Have you ever looked around you, conversed with your peers and concluded that you’re out of touch with society; marginalised on the fringes of a world obsessed with just about everything and everyone that you are only vaguely aware of? The great Guy Clark put it out there post-tech revolution with ‘Analog Girl‘ back in 2006 and fourteen years later Clark’s fellow country outlaws, Bottle Rockets, have taken up the theme and taken it to another, glorious level. Not that Brian Henneman, Mark Ortmann and the Rockets are new faces singing old tunes. The great thing about ‘Bit Logic‘ is that these outlaws are embracing the changing face of the music business and injecting a freshness into an ancient art form that would have Waylon raising a wry eyebrow in silent approval. Continue reading “Bottle Rockets “Bit Logic” (Bloodshot Records, 2018)”
Tag: Steve Earle
Steve Earle and the Dukes, The Mastersons, The Barbican, London, 29th July 2018
Steve Earle has, as two of the Dukes, lead guitarist Chris Masterson and multi-instrumentalist Eleanor Whitmore. Husband and wife, they record and perform as a duo as The Mastersons and they are the opening act on this evening at The Barbican. Their music is predominantly made up of crystal clear vocals, Chris Masterson’s exemplary guitar and the achingly beautiful violin playing of Eleanor Whitmore. They also have a new album – ‘Transient Lullaby’ – out, a follow up to their debut ‘Birds Fly South‘, the title song of both make up parts of the set. Continue reading “Steve Earle and the Dukes, The Mastersons, The Barbican, London, 29th July 2018”
Steve Earle and The Dukes, O2 Academy, Bristol, 17th July 2018
It was with great anticipation that I finally got to see Steve Earle and The Dukes live for the first time when they came to the O2 Academy in Bristol. As anyone who has seen the great man will agree, with 33 albums, 3 Grammies and a roller coaster 44 year career behind him this guy is Americana Royalty. Continue reading “Steve Earle and The Dukes, O2 Academy, Bristol, 17th July 2018”
Emmylou and Steve Earle announce Lantern tour for refugees
Don’t get too excited, it’s not coming to the UK, even though we could probably do with our own version of this over here right now. RS Country reports: “An impressive array of Grammy-winning artists, including Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Steve Earle and Graham Nash, will embark on a five-city tour this fall in an effort to end the Trump administration’s family separation policies. Organized by the Women’s Refugee Commission, which has been advocating ending the practice of detaining families seeking safety at the U.S. border, the Lantern Tour: Concerts for Migrant and Refugee Families are set to take place from October 23rd to 28th, beginning with a stop at Nashville’s City Winery. Continue reading “Emmylou and Steve Earle announce Lantern tour for refugees”
Steve Earle spills the beans to Rolling Stone
Steve Earle answers a lot of stuff in his latest interview with Rolling Stone, which can be found here, explaining his seven marriages (sort of), how he’s luckier than Justin Townes Earle in that he got to ride the tail-end of the rock/singer-songwriter major label era, how he never wants to hear “Steve Earle tweeted” (so he doesn’t use Twitter) and also how it’s ok for us to say whatever we like about him ‘cos he won’t read it. Continue reading “Steve Earle spills the beans to Rolling Stone”
Aye Up! Steve Earle headlines this year’s Underneath the Stars
South Yorkshire’s stellar music & arts festival Underneath The Stars is returning this summer with a line-up of established and emerging talent across the folk, jazz, roots, bluegrass, fusion and Americana music worlds, as well as the promise of some enticing workshops, arts, crafts and food stalls, highlighting the creative talents of the Yorkshire region. Organised by the family production team of Yorkshire folk singer-songwriter Kate Rusby, and now in its fifth year, 2018’s edition also sees its relocation to a brand-new site at Cinderhill Farm, Cawthorne, near Barnsley. Continue reading “Aye Up! Steve Earle headlines this year’s Underneath the Stars”
Emmylou, Steve Earle et al pay tribute to Tom Petty – Watch
And so these clips keep coming in and deservedly so. RS reports: “Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Patty Griffin teamed for powerful cover of Tom Petty’s “Refugee” during a benefit show in Seattle, Relix notes. Petty died Monday at the age of 66 after going into cardiac arrest. Griffin took on the song with an understated touch, while Earle followed with his thick drawl and Harris delivered the lyrics with verve. All four singers came together for impromptu harmonies, while Matthews sang the chorus with his unmistakable wail. Continue reading “Emmylou, Steve Earle et al pay tribute to Tom Petty – Watch”
Emmylou and Earle headline songwriters festival
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear as the saying goes but imagine being taught the art of writing a song by anyone on this list. Rolling Stone reports: “It’s still summer but music fans anticipating the mid-winter blahs are already planning a trip to Florida’s South Walton County next January for the ninth annual 30A Songwriters Festival. Set for January 12th through 15th, 2018, the event will include appearances from Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Lee Ann Womack, North Mississippi Allstars, Shawn Mullins, classic rock band The Zombies, Indigo Girls’ singer Emily Saliers, fronting her Murmuration Nation Band and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley. Continue reading “Emmylou and Earle headline songwriters festival”
Interview: Steve Earle
Long regarded as one of Nashville’s most important songwriters, Steve Earle chats about new album, Waylon and Guy Clark with Americana UK’s Iain Patience: If there’s anyone out there in music land who might truly be described as an ‘outlaw,’ it must surely be Steve Earle, a rabble-rousing, rebellious guy who has been there and done it all, repeatedly, it often seems. Few, if any, of the current crop of Nashville superstars can, and do, admit to having spent time at the Federal Government’s expense sheet. But for Earle, it was just part of life, youthful wildness combined with naivety, now long -lost chimaeras. Continue reading “Interview: Steve Earle”
Steve Earle: “We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before”
There’s a fascinating interview with Steve Earle over at RS Country this morning where he talks extensively about, among other things, his latest record and Trump. He tells them: “I don’t see him finishing the term. I don’t see how he does it. Although it’s hard to predict what this guy’s gonna do. We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before. There’s a lot of “What does this button do?” going on. It’s scary. He really is a fascist. Whether he intended to be or not, he’s a real live fascist. Continue reading “Steve Earle: “We’ve never had an orangutan in the White House before””