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New Additions:
 The Mantras - Dharland CD - The Mantras' music is an explosive combination of funk, fusion, & rock n roll. They have just released their third album titled “Dharland.” The album consists of nine tracks (including fan favorites Magillicuddy and Five Roads) recorded by Harold Thompson at Blackwater Studios in Virginia between December ’09 and Jan. 2010. The album was mixed and mastered by Chris Mitchell at Flying Eye Studios – Chris is renowned for his work with bands such as The Dead and Acoustic Syndicate in the past and we couldn’t have asked for a better team on recording this album! It is available for purchase through our friends at Home Grown Music Network. $9.99
Coming Soon:
March 16 - The Disco Biscuits - Planet Anthem CD pre-order
Drive By Truckers- The Big To Do CD/LP
April 6 - John Butler Trio- April Uprising CD
Dr Dog - Shame Shame CD
Delta Moon - Hellbound Train CD
Kaki King - Junior CD/DVD
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way CD/LP
Martin Sexton - Sugarcoating CD
Stanton Moore - Groove Alchemy CD/DVD
Last Week:
 Cornmeal - Live in Chicago, IL Vol 1 CD - In the winter of 2000, a band stepped on stage for the first time and called themselves Cornmeal. For the next six years, Cornmeal performed each and every Wednesday in Chicago to small yet loyal crowds. Throughout the winters of 2007-2009, Cornmeal returned to Chicago to pay homage to that tradition. This album is for the fans as a thank you for all the years of dedication, for believing in Cornmeal, and for creating a wonderful community for them to come home to. The album was recorded live throughout the winter of 2009 at Martyrs’ in Chicago, IL. Unlike Cornmeal’s three previous albums, Live in Chicago, IL Vol. I captures the band in its raw, intense format, bouncing through song after song of fast paced, fierce originals and extensive improvised jams that showcase the immense talent and connectivity that have gained them so much fan appeal from coast to coast. Cornmeal is: Chris Gangi on upright bass, Dave Burlingame on Banjo, Allie Kral on fiddle, Kris Nowak on Acoustic Guitar, and John Paul Nowak on Drums.
Formed over 10 years ago, Cornmeal has grown from humble beginnings into a nationally recognized live music institution. 10 years together is no simple task these days, especially when the last five have seen the band spending over half the year on the road. Heavily influenced by American roots and folk music, Cornmeal blends lightning fast tempos and impeccable harmonies into an unrivaled live performance that continues to expand upon the five-piece acoustic-electric groups’ vast musical repertoire. While steeped in the tradition of roots music, Cornmeal continues to forge their own path, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass, Americana and folk for a whole new generation of music lovers. With a rapidly growing fan base and ever-evolving stage show, Cornmeal challenges the recipe of the bluegrass sound and live performance, quickly propelling them into the national spotlight. $14
 Great American Taxi - Reckless Habits CD - In the past five years, Great American Taxi has become one of the best-known headliners on the jam band circuit. Their uninhibited sound is a swinging concoction of swampy blues, progressive bluegrass, funky New Orleans strut, Southern boogie, honky tonk country, gospel, and good ol’ fashioned rock ’n’ roll. Great American Taxi was born when singer, guitarist, and mandolin player Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon joined keyboard player and singer Chad Staehly for a superstar jam to benefit the Rainforest Action Group in Boulder, in March of 2005. “We put together a dream band of the best local musicians for a one-off gig,” Herman recalls. “It worked so well we had to do it again, and again, and again.” Great American Taxi quickly evolved into one of the best country-, rock-, and bluegrass- influenced jam bands in the land, masterfully blending acoustic and electric instruments into music they call “Americana Without Borders.”
The 13 tracks on Reckless Habits gleefully stretch the boundaries of American roots music with a nod to both tradition and the future. The title track, Staehly’s salute to Gram Parsons, is a good example, a song that’s as country as it is rock. It’s a rousing honky tonk tune, with Carbone’s fiddle and Sless’s pedal steel kicking up the sawdust on a Saturday night dance floor. The titles of several Parsons songs appear in the lyrics, and there’s a definite Cosmic Cowboy vibe to the band’s expansive playing. Staehly’s “American Beauty” tips its hat to the Grateful Dead and features an extended jam by the ensemble with Sless shining on pedal steel; Herman’s acoustic and the subtle twang of Jim Lewin on electric add intertwining guitar parts. Herman’s “Cold Lonely Town” is a slow R&B tune that describes life during the long Colorado winters. The Black Swan Singers add smoky doo-wop asides and CoCo Brown’s thrilling gospel-inflected melismas to Herman’s poignant vocal. Producer Tim Carbone described its swampy, laid-back vibe as “‘A Day in the Life’ meets Gram Parsons in the high desert.” $14.98
Upcoming Events:
April 15-17, 2010 - Wanee Music Festival - Live Oak, FL
April 22-25, 2010 - Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Pittsboro, NC
Video of the Week:
The Mantras - Funky Jank Patrol live at the Get Down 2009
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
Lee Crumpton |
