Everyone wants to say they were in on the ground floor

So we've all got our friends who are the ultimate in "one-upsmanship" when it comes to discovering new bands.

(I'm thinking especially of people who date their Old 97s fan status by what album they started listening to the band on. Mine was Too Far To Care. Not super early, but in my defense, I was only 13 when their first album came out.)

That said, the funny thing is that so rarely are bands really good when they first begin. Sure they have a few good songs that maybe sound a little too much like someone else, but it typically takes a few years of writing/touring/recording to develop anything of note. So where am I going with all of this? Nowhere fast?

Hopefully not, because the main reason for writing this is to note my recent discovery of a great band from El Paso called The Lusitania. I really just came to know about them from the line-up at Tuggfest, and have been getting increasingly impressed with the music on their myspace. They've got one album out and a 7" split out some time soon.

While they do have elements of a number of the bands that they list as influences, the important thing is that they are just a good listen. They've got a good mix of twang, vocal harmonies and rock all at the right times. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more about this band, and I hope you'll take the time to check them out. Their CD is super cheap, and it's all a DIY operation right now, which is the best time to start supporting a band.

So if nothing else, check out their myspace, go see a live show on their upcoming tour if you can, and get in on the ground floor.

Tuggfest

I hope all you folks in Lubbock made it out to Tuggfest last Thursday night. For an entirely independently organized and promoted festival, it was a resounding success. While a festival like this may not make any of the bands rich, they should all be commended for making it such a great day of music.

Thanks again Lubbock for supporting local music.

Old 97s live at the Gothic Theatre in Denver (Englewood), CO

It always feels good to see a good solid Old 97s show. Caught them last night in Denver, and as always, they delivered. For a band that never really gets that much radio play, they have really built a following off of their great albums and solid live shows over the years.

Kind of funny how, even though they are done with major labels, likely for good, they have this solid fan base of people in the range of ages from about 30-45, who incidentally are a demographic that has money. Hence, I would speculate that touring and merch sale income may be as good for them as it has ever been.

Hayes Carll, who I've seen a number of times, but many years back when he was still playing solo, did a great opening set. His music is really growing on me. The songwriting is top notch, and I think he's found a good sound for his voice. (although take a little bit of the roadhouse sound out and it would be absolutely perfect, in my opinion.) Before him, I Love Math, featuring Philip from Old 97s and members of the Deathray Davies, played a short opening set...which I missed. and am really bummed about. Saw them about 4 years ago and loved the show, so I'm really sorry I didn't get to see it.

The 97s were obviously pushing their new record, so lots of material off of that. Sorry not to hear the best song off of that album "This Beautiful Thing," one of Murry's songs, but the new album has got some great material. As with any Old 97s show, they push the new stuff, always mixing in the older stuff. Through that process they figure out what's great live and what's less great, and next time you see them, they'll have the new stuff more fine-tuned and cut out those that don't get the crowd's attention.

Now this is not in order, but since I'm an official Old 97s junkie, here's the set list they played off of each album:

Hitchhike to Rhome:
Stoned (it's just not the same in Denver as a Dallas show, where everyone sings along)

Wreck Your Life:
Victoria
Big Brown Eyes

Too Far to Care:
Timebomb
Barrier Reef
Salome
Big Brown Eyes
Niteclub

Fight Songs:
Lonely Holiday
Indefinitely
Crash on the Barrelhead (this made my night)
Valentine

Satellite Rides:
Rollerskate Skinny
Question

Drag It Up:
Won't Be Home
Smokers
The New Kid

Also, to start the encore, Rhett played "Come Around," from his first solo album The Instigator, and "Wave of Mutilation" by the Pixies and "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones.

Like I said, lots of stuff from the new album, which I won't list off, but overall a fantastic show. Hope they stay on the road a while with this one and maybe come back through town.

In Case You Were Wondering

Yes, that is DeVotchKa you hear playing in the background of this split-screen commercial with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. It is from the song "A New World" on their new album A Mad and Faithful Telling.



Apparently the directors for this video are Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, the same folks who brought you Little Miss Sunshine. See for yourself here.

To all you kids out there, this is a good lesson regarding the fact that once you are "in" the biz, you are definitely "in" the biz, and the way things go these days, you are going to make more money licensing songs here and there than you will on album sales (see also Avett Brothers' music on Friday Night Lights TV series).

Nashville Star

So I guess my street cred is completely blown by talking about this, but yes, I did watch the NBC premiere of Nashville Star last night. Overall, it is a little bit addictive, but also frustrating when you remember that mainstream country music quit being country music a long time ago. Therefore I'm not even sure this show can be watched in the context of being about country music.

Of the judges, you have:

Jewel - the once-indie singer songwriter from Alaska, who is probably the best of the 3 judges, but... when was she ever country? Maybe she was selected because she's still in a relationship with Ty Murray?

John Rich - of Big and Rich infamy, who was never country and seems to be the newest reality show diva.

Jeffrey Steele - A Nashville factory songwriter that never had a good song as far as I can find, but is clearly a part of the Music Row machine and makes lots of money and gets "trendy" tattoos.

Highlights in my opinion were Gabe Garcia singing "All My Exes Live in Texas," which the judges actually liked even though they forgot about George Strait and real country music a long time ago. I'm surprised they didn't ask who sang the song originally.

And I have to say, "Elvira" by the trio Third Town, was pretty solid. While these guys are kind of suspect, I appreciated the Kenny Rogers/Oak Ridge Boys nod here, and thought it was a great choice, even though the judges have never heard classic country music and were kind of dumbfounded.

The "Stand by Your Man" performance was, I think, the only other classic country song, and it was hit and miss. The performers were two young women (Laura and Sophie), and I didn't think they nailed it the first go round, but the second was pretty spot on.

Billy Ray Cyrus needs some serious help from the producers because he comes out after every song and says something completely off about each singer. He'll say "Wow! So you two have been best friends all of your lives?" To which they answer, "We've known each other 7 years."

Pretty hilarious really. He's like someone's crazy uncle. Also reminiscent of Fred Willard, who plays the dog show commentator on Best in Show.

Since no one reads this blog, I'm also inclined to comment about the military representation in the show. They brought one enlisted person into the top 12, despite the fact that he tanked in his audition. He did a decent job in his first song on the show, but they very truly walk on eggshells around him because they know they can't criticize the military on a show with country music fans. They'll probably have to let him win for fear of seeming unpatriotic. I have no problem with the guy, but the way they treat him is a little ridiculous.

Nonetheless, if I continue to watch this show, I'm going to have to tell myself that it is not about country music. Overall, this show is about as ironic as Alan Jackson singing "Murder on Music Row" with blood on his hands (see "www.memory").

Very Short Interviews, Part I - Daniel Markham (One Wolf)

I am starting a new segment, that unlike other segments on this blog, will actually be a recurring item. The idea is that I will conduct a (very) short email interview with various musicians of my choosing or of your suggestion. There are no rules here, but they will generally be longer than a "sec" but shorter than a "like forever."

For the very first installment, I had the brief distinguished honor of talking with Daniel Markham, brain extraordinaire behind One Wolf, a.k.a Un Lobo, not to be confused with Los Lobos, or any other lupine-related band. Quite recently, he put out an outstanding new CD you can check out here.

In the interest of not letting the intro be longer than the interview, let's get started.

wf: You just went on a tour to the west coast. Tell us something about how bad it smells when 26 guys ride in a van for 2 weeks. Or maybe something else about that trip that is more interesting than dude funk.

dm: it's funny. i packed clothes for every day of the tour just because i don't like smelling bad. but, i was the one being made fun of for being clean? that didn't make a lot of sense to me. i guess being dirty for two weeks is some kind of rite of passage for musicians. i don't get it.

there were so many things that happened that were interesting. but since this is a short interview, i'll keep it short. visiting the town where twin peaks was filmed was pretty surreal for me. i couldn't believe i was there, and then some people at the diner asked if i was related to peter fonda. i guess i did look pretty "easy rider" at the time.


wf: What are your current plans for One Wolf? and when I say current plans, I mean future plans, because obviously you are at your computer right now.

dm: i'm working on a small texas tour right now for july, then hopefully another in the fall with my favorite band of all time, sf59. then, i'll be moving to denton in august with charlie shafter and the gnomes. i'm writing a lot of songs lately, and i'm looking at next summer to record a new album. i'm just really looking forward to moving to a new community that seems so alive with music. i was super inspired by mount righteous. so hopefully it will be the right thing for us.


wf: Discuss 3 of your current musical influences in 2 words or less (feel free to cheat).

dm: queens of the stone age-BAD ASS!
sf59-so underrated
pj harvey-always exciting

wf: Am I forgetting to ask anything?

dm: what was your favorite series on 90's nickelodeon? PETE & PETE!


wf: Did you grow up hearing that using condiments could help prevent STDs?

dm: i grew up in rotan, so anything's possible. they do make some really strong mustard these days, though.


wf: Now you ask me a question (make it a good one).

dm: do you really hate it when people make grilled cheese sandwiches in your house without your permission?

wf: I live for that, and sadly it just doesn't happen enough.

DeVotchKa on Conan

In case you missed it:

Albums I still just can't help but like, Part I

• Red Headed Stranger - Willie Nelson.  You've all heard "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," no doubt, but if you haven't listened to this entire album all the way through, then you are most definitely missing out.  If at all possible, I would recommend listening to this album on vinyl.  After all, that's how it was intended.
  

• ¡Viva Terlingua! - Jerry Jeff Walker.  All of Jerry Jeff's more recent work aside, this one really is a classic.  No matter how much the Texas country scene has bastardized this whole style of music, Jerry Jeff doing "Desperados" and "London Homesick Blues" is simply spot-on.  No, he didn't write either of those songs, but the ambiance of the recording is just so incredible.  Sure, he may have influenced some horrible Texas country folks down the line, but don't blame him, he was just having a good time.