Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Andre WilliamsThat’s All I NeedBloodshot Records BS171 Live fast, love hard, die young? For 70-plus year old R&B legend Andre Williams, two out of three is only a plus for fans. With That’s All I Need, Williams proves there’s still ample gas […]
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Peter CaseWig!Yep Roc Records YEP-2222 18 months after open heart surgery and with a new lease on life, singer/songwriter Peter Case demonstrates serious mojo on his latest called Wig! A trio configuration with Ron Franklin on guitars, DJ Bonebreak (X, Knitters) on […]
Compact Capsules for May 20, 2010by Dan Ferguson The annual South-by-Southwest confab in March is all about discovery and with a few months to let it soak in, releases from several folks who knocked the socks off are spotlighted this week. Austin is home to the […]
Compact Capsules for May 7, 2010by Dan Ferguson Drive-By TruckersThe Big To-DoATO Records ATO0084 New record label, same old Drive-By Truckers. On their ATO Records debut titled The Big To-Do, this well-oiled and highly seasoned machine comes out guitars-a-blazing. Nothing unusual there with ear-catching riffs aplenty. […]
Compact Capsules for April 30, 2010by Dan Ferguson The Texas SapphiresAs He WandersIke Records IR002 Shades of Gram & Emmylou and George & Tammy, for that matter, are evoked by the sophomore release As He Wanders from Austin-based country act The Texas Sapphires. Fronting guy-gal vocal […]
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionDirty Shirt Rock ‘n’ RollMajorDomo Records 11709 The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionNow I Got Worry (reissue)MajorDomo Records 11767 The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionControversial Negro (reissue)MajorDomo Records 11816 Heavy TrashMidnight Soul SerenadeBig Legal Mess Records 22 slabs from the […]
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Anais MitchellHadestownRighteous Babe Records On her latest release, Vermont-based songwriter and singer Anais Mitchell turns to Greek mythology and in particular, the poet Orpheus, to deliver an ambitious and striking creation called Hadestown. Written by Mitchell, she brings the story up to […]
SXSW Day 6 (03/17/10)Food:Dart Bowl for enchiladas, hot rolls, and hand cut fries.Texas Chili Parlor for pork chops & chili Music:Randy Weeks & James McMurtry at Joe’s Bar & GrillTom Schraeder and Keenan DeWitt at Hole in WallBrittany ??? and Kaiser Cartel at Threadgill’sNo one at […]
Compact Capsules for Mar 17, 2010by Dan Ferguson Johnny CashAmerican VI: Ain’t No GraveAmerican Recordings Upon hearing an American VI was coming in the series of recordings the late Johnny Cash made with producer Rick Rubin, the news was greeted with trepidation figuring they must be […]
SXSW Day 5 (03/16/10)With rain kicking in last night and predicted to continue through today, and with 11 screenings already in the pocket, tight schedules were thrown out the door for today. Got up to pouring rain and about 50 at best, so killed time hoping […]
