Caitlin Rose - Photo by Louise Haywood-Schiefer

Six bands to help you fight the cold.

Caitlin Rose (Nashville) – Recovering indie rocker Caitlin Rose released her debut full-length Own Side Now (AmazonMP3 & Spotify) back in the summer of 2010, but the Americana album got much more attention last year, making Time Magazine’s Best Albums of 2011 list in December. At the age of 24, Rose’s writing and old time sound is outstanding. Time notes that the “album’s best track is the boot-stomping “Shanghai Cigarettes,” in which Rose likens quitting smoking to stubbing out a relationship. The melody, so light and sweet, fits perfectly with her analogy; Rose doesn’t cry over her empty pack but tosses it away and moves on with her life.”

Chimes of Freedom (Various) – As if there weren’t enough Bob Dylan cover songs out there, Amnesty International is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a MASSIVE 75 song, four album box set (AmazonMP3 & Spotify). The set opens with Johnny Cash and The Avett Brothers singing “One Too Many Mornings” and includes other great tracks from folks like Miley Cyrus (yeah, she sounds awesome on this), The Belle Brigade, Steve Earle, Sugarland and more. Legendary NPR music writer Ann Powers digs deeper on this.

The Whiskey Collection

The Whiskey Collection (New York) – A few weeks back, I caught this band of five local artists from The Juilliard School that got together in the spring of 2010. Led by North Carolina native Cameron Scoggins, the band puts on an energetic show filled with amazing violin solos by Russell Durham. The Collection points to David Grisman and Tim O’Brien as top influences. I was impressed pretty quickly and am looking forward to the next show. Check out the band’s self-titled EP (AmazonMP3 & Spotify).

Hoots & Hellmouth

Hoots & Hellmouth (Philadelphia) – A band of road warriors that will open a number of shows for Frontier Ruckus this spring, Hoots & Hellmouth will release Salt on April 20, but the album follows two previous full lengths and the more recent four song EP Face First In the Dirt (AmazonMP3 & Spotify). The band’s alt-country sound has vocals similar to The Avett Brothers that is accompanied by adventuresome Ryan Adams-esque instrumentation. Be sure to check out “Returning in Pieces.” I’ve heard a couple of tracks from Salt and am looking forward to that one.

Whitehorse

Whitehorse (Hamilton, ON) – The lovechild of Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet, two celebrated Canadian musicians, is know as Whitehorse. McClelland, an accomplished singer songwriter who backed up Sarah McLachlan for live shows, and husband Doucet, former frontman for Vancouver surf rock band Veal, have gained much attention for their first album together, appearing recently on NPR’s World Cafe in Canada’s National Post. The band’s self-titled debut is a new favorite…as is this video. The band will hit various spots in the US in the spring.

The Milk Carton Kids

The Milk Carton Kids (Los Angeles) – This LA duo made up of Kenneth Pattengale & Joey Ryan might be my favorite of the month. The band’s somber album Prologue (Spotify) will be loved by fans of Gillian Welch. Its opening track “Michigan” has been a constant for the weekend.

Kaiser Cartel

Brooklyn-based indie folk duo Kaiser Cartel, made up of Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel, got together back in 2004. Following the release of their debut record March Forth (AmazonMP3) in 2008, great showing at SXSW 2009, amazing Daytrotter session, and song appearances on TV soundtracks for multiple shows, the band has maintained a pretty significant following and kept fans interested by putting unique personal touches on their albums, videos and concerts. For example, in the summer of 2010, the band released Secret Transit (AmazonMP3 & Spotify), an album recorded in the middle of the night in Blackheath, London, in an old church built in 1839. Throughout the record, you can hear sounds the band recorded on handheld tape recorder – birdsong, water trickling and other moving sounds.

But despite their growth in popularity,  Kaiser Cartel is just as approachable by fans as they were in the beginning. In fact, they just might be the ones doing the approaching. I finally got to see them on Thursday at Rockwood (Stage II) on the Lower East Side. Stef had mentioned that the band sometimes comes out in the audience and gets a little closer. Playing a song in the crowd isn’t the most unusual thing, but I soon learned that this was very different.

Kaiser, a former member of John Mellencamp’s band and classically trained vocalist, and Cartel, a self-taught musician, each play multiple instruments, which brings a pretty wide range of sound for a duo, ranging from indie pop that sounds like Lykke Li, to folkin excellent Civil-Wars-like tunes. The first song of the night was more of the latter and hooked the crowd pretty quickly. As the band continued through their set of fun punchy numbers and stunning love songs, I somehow felt like I knew them well enough to invite them over for dinner. Little did I know that I’d be wooed further. For that final song, the two walked down off the stage and approached individuals in the crowd, looking them in the eye as they sang. I’ve never seen anything like this. My friend and I were watching from the balcony, so they didn’t get close to me. It was special and I was insanely jealous of those that got up close.

In an interview for the Brattleboro Reformer a few years ago, Kaiser said,

“When we play live, we try to reach every person intimately through our music. We want something to change for them after the show has finished.”

Success.

Unsurprisingly, I’m more drawn to the band’s folkish Americana tunes than their poppy ones. Kaiser’s voice is beyond pristine while Cartel’s harmonies and percussion give a fullness to the performance that makes it seem like there are way more than two people on stage. Check out two of my favorites below.

Alan Lomax playing guitar on stage at the Mountain Music Festival in Asheville.

AMAZING story in this morning’s Arts section of The New York Times about folklorist Alan Lomax. Lomax, who was the first to record Woody Guthrie and Muddy Waters, dedicated his life to increasing the awareness of traditional music by doing radio and television programs, organizing concerts and festivals, and writing books, articles and essays. Next month, his massive collection of 5,000 hours of sound recordings, 400,000 feet of film and 3,000 videotapes and 5,000 photographs will be digitized and launched online by the American Folklife Center.

This is enormous and what this blog is all about. Alan Lomax is my hero. I CANNOT wait for this. As the times notes, this collection is a goldmine.

“Even before digitization of the collection is complete, musicians, educators and others have been dipping into it. Bruce Springsteen’s new album, “Wrecking Ball,” due out in March, uses samples from the archive on two songs, and more than a decade ago Moby drew heavily on Lomax’s field recordings from the South for his hit album “Play,” as did the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” movie and soundtrack.”

Read the story and listen/watch to a few samples here.

Lost In The Trees

There are some pretty significant releases ahead in the next couple months. To get us all hot and excited about them, artists and labels typically put out a mini documentary or the first single video on YouTube a few weeks/months before the album is released. Here are three videos that precede three highly anticipated albums and have popped up on the Web in the last few weeks.

Lost In The Trees – A Church That Fits Our Needs
March 20, 2012

Justin Townes Earle – Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now
March 27, 2012

Great Lake Swimmers – New Wild Everywhere
April 3, 2012

Drew Grow & The Pastors' Wives - Photo by Sarah Law

Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives, the Portland alt-Gospel band, is about to join The Head and the Heart on a tour that will likely put the band on the map. Grow and his band will open up for their fellow Pacific Northwest friends with a sound that most THATH fans will eat up.

Check out two tracks from their self-titled album (AmazonMP3 and Spotify) below. The album has a Bonnie Prince Billy feel to me. I’m really liking these guys.

Click here to see their tour get your tickets.  Note that many shows are selling out quickly.

Samantha Crain will belt it out at Union Hall this Wednesday.

Okay, guys. This is important. If you don’t know Samantha Crain, you need to do the following: take that all-important, weekly Wednesday Trivia/Bingo/Knitting Circle/Bro Hang/Downton Abby Marathon night and throw it out the window. Chuck it. Real hard, like. Then, get yourself to Union Hall. Crain, who’s toured with the likes of the lovable Frontier Ruckus, will play this time with Minnesota-native Ben Weaver, who’s a great artist in his own rite. Check out a video of Crain’s ‘Santa Fe’ below:

 
Now that we got that out of the way, a couple other shows to note. Less folky in their present musical state than in that of a few years ago, duo Kaiser Cartel returns to play Rockwood Music Hall this Thursday before opening a handful of U.S. shows for The Jayhawks. If you haven’t seen this couple live (and no, they’re not a couple-couple … but don’t we all wish they were? Just me?), they’re definitely worth a listen.

Another Brooklyn band, Hospitality, will be hosting an album release party at Williamsburg’s Glasslands this week. If the cold’s drying out your soul and you want music that will make you feel warm and cozy inside, lend this band an ear.

Monday, January 30
Rev. Vince Anderson and His Love Choir – 11 p.m. at Union Pool
Steve Earle, Allison Moorer and The Mastersons – 8 p.m. at City Winery

Tuesday, January 31
Dry the River, The Loom – 9:30 p.m. at Mercury Lounge
Michael Daves – 10 p.m. at Rockwood Music Hall
Smith Westerns – 8 p.m. at Webster Hall

Wednesday, February 1
Samantha Crain with Ben Weaver – 9 p.m. at Union Hall

Thursday, February 2
Kaiser Cartel – 7 p.m. at Rockwood Music Hall
Thurston Moore – 8:30 p.m. at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room (American Songbook Series)

Friday, February 3
Hospitality – Album Release Party with Glass Ghost and Dustin Wong, 8:30 p.m. at Glasslands
The Delorean Sisters – 9 p.m. at Bar 4

Saturday, February 4
Jenny Owen Youngs – 8 p.m. at The Rock Shop

Lucinda Black Bear Will Rock Softly at Union Pool

Some cool shows happening this week in and around the city, including a mix of the traditional and progressive. The twangy DeLorean Sisters are banjo-ing it up at Union Hall on Saturday, and local indie folk-rockers Lucinda Black Bear take the stage at Union Pool Wednesday. Strongly suggest checking out at least one of these bands. Cass McCombs plays yet another show for Bowery Presents, this time at the Ballroom. In case you’re unfamiliar, check out the Paul Simon-esque ‘County Line’ off of his last record.

Plus, don’t forget that January is almost over, and so is your chance to see residencies by Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, Spirit Family Reunion and Jus Post Bellum. Plan wisely, friends!

Monday, January 23
Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, Mike Doughty – 8 p.m. at City Winery

Tuesday, January 24
Michael Daves – 10 p.m. at Rockwood Music Hall

Wednesday, January 25
Cass McCombs – 9 p.m. at Bowery Ballroom
Lucinda Black Bear, Dare Dukes and the Blackstock Collection, Brother Reverend – 9 p.m. at Union Pool
Spirit Family Reunion – 10 p.m. at The Living Room

Thursday, January 26
Bucky Hayes and the Radio, Great Elk, Brian Bonz – 7:30 p.m. at Littlefield
Jus Post Bellum – 7 p.m. at Arlene’s Grocery

Friday, January 27
Aimee Mann, John Roderick (of The Long Winters) – 8 p.m. Music Hall of Williamsburg
Great Lakes – 8 p.m. at Union Hall

Saturday, January 28
The Delorean Sisters, Menage A Twang, Doll Parts – 9 p.m. at Union Hall

Sunday, January 29
Starting at 7 p.m. at Rockwood Music Hall:
Andrew Gregory
Dusty Brown
Spirit Family Reunion, Russell Lacy, Annie Lynch, Oh Odessa

The Howls

Over the last few months, Sara Watkins has given a few virtual high fives to San Diego Americana band The Howls on Twitter. This Friday, Watkins will give the band much more as she plays with them at their CD release party at The Casbah.

While this isn’t the first release from the band, Rocky Ground is the band’s first full album and sounds pretty amazing (Ryan Adams-ish). Here’s “The Weight,” my favorite song from the new album. Read more about the band here and here.

Ahhh Telluride - Photo by Benko Photographics

FestiVAL! There are still a lot of cold days in between now and June 21^st when the Telluride Bluegrass Festival kicks off, but the good folks at Planet Bluegrass announced a good chunk of the lineup a while ago. It’s looking good with the usual suspects like Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Punch Brothers and more ensuring that tickets will sell quickly (and the best camping tickets are long gone).

However, there are a few fresh young faces that are worth checking out…

Run Boy Run

Run Boy Run (Tucson, AZ) – This band of six, which was assembled at The University of Arizona a few years back, won last year’s Telluride band contest to earn their spot on the main stage this year. The band falls in the old time Americana mountain tunes category (even if they are from Arizona) and will be a favorite of traditional bluegrass folks. They released a self-titled five track album/EP back in September that sounds really polished. Here’s a great clip of a performance from Flagstaff last fall: Run Boy Run at the Pines Blugrass Festival Flagstaff.

Della Mae

Della Mae (Boston) – Every now and then I fall in love while trying to write about a band. The latest victim: Celia Woodsmith of Boston’s Della Mae, a legit, polished traditional bluegrass band of six ladies who assures everyone that being a lady band “is not what it’s about.” I believe them. Della Mae features 2-time National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker, flat pick guitar player Courtney Hartman, mandolinist Jenni Lynn Gardner, bassist Amanda Kowalski, and powerhouse vocalist Celia Woodsmith. The band, which was formed in Boston in 2009, released their first album, I Built This Heart (Bandcamp), in October. The album features a ton of amazing tracks with great solos. I can’t wait to see these girls live. Check out a few videos here: “Blessed Hands” (below), “Jaime Dear” & “Polk Country”

Saturday: brown bird Takes the Stage at Le Poisson Rouge

It may be so cold outside in NYC of late that your skin is slowly beginning to resemble that of an extinct, ghostly reptile … but if this week’s list of shows doesn’t pull you limb-by-limb out from under your down comforter, I don’t know what will.

First up, I was introduced to He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister a few years back when they opened for the band formerly known as The Rosewood Thieves at a warehouse party in Los Angeles. This guy and gal and their staple tap-dance-sideshow blew me away. This Thursday, they’re bringing their fun, folky whimsy to Mercury Lounge. You really should not miss it — sleet be damned. Check out the video below:

And of course, there’s brown bird, playing this go ’round with Brooklyn-based O’Death at Le Poisson Rouge. I can’t get enough of this duo, and LPR will be an awesome venue to see them do their thang.

Last, you may not yet have heard The Whiskey Collection, but I strongly suggest familiarizing yourself with this band. I saw this group of deft 20-somethings play Rockwood Music Hall a month back, and from their amazing fiddler to the content of their songs, I was more than impressed. Get in on a good thing early, friends.

There’s a ton more, including The Deep Dark Woods, Howard Fishman, and Justin Keller’s Land of Leland, so check out my full round-up below. And, let me know if there’s any I missed!

Tuesday, January 17
Portugal. The Man – 7 p.m. at Bowery Ballroom (Presented by Pandora – limited entry. FREE Show!)

Sharon Van Etten — 2 p.m. at The Greene Space (WNYC’s Soundcheck)

Wednesday, January 18
The Deep Dark Woods — 8 p.m. at Irving Plaza

Madi Diaz, Lucy Schwartz — 6:30 p.m. at Mercury Lounge

Jonatha Brooke, Dar Williams (Celebrates Woody Guthrie at 100 – American Songbook Series) – 8:30 p.m. at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room

Land of Leland, Sarah Gregory — 8 p.m. at Union Hall

Spirit Family Reunion — 10 p.m. at Living Room

Peter Bradley Adams — 10 p.m. at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1

Thursday, January 19
Jeff Mangum — 8 p.m. at Brooklyn Academy of Music

Califone, Howard Fishman (NY Guitar Festival – Silent Films / Live Guitars) — 7:30 p.m. Merkin Concert Hall

He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister; Henry Wolfe — 9:30 p.m. at Mercury Lounge

Friday, January 20
Portugal. The Man — 6 p.m. at Brooklyn Bowl

Jeff Mangum — 8 p.m. at Brooklyn Academy of Music

Califone — 8 p.m. at Littlefield

Portlandia, The Tour — 8 p.m. at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Saturday, January 21
O’Death, Brown Bird — 6:30 p.m. at Le Poisson Rouge

Portlandia, The Tour — 8 p.m. at Bowery Ballroom

Jeff Mangum — 8 p.m. at Brooklyn Academy of Music

The Whiskey Collection — 11 p.m. at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1