and I were both obsessed with trains. When Wes Edwards threw out the idea, I didn’t know who was shooting the video, I just knew that “BAM” that was the one. Especially for my first single.

KS: Your newest release Little Bit of You is racing up the charts right now and grabbed the attention of Rolling Stone Magazine as they labeled you as one of it’s “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know.” That must have been awesome to see your name in Rolling Stone Magazine. Do you find yourself pinching yourself at moments saying…can this be really happening?

CB: There are some great names in that article and some of them I moved to town with, people I’m really really rooting for, and people somewhere down the road we’re still together in this. I grew up reading Rolling Stone and was a big fan, and once again it’s one of those things to know I’m a part of it is an honor to be included.

KS: Your music is what I consider feel good, toe tapping, smile making music. Your live show is amazing and full of the same energy. I get the impression that you are a very positive person from your music. Do you find that when create music, your wanting to send a message with each song or do you want your audiences to find their own meaning in the songs?

CB: My message in my music is who I am and who I’ll always be. I don’t know if there’s another way of saying it. I just know that whoever Chase Bryant is, and whatever you see live, and whatever you hear on the radio; that’s me and who I am.

KS: I love your philosophy on music. You said that “I’m just the guy with the guitar. If I wasn’t, I’d be the guy on the front row with his arm around his girl raising a glass to the guy onstage. No questions, it’s just who I am. Music is everything.” I think this philosophy truly defines you and why we adore you. You are in it for the music and sharing that passion with your fans, thank you. One final comment and question — you hands down win for best hair in country music!!! What’s your secret for keeping it perfectly in place as you are moving around on stage. That’s difficult…I know…my son struggles to keep his hair styled like that!

Chase Bryant – Taste of Country Festival 2015

CB: Well that’s actually funny, as I went through a few different hair cuts when I came to town, and thankfully I had a label that was very good and very patient with me getting my image correct. Who knows if it’s correct now but it’s nothing more than blow drying the thing up in the air and putting some paste in it. It’s a pretty simple process. It’s nothing tough or too hard to happen; and sometimes it happens when I wake up on the right side of the bed.

KS: Well you have that image down pat. Thanks again Chase for taking the time to speak with us and we can’t wait to see you at Darien Lake July 30th!!

As I ended the interview I could not help think what a nice young man he was and how well his music fits his personality. He is an upbeat, positive, fun loving young man who loves what he does, and it shows. He’s the next generation of country. With so many critics out there today picking apart country criticizing the new sound, I find Chase Bryant the perfect example of how the next generation is taking the roots of country, that he was whole heartedly immersed in as a child, and giving it the spin to generate new fans from this generation. As a role model, he’s definitely my choice, and again, hands down he wins my “Best Hair” award.

I’m truly looking forward to seeing his set again, and I strongly urge all of you to not miss this show as Chase, along with Billy Currington, and Tim McGraw will blow your socks off for a fun filled evening of country entertainment.

July 29, 2015
What Does the VibeTribe Mean to You? Here are Your Answers

The official Gathering of the Vibes 2015 countdown is down to two DAYS. Before we finish stuffing all our camping equipment into our cars, we wanted to up the suspense by asking members of the ever-growing VibeTribe to tell us what they love about GOTV, and what being a member of the VibeTribe means to them. In no particular order, here are the responses we love the most.

Submission by cdrhead:

“My first introduction to ‘the vibe tribe’ was when I started collecting GD tapes. I lived in the next town over from Terrapin Tapes so I would walk in and buy blank Maxell’s there. I switched to cd and started buying blank cds there too. I got to know some of the folks that worked there a little. I would see Ken barefoot at shows, and I was slow to catch on to festivals but when I learned Ken was the promoter I knew GOTV would be good (and I still see him barefoot at shows). I got into message boards at dead.net, then moved to an international forum that got shut down. I came to the vibes board and found lots of friends. I live in CT so I started going to the Vibes full time when they moved it back to Bridgeport. The family feeling is there, we are one tribe.”

Submission by jefferjm:

“Being part of the Tribe means knowing that at least once a year I can arrive in a place where I can be completely myself, and free of worry and the judgement of others. It’s also my chance to spend the highest possible quality time with my 19 year old son. He was born 3 months after Jerry passed but Vibes and all the shows we attend together gives him the chance to see the community that changed my life for the better when I hopped on the bus on Halloween 1979 at the Nassau Colosseum. Vibes continues to be the highlight of our year.”

Submission by Occifer Boland:

“I could go on for pages upon pages…. I won’t. In 2002 my big brother passed away at 37 years old. He was a ‘boardie’ at the time . He died one month before Vibes 2002… He bought my ticket for us to attend together. I wasn’t going to attend, as I was still a mess from losing him. Five days before event, my brother’s crew told me my bro Bob would want me to attend. I went…NEVER LOOKED BACK!!! Only missed 2 Vibes since then. Became ‘family’ with so many. As someone else stated, this is my yearly vacation. I am now 37 years old (age my brother was when he passed away), I am grateful for the years I put in to honor his memory of a festival he enjoyed. And this year The String Cheese Incident is playing, the last fest I saw them was in 2001 with my bro.”

Submission by Depends:

“My first vibes, 2008, I knew no one there. Now, 2015, I have high hopes of seeing and hanging with upwards of 50 people, 25 of which I’m more than happy to call friends. I used to sit and wonder how/why so many younger people were there. I thought that it was an older person thing. Then I remembered my first GD concert, I was 15. I knew then, the teens and 20/30 somethings have had that same feeling. It’s home, with a heart.”

Submission by In A Silent Way:

“I wandered in by accident as the publicist for a local radio station, and met some of my favorite people in the world. I’ve been to two Vibe Tribe weddings, and my kids have had the privilege of growing up at Vibes. There is nothing, NOTHING like the hooting, hollering, and hugging that happens when the festival opens and everybody is saying ‘HAPPY VIBES!”

Submission by Lostsailr:

“In 1996, it was an ad in Dupree’s Diamond News that got us to get a sitter for out one year old twins and head to SUNY Purchase, to listen to some music to fill the void after the loss Of Jerry Garcia. We all wondered what would happen, now that there were no more shows to go to (there will always be more concerts, but not any ‘Shows,’ though Chicago did just prove me wrong on that point). We came upon a group of fellow deadheads we never met, but automatically knew we were home. We were even greeted by the first volunteer we came to that day, and have been greeting others the same way ever since: ‘Welcome Home!”

Not excited enough yet? The team at Gathering of the Vibes just announced some new acts this past week, including Road To Vibes winners Relative Souls, along with the incredible Nigel Hall and Eric Krasno. In addition to great music, great weather is being forecasted for this weekend, upward of 86 degrees. We hope you all try to get through the first half of your work week, and we thank everyone for their responses. We can’t wait to see you over this sunny, musical weekend.

July 28, 2015
Dark Star Orchestra Plays Frontier Field for Their First Stadium Show

Dark Star Orchestra has one more stop to make in New York state before they head to Gathering of the Vibes this weekend in CT. Following a JGB set in Saranac Lake Sunday night, the band will return to Rochester for their first ever stadium show at Frontier Field tonight.

The band that seeks to recreate the set list of past Dead Shows is excited to share this moment with the Rochester Dead Head community and we plan to show them how excited we are to be a part of it. With the celebration of Jerry Garcia’s birthday fast approaching, they have been heating up shows all tour.

Tickets are still available for $15 and will increase to $18 at the door. This is an all ages show so bring the family for what should be a beautiful summer night of Dead tunes.

July 28, 2015
Road to Backwoods Pondfest: Sophistafunk

Get your Backwoods Pondfest party started with the ultimate New York funk trio, Sophistafunk. With the combined talent of Jack Brown’s hip-shaking vocals, Adam Gold’s keys, bass and vocals, and Emanuel Washington’s groove-inducing drumming, they’ll get you dancing and work the audience into a frenzy through deep instrumental grooves.

Recently featured in Relix Magazine “5 Artists You Should Know About” (May 2015), this funky indie trio was also featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives when Adam Gold’s venue/restaurant Funk ‘n Waffles was profiled on the Food Network show.

Backwoods Pondfest keeps getting better and better, and there’s plenty more in store! Check out the lineup and pick up tickets to this incredible festival today!

July 28, 2015
STS9 Making Two New York Stops on 2015 Fall Tour

STS9 has announced its 2015 Fall Tour, and highlighting the 22-show trek are two stops in New York. On October 25, the jamtronica act will headline the Town Ballroom in Buffalo before weaving its way through the Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland before landing back in the Empire State for a November 5 show at the Best Buy Theater.

STS9 Fall Tour 2015:

October 22 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
October 23 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater
October 24 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
October 25 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
October 28 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
October 29 – Columbus, OH – LC Pavilion
October 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
October 31 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
November 01 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Hulaween
November 05 – New York, NY – Best Buy Theater
November 06 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
November 07 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
November 08 – Richmond, VA – The National
November 11 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
November 12 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
November 13 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
November 14 – Nashville, TN – War Memorial Auditorium
November 15 – Columbia, SC – Music Farm
November 18 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City Music Hall
November 19 – New Orleans, LA – Joy Theater
November 20 – Austin, TX – Austin Music Hall
November 21 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues

July 28, 2015
Hearing Aide: Lonesome Crow, ‘Lonesome Crow’

Central New York-based Lonesome Crow know right where the sweet spot is when it comes to Southern Rock/Outlaw Country music. Their pedigrees that include Savoy Brown, Mad Jack and Last Train Out gave them plenty of road experience, along with opening for such acts as The Outlaws, The Marshall Tucker Band and Blackberry Smoke.

Composed of “compadres for decades,” Lonesome Crow is Rick Jewett (keys, harmony and vocals), George Lamb (bass), Lou Kaplan (acoustic and electric guitars, lead and backing vocals), Slaus Brown-Paul (lead and slide guitars, banjo, harmony and vocals) and Barry Westfall (drums). Recording was done at Conan Fioramonti’s The Ghetto studio in Syracuse, produced by the band, engineered by Fioramanti, mixed by Bill Aldrich, Jewett, Brown-Paul, mastered by Scott Patnode.

Photo by Deborah Brooks Miller

This band could claim to be formed in the early to mid-1970s southern rock scene in the Carolinas and Georgia. They can honky tonk it with anyone, each member knows their role and is strong within it. Kaplan and Jewett are the primary songwriters with Brown-Paul contributing two songs as well, they even re-make a couple of Mad Jack numbers in the middle. While the terms Outlaws, Hell Raisers and Renegades are thrown around a lot these days, LC live it as much as reality allows. Much like their influences and heroes, LC’s live shows are spirited romps through decades of history while creating their own on the way.

“Rollin’ Into Town” (K), the opener of this eponymously titled album, establishes much of what “Lonesome Crow” is all about. Melodic, well-written songs that are easy on the ear and easily remembered. This could’ve come straight from a Marshall Tucker (MT) issue, much like ‘Lay Me Down’ (K/J), the next track. The story is plausible, the mix is smooth and you can dance to it. Gary Burns’ steel line with Jewett’s piano just make it bounce, the rest is solid, especially Brown-Paul’s solo. ‘American Small Town Boy” (J/K), revs it up several levels, Jewett’s piano and Hammond sound just right with Brown-Paul’s raved-up rhythm. George Lamb and Barry Westfall are great role players, with lead abilities. This music isn’t going to ask them for gymnastics, do what you do, everyone’s feet listen. Kaplan is out front and he knows how to sell what he’s got, he has the look, swagger and chops to get it.

“Wicked Ways” is the first Jewett/Kaplan (J/K) piece although they switch to Kaplan/Jewett (K/J) too, I’ll note them as they have a different flavor and the mix of them is cool. Kaplan does his best Doug Gray and the band is swinging or skiffling, is that a word even, great ooos in the background, Brown-Paul’s finger picking and slide drops. Jewett honky-tonks it and off they go, he delivers a great solo mid-song too. “Pick-Up Truck” (J), is where Jewett takes the mic and kicks it into gear, his organ sounds are dead-on and Brown-Paul’s pick and slide jump like Toy Caldwell, the bluesy backing shouts and the same in Jewett’s voice compliment nicely. Brown-Paul shines again in solo, did I say the rhythm section was tight? That.

“Shot To Hell” (K/J), brings a bit of Allman Brothers Band here with the acoustic rhythm brought up, the slide and the piano. The MT is still present as Kaplan re-takes the lead and the harmonies really come through with the help of Fioramanti in the equation, a percussion shake too. Brown-Paul’s (B-P) first piece, “You’re The One” is also his first lead singing role, his voice is softer and smoother, it is just right for this true sad country tune. Gary Burns’ lilting steel guitar licks behind the tremble of B-P’s vocal, Jewett gets a little country majestic and you could wring the sweet out of the backing vocals. “Tonight We Ride” TWR is a (K/J) plus Alan Macomber and Mike Brown piece from their former band, Mad Jack, as is the next one, ‘Desperation Road’ DR. ‘TWR’ is a nice up-tempo love song, more country flavored with a updated guitar solo and a Allman Brothers bridge. It’s got the right swing and sway, DR has it too while of course the topic matter is 180 degree spin. DR opens in a dark mood, Westfall paces with a marching snare, but quickly turns its cheek, Brown-Paul leads to Jewett mid-song as they stretch it out with a couple of great solos. Lamb is running steady on the bottom as Kaplan tells the tale of redemption from his soul and heart. Cool outro too.

“Way Past Mad” (B-P), with B-P at the lead, is tweaked with Texas-Blues and a similar swing. It feels like you’re riding a railroad car, then Jewett jumps on piano line right out of a western barroom. All of the elements that culminate in Texas Swing with a big-rock ending. Great jam. “Fast And Free” (K/J) rocks a bit more than previously heard here, Jewett stealing the show in the middle with a ripping piano solo, only to have B-P top it off. When Kaplan sings, “Packin’ up this old guitar, Packin’ up my guns, Loadin’ down that truck out in the drive, Say goodbye and wish you well, Put the hammer down, Takin’ one last run while I’m alive”, you know he’s been there before. Then B-P drives it home.

“Take My Drunk Ass Home” (J/K) closes with a bluesy country twang, Jewett at the mic, it’s a descriptive, with the title’s protagonist talking to himself. It’s possible he’ll get everything he’s lost back, but we know what he’ll have to do. LC’s dexterity within a loose genre is expressed throughout this album. They tell you stories, whether they’re reality or fiction, they’re plausible, they’re presented authentically and played at the level that is allowed by most prefectures. They love what they do and it shows clearly what the idea of being in a band is all about. If’n all y’all maight prefer this heya musical style, might right give a listen, all y’all be durn happy fo it! Check out Lonesome Crow on facebook.

Key Tracks: “Pick Up Truck,” “Way Past Mad,” “Fast And Free”

July 27, 2015
Eminem / Dr. Dre Rep Says No Plans for N.W.A Tour

Rolling Stone reported that a rep for Dr. Dre and Eminem stated that the duo have no plans to tour together either solo or with N.W.A.

With all the buzz about the biopic movie Straight Outta Compton coming out in theater’s on Aug. 14, and with Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella performing together for the first time in 26 years at The BET Experience in California, rumors were flying. It also doesn’t help Eminem’s strong ties to Dr. Dre and that he appears on the soundtrack for the N.W.A movie.

The rumored reunion tour had Eminem playing the role of Easy-E. Eric “Easy E” Wright died on March 26, 1995 from the AIDS virus. The planned tour was speculated to take place in Europe on the same day as the movie release date.

N.W.A debuted in 1986 and has sold over 10 million records in the U.S. The group was known for being one of the first gangster rap groups in history with their lyrical hatred towards the police and women and the glorification of drug use and guns.

After the band split, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube went on to have successful solo music careers. Dre has also become a very successful entrepreneur. He has produced many music artist to go along with his former brand of headphones called “Beats,” which he sold for 3 billion dollars to Apple. Ice Cube has gone on to also become a successful movie actor and filmmaker.

July 27, 2015
Hearing Aide: Brian LaPoint and the Joints ‘Pick Me Up’

The music of Brian LaPoint & the Joints seems to go quite well with summertime. It’s the type of music you can throw on and let play out over a summer night of hanging about and enjoying the simple treasures in life. It has strong lyrics with strong female and male singing to accompany all the tracks.

“Pick Me Up,” the first song off their album Pick Me Up, opens with a thick and velvety guitar that wails until being met with accompanying harmonies of a strong horn section. Lyrically, the song discusses concepts about the circle of life going down in a spiral and while help to rise up and stand amidst living with this struggle.

“Love and Inspiration” starts with a guitar part featuring muted strumming, reminiscent of something Nirvana may have done in the 1990s. But then the song takes a move towards a duet of singing between a man and a woman proclaiming their love for each other.

An abundance of different instruments can be heard across the album. Both a saxophone and trumpet solo soar through “Say Hello To Me” — a laid back groovy song that opens with a funk style bass riff.

In fact the strongest aspect of Brian LaPoint & the Joints may be the horn section. The trumpets and saxophones are recorded with great quality that ups the listening of the overall band. Across their album Pick Me Up, the band is able to cross musical genres and call upon various influences to create a unique sound of underwater (and sometimes reggae style) guitar, country-rock style vocals, and crisp drums matched with necessary keyboards and horns.

Instrumentally, this band seems like the kind to be able to have some fun live jams. They’re certainly a group that can stay true to their own sound, as the twelve songs flow effortlessly between each other without straying far from the vibe of the entire album.

Key Tracks: Pick Me Up, Love & Inspiration, Say Hello To Me

Listen Here: Bandcamp Facebook SoundCloud

July 27, 2015