I read somewhere that Paleo, a.k.a. David Strackany, makes Ryan Adams look like a couch potato. Verily, I may in fact be plagiarizing the exact sentence. Sometime last spring, the man determined to write and record a song a day for a year, and write and record a song a day for a year he has (almost). “Easter to tax day,” he says on his website, which features hours and hours of recordings from different cities.
Paleo has the kind of rough vocals that recall Destroyer’s Daniel Bejar and a one-man band setup similar to that of Chad VanGaalen. Music fans of Birmingham will have the chance Monday night to find out for themselves. Please come out and support this touring wonder as well as Birmingham locals The Triceratops and Jon Black.
Brooklyn-based band The Epochs play catchy electropop with enough layers to keep you warm during these chilly days of January. I think it may be time to shell out the $8 for the whole Epochs album because over the past couple of days I've worn out the 3 songs I currently have.
What we used to call "cow punk" or "country punk" has become a bit more sophisticated with the likes of Bloodshot artist Bobby Bare Jr. When I hear the term I think of raucous, randy folk like the Hollisters and the Meat Purveyors. And yeah, these guys are apparently still on Bloodshot Records, too. This Bobby Bare Jr. fella can be racous and randy, too, only these songs from The Longest Meow seem somewhat... uh... evolved. No less good, mind you! And still irreverent!
On this record Bare has employed the help of members from Clem Snide, My Morning Jacket, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, and Lambchop. It is at times more indie-rock than alt.country, but fans of both should find something they like.
If you're in Birmingham, come out to hear Bobby Bare Jr. play at Bottletree tonight, Jan. 18. Wear your cowboy hat(or your scarf).
Just so you're aware, Red Blondehead has just put up a new BOTTLETREE podcast for your listening/previewing pleasure. Check your iTunes subscription if you have one, or if you'd rather download directly or stream, click here. If you'd like to subscribe, search for "Bottletree" or "Red Blondehead" under podcasts on iTunes.
The new podcast is packed with music and information about upcoming benefits. This edition features songs by the following artists:
Benjy Ferree Lylas Brad Armstrong (13 Ghosts) Bobby Bare Jr. I Love Math (supergroup from Old 97s / Deathray Davies) Preston Lovinggood (Wild Sweet Orange) Zoroaster The Hidden Hand Kylesa Solilloquists of Sound Dan Sartain Paleo Jon Black The Great Book of John Midlake Tacks, the Boy Disaster
Also, be sure to hear Andrea and Greg's countdown of the TOP TEN BOTTLETREE SHOWS OF 2006! It is also available as a recent podcast through iTunes.
Thanks so much for listening! We hope to see you all at these upcoming shows.
Blast it loud, blast it proud, and don't forget to party.
Traci and I hate to be late in discovering Benjy Ferree because now that we have found him, he is like candy for our ears. Not like nasty licorice or Mike 'n Ike candy but like good candy. Like uh... lemon drops and circus peanuts! Candy from Maple Grove Farms of Vermont! Yummy Pixie Sticks! ohhh, now that I'm started. Back to Benjy.
His record Leaving the Nest was released in August of 2006 on Domino Records. His catchiest song, "In the Countryside," reminds me of the Shins and the White Stripes. That might seem a bit odd, but it's delicious. See, taste!
Pick up Leaving the Nest at Spun.com, and if you're in the Birmingham area, come out to Bottletree Monday, January 15 to hear Benjy Ferree play with Lylas of Nashville and Brad Armstrong of 13ghosts. We'll be there with bells on!
My Favorite Albums of 2006 list has been delayed slightly by a little New Year's Illness, but I haven't forgotten about it! (Not that anyone has been waiting with bated breath.) The cold that had been clinging to Leah tighter than a baby koala but with none of the cuteness finally relinquished its grip and latched onto me with its germ-infested claws. Thankfully, I've finally shed my temporary title of "Mouthbreather" to re-enter the world of people who can breathe through their noses and thus appear to be at least 100 IQ points more intelligent.
So here's the list of the albums or EP's I enjoyed the most in 2006...the order gets a little fuzzy for me once I get past number 6, most albums could easily switch places depending on the day and my mood.
Well hello my puppies. (I know that you are not really puppies, but I'd like to pretend that you are since I didn't get one for Christmas.) Traci and I hope that all of you had very Merry Christmases (or whatever it is you celebrate) and a fun new year's celebration. Whilst hopped up on near-illegal decongestants, I watched a pirated copy of Blood Diamond and then watched third-rate celebrities ringing in the new year on Dick Clark's Swingin' New Year. Both showed me tiny fractions of what is wrong with our planet.
There were a few bright spots in 2006, however, right? Like my favorite CDs of the year. Traci's been asking me to post them. Maybe she'll post hers soon, but the thing is that she's still out partying and ringing in the new year. If you find her, please give her a slap on the wrist and send her home.
Now, on to my favorites; love them or hate them, here's what I liked the most that came out this year:
10. Duquette Johnston – Etowah 09. Ratatat – Classics 08. Bob Dylan – Modern Times 07. Man Man – Six Demon Bag 06. The Handsome Family – Last Days of Wonder 05. M. Ward – Post-War 04. Stone Jack Jones – Bluefolk 03. Califone – Roots and Crowns 02. Peter Bjorn and John – Writer’s Block 01. Wooden Wand and the Sky High Band – Second Attention
The mp3's available here are for sampling purposes only. Please support your favorite artists by purchasing their music. If you are a band or label and you have a complaint about your music being featured on Red Blondehead, please contact us directly and we will remove it immediately.
