USA Music Tour 2015 Day 29
Nashville Tennessee Friday 18 September
Fatigue is starting to set in.
The past two Americana Festivals I’ve attended have been at the start of a four-week music trip to the USA. This year, we are going back for a wedding straight after the festival, so getting the most out of this wonderful event is more of a challenge this time around, as we’ve been on the road for quite some time. My advice would be to hit Americanafest as fresh as a daisy, and do it early in your trip. So, a planned do-nothing morning for me today.
Brian Wise who hosts Off The Record on Melbourne radio station RRR is broadcasting live here from the Sound Stage Studios in Music Row, just a couple of blocks from our house. This is a must-see, as he has a great line-up of Australian and international performers.
The following artists were featured on the show:
Dave Rawlins and Gillian Welch on the new Dave Rawlings Machine album Nashville Obsolete, the recording process that the pair generally use and life in Nashville (where they have been based for twenty years).
Dave Rawlins – photo Jim Jacob
Gillian Welch – photo Jim Jacob
Dave and Gillian with Brian Wise – photo Jim Jacob
Gretchen Peters on her latest album Blackbirds and she performed “When All You Got Is A Hammer” from that record, about veterans returning to normal life after active duty.
Gretchen Peters – photo Jim Jacob
Tracy McNeil and the Good Life (with Luke Sinclair, Bree Hartley and Dan Parsons) doing a new song which has not been recorded yet – “Middle Of The Night”.
Tracy McNeil and The Good Life – photo Jim Jacob
Tracy McNeil and Luke Sinclair – photo Jim Jacob
Henry Wagons discussed his new solo album and his observations of Nashville, performing a tune “Cold Burger Cold Fries”
Brian with Henry Wagons – photo Jim Jacob
From Alberta Cananda Corb Lund provided some insights from working on his forthcoming album Things That Can’t Be Undone with Dave Cobb (who has produced highly successful releases for Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson) and played a dramatic new song “Lazy H” from that forthcoming release in October. Look out for his Australian tour in our Autumn 2016.
Corb Lund – photo Jim Jacob
On their first visit to Nashville, Raised By Eagles in acoustic mode played a nice version of “Falling Through”.
Raised By Eagles – photo Jim Jacob
Ruby Boots sang “Middle Of Nowhere” and, to close the show, Liam Gerner provided a terrific version of “Hank and Tammy”.
Liam Gerner – photo Jim Jacob
You can listen to the show by hitting the Off The Record tab here.
A ten-minute walk to the Dan McGuiness Pub right on Music Circle for the next musical appointment. Organic Records from Asheville North Carolina was showcasing three of the artists on its roster.
Aaron Burdett Band has just released its sixth album Tinderbox. Burdett has an immensely powerful voice with texture and is also a strong songwriter, his performance was really an eye-opener and I will be looking for some more of his material. Impressive indeed.
Aaron Burdett Band – photo Jim Jacob
Aaron Burdett – photo Jim Jacob
The Malpass Brothers (Christopher and Taylor) are shameless purveyors of tradition, classic country, rockabilly and honky tony songs of decades past. Playing a combination of covers and originals, and looking an absolute treat on stage as well, they have opened for none other than Merle Haggard. The brothers hail from Goldsboro North Carolina and released a self-titled album in May this year.
Christopher Malpass
The Malpass Brothers – photo Jim Jacob
To top of this terrific session, The Honeycutters closed. The band is an original country roots outfit. I have heard a lot of good things about them and I now know why. Hailing from Asheville, the band is singer/songwriter Amanda Platt, Mal Taylor (Mandolin), Rick Cooper on bass, Josh Milligan on drums and Matt Smith on pedal steel, electric guitar and dobro. Platt has an easy power and warmth in her voice, the original songs are memorable and the band has a tautness that draws you in.
The Honeycutters’ third album Me Oh My was out in April this year. Thankfully, I’ve got a copy in my suitcase.
The Honeycutters – photo Jim Jacob
A taxi to The City Winery. The T-Sisters (the ‘T’ stands for Tennessee) were finishing off their set. Three young girls, banjo, guitar and percussion accompaniment, plus the help of a bass player and mandolinist. Pleasant and uplifting.
The T-Sisters – photo Jim Jacob
The T-Sisters – photo Jim Jacob
Nashville-based Caitlin Canty‘s band featured Tift Merritt associate Eric Heywood. The other members’ names I could not catch but together they presented a full sound, of Southern brooding, swamp reverb. We were sitting near the mixing desk, but the sound was very murky, with every bass note causing a shudder, which detracted from the performance. Ironically the highlight of the set was Canty and her guitarist singing one duet without any microphones at the front of the stage. It also had the excellent effect of stopping people talking. Canty’s album Record Skyline would be well worth a listen.
Caitlin Canty – photo Jim Jacob
Anderson East led a large contingent – keyboards, saxophone, trumpet, drums, bass and lead guitar. He’s tall and possesses a big, soulful voice. There’s been some buzz talk about him in the town and the room had definitely filled up since the last act. He tried hard to whip the crowd up, running around the outside of the room, sitting on the side of the stage and sharing drinks and banter with the audience. And it worked. By the end, half the room was on their feet and dancing. Songs included “Devil In Me”, “Only You”, Quit You” and covers of “Tupelo Honey”, “Stay With Me” and “Knock On Wood”. Impressive exuberance from this up and comer.
Anderson East – photo Jim Jacob
Tomorrow? I’ll think about it then.
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