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Thursday, August 30, 2012
Lazy Days Canteen's Fall Line-up begins this weekend
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
KEVIN BOWE RELEASES STAR-STUDDED SOLO ALBUM NATCHEZ TRACE
“…nothing
short of an Americana masterpiece.” -St. Cloud Times,
naming Kevin Bowe’s new album “Natchez Trace” the best album of 2012
As a songwriter whose
songs have been featured on Grammy winning albums and earned him a few platinum
records, the fruits of Kevin Bowe’s labors are often given to other performers,
but not this time. Natchez Trace is a personal compendium of rock,
country and folk tunes that reflect his worldview and when it came time to
record them, he did not mess around. Bowe invited friends including Nels
Cline (Wilco), Scarlett Rivera of Bob Dylan’s band, Chris and Curt Kirkwood of
the Meat Puppets, Freedy Johnston, Chuck Prophet and Tim O’Reagan of the
Jayhawks to participate, among others. He collaborated with Paul Westerberg for
“Everybody Lies”, one of the album’s highlights. Bowe has helmed an album that
is notably organic – ten years in the making; his relaxed recording schedule
left room for contributions from his friends dropping in from all points on the
map as well as his band, the Okemah Prophets.
And the mix of musicians
is mind-boggling. Nels Cline lends his guitar to the Westerberg/Bowe tune,
Scarlet Rivera’s violin underscores the haunting “In Too Deep”, “My Favorite
Pain” features Andy Dee on lap steel and John Ely on pedal steel, The Meat
Puppets add their own brand of insanity to "Devil's Garden" and the
up-tempo “Waitin’ for the Wheel” features a killer lead guitar from Chuck
Prophet.
Bowe spoke at length to
Minnesota Public Radio about his life in music and Natchez Trace: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/state-of-the-arts/archive/2012/06/kevin-bowe-performs-his-own-songs-for-a-change.shtml
The Okemah (Oh-kee-mah)
Prophets came together for a SXSW showcase in 1998 and worked so well that the
band started doing shows and recording albums. Led by guitarist/singer Kevin
Bowe, the rhythm section is Peter Anderson on drums and Steve Price on bass.
They’ve performed with bands like Los Lobos, Bob Mould, Freedy Johnston, BR549
and Peter Case over the years and have nominations in a number of categories
from the Minnesota Music Academy.
Growing up in the ‘80s
Minneapolis scene that produced Prince, Husker Du and The Replacements was a
heady time, and Bowe played in several local punk bands before meeting
uber-producer David Z (Prince, Fine Young Cannibals, Big Head Todd). He began
writing for other artists – his first cut “Riverside” on Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s
Warner Brothers debut Ledbetter Heights went platinum and led to a
publishing deal. He became the first new writer signed by legends Jerry Leiber
and Mike Stoller in over twenty years. He went on to write for Jonny Lang
on two platinum albums on A&M which led to songwriting collaborations with
Leo Kottke, Robben Ford, Paul Westerberg (and the lead guitar spot in his
band), Dan Wilson of Semisonic, Chuck Prophet, John Mayall and Delbert
McClinton among others. Hooking up with Etta James was a career highlight, Bowe
wrote four songs on her Grammy-winning album, Let’s Roll.
Kevin’s songs have been
featured in The Sopranos, The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman,
Boston Public, Austin City Limits, ESPN, VH1, CMT and MTV.
Kevin explained his modus
operandi to City Pages recently, “…I own my own studio, so I don't have to
trust anyone else, pay anyone else or wait for anyone else. I love that
independence. I really don't like rules in music or being told what to do,
whether it's by the major labels back in the day or by hipster music mafia
people now. I think it was easy (but slow!) making this record because I made
it ONLY for myself.”
For more info visit www.kevinbowe.com and https://www.facebook.com/kevinboweandtheokemahprophets
Sunday, August 26, 2012
The Texas Heritage Music Foundation is celebrating the birthday of Jimmie Rodgers and paying tribute to Bob Dylan on September 8 at Pier 27
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| Kathleen Hudson - she makes it all happen |
Kerrville, Texas - The Texas Heritage Music Foundation will be celebrating
Jimmie Rodgers birthday as well as paying tribute to the great Bob Dylan. THMF
will be at Pier 27 on September 8 from 7:30pm - midnight.
The show will be hosted by Bill Lewis and music will be provided by Bill Lewis and the Stony Ridge Playboys. Expect music to range through all the traditions in Texas music including original songs, carly country, blues. Will Owen Gage will provide guitar licks for the Steve Ray Vaughan enthusiast. The band does it “all,” just like Texas music covers it “all.” An open mike will give anyone a chance to pay tribute to Dylan or Rodgers. Sign up and be part of a documentary recording.
Director Kathleen Hudson says, “As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee, we also want to celebrate the Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers. Each year we pay tribute to Jimmie Rodgers at our annual Texas Heritage Music Days event which will be held this September 28th at Schreiner University from 9am - 4pm with a noon tribute to Jimmie. Dylan produced a tribute album to Jimmie in 1997. Both men have New York City connections. Seems fitting to honor both on Jimmie’s birthday in Kerrville, home of Blue Yodeler’s Paradise, Jimmie’s dream house at 617 West Main.”
The show will be hosted by Bill Lewis and music will be provided by Bill Lewis and the Stony Ridge Playboys. Expect music to range through all the traditions in Texas music including original songs, carly country, blues. Will Owen Gage will provide guitar licks for the Steve Ray Vaughan enthusiast. The band does it “all,” just like Texas music covers it “all.” An open mike will give anyone a chance to pay tribute to Dylan or Rodgers. Sign up and be part of a documentary recording.
Director Kathleen Hudson says, “As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee, we also want to celebrate the Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers. Each year we pay tribute to Jimmie Rodgers at our annual Texas Heritage Music Days event which will be held this September 28th at Schreiner University from 9am - 4pm with a noon tribute to Jimmie. Dylan produced a tribute album to Jimmie in 1997. Both men have New York City connections. Seems fitting to honor both on Jimmie’s birthday in Kerrville, home of Blue Yodeler’s Paradise, Jimmie’s dream house at 617 West Main.”
The Texas Heritage Music Foundation, a 501(c)3
non-profit foundation, was established in July, 1987, to preserve and
perpetuate the traditions in Texas music, to examine the background of Texas
music, to trace influences and patterns in Texas music, to document the role
Texas music has played in society, and to provide free educational programming
to the Texas community.
There is an age limit at Pier 27, must be 21 and over to attend.
For more information about the event call the Texas Heritage Music Foundation at (830) 792-1945 or email kat@texasheritagemusic.org.
There is an age limit at Pier 27, must be 21 and over to attend.
For more information about the event call the Texas Heritage Music Foundation at (830) 792-1945 or email kat@texasheritagemusic.org.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
LUCERO UNVEILS FIRST OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO, “WOMEN & WORK”
In
a wild ride directed by Jonathan Pekar in Mississippi,
the band survives . . . but its van does not.
Meanwhile, in real life, Lucero is safely on the road.
the band survives . . . but its van does not.
Meanwhile, in real life, Lucero is safely on the road.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Lucero have been around for 14 years but never made a music video — until now. The video for the title track of their critically acclaimed Women & Work album will be available on YouTube on Thursday, October 23.
Lucero worked with director Jonathan Pekar, head of the film department at Memphis’ legendary Ardent Studios, on their first music video. It was shot at Massey Farm in the North Mississippi Hill Country environs of Senatobia, Miss. (home of Jessie Mae Hemphill and other blues legends).
In the clip, Lucero is partying with friends on the banks of a beautiful lake. When the band finds their van is missing, instead of being furious they get into the party spirit and much fun-loving destruction ensues.
Lucero lead singer Ben Nichols says, “Our fans have made videos over the years, we’ve never made one ourselves until now. Why? Basically because we’re unorganized and lazy.”
Either that or they were waiting for the lies of Pekar to take an interest. Ardent Studios’ ambassador of creativity and champion of fun, the Memphis native is a University of Southern California film graduate, stand-up comic, actor, and director with a lengthy list of credits.
According to Pekar, “These Lucero guys make me happy about life, ya know? The American spirit flows with these Southern gentlemen, yes indeed, Southern gentlemen with a full tank of gas, that’s the idea behind this video, to showcase the band’s right of passage from vans to tour buses.”
“And what better way than with friends, a catapult, moonshine and senseless destruction? Good times!”
“Wreckage wise, guitarist Brian Venable and I had some seriously ambitious ideas of what we wanted to achieve with this video; however, rational people dosed with common sense and safety concerns calmed our childish desires to a degree and yet I believe that the final video is a wonderful visual example of how much talent and personality this band has . . . they make me so proud of music . . . Viva Lucero!”
Tour dates:
Thurs., Aug 23 CLEVELAND, OH House of Blues
Fri., Aug 24 COLUMBUS, OH The Bluestone
Sat., Aug 25 CINCINNATI, OH Bogart’s
Sat., Sept. 29 LITTLE ROCK, AR Arkansas Sounds at the Butler Center
Thurs., Oct. 11 KNOXVILLE, TN Bijou Theater
Fri., Oct. 12 WINSTON-SALEM, NC Ziggy’s
Sat., Oct. 13 GREENVILLE, SC Fall for Greenville, Downtown Greenville
Sun., Oct. 14 ATHENS, OH Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium
Mon., Oct 15 MORGANTOWN, WV 123 Pleasant Street
Tues., Oct. 16 RALEIGH, NC Lincoln Theater
Fri. Nov. 2 AUSTIN, TX Fun Fun Fun Fest at Auditorium Shores
Sat., Nov. 3 HOT SPRINGS, AR Maxine’s
# # #
For more information about Lucero, please contact Conqueroo:
Cary Baker • (323) 656-1600 • cary@conqueroo.com
Julie Arkenstone • (818) 703-5034 • julie@conqueroo.com
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