Americana Releases for Sept. 29th, 2009

Here’s the list of lots of great new releases for the week of September 29th, 2009.  The artist’s names link to their websites or MySpace pages and the CD title links go to either Amazon or CD Baby for easy ordering.

THE AVETT BROTHERS – I and Love and You (American/Sony)
Drawn by the naked honesty of their songs and the rousing intensity of their live shows, legendary producer Rick Rubin signed the Avett Brothers – consisting of siblings Scott and Seth, plus bassist Bob Crawford – to his American Recordings label. “As soon as I heard the depth in their singing and songwriting, I was in for the ride,” says Rubin.

EMMITT-NERSHI BAND – New Country Blues (SCI Fidelity)
With Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) on mandolin & vocals and Bill Nershi (the String Cheese Incident) on acoustic guitar and vocals, ENB delivers a dynamic blend of bluegrass, newgrass, country and Americana.

ROBERT EARL KEEN - The Rose Hotel (Universal Nashville)
“I would love to have been one of the great singers in the world — like Vince Gill or someone like that — even if it was just for one hour,” says Robert Earl Keen. “But I really feel like my gift is writing songs. That’s just there and it’s always been there. I don’t know why, but I always have stories — they don’t all have to be true, just good. If I could put a subtitle on my best songs, it would be `based on a good story.’” The Amazon link has a cool interview with REK.

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON – Closer to the Bone (New West)
Kristofferson says of the new album, “I like the intimacy of the new album. It has a general mood of reflecting on where we all are at this end of life.”  Closer To The Bone is a deftly observed, honestly executed work about love, separation, loss, and mortality. The subject matter ranges from the musician s family (From Here to Forever, The Wonder) to Kristofferson s late friend Johnny Cash ( Good Morning John).

PATTY LOVELESS – Mountain Soul II (Saguaro Road)
Inspired by her critically acclaimed and commercial hit album from 2001, Mountain Soul.  Patty’s Kentucky roots shine through, featuring her crystalline country vocals amid bluegrass-tinged accompaniment. With  Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Al Perkins, and Del
and Ronnie McCoury,.

CORB LUND – Losin’ Lately Gambler (New West)
Corb Lund is a very popular Canadian musician/3rd generation Albertan rancher who has crafted an exhilarating style of Western music. His new album is propelled by stand-up bass, steel guitar and is set to Corb’s Jack London-esque yarns about down-and-out cowboys, whiskey and ranching. This is his New West debut.

CHRIS SMITHER – Time Stands Still (Mighty Albert/Signature Sounds)
The new collection puts the exclamation point on a legendary career that shows no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, this blues and folk superstar continues to build creative momentum. His latest effort features a slew of tunes stripped down to their essence, shining the spotlight on Smither’s understated power as a songwriter–one who taps into emotions at their most elemental and powerful core. (from Amazon)

…coming soon: ROSANNE CASH, MARIA MULDAUR, JAMES McMURTRY, BOB DYLAN …  more new releases.

Here’s a link to this week’s Americana Music Association’s Americana Airplay Chart

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Freight Train Boogie Podcast #40

MARK STUART AND THE BASTARD SONS have a CD called One Bend in the Road that is featured on Show #40. Also new songs from AMELIA CURRAN and SHE SWINGS, SHE SWAYS. The full playlist is posted below.  Here’s the iTunes link to subscribe or download the show and here’s the  direct download link to listen right now on your computer. Check the artist’s websites and order their CD’s or downloads and tell ‘em you heard the songs on the FTB podcast. Please email me with any questions, comments or suggestions for the podcasts.

Show #40

MARK STUART AND THE BASTARD SONS – When Love Comes A Callin’ Bend In The Road
REVEREND HORTON HEAT- Drinkin’ And Smokin’ Cigarettes Laughin’ and Cryin’
IMELDA MAY - Johnny Got A Boom Boom Love Tattoo
ARTY HILL & THE LONG GONE DADDYS – Church On Saturday Night Montgomery On My Mind
(mic break)
AMELIA CURRAN – You Won’t Find Me War Brides
ROB LUTES – Bread Truth & Fiction
THE WIYOS- Green Bottle #8 Broken Land Bell
MARK STUART AND THE BASTARD SONS – Restless, Ramblin’ Man Bend In The Road
(mic break)
DOOP & THE INSIDE OUTLAWS – Getting What You Want Everett Belcher
TODD SNIDER - Greencastle Blues The Excitement Plan
CAROLYN MARK & NQ ARBUCKLE – Too Sober To Sleep Let’s Just Stay Here
SHE SWINGS, SHE SWAYS – He Loves Me Wasted Love Songs
(mic break)
MARK STUART AND THE BASTARD SONS -Fireflies & Corn Liquor Bend In The Road

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Americana Releases for Sept. 22nd, 2009

Here’s the list of some of the better new releases for the week of September 22nd, 2009.  The artist’s names link to their websites or MySpace pages and the CD title links go to either Amazon or CD Baby for easy ordering.

GUY CLARK – Somedays the Song Writes You (Dualtone)
What can I say about the great song craftsman Guy Clark… he’s as soft and comfortable  as an old pair of boots.  You know what you’re getting form Guythese days and it’s always good.  Recommended!

MONSTERS OF FOLK – Monsters Of Folk (Shangri-La)
Monsters of Folk is a collaboration of Conor Oberst, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), M. Ward- three of th better young singer/songwriters and Mike Mogis. It’s ain’t folk but it pretty nice.

GEOFF MULDAUR – Texas Sheiks (Tradition & Moderne)
Geoff made a series of highly influential recordings as a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and the Paul Butterfield’s Better Days group, as well as collaborations with then-wife Maria and other notables. This new one features pieces of classic blues, string band, Texas swing and jump blues repertoire, with guests like Stephen Bruton, Johnny Nicholas, Cindy Cashdollar, Suzy Thompson and special guest Jim Kweskin.

THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND – Speed of Life (Sugarhill)
These guys have been around in one form or another since the 60’s. This is their first new release in quite some time.  Easy-going country rock here, they re-do Canned Heat’s “Goin’ Up The Country” and have a song about Jimmy Martin.

RALPH STANLEY AND THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS – Can’t You Hear the Mountains Calling (Rounder)
Originally released with modest regional goals for success in 1985, Can’t You Hear the Mountains Calling is Ralph Stanley at his most soulful and most vital, with the band accompanying him one of his most definitive and solidly-based. Charlie Sizemore’s understated and haunting lead vocals take center stage.

MARK STUART AND THE BASTARD SONS – Bend In The Road (Dualtone)
They’ve dropped the “Johnny Cash” from thier name and lead singer/songwriter Mark Stuart has stepped forward with a fine collection of Americana with a hint of Roots Rock.  Good Stuff!

…coming soon:  ROBERT EARL KEEN, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, PATTY LOVELESS, CHRIS SMITHER…  more new releases.

Here’s a link to this week’s Americana Music Association’s Americana Airplay Chart

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Americana Music Assoc. Conference, Saturday highlights

The final day at the AMA’s started with my phone going off at around 10 AM… not usually an early hour for me, but I don’t usually stay up after 2AM four nights in a row either.  Nevertheless, being a hard-core music nut is not for the faint-hearted, and as the late Warren Zevon sang, I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

The last day always features the Americana Music Association’s “town meeting” where the AMA board members open the floor for the conference attendees to speak out and ask questions.  It also gives AMA president Jed Hilly a chance to talk about where the non-profit organization is today and what’s ahead in the future.  The current economic situation has affected the festival as far as commercial sponsorship and attendance, but thanks to generous support from individuals, like the attorney who has worked pro-bono for the 10-year lifetime of the AMA, the organization is surviving if not quite thriving.  They (and I) suggest joining the AMA now.

Hilly mentioned that there is a possibility of moving the conference to a smaller and more supportive meeting place or hotel complex.  That sounds like a good idea to me; the Renaissance Hotel, the current host, was overrun with a thousand women there for a convention for Slumber Party, a company that mainly markets sex toys.  I wish I were kidding.  The afternoon AMA schedule featured a party at The Basement with many of the artists who didn’t make the cut to play the usual showcase sets.  It was a nice affair, and with Grimey’s upstairs, there was plenty to do between sets.

Sara Watkins

That night, I started out at The Station Inn, knowing that the limited-seating club would fill to capacity early.  They were offering an all-women evening with SARA JAROSZ, DIANA JONES, NANCI GRIFFITH, MARY GAUTHIER, ELIZABETH COOK and SARA WATKINS.  I know it’s crazy, but I only stayed for part of Watkin’s set.  Her self-titled CD is one of my favorites of the year and I know that she would be ably supported because of WPA’s set later that evening.  As I expected her brother SEAN WATKINS and lap steel player GREG LEITZ joining her for a beautiful set.

In this short attention span world, the AMA Festival is co-dependent by offering 5 clubs of music each night, frequently quality acts playing at the same time.  As much as I love BUDDY MILLER, he wasn’t going to make the cut tonight.  They do offer 3 shuttle buses that drive from club to club, but they seemed to be less reliable than in earlier years so, as not to miss anything, I drove my rental car to The Basement just in time to catch the end of ANGELA EASTERLING’s set, backed by her band with WILL KIMBROUGH.  Then ran over to 3rd & Lindsley (a club at the corner of… well, guess) only to find out that CLARENCE FOUNTAIN’s set had been canceled due to illness.  A little chit-chatting and then it was back to The Basement for Sirius Radio’s DALLAS WAYNE singing solo.   My excessive driving did not help stop global warming that night; sorry, Earth.

The Stone River Boys

The Basement started filling up for the Nashville debut of DAVE GONZALEZ’s new band (since the sad passing of CHRIS GAFFNEY) called THE STONE RIVER BOYS.  MIKE BARFIELD from THE HOLLISTERS is in front, taking most of the lead vocals; he has an animated stage presence that was fun to watch.  They carry the country-soul tradition of the  HACIENDA BROTHERS.   DAN PENN was sitting up front and  liked the new band, and I like to think Gaffney would’ve approved as well.

A few of us ran over to Douglas Corner for a non-AMA showcase put together by Stephen Garvin —a long-time AMA member who supports a lot of up-and-comers— just in time to catch the end of DAVID BALL’s “Thinkin’ Problem” and then a nice set from CHRIS SCRUGGS.  He’s Earl’s grandson and one-time BR549 guitarist who has a new CD due soon.

Kuzin' Kate, Dan Penn & BF

Okay… at this point I’m getting tired, seriously losing my game, and thinking I’m really not in the mood to be pitched any more new artists.  How ’bout some good ol’ double-earplugs BOTTLE ROCKETS?  BRIAN HENNEMAN and the boys were in rare screaming form, but it sucks to be a sober person after midnight on a Saturday night, so it was off to find some good ribs and call it a night.

At the end of it all, it was quite the enjoyable week, as always.  I’ve only missed one of these yearly musical reunions in Nashville, and I plan to keep coming and supporting the AMA as long as I’m still walking and talking!

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Americana Music Assoc. Conference, Friday highlights

Jim Lauderdale, Mr. Americana

The AMA Festival and Conference is a lot more than just listening to great music.  It’s also about talking about music in the hallways of the convention center, at the clubs, on the streets walking to the clubs, and everywhere in between.  On the musical knowledge level, the caliber of people who attend the conference is very high; you can tell a story without having to explain who Harold Bradley or Let’s Active are, and not only are they right there with you, chances are they have a good story related to your story about Charlie Louvin, or Van Morrison, or whoever.  By chance, I met Hank DeVito, and he doesn’t have to explain to me that he’s was Emmylou Harris’ steel guitarist in her first band, we’re there already, and I know what songs he wrote and have just about everything he’s ever played on.  As it turns out he’s the only other person I’ve ever met who remembers a little gig the Hot Band did at a racetrack in Calistoga.  We were both thrilled to recall the memory, and I had a new story to pass along.  My point is that there’s a lot that goes on that’s not on the schedule, and there’s an amazing collection of people who attend the AMA’s.

Amanda Shires

Each day there are an assortment of panels that go on downstairs at the convention center, covering a variety of topics from production, promotions and touring for musicians to using Twitter and Facebook, to where the music and the industry is headed in the future.  My favorites were “The State of Americana Radio”, “Leveraging The Internet”, and “The Future of Music Writers and Publications,” and I always hear about panels that I missed that were great and there is always stimulating talks in the room following the panels.

The Festival also helps to promote many outside events, frequently put together by record labels.  The Six Shooter Records and Starfish Entertainment lunch at a bar down on Broadway called the Second Fiddle was a nice little event, for example; their artists performed during the lunch and they sounded great together even though they were all solo artists.  Oh Susanna, Luke Doucet, Amelia Curran and Kendal Carson all sounded awesome; they wisely cranked up the sound because we all like to talk just as much as we like to eat and drink. Other notable events included Red Beet Records’s party at a nearby restaurant with lots of local East Nashville artist and Compass Records’s open house at their offices on Music Row, where Bearfoot sounded amazing playing without mics in the studio upstairs, with Compass co-owner Allison Brown on banjo. Like the South By Southwest festival, the parties, whether sponsored or not, are a wonderful extra feature.

James Intveld

Friday night, you can tell it’s the weekend in Nashville because the clubs are full of more non-AMA fans and they’re sometimes a little more “dressed up for going out” the the usual AMA attendee.  This isn’t to say that we don’t know how to look good, but by the third night of staying up past 2AM, I’ve lost a little spring to my step, and my best snap-button shirts have already been worn.  I caught young newcomer AMANDA SHIRES at the Basement; she impressed me more than hearing her recently released CD, which is sometimes the whole idea of seeing the artist live. Hank’s granddaughter HOLLY WILLIAMS had the opposite effect on me, although to be fair, I only heard three songs.  In particular her cover of “Angel From Montgomery” just didn’t strike me as a good choice; it’s not that it’s not a great song, but it’s just so associated with BONNIE RAITT, or even writer JOHN PRINE, that I feel it’s not wise for an established artist.

Intfeld crooning

JAMES INTVELD was another story.  The hard country singer was bumped from the other night when Fogerty hogged the stage to Friday at The Cannery, and he told me he had to teach a whole new band— including backup singers —his songs because of the change.  You wouldn’t have known it, though, as the handsome singer commanded the band and the stage through a dynamic set of songs that was some of the best music I heard all week. Upstairs later, RADNEY FOSTER sounded really good, which convinced me to go back and listen to his new Revival album again, as well as a few of his other older albums. He’s an artist who been delivering the goods for years and strongly supports the AMA.  Back downstairs, SAM BUSH who’s, well, Sam Bush: always funny and entertaining, and musically smoking hot.  He got pulled over on his way to the gig, which was a source of  great amusement.

J.D. Souther

Songwriting great J.D SOUTHER tried to get the Mercy crowd to shut up for his first couple of songs, with some success, but sorry J.D., it’s a bar:  we’re going to talk.  One couldn’t help but pause, however, to hear him sing “Best of My Love,” “You’re Only Lonely,” and other brilliant songs that he wrote. By the time the NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND came on later, I was losing most of my steam.  They sounded pretty good, but the locals were filling up the Cannery and in back, consistently, year after year, it has the worst sound of all the clubs.  The bigger the club, it seems, the worse the sound, mostly due to un-twangy sound mixers.  The smallest club, the Basement, has the best mixers and some of best rocking, cultish bands.  I missed both Daddy and new band Elliott Brood at the little club (which is underneath Grimey’s, the best record store in town) but from what I heard around, both turned in great sets.  Dragging our tails, a few of us DJ-types hopped into the rental car to head to our various places to rest, restore the batteries, and prepare for the last day tomorrow.

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Americana Music Assoc. Conference, Thursday highlights

Ken Levitan w/Emmylou, Buddy & Patty at he Awards show

Music-wise, Thursday is all about the awards show at the Ryman, the always “star-studded” (and always over-long) event that is modeled after the way most awards shows where an act comes out and does one song and then some talking and awards and honoring and then you realize that you’ve been sitting on hallowed-yet hard pews and your butts starting to get sore.

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL opened the show and from talking to leader RAY BENSON the day before, I knew that they showed up at 8 o’clock that morning to run through their one song.  The good thing is the sound and stage management made for a cohesive and well-produced show.  My only complaint about thr awards format is to hear only one song from each act, whether it’s THE FLATLANDERS, JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE or THE BELLVILLE OUTFIT, you just get a taste and then their gone.  A missing dynamic that you get in a full set is the building of energy that happens.  A band like THE GOURDS, whom I love, pop in for one tune, (“Country Love”, my pick for best song)  and then they’re gone, not even doing a showcase gig all weekend.  That being said, it was still a great show and I differ to the great local writer (sing singer-songwriter) PETER COPPER for his detailed account of the AMA Awards show.  Here’s the link.

One of the award recipients was JIM ROONEY, a singer who came to Nashville at the right time in the 70’s and seemed to fall into the right circles with the right people.  His stories at the show were amusing and he had a big influence on the careers of NANCI GRIFFITH and JOHN PRINE, who presented his award to him.

Jim Rooney did a set at the tiny Station Inn that same night and at the insistence of another radio friend, “Kuzin’” Kate Walker, I went to the Inn, which sold out soon after.  Rooney had a whole slew of friends onstage with him, over 12, topping John Fogerty’s previous record set the night before at the Mercy.  They included extraordinary fiddler  STUART DUNCAN, the great unknown PAT McLAUGHLIN, PAT ALGERS, SAM BUSH, steel player DAN DUGMORE, drummer PAT McINERNEY and more than I can recall at this point.

He introduced Nanci Griffith, who came out and talked about MARY TRAVERS, the just-deceased singer with PETER, PAUL & MARY, and her influence on her career as well as so many other women at the time.  Going into “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” was a powerful and emotional experience.  After doing a few more, John Prine came out with a big grin on his face and launched into MERLE HAGGARD’S  ”Ramblin’ Fever”.  It was an inspired choice and everybody got a chance to solo.  Following with “Paradise” and “No Expectations” with everybody sharing vocals, it was an amazing set and although after 1AM, they couldn’t get the crowd to leave because they were buzzing so much.

It seemed like that couldn’t be topped so I went home although I heard that RAUL MALO was setting 3rd & Lindsley on fire till 2. At the AMA’s with 5 stages and other outside events, you just have to accept that you can’t seen everything… Hearing about a non-AMA show at Douglas Corner with Memphis greats like DONNIE FRITTS, DAN PENN, SPOONER OLDHAM with guests like CHIP TAYLOR made me cringe but it’s just in the past and a missed opportunity.

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Americana Music Assoc. Conference, Wednesday highlights

The conference offically opened this afternoon at the Nashville Convention Center, although no panels were scheduled, there was a whole night of music scheduled at the 5 AMA clubs, including a strong rumor of JOHN FOGERTY planning a surprise set at The Mercy Lounge, the smaller of the two clubs that share the same building. The other, larger room is the Cannery Ballroom, which was doing a whole night of Austin artists including SETH WALKER, who was quite good in a soulful bluesy sort of way, and ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, who are just always great, in a boogie woogie western swing way.

Upstairs at the Mercy, THE BAND OF HEATHENS were finishing off a smoking set and after almost a half hour, Fogerty came out with 10 musicians backing him, including BUDDY MILLER and at times 4 other guitarists.  Opening with “When Will I Be Loved” and John Prine’s “Paradise” both from his brand new The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again CD.  He followed with 3 or 4 Creedence songs that we all know by heart.   John was definetely enjoying himself and the band was well-rehearsed albiet a little loud in the fairly small club.

It is customary for AMA Showcase evening shows to limit each artist to a 45 minute set, no matter what, encore or not.  Well, either Mr. Fogerty didn’t get the memo or the AMA let him slide, nevertheless he did an almost and hour and a half set.  I thought the new songs were great and would’ve liked a few more of those and a few less CCR classics.  But I can’t say I wasn’t singing along like everyone else to “Down On The Corner” and “Born On The Bayou.”   I especially loved a few surprise selections like “Night Time Is the Right Time” and ”Big Train From Memphis” which particularly cooked.  Nashville’s PETER COOPER has a nice review of the show nicluding pictures and a set list.   The hot and packed club was reeling and smoke was coming off the stage by the time they were done but I was releaved to get outside for some fresh air although it was pouring rain.

The street were nearly flooded but I wanted to catch MARTY STUART at The Station Inn but as I expected it was full and they were’nt letting anyone else in.  So after some yummy southern fried chicken from a gas station, believe it or not, I ended up back at the Mercy for THOSE DARLINS.  I wasn’t knocked out by the female-led band, their spirited stage presence didn’t make up for  limited songwriting and vocals.

It was off in another drenching downpour to The Basement, the smallest AMA club but the room that usually has some of the best music. In this case,  it was THE TEJAS BROTHERS, a fine quartet let by accordian player DAVID PEREZ, their Tex-Mex with a dash of Bakersfield was nothing less than excellent.  A great band and a perfect way to end the first night at the AMA’s.   Much more to come including the big awards show tomorrow night at the Ryman.

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Americana Music Assoc. Conference, Tues. highlights

We arrived at Nashville airport Tuesday around 5 and were  immediately invited to an exclusive invite-only showcase at the Country Music Hall of Fame. It featured ROSANNE CASH who’s forthcoming album The List, features songs that were on a special list given to Rosanne by her father, the late JOHNNY CASH.

This was the first time she was performing the songs live, backed by her husband and the project’s arranger and producer JOHN LEVENTHAL and 4 other musicians.

Introduced by Hall of Fame president VINCE GILL, who is  also an old friend of Rosanne’s, the 200 invitees included some of Nashville’s greatest stars from the past. She had invited many of the songwriters who had written the songs she was performing, introducing them before each rendition.

So you had BOBBY BARE who wrote “500 Miles” and HANK COCKRAN, who wrote “She’s Got You,”  both beaming proudly at hering their songs newly interpreted with more contemporary arrangements.  Also at the show were JACK CLEMENT, RODNEY CROWELL, JERRY DOUGLAS, HAROLD BRADLEY, TONY BROWN and I’m sure many more. Cash said she had been a nervous wreck all day anticipating tonight’s show.

Rosanne said she was honored to perform these songs, especially in the Hall Of Fame, where many of her family’s pictures and artifacts are on display. She told how she received the “List” of 100 songs from her father as a teen, while on tour with the Carter Family and her father.   She said it was HELEN CARTER who taught her to play the guitar before performing “Bury Me Beneath The Willow.” Other songs included “Sea of Heartbreak”, Long Black Veil”, and “I’m Movin’ On” and Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country.”

The show was followed by a nice reception in the Founder’s Hall upstairs.

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Freight Train Boogie Podcast #39

THE BAND OF HEATHENS new CD One Foot in the Ether is featured on Show #39. Also new songs from HONEY DON’T, AMANDA PEARCY and ETHYL & THE REGULARS. The full playlist is posted below.  Here’s the iTunes link to subscribe or download the show and here’s the  direct download link to listen right now on your computer. Check the artist’s websites and order their CD’s or downloads and tell ‘em you heard the songs on the FTB podcast. Please email me with any questions, comments or suggestions for the podcasts.

Show #39

THE BAND OF HEATHENS - You’re Gonna Miss Me One Foot in the Ether
ALLEN THOMPSON – Forgive Me 26 Years
AMANDA PEARCY - Casino Waitin’ On Sunday
ROBERT EARL KEEN – Rose Hotel Rose Hotel
(mic break)
HONEY DON’T – Who Took The Jukebox Honey Don’t
SHOTGUN PARTY – Mean Old Way Mean Old Way
ETHYL & THE REGULARS – Trouble Fill ‘Er Up with Ethyl and the Regulars
THE BAND OF HEATHENS - What’s This World One Foot in the Ether
(mic break)
BONNIE BISHOP – Lucky Ones Things I Know
SONS OF BILL - Broken Bottles One Town Away
MICHAEL ONEILL – Ain’t Leavin’ Your Love Ain’t Leavin’ Your Love
THE GREENCARDS- Fascination Fascination
(mic break)
THE BAND OF HEATHENS- Shine A Light One Foot in the Ether

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie

Americana Releases for Sept. 15th, 2009

It’s Americana Music Week in Nashville with the conference and awards show…  here’s the list of new releases for the week of September 15th, 2009.  The artist’s names link to their websites or MySpace pages and the CD title links go to either Amazon or CD Baby for easy ordering.

THE BAND OF HEATHENS - One Foot in the Ether (BOH)
One of the best new bands to come out of Austin in the last 5 years. This new one finds the Heathens bringing in lots of blues and gospel flavors. Their best and most consistant album yet.

BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS – Levitate (Verve)
Levitate contains 13 new songs, including “Cyclone,” with lyrics from Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. The title cut, “Levitate,” is an alternate version of a song from the recent Spike Lee film Kobe Doin’ Work, and “Space is the Place” features an Eric Clapton guitar solo.

CHRIS KNIGHT – Trailer Tapes II (Drifter’s Church)
Trailer II features original versions of what would become many of Chris’ most popular tracks like “Send A Boat” and “It Ain’t Easy Being Me”. The songs were recorded in the summer of 1996 inside Knight’s sweltering singlewide in a field just outside of Slaughters, Kentucky.

MARK KNOPFLER - Get Lucky (Warners)
If Get Lucky was a novel, it’d be another of Knopfler’s page-turners, full of characters who leap out of the lyrics, like the Glasgow lorry-driver of the opening track ‘Border Reiver,’ or real life tributes to a master guitar-maker in ‘Monteleone.’ Those and other themes and characters on the album are viewed through the prism of Mark’s childhood. “Do we ever get away from our childhoods?” he muses. “Some of the things we’re attracted to when we’re very small stay with us all our lives.” You can even order a deluxe imported limited-edition box set for only $175 from Amazon.

TOM RUSSELL - Blood And Candle Smoke (Shout! Factory)
This album  features some of the  songwriter’s most intimate, insightful material. With Calexico providing the bulk of the instrumental support, Tom packs a mixture into this Great American Novel of an album: Woodstock and Vietnam, the “lie of Western history,” Apache boys on a fatal bender, Cochise and Geronimo and shapeshifters, Mother Jones and black-lung miners… Russell is the real deal.

WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION – WPA (WPA/Red)
WPA is an expandable collective, with Luke Bulla (Lyle Lovett), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) and Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) at its core. We recorded our record with additional members Sara Watkins, Benmont Tench, Greg Leisz , Pete Thomas, and Davey Faragher.  Nice tasty pop music!

…coming soon:   GUY CLARK, THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND, ROBERT EARL KEEN, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, PATTY LOVELESS…  more new releases.

Here’s a link to this week’s Americana Music Association’s Americana Airplay Chart

Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie