On rare occasions when I used to review albums for AUK I’d think “this is a 10” but before long a creeping thought would always enter my mind – that whatever record it was, it wasn’t as good as Jackson Browne’s ‘Late For the Sky’. Jackson Browne described the song as being “about a moment when you realize that something has changed, it’s over, and you’re late for wherever you’re going to be next.” So not just about missing a plane, and it has aged not one jot in 46 years. Thank the lucky stars that a songwriter like JB is still around.
Track Premiere: Lashes “Daydreamer”
Lashes are a London band who have found that the path to rock ‘n’ roll greatness is paved with the likes of the Stones, The Band, The Faces and Dylan. The band name, perhaps not too surprisingly, comes from a night out on “the lash” which encouraged the band to try and emulate their heroes who would play all night, party until the morning and then get up to do it all over again.
Video: Jetty Road “Because We Can”
Here’s some great upbeat pop country from Australian trio Jetty Road. It’s their new single from their latest album, which is due later this year.
Trapper Schoepp “Primetime Illusion” (Xtra Mile Recordings, 2019)
On his fourth full length release Trapper Schoepp has pulled off a trick that only really occurs once or twice in any given decade – the reshaping of folk rock to sound fresh and new. On ‘Primetime Illusion‘ he can be found breathing new life into a dependable genre, with an exuberance that probably hasn’t been heard since Forbert put out ‘Alive On Arrival.’ And with some valid comparisons to that genre defining album, Schoepp can be found in places using Forbertisims in his lyrics. He’s also got an accomplished band backing him, making the album an arresting listen right from the opening notes of ‘Shakedown‘. Continue reading “Trapper Schoepp “Primetime Illusion” (Xtra Mile Recordings, 2019)”
Son Volt release video for new track “Devil May Care”
Son Volt’s new album is on the way next month and our over-excitement isn’t being helped by the drip drip of material from the record, including now a new video which focuses on the daily grind of being working musicians in their new video for the track ‘Devil May Care’, which premiered yesterday on Rolling Stone Country. RS describes the track as “Cruising along with breezy acoustic strumming, the carefree Americana tune soundtracks a montage of road scenes, featuring frontman Jay Farrar and his longstanding alt-country crew moving from gig to gig. The vintage-hued footage unfolds like a scrapbook of tour memories with shots of highway signs, stage time and laughs over backstage beers. Continue reading “Son Volt release video for new track “Devil May Care””
Radiator King “Roll The Dice” (SoundEvolution Records, 2019)
‘Roll The Dice’ is the latest release from Brooklynite Radiator King (aka Adam Silvestri). His first release since 2017’s ‘A Hollow Triumph After All’, Silvestri has established himself amongst the latest wave of earnest songwriters who have been brought up on punk, but perform Americana-inspired rock and roll and this latest EP is more of the same. Continue reading “Radiator King “Roll The Dice” (SoundEvolution Records, 2019)”
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves “Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves” (Free Dirt Records, 2018)
If you play with iconic figures like Gillian Welch and Bruce Molsky, as Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves have, then you’re probably going to be pretty good at what you do and so it proves on the duo’s debut album. Lots of people play old time music, quite a few people play it pretty well, but few play it as well as this couple. Continue reading “Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves “Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves” (Free Dirt Records, 2018)”
Red Rooster returns! Full line-up for Suffolk festival is announced
What we’re learning this week is that there are quite a lot of americana festivals in the UK that feature the letter “R” – yesterday we had the Ramblin’ Roots Revue and today we have news that Red Rooster is returning at the end of May for its annual weekend-long celebration of contemporary American Roots music. Continue reading “Red Rooster returns! Full line-up for Suffolk festival is announced”
Track Premiere – D.L. Rossi “Good Woman”
If tough knocks are the necessary path to meaningful music then D.L. Rossi is probably feeling he’s racked up enough now, and maybe it’s time for life to let him get on with the songwriting part of the equation. Having started in bands at a young age, joining in with his older brothers, D.L. Rossi decided to pursue a career in music, initially behind his drum set. Continue reading “Track Premiere – D.L. Rossi “Good Woman””
Video: The Orange Circus Band “The Saturday Song”
Here’s the latest single from the excellent Orange Circus Band, out on March 1st. It’s a high energy foot-stomper, with a fun video taken at various festivals where they played last year, that captures their live experience perfectly. You can catch them on tour from March 1st too, and you should.