STACK #124 Feb 2016

ROOTS MUSIC IT’S COUNTRY MUSIC REVIEWS

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Billy Pinnell is one of Australia’s most passionate and well informed broadcasters.

Seasick Steve Sonic Soul Surfer Like many of his blues heroes, Steven Wold (aka Seasick Steve) left home at an early age, living rough on the road, calling on his experiences to write songs. Today he’s recognised as one of the best live acts in music, having performed at major festivals around the world.

Playing mostly personalised guitars (he claims one is haunted), he’s backed on his new album (recorded in a room at his farm) by longtime drummer Dan Magnusson, Mississippi All Stars slide guitarist Luther Dickinson, plus fiddle and jaw harp; these songs celebrate wanderlust, responsibilities of old age, and his car. Caroline/Universal

Peter Paul and Mary Discovered: Live in Concert Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers met in 1961 working in Greenwich Village, and were encouraged by manager Albert Grossman to join forces. Signed to Warner Bros. in 1962, their debut spent seven weeks at number one. They were the first to bring commercial success to Bob Dylan, also managed by Grossman, by covering his Blowin’ in the Wind, Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright a nd The Times They Are A-Changin’ . In 1980 they had begun to record and archive live performances: during 2014 they released this classic concert experience, featuring 13 previously un-released songs albeit sans the hits. Featuring two acoustic guitars and occasional double bass and mandolin, the trio’s vocals give fans the full spectrum of emotions typically experienced at a PP&M concert. The opening song, the rocking gospel You Can Tell The World, was previously covered by The Seekers; Semper Fi has a pro-peace message, and the bittersweet Give Yourself To Love was originally recorded by folk artist Kate Wolf who passed away from leukaemia in 1986 – the same disease that claimed Mary Travers’ life in 2009. Rounding out the album is a rousing rendition of Lead Belly’s Midnight Special. Warner

Curtis Harding Soul Power Michigan-born guitarist/singer/songwriter Curtis Harding honed his craft from an early age spent on the road with his mother, a gospel singer. The experience exposed him to different kinds of music enabling him to fuse blues, R&B and soul with his gospel roots. Later he sang back-up for

OutKast and Cee-Lo Green and it’s their pop influences that make his debut so interesting. One track features his electrified Stratocaster, on another his voice swims in reverb, horns punctuate other songs. His vocal on the album’s opener Next Time reminds me of Robert Cray. Warner

The Punch Brothers The Phosphorescent Blues The style of New York quintet Punch Brothers – fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass – is a hybrid of American bluegrass-country and classical chamber music, and the sound is enhanced on their new release by the inclusion (for the first time) of a drummer. Their arrangements allow

JD McPherson Let the Good Times Roll With a sound rooted in rockabilly, R&B and rock’n’roll, singer, songwriter, and guitarist McPherson’s second album is full of irresistible original songs that could have been recorded at Sun Studios in the ’50s. Lots of guitars, lots of percussion and reverb, the sounds immediately bring to

mind pioneers of the genre. The spirit of Little Richard is channelled on Shook Me Up , Eddie Cochran comes to mind on the title song (not the Shirley and Lee original), and Precious is enhanced by a subtle Bo Diddley beat. McPherson’s respect for the music is obvious throughout. Universal

for daring changes within each song, some featuring pitch-perfect vocal harmonies. Lyrical themes for some songs sprung from interaction with fans after performances, but it’s the two instrumentals I found most intriguing: Passepied ( passing feet) was composed by Claude Debussy in the 19th century, and Prelude by Alexander Scriabin in the early 1900s. Warner

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Denise Hylands just gets country music like no one else around.

The Mavericks Mono Hailing from Miami, Florida, The Mavericks were always a unique band amongst the country music genre. With their Cuban American lead singer Raul Malo and his golden, spellbinding vocals (think a Latin Roy Orbison), plus a band who know how to play the music that moves, they combine

neo-traditional country, Latino and rock’n’roll to make their mesmerising sound. The band reformed in 2012 after an eight year break, and this is their second album since getting back together – these guys are having way too much fun to put this behind them again. Let the good times roll... Universal Jim White vs the Packway Handle Band Take It Like a Man

Steve Earle Terraplane Since releasing his debut Guitar Town in 1986, Steve Earle has become one of the most admired, influential Americana singer-songwriters. His straightforward storytelling meshes folk, blues, rock, country and bluegrass – sometimes all of the above – so it may not come as a surprise to Earle fans that he’s made a blues album. He’s picked the perfect time to write the blues following the break up of his marriage to singer Allison Moorer, so this is an album with a dose of the sad stuff – Earle is writing what he knows, some of it written on a five-week solo tour of Europe with just a guitar, mandolin and backpack. Earle offers a musical history paying tribute to some of the many sounds of the blues, with his awesome band The Dukes featuring the ridiculous talents of Kelly Looney, Will Rigby, Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore, and just enough country swagger that you expect from Earle. This is his sixteenth studio album, recorded at where else but the House of Blues Studios in Nashville Tennessee with producer RS Field (Buddy Guy, John Mayall). This is some cool blues, Mr Earle. New West/Warner

In one corner, we have eccentric performer Jim White who’s known for his unique ramblings of country folk and rock. In the other corner is The Packway Handle Band described as a high energy bluegrass outfit.

Both hail from Athens, Georgia. Packway wanted to record an album, and asked White to produce. White had some bluegrassy songs kicking around his kit bag, and suggested combining the two ideas. And here’s the result! This isn’t traditional bluegrass, but combined they perform some fun and sometimes humorous songs with great vigour. This is a bunch of talented folks, having a good time. Yep Roc/MGM

Ryan Bingham Fear and Saturday Night Ryan Bingham is one of those rare performers whose authentic natural style is simply the real deal. Leaving home as a young man – living in his truck, riding rodeos and playing his songs – he often reflects on the unstable life he left behind. In 2010 he earned himself Golden Globe, Oscar

Hayseed Dixie Hair Down To My Grass In 2001, Hayseed Dixie’s debut album was a tribute to the music of AC/ DC, in a hillbilly bluegrass kinda way. Over the years they have continued to pay tribute to many other bands in their own unique way. The parody party continues on their thirteenth album with a selection of classic rock

and heavy metal tunes, Pink Floyd, Motörhead, Aerosmith and Survivor, amongst others. These guys respect their rock as much as their country, keeping in mind their fast and furious playing. And boy can they play: acoustic instruments including guitars, banjo and mandolin, but no drums. Not rocket science, but geez, it’s a lot of fun. Planet/MGM

and Grammy awards for his song The Weary Kind from the movie Crazy Heart. He’s only 33, but his mesmerising, whiskey-soaked voice reflects an older and wiser sound. He can rock it out in a tough, bluesy, country way, although this album captures a more stripped back feel. Captivating... Lost Highway/Universal

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