Sunday Six Pack returns

Come on now, Billy Beer that bad?

After a week off, I am back with an updated six songs that have kept me staggering. These feature some of the new ones from Ryan Adams, Centro-matic, and Jason Isbell, along with some classics from Uncle Tupelo, John Doe, and Joni Mitchell.

Uncle Tupelo -- Whiskey Bottle from No Depression :: Don't pay attention to my Last.fm chart, UT is my most played band with this song being my most listened to. I've always been a big Still Feel Gone fan, but No Depression is quickly catching up.
[Buy UT here]

John Doe -- Burning House of Love from Live From The Living Room :: John Doe, mostly known as the leader of LA punk band X, has always dabbled in alt-country music. He's reflected that through the years with various side projects and solo efforts, including a band called The Knitters. Originally from the album, The Modern Sounds of The Knitters, this live version was recently featured on Emusic. Oh yeah, he's got a great new solo album that just hit.
[Buy Live From The Living Room at Emusic]
[Buy X here]
[Buy The Knitters here]
[Buy John Doe here]

Joni Mitchell -- You Turn Me On (I'm A Radio) from For The Roses :: I love this song for Joni's voice and the witty lyrics. I walk around singing this song all fucking day. Could be worse, eh?
[Buy Joni Mitchell here]


Centro-matic -- Atlanta from Operation Motorcide :: Released this year, this EP is apparently leftover songs from Centro-matic's great album from 2006, Fort Recovery.


Will Johnson has a lot of hair.

Although these songs didn't make the original cut, I can't help but think it was a way for WIll Johnson to garner even more accolades. The dude is the man and this EP does nothing to dispel that truth.
[Buy Centro-matic here]

Jason Isbell -- Dress Blues from Sirens OF The Ditch :: On the drawing board for over two years, Jason Isbell, formerly of The Drive-By Truckers, has his solo album drop this Tuesday, July 10th. He performed this with the Truckers frequently over the last year, but it's still good to get a studio take, especially with the sweet pedal steel. Oh yeah, Isbell is on the road with Centro-matic for a few shows this summer.
[Buy Jason Isbell here and check out the dates below]

NEW SHOWS/NEW TOUR:
Fri. July 13 - Dallas, TX/Granada Theater w/ Pleasant Grove, Dovehunter, Sarah Jaffe.
Fri. July July 27 - Kansas City, MO/Record Bar w/ The String and Return, OK Jones.
Sat. July 28 - Chicago, IL/Wicker Park Festival w/ Man Man, many others.
Thurs. Aug. 9 - Denver, CO/Larimer Lounge w/ Jason Isbell.
Fri. Aug. 10 - Lincoln, NE/Knickerbockers w/ Jason Isbell.
Sat. Aug. 11 - Lawrence, KS/Bottleneck w/ Jason Isbell.
Tues. Aug. 14 - Austin, TX/Mohawk w/ Jason Isbell.
Wed. Aug. 15 - Houston, TX/Walter's on Washington w/ Jason Isbell.
Thurs. Aug. 16 - Baton Rouge, LA/Chelsea's w/ Jason Isbell.
Fri. Aug. 17 - Orlando, FL/The Social w/ Jason Isbell.
Sat. Aug 18 - Tampa, FL/The Crowbar w/ Jason Isbell.
Mon. Aug. 20 - Charlotte, NC/Amos' Southend w/ Jason Isbell.
Wed. Aug. 22 - Asheville, NC/Grey Eagle w/ Jason Isbell.
Thurs. Aug. 23 - Louisville, KY/Phoenix Hill w/ Jason Isbell.
Fri. Aug. 24 - Nashville, TN/Mercy Lounge w/ Jason Isbell.
Sat. Aug 25 - Macon, GA/The Hummingbird

Ryan Adams -- Pearls On A String from Easy Tiger :: This is one of my favorite tracks on his newest and to think, it almost didn't make the cut. Love the old timeyness, ya know?
[Buy RA here]

Drink up!

BK

It's Decoration Day....

On this Memorial Day, I thought this song would be appropriate:

Drive By Truckers -- Decoration Day :: From the album of the same title, this is one of Jason Isbell's better contributions to DBT during his days with the band. If you didn't know, he's gone solo now and his debut record, Sirens of the Ditch, is due out on July 10th from New West Records. He's also touring extensively. Check out the tour dates and sample some of the songs at his myspace page.

BK

"That's a bummer man" Part II

Bummer news from the world of the Drive-By Truckers. Jason Isbell, one of the three-headed guitar attack, is out of the band. Jason posted the first news on his myspace page last night and Patterson confirmed it with an email to the DBT mailing list.

Mixed emotions about it. Isbell was the best guitar player of the bunch, but his songwriting style, which leaned a little more poppy, was my least favorite. On a positive note though, John Neff, pedal steel extraordinaire, will step in full time. Patterson and the Stroker Ace are adequate guitar players and with Neff on board, they should be fine and perhaps return a little to their alt-country roots.

Neff spent previous time with the band and helped record Gangstabilly and Pizza Deliverance. The two songs below are from those albums and might give us an idea of the sound we'll hear.

DBT: The Night GG Allin Came to Town
DBT: Steve McQueen

BK