I’m not sure you can see what I have this track saved as in my computer, but its called “03 Track 03” and there is a reason for that. I don’t actually have any more information on this guy than that and his name: John Wallace.
Here is the story of how this excellent Blues album made it into my hands (in a nutshell). My folks own a bar that serves literally the best chicken wings a person has ever had, and folks come from all over the area for them. Apparently some guy who knew John Wallace came in one day with a burnt copy of his album and gave it to my mother. My mother gets all sorts of gifts from drunk old men; she’s lucky. Anyway, she gave it to me for a listen and I can’t get enough.
If you’ve ever enjoyed anything off of the Fat Possum Records roster, then you’ll dig this guy. Also, someone find out who this guy is for me so I can title these tracks and drink a beer with him. (EDIT: When I said “anything” I was referring to Junior Kimbro, R.L. Burnside, and the like)
Lance Whalen / Synapse Trap “Breathe Easy” (by lancewail)
I’ve known Lance for awhile now, but didn’t cross paths with his music until a couple of days ago. I found this little gem hidden on a nearly inactive facebook fan page. (He does most of his bidding on Twitter and his personal facebook page.) This particular recording was recorded with a formerly local DJ- Synapse Trap, but you can also find the song in a different form on Civil Twilight. Synapse Trap has recently relocated to China, of all places. The subtlety of the DJ work mixed with the outside-of-the-box phrasings of the vocals make for an amazingly eerie combination. You can spare 3 minutes and 47 seconds for this.
I’m hoping to catch Lance in town sometime soon.
Source: youtube.com
Water Liars (Phantom Limb) - $100 (Show Me Shows) (by ShowMeShows)
I think it’s just a waiting game now for these guys to start getting some serious traction. Water Liars have been frequenting Nashville lately, but are welcomed anytime. Please and Thanks You Booking first enlightened us to their existence a couple of months before their album dropped. I was immediately drawn to it, mainly because they were signed to Misra and distributed through Bloodshot. I was surprised by this since I had never heard of them, nor could I find much information on them on the web. After a couple of listens, I was convinced. They were back through again last night and knowing that they were playing Dino’s, I actually had some cash on me and bought the vinyl.
You might should think about doing that too.
Terry
Source: youtube.com
ALLEN THOMPSON: Thoughts on Levon Helm
Sad news, indeed. The first time I heard Dirt Farmer, I was not only blown away, but haunted by Levon’s growl. I just realized today that my favorite song on the album (The Mountain) was written by none other than the great Steve Earle.
Stay strong..
Levon Helm is an American treasure. Every note that man played or sang was a cause for celebration. I’m bummed I won’t get to see him again, and I’m bummed I never got to meet him.
Since my childhood, he has always been one of my biggest inspirations. Shit. I even named my dog after him….
Source: allenthompson
What do, Biz?
The first words of advice I received when I got into this business were from an old Music Row veteran songwriter named Billy Henderson, and they have resonated with me ever since. He said that ”the music biz already has more talent than it can use, but not enough courage to trust creative instinct. Be yourself!”
Yeah, okay, you all already knew that I’m sure. It doesn’t take some old man, who’s job it is to say profound things, to tell you something you could have said yourself… I know! And you’re right, maybe I’m just reading into it and making it say what I want it to say, but thats music baby!
More and more the subtleties in what he said have been ringing true. In this business you can’t hide behind a good website and a killer roster forever. You can’t build a legitimate business in this arena without putting your own ass on the line over and over again. Well worded emails and casual phone calls just won’t do the trick anymore! People need a face (or three) to put to the name Palaver Records. We all need to be ourselves and let people judge our person as to whether they want to do business with us. This business is based on personal relationships and if you end up being a major douche, people will know and you’ll go the way of the dinosaurs.
Wait just a minute… I don’t think thats what he meant at all. Regardless, it was a cool quote and I did make a good point in there somewhere. Don’t mind me; enjoy your Easter, folks.
I feel like I’ve known you forever. I see your mark in every local watering hole. For all I know, I could have filled you with stories of grandeur and exaggeration of things that never really happened(bullshitted with you). You may have bought me a beer. Maybe I bought you one. I don’t expect you to reveal yourself, but I think we could be pals, if only based your love of beer and and frequenting just about every beer joint in town. You’ve got gumption, my friend…
ALLEN THOMPSON: Benefit for Laura Maine
Hey Gang-
By now, most of you guys know our wonderful backup singer and all-around badass, Laura Maine. Laura is Clint’s wife and has been singing with us for the better part of the last year.
In addition to singing with us and a couple other groups around town, she’s also holding down 2 jobs,…
Source: allenthompson
Really Old Airplanes
I personally do not have much room in my life for synthesizers, nor do find myself often craving indie pop. So why then, do I find myself constantly listening to Seattle’s Really Old Airplanes? I mean, really, beginning to end, on repeat. “Forgotten Sadly, And Broken Ends” contains songwriting and craftsmanship on a brilliant level. Each and every note serves to push the continuation of the record and worm their way into your fore-conscious. The album is full of endearingly tangled melodies, catchy, and whimsical in a way that totally doesn’t piss me off. I may never stop humming them, and I’m fine with that.
“Perennials” and “Brother” are two of my favorites.
You can hear Really Old Airplanes’ “Forgotten Sadly, And Broken Ends” on their bandcamp, and if you happen to be down at sxsw you can catch them at The Dizzy Rooster tonight.
(via reallyoldairplanes)
Source: dirigiblepress
Every cloud has a Strontium-90 lining
I’m mad, but not too mad. So many of my friends are going down to Austin for SXSW this year and I’m stuck here in Nashville pounding out work and crying to my business partners (They cry to me too). Maybe we’re spoiled down here in Nashville with the amount of excellent music that comes through, and comes out of our fair city. Maybe I’m just a little crybaby who can’t get his hands on enough new tunes and when he doesn’t feel his quota is full, he starts to complain and wish he was where the music is. Maybe I like talking about myself in the third person.
But here comes the glorious mushroom cloud that SXSW brings with it (this analogy only works because I refuse not to say Strontium-90 over and over again). Austin is ground zero for one week out of the year for a lot of musicians , industry blowhards, and music fans alike. But that doesn’t mean that those of us that can’t go don’t get to reap the benefits. As a guy that can’t hardly bring himself to “cross the river” and go downtown for a show, there is very little chance I’ll make it 12 hours west. No worries, though. The bands can come to me! For a week before and a week after SXSW there are more bands on tour than the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways can handle. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’ve got prime seating. Every band on their way to Austin is vying for gigs at every stop.
This is not an appropriate way of ending this post, but…
(Dictated, but not read)
I’d like you’s all to meet Raja-Gaj. If you think I’m referring to the largest Asian elephant ever discovered, you might be kind of right. The band took their name from this big hearted pachyderm. This one was pulled from the archives. Don’t bother searching for them, you’ll never find them. Or you may stumble across the new band called Raja-Gaj, which is totally unrelated. This was 10 years before that. This song is called Meningitis and summarizes the decent of a young man into the darkness that is Meningitis. We recently became acquainted with front man- Dave, and after completing a web project for him, he found out what we were up to and passed on some tracks. This is one of my favs of the bunch. Created in the mid 90’s with some top of the line players, this one is worth listening to twice.
Wisdom from Nashvillle's independent record label Palaver Records.
