I recently read this excellent book written by Garth Cartwright that I thoroughly recommend, you can read an extract here, in short a musical road trip through the US in which the author meets some lesser known musical heroes and heroines, well lesser known to me that is and that’s really what prompted this post. As much as I liked to think I have a decent grounding in popular music history in truth my knowledge only scratches the surface, so reading the book I came across a few names that were new to me or as in this case I’d heard the name but couldn’t recall a single tune, I’d already learnt from the book a few basics, including what appears to be the most cited fact that When the Levee Breaks a 1929 Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy song was covered by Led Zeppelin and used by . . . → Read More: Memphis Minnie
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If the No Depression community had it’s own Hall of Fame I’d be shouting from the rooftops for one particular nominee from these shores to be in the inaugural honours list that would be Jon Langford ,there’s no doubt in my mind that the former drummer and guitarist with punk band The Mekons is more than deserving of greater recognition. With The Mekons Langford released an distinctly British indie cow-punk album Fear & Whiskey (Pitchfork , Popmatters, eMusic ) that is still as vital as it was on release back in ’85, after upping sticks and leaving the UK to relocate in Chicago in ’92 Langford became a founder member of The Waco Brothers and mainstay of The Pine Valley Cosmonauts with numerous other collaborations and album guest appearances with fellow musicians including The Sadies, John Hiatt and Alejandro Escovedo, his wonderful art, a radio show and visual arts performances you’d be forgiven for thinking there . . . → Read More: Jon Langford & Skull Orchard “Old Devils” (Bloodshot 2010) A Youtube pick n mix this week………………….. Taking advantage of the unseasonally fine weather of late I’ve been keeping fellow motorists amused with my impromptu performances – window down, arm hanging out the car keeping time on the door, singing (I use that term – loosely) at the top of my voice, maybe it’s all the sunshine but I’ve being playing a lot of turn it up loud rock ‘n’ roll stuff over the last few weeks, got a kick-ass mix tape based around some recent albums I’ve acquired on shuffle and repeat to beat the boredom out of the rush hour, in the mix are tracks from Drive-by Truckers, Paul Weller, Gaslight Anthem, The Whybirds, American Aquarium, Scott H. Biram, Lucero, The Famous, Peter Case and Alejandro Escovedo who’s latest album is a real cracker in my opinion and making a strong case for my end of year top ten, the album includes guest appearances from The Boss on the . . . → Read More: Alejandro Escovedo “Street Songs of Love”  |
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