Best of 2013

I love end of the year best of lists.  I think anyone who is obsessed...be it with music, movies, books, whatever wants to share their opinions and take in those of others.  For me 2013 will be remembered for the songwriters and their songs.  It was such a good year for songs and I hope 2014 continues the trend.  So here it goes my favorite albums of 2013!

Album of the Year

Jason Isbell - Southeastern

Jason Isbell is the finest songwriter in America right now.  Hands down.  No questions asked.  After 3 really good records and powerful live album, Jason Isbell has created a timeless work of loss, love, longing, pain and redemption.  That is to say it is very much a record about life.  I've been gushing to anyone who will listen (and even those who could care less) since its release.  If you have not taken my advice up to now...go out and get it.  You will not be disappointed because right now nobody, and I mean nobody, does it better than Jason Isbell.

Runner-Up

Holly Williams - The Highway

That's not to say that Holly Williams doesn't come close, because she most certainly does.  The Highway is a mature work by the one Williams that has done Hank proud.  A strong cycle of songs about life on the road and at home told with depth and emotion.  A fantastic record.

For those of you in the Metro NY area Jason Isbell and Holly Williams are playing at the Space in Westbury on January 31st.

The Best of the Rest

In no particular order here are the records that round out my Top 10.  All of them deserve a listen on your part if you haven't heard them yet.

The SteelDrivers - Hammer Down

This is the first album since Gary Nichols replaced Chris Stapleton on guitar and vocals a few years back and the good news for Steel Heads is they sound just fine.  A really good modern bluegrass album.  If you are not sure if you like bluegrass (and we all do...some people just don't know it yet) this is a pretty good place to start.

John Moreland - In The Throes

All you have to know about this record is that Bruce Springsteen probably wishes he could have made it.  He may not be a household name, but man can he write a song.

Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison - Cheater's Game

Sort of a Texas singer-songwriter royal couple turns in an album of tales of love gone wrong...and right.  Great songs and the incredible vocals of Kelly Willis.  I really like their cover of Robert Earl Keen's No Kinda Dancer.

Sturgill Simpson - High Top Mountain

I love country music.  I hate the current pop crap country that is found on the radio and CMT.  This is very much the former to make you forget the latter.  Brings Waylon Jennings to mind and I mean that as the highest form of compliment.

Dale Watson - El Rancho Azul

Dale Watson has made the perfect honkytonk record to waltz your baby across the dance floor.  Slow slow quick quick slow slow.

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell - Old Yellow Moon

It's pretty great but what did you expect form Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell?

Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby - Cluck Ol' Hen

I know bluegrass is not supposed to have piano but this set absolutely cooks with the talents of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder along with Mr. Hornsby.  Check out Ricky Skaggs taking the lead on Honrsby's The Way It Is.  Traditional?  Maybe not, but it sure as hell is fun.

Son Volt - Honkytonk

Jay Farrar finally gives in to his country heart, picks up the peddle steel guitar and makes the best Son Volt album since Trace (at least in my opinion).

How about 1 More....

Robbie Fulks - Gone Away Backwards

Robbie Fulks drops the yucks and turns out what may be the best bluegrass album of the year.  It's bluegrass in instrumentation and pure country in tone.  Brilliant.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours from Me and Mine.  Let's hope there is much to write about in 2014!

See ya' in 2014!

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2013

I look forward to this festival every year.  This year was no exception.  A great line-up, camping with my wife, son and his girlfriend, good food, good drink and HEAT.  It was freaking HOT this year.  We arrived around 9:00 on Wednesday morning and were totally set up and sweating in the heat by 10:30 at our favorite spot right near the Catskill Stage (the dance tent).

 

Thursday was the first day of music and we stuck around the tent most of the day due to the heat.  We did check out Mama Corn on the Creek side Stage and I liked them quite a bit along with the 23 String Band on the High Meadow (main stage) but the heat was brutal so we went back down to the dance tent and checked out the Kickin' Grass Band who were pretty good along with The Duhks who were more enjoyable than I expected.  After dinner we headed up the hill for Devil Makes Three who most folks seemed to enjoy more than I did.  Too much beer and too much heat and I fell asleep pretty early but there was some very good music on day one.

 

Mama Corn

23 String Band

 

Kickin' Grass Band

 

Devil Makes Three

 

The Duhks

 

 

Day 2 was just as hot but the tent was pretty cool so we set up camp there for the day and watched a string of really good acts play some great sets.  In particular my wife and I really liked I Draw Slow a string band out of Ireland.  My wife asked me to get both of their CD's which is something she never asks me to do.  The SteelDrivers were their usual great selves both in the dance tent and on the late stage for their headlining set.  The Infamous Stringdusters just killed on the main stage with one of the biggest dance crowds of the festival.  These guys just continue to grow. 

 

I Draw Slow

 

 

The SteelDrivers

 

Saturday had a little cooler weather and even hotter music.  We caught another set from I Draw Slow, one from Monroeville and the Carolina Chocolate Drops with Cedric Watson.  I was really looking forward to the Carolina Chocolate Drops but was disappointed by their first set.  So much so that I almost missed them on the main stage later that night which would have been a major mistake because they totally killed later that night.  They are a musical encyclopedia of styles.  Just wonderful.  Jerry Douglas and band did a straight Flatt & Scruggs set and the late night jam band was a blast.  A great day of music.

 

Carolina Chocolate Drops

 

Jerry Douglas

 

The Magnificent Late Night Grey Fox Allstars

 

Monroeville

 

 

All in all another great Grey Fox Festival.  I am already looking forward to next year and the great music and good times at the Walsh Farm.  Oh yeah and you have to love the sunsets...

 







The SteelDrivers - Grey Fox 2011

Gotta say up front...I Love This Band!  I was a little worried when Chris Stapleton left and Gary Nichols took over on guitar and vocals but those fears have long since subsided.  The SteelDrivers performed two sets at Grey Fox this year (dance tent and main stage) and both were killers.  I have found a copy of the main stage set that you can find here.  I am still looking for the other if anyone comes across it.

A couple of years back I was not a big time bluegrass fan, you might say I was a fringe fan.  Some newgrass and some jamgrass but that was about it.  Sam Bush and Railroad Earth.  I saw the SteelDrivers on the Opry and was hooked.

The Steeldrivers
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
Walsh Farm
Oak Hill,New York
7-15-2011

Setlist:

1.Introduction
2.Two Angels>
3.Peacemaker
4.Good Corn Liquor
5.Where Do You Go When You Don't Come Home
6.Can You Run
7.You Put The Hurt On Me
8.Drinking Dark Whiskey
9.Heaven Sent
10.To Be With You Again
11.Midnight Tears
12.Guitars,Whiskey,Guns And Knives
13.Sticks That Make Thunder
14.If It Hadn't Been For Love
15.Band Introductions
16.Ghosts Of Mississippi
17.Blue Side Of The Mountain
18.Encore Break

Encore:

19.Where Rainbows Never Die
20.outro

Tammy Rogers-Fiddle,Vocals
Mike Henderson-Mandolin,Vocals
Mike Fleming-Bass,Vocals
Gary Nichols-Guitar,Vocals
Ricahrd Bailey-Banjo

This may not be Bill Monroe bluegrass, but the sound is just fantastic.  How about we call it "Soul Grass"?  I for one can't wait for the next album and hope they'll be back on the bill next summer.  Just another great set among many at this year's festival.

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2011

I've seen a lot of concerts.  Not as many as some, but more than most.  Several hundred over the years and I have never been to a festival much less a Bluegrass festival.  I love lots of music...classic rock, blues, country (real country) but I have only really given bluegrass a chance over the past few years.  My first exposure was to non-traditional forms that were bluegrass in spirit but not in practice...String Cheese Incident, Railroad Earth, some Dead.  I was open all these years but the traditionalists didn't do it for me.  I was more Willie and Waylon than Flatt & Scruggs.

I saw The SteelDrivers on the Opry and that changed things.  They played the traditional instruments but with a more soulful sound.  Hard to describe and instantly addictive.  I soon discovered Sam Bush on etree.org and I was off.  I would say may taste runs more towards Newgrass and Jamgrass but to me there should be room at the table for all flavors so I decided to pack up the wife and son and head out to this year's festival (my daughter wants no part of camping or bluegrass).

We had the pop-up set up about half way back by 3:30 on Wednesday and the first thing that strikes you is the number of folks pickin'.  The talent level was amazing, in fact the group behind us was as good as many of the acts featured on the festival stages.  A few beer, some great music, I was beginning to lose my apprehensions about camping in a field for 4 nights.  A word about the camping...outhouses (clean), pay showers (hot), water trucks when you run out, ice for sale...you can make do quite easily.  There were tons of vendors selling food, beer, instruments, clothing, whatever you need and there are several places close by to get what you run out of.  We enjoyed the open mic night and generally soaked up the good vibes until late in the evening.

There were artists for everyone to enjoy whether you were a traditionalist (Del McCoury) or a pickin' hippie (Yonder Mountain).  Great music was to be found all through the day and night on the main stage and at the other stages set up around the festival.  In fact some of the best performances were in the dance tent.  Some highlights for me...

Greensky Bluegrass - I've been a fan the past couple of years and they did not disappoint either in the Master's tent or on the main stage headlining Thursday night.  Great playing from a band that is not afraid to jam a bit.

The Dirty Hillbenders - Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen along with the Hillbenders (a big surprise) ripped it up in the dance tent on Friday afternoon.  Crossroads was just sick...

The SteelDrivers - two sets on Friday were a highlight for me.  The set in the dance tent was fantastic and folks were dancing up storm and singing along.  The main stage set was right up there.  Love this band and they haven't missed a step with Gary Nichols taking over on vocals and guitar.

The Infamous Stringdusters - Love these guys.  I first saw them with Railroad Earth in Williamsburg back in 2010.  They get some shit about playing with and for the rock crowd.  This is a load of crap because these guys can flat out play.  Yes they jam a bit but the songs are top notch.  Catch them if you can in the future.

Sam Bush - I've seen Sam a few times and he never disappoints.  Traditional bluegrass in the Master's tent and Newgrass on the main stage.

These were just a few highlights of many.  So much great music around you it is impossible to see and hear everything so you have to pick and choose.  After the "official" music ended there were many late night jams around the farm that were often times quite good.  A music lovers dream come true.

You may not think you are a bluegrass fan but I encourage you to check this festival out.  You just might find out you are.  I'll be back next year...

The SteelDrivers

I am starting to get a little amped up for Grey Fox in July and was listening to the new SteelDrivers CD Reckless.  I was a little concerned that there would be a let down in the future without the vocals of the amazing Chris Stapleton.  Those fears were unfounded if Gary Nichols continues to sound like he does in this video.  Good stuff indeed.

2010 - A Great Year for Music

I was talking to one of my friends down at Looney Tunes the other day and I was saying what a good year it was for music, maybe not the popular hit crap, but music in general.  John went so far as to say that the past few years have made the past decade one of the best ever.  Being an Oldrockr from back in the day I don't know if I can go that far, but these past years have seen some great music being released, predominantly by independent labels and artists.

I love putting together these year end lists.  Like any true music geek I am constantly arranging lists in my mind.  Those characters in Hi Fidelity are just composites of all of us and our idiosyncrasies.  We organize and we make lists.  So here goes my year end Best of 2010 list.  These are in no particular order but all have become staples on the turntable or in my iPod.  Sorry record labels I don't even want CD's anymore.  So for better or worse  here we go....

Joe Pug - Messenger
A great album of modern folk by one of the up and coming young singer songwriters.  He reminds me a bit of Bob Dylan in the vocal department but there are worse comparisons that one can make. I've been playing this quite often lately   Not So Sure, The Sharpest Crown and Bury Me Far (From My Uniform) are several standouts among many.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Young English guys pick up assorted Americana instruments and make a great big wonderful sound. The album sounds so familiar and at the same time fresh and exciting.  Little Lion Man may be the "hit" but the rest of the album, especially Caves, is just as good.  Banjos, mandolins, and acoustic guitars haven't sounded this good in years.

The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
The older I get the more bored I am by the Rock & Roll that is being released.  These boys from Jersey have made a classic.  A great album to crank up in the car from start to finish.  I hear the Springsteen influences (a good thing) but this is so much more.  I can't recommend it enough.  

Mat D. - Plank Road Drag
The internet has become the place for me to find new music.  I saw a video of Mat D singing Forty Watt Moon (one of favorite songs of the year) on another blog and immediately tracked down this album.  I think it was $1.88 on Aimie Street (I miss this site) and I would easily pay 10 times that.  A great, great record.

The SteelDrivers - Reckless

This is not only the best bluegrass release of 2010, it might be the best album of the year.  You can check my review out here.

The Fox Hunt - Long Way To Go
The Infamous Stringdusters - Things That Fly
Modern bluegrass has stretched the genre far beyond the traditional sounds.  This may piss off the traditionalists but it works so well for me.  I hope to see both of these acts at Grey Fox in July!

Otis Gibbs - Joe Hill's Ashes
For the second year in a row Otis Gibbs lands on my year end best of list.  Think Billy Bragg if he came from the midwest.

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard Way
Real soul music that sounds just like it should.  A fine update for a genre that doesn't often fire me up.  This one does.

Randy Rogers Band - Burning the Day
The best country music isn't coming out of Nashville folks.  Texas is a might fine place to start looking for some quality country and the Randy Rogers Band delivers the goods once again.

Peter Wolf - Midnight Souvenirs
If this was only a 45 with the excellent Tragedy (featuring Shelby Lynne) it would be on this list.  Lucky for you and me it is so much more than that.  An excellent album by an oft overlooked talent.

Mavis Staples - You Are Not Alone
Working with alt-country pioneer and Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples makes on of the best recordings of her career.  A unique voice and true talent.

Black Country Communion - Black Country Communion
All the excess of the 70's hard rock scene which in this case is a good thing.  Killer guitars, pounding drums and some great vocals.  I hate me for liking it but I can't help myself.

Kid Rock - Born Free
Kid Rock finally ditches his old persona and releases his inner Bob Seger.  Pure 70's retro good time music.  I love it.  Hipsters need not apply.  As for me I'll be playing this one all summer long...

Bruce Springsteen - The Promise
Bruce released the right album in 1978.  Darkness on the Edge of Town is his best work.  Period.  That said most artists would kill to release this much good music in the career.  And these are leftovers!  Buy the box set, it's worth it.


Best release of new versions of old songs:  The Black Crowes - Croweology
Best Concert: Sam Bush (BB Kings) and The Subdudes (BB Kings) a tie!
Best Box Set:  Bruce Springsteen - The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story
Best Reissue:  The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street

Here's to a Happy and Healthy 2011 that brings us all more great music!