Dead Hoodlums

Friday night and here is a Duggup to brighten the gloomy skies over Melbourne, bring a sparkle to your eye and a tapping to your feet.

By way of Oslo in Norway come the band called Dead Hoolums. Very much alive I fear and from what I can suss out about them, admittedly not much is out there, they are a dress-up and makeup kind of band.

If that’s not enough to pique your curiosity then how about the fact that that they play a sort of outlaw country meets circus. The band apparently defines their sound as “psychotic country” and yes, I think it fits – sorta.

To give you an idea of what I mean check out the video that wound up in my inbox. It is an animated video by Ritxi Ostariz, illustrated by Maria Picasso. The song is called No Cowboy from their 2008 album release Blood Moon.

Dead Hoodlum website.
and Dead Hoodlums MySpace for more high energy tracks like it, try London Town. Good stuff. Enjoy!

Brock Zeman

Brock Zeman is another one of those artists that I have no idea how I found him, I am just glad I did. His song “The Train In Me” off his album “$100 DIFFERENCE” is a gem. It sounds like John Mellencamp and Steve Earle should have written it.

Brock is another American story teller (ironic as he’s Canadian but let’s not let geography mess up a good story, they are next door neighbours), and he has a lot going for him. What appears to be a ton of good songs, with great stories, really memorable melodies and a very cool sense of humour (Listen to “Killer In The Corn” over at his MySpace site- the solo alone is priceless).

Hype from the site…

Over the past five years Brock Zeman has elbowed his way into the independent music world. The 27 year old singer-songwriter of Carleton Place Ontario has already released 6 albums and toured Canada and the US extensively averaging 250 to 300 dates a year. His signature roots style, has been praised by critics for the maturity of his vocals, the depth of his storytelling and his impressive live performances.

He was first discovered by Canadian Country Hall of Famer Keith Glass (Prairie Oyster) who went on to produce his first 4 releases. By the time of his 5th released Brock was picked up by Busted Flat records out of Kitchener Ontario, and in the past five years Brock has become known as one of the most prolific, hard working artists to fly under the radar.

Here is a video of a house concert performance of “The Train In Me”…

There are more songs over at brockzeman.com/ and www.myspace.com/brock_zeman. Head over and have a listen, it’s really good stuff.

Highly Recommended (and I love his guitarist Dan Walsh as well)

UPDATE

I spotted a couple of live recordings over at Archive.org, there is a concert from November 2008 at  Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas
The band line up was Brock Zeman Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Dan Walson Acoustic Guitar, Vocals  – Blair Hogan Bass, Vocals

This is fabulous stuff. Have a listen www.archive.org/details/brockzeman2008-11-16.matrix.flac or stream it. Just be aware its over two hours of concert.

Townes Van Zandt

A few weeks ago I was having a coffee with a friend and the conversation turned to music (I dont do sport politics and religion can be “tricky”, so music is really about the only “safe” subject – besides I love finding out what people are listening to), and we discovered we were both fans of Townes Van Zandt.

Here is a bio from Paul Evans over at Rolling Stone

Texas singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt never gained much more than a long-lasting cult follow-ing for his well-crafted, mildly countryish folk pop, but his best record, Our Mother, the Mountain, remains powerful — and he deserves a revival. He hasn’t the fine voice that Eric Andersen had circa Andersen’s classic Blue River (1972), but he shares some of the same sensibility — he writes well about loss and yearning, and conveys subtle emotions through telling images. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard scored a country hit with his “Poncho and Lefty,” a song with pervasive, dark nostalgia that encapsulates Van Zandt’s approach. A deft finger-picking guitarist and a careful lyricist, he delivered work that stands the test of time. … The Best of Townes Van Zandt does him justice, but every individual album is worth a listen.

The killer song for me is “Pancho and Lefty”, head straight over to www.myspace.com/townesvanzandt and play it in the background, it’s a killer live version. “Pancho and Lefty” is a wonderful story that for odd reasons always conjures ou visions of  Butch and Sundance. It would have made a much better theme song than the terrible “Raindrops” (what were they thinking?). It’s been covered by just about everyone, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan and one of my personal favourites Ross Ryan. There is a recording I did at one of his shows over at thatchspace.

From Youtube here is a video of Townes Van Zandy performing “Pancho & Lefty” in 1993…

Townes Van Zandt died in 1997 but his songs are as potent today as when they were written.

Website at www.myspace.com/townesvanzandt

Absentee

While checking out some recent additions to the NPR Second Stage RSS feed, I spotted  Absentee and their song “Shared“. Now on paper, if there was ever a band that I shouldn’t like, these guys would be right up there near the top. Why? Well let’s see..

1. They’re a countryish band
2. As a rule I prefer female singers

Now after a quick listen it turns out

1. They are an “ambient countryish band” and
2. they have a female vocalist as well as lead singer Dan Michaelson.

Trust me on this one, this guy has a stunning vocal delivery. To quote from their website

Sounds Like? Leonard Cohen singing from the trouser backed up with a mix of incompetence and occasional surprise.

Michaelsons voice is deep and sonorous, with a bit of grit at the edges (Hmm that is like early Leonard Cohen when I think about it), it’s the kind of voice that will grab hold of a hold of a listeners and just not let go.

“Shared” is a the combination of Michaelson’s deep baritone and Melinda’s (keyboards, vocals) delicate female harmonies. It is such a gentle and spaciously arranged ballad (oh yeah… as a rule I don’t like ballads either – Going well isn’t it?). The guitars are just beautiful and the rythm section are just so brilliantly understated, there hardly seems to be an extraneous note.

I find it amazing that Absentee are an English band, everything about them is just so counter intuitive- well to my way of thing.

Needless to say, Highly Recommended (and most of the songs at MySpace are a little more “vigorous”)

Websites at www.myspace.com/donkeystock and www.absenteemusic.co.uk/

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash 1969

Over at Aquarium Drunkard posted MP3s of some recordings that Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, made together during three 1969 sessions.

To quote from Aquarium Drunkard

This is a true peice of Americana — two iconic masters of their craft conversing with one another via song. Recorded throughout 1969 on three separate occasions, these recordings mark an important historical collaboration between two American poets/musicians. Even a casual fan of either artist should at least give these a cursory listen. Great stuff.

I have to be honest and say that Nashville Skyline wasn’t my favourite Dylan album when it came out but as time ( and I am talking decades here) rolled on I think I finally got it. Sometime I can be too clever for my own good.

It was amazing hearing “Girl From The North Country” for the first time in years, and don’t miss “Ring Of Fire“, it’s truly priceless.

So obviously this one is Highly Recommended

The Dylan/Cash Sessions

I will be the first to admit that this isn’t an easy listen, there is something disturbing about some of the images that are evoked by the lyrics and the minimalist arrangements. Another one for the “Hard Listening” category but it’s worth a listen. Ray Raposa is trolling some of the “dark” places and the sounds that he uses evoke an emotional response that can be suprising.

Recommended

Website at www.myspace.com/castanets

I’m not a big country fan, but as always I’m partial to good music and this is just heartbreaking. Upright bass, cello, violin and guitar make up the lineup – coupled with four part harmonies and throw in banjo and mandolin – just glorious.

The songs for the current album, according to their bio were written the day before they were recorded. Rebecka Hjukström, Louise Holmer, Elin and Sophia Hogman, play a special mix of bluegrass, country and American folk music.

It’s no wonder then that they’ve been snapped up by major label RCA and while they haven’t topped the Swedish charts they have done well nevertheless. Hear 6 tracks on their MySpace site and to hear their music on the Abalone Dots website you need to have Flash 8 or better installed. As you can guess, recommended.

Ginja Roe are Meg Doherty: ( she writes songs, sings, strums, drums, and plays the blues harp) and Pam Wouters: ( she sings, strums, drums and taps). Don’t you just love over-achievers.

Well thanks to the dudes at at New Found Frequency there is a fabulous LIVE recording from a gig they did at the East Brunswick Hotel early this year. And by the by they are doing a Sunday Arvo show on the 5 Oct 2008, 03:30 PM at the aformentioned The East Brunswick Club Hotel to launch their new CD.

Their music is a blend of original folk, alt-country and pop that covers the usual topics (love, loss and revenge) all done with really nice guitar work and just plain awesome harmonies. Live this band sounds a killer, there is the same “take no prisoner” attitude just like one of my other favourite duos Mad Violet (we chatted about them last year).

Listen to “Heart Of It”, a beautifuly produced piece of music. The harmonies are just so wonderful, producer Bob Spencer has really done a great job here.

Highly Recommended.

Websites at www.myspace.com/ginjaroe and www.ginjaroe.com/

There is gospel, blues, bluegrass, and country influences all through these songs and their reworking of the classic “Riverside” (aka “Down by the Riverside”) is just awesome and taking up permanent residence on the MP3 player. Do NOT miss this. The vocals and instruments, the way they merge and pull apart creates a truly glorious music.

Now the for the best part, the arrangements and production is so sparse and undestated that you will find that their passion for their material just shines through.

Here’s a bit of hype…

Their latest album’s birth cycle began in November 2004, when the quintet retreated to Woodstock to work on new material, living and writing communally in a rented house and cutting rough demos in a studio-equipped barn owned by Amy’s father, legendary singer/drummer Levon Helm of The Band.

As Riverside Battle Songs makes clear, Ollabelle has matured into a one-of-a-kind ensemble with an uncanny ability to communicate such heady truths in a manner that’s both accessible and inspiring.

Ollabelle play “Brokedown Palace” (it’s from the Grateful Dead’s “American Beauty” album)…

You really need to hear this band do it’s thing, head over to myspace and just enjoy. Oh yeah, this is just full of tasty guitar bits. But you knew that already didn’t you?

Highly Recommended.

www.ollabelle.net/ and www.myspace.com/ollabelle

Sally Morgan is an indie performer from Boulder, Colorado. Her songs are a a very approachable countrified
set of songs featuring pleasing arrangements and double tracked harmonies.

Singer songwriters are not an uncommon commodity but what makes this lady stand out from the crowd is the quality of her material. It’s an amalgam of styles and influences that has coalesced into spirited and expressive songs delivered with a soulful voice.

The songs can be a touch introverted but that takes nothing away from them or from the seductive arrangements. Listen to The Buzzing Sound and be transported by the delightful images that the lyrics conjure.

Four tracks from her debut album “Wandering Through Walls” are available for listening on her website and on her MySpace site.

The lineup of her band is as follows: Sally Morgan – Guitar and Vocals, Peter Sharpe – Guitar, Mandolin and Vocals On Wandering Through Walls, Ross Martin – Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bill McKay – Piano and Organ, Chris Wright – Bass and Brian Denver – Drums. (I hope I got that right.)

Worth a few minutes of your time.