New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund Redefine 8/29 is now available for download at nomrf.org.

The benefit CD features songs donated for this download by supporters of our musicians. 100% of proceeds will benefit the New Orleans Musicians Relief Foundation, the grass-roots organization still getting grants directly to displaced musicians.

Featured musicians on the CD include Dr. John (of course), Edwin McCain & Maia Sharp, Backyard Tire Fire, the Kaiser Chiefs, and Rev. Goat Carson, among others. Tracks are also available for individual download at the NOMRF site.

Labels: Music, Subversive Ideas

01 August, 2007

Ian Hunter's newest CD is out, and it's definitely a welcome respite from the usual soundalike "alternative music" we're subjected to from the major record companies. This isn't music you're likely to stumble across using those "sounds like" searches on music download sites, nor is it something you'll probably hear blasting from your local classic rock station (unless said station in your area has a more varied playlist than the one here which seems sadly locked into some godawful repeat-loop of Boston's greatest hits). But don't let that discourage the more timid of you from checking it out; Shrunken Heads is one of Hunter's most accessible pieces of work to date and gets better with each listening.

One might expect a 70s legend like Hunter to have settled comfortably into a routine of rehashing old licks and lyrical motifs that worked before, but nothing could be further from the truth. Since going solo after Mott the Hoople, Hunter has not only kept current both musically and ideologically, but has continued to stretch his wings and experiment with new styles and sounds. There are subtle musical allusions to the old days--the glam-chunky opening riff of "How's Your House," for instance--but the effect is one of cheeky nostalgia, and it blends easily with the subtle techno-groove of "When the World Was Round."

As we've come to expect from Hunter, the lyrics cover a spectrum of topics from love and loss to scathing Dylanesque commentary on the current state of affairs with the scales tipped significantly toward the latter on this outing (and with good reason if you've been paying any sort of attention to the unfolding of world events since Hunter's last album). I should note that we're fortunate to have a lyric sheet included in the CD; deciphering the words on some of the older Hunter material was a challenge I always relished, and it kept the music fresh to have some new nugget of poetry emerge on each listen, but with lines as loaded with gleeful sarcasm as the ones on "Fuss About Nothin'," it's great to have the words right there in front of you to make sure he really said what you thought you heard.

Personal favorites from the disc: "Brainwashed" for its playful breaks and eclectic instrumentation, the title track for Hunter's wonderful raspy vocal, "I Am What I Hated When I Was Young" for its hilarious hoedown feel and lyrics about aging ungracefully, and "Stretch" because it's a good, solid, bottom-heavy rocker. I could've done without "Soul of America"--a little too much heartland-style Americana for my taste--but it will undoubtedly appeal to other listeners.

You can hear tracks and order the new CD at the Yep Roc Records site, and find tour dates and more info at the www.ianhunter.com.

Labels: Music

16 May, 2007

They've just posted a new video of Barry McCabe doing an absolutely kick-ass version of "You Don't Love Me" from the Virginia gig in County Cavan, Ireland. That's Pat McManus on fiddle.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=f8f2yOhyNKQ

Also, Asheville, NC, musician/philosopher Christine Kane has just launched her brand-new website with a great new photo. Go browse around, and be sure to check out her blog. She's an intriguing writer.
http://www.christinekane.com/

Labels: Music

18 April, 2007

Ian Hunter has a new CD due out May 15th on Yep Roc Records. Titled Shrunken Heads, this is his first studio recording in several years, and his first release on this label.

According to the press release we received, the 10-song disc “covers a wide-range of honest emotions and wry observations that we’ve come to expect from Mr. Hunter: touching on such topics as late-night soul-searching to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and today’s political climate.” It was recorded in 2006 in Pawling, NY, and Palo Alto Daily News writer Paul Freeman says the new material "bristles with edgy, powerful, pertinent rock."

Photo by David Plakke
"The record was done quickly and very much as a band effort. It's more relaxed than usual for some reason and all in all a most enjoyable experience,” stated Hunter. “We're gearing up to release my first record in six years and we're excited to get out on the road and see you in your town.”

During his solo career, Ian Hunter wrote and performed such classics as “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Gun Control,” and “Cleveland Rocks” (which you may recognize as the theme from the Drew Carey Show). He’s an outstanding live performer as well, certainly not to be missed if you have the opportunity to see him onstage.

Yep Roc Records (located near Greensboro, North Carolina) is also the home of such class acts as Paul Weller, Robyn Hitchcock, The Apples in Stereo, Sloan, Robbie Fulks, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Reverend Horton Heat, and Nick Lowe. The company strives to reach as large an audience as possible but considers the unique vision of each of their artists to be top priority. They have a very user-friendly website where you can listen to samples for free, and unlike many other record companies, they do not place formatting restrictions on how you listen to the music you purchase or download from them.

Ian Hunter's website: http://www.ianhunter.com/
Yep Roc Records' website: http://www.yeproc.com/

Labels: Music

15 April, 2007

A new video of Barry McCabe playing "In the Dead of Night" has just been posted on YouTube. This footage was shot when he played at the Riverfront Hotel in his hometown of Virginia, Co. Cavan, Ireland (last month, I believe). That's Pat McManus playing that fantastic lead, by the way.

Labels: Music

27 January, 2007

An excerpt from P.L. Miller's interview with Irish Celtic-blues guitarist Barry McCabe:

"It’s great to see that more and more artists are either taking control of their own careers these days or wrestling them back from the various companies that abused them for years. To be honest, I was never that busy with chasing the ‘big deal.’ I always felt the deck was rigged in that sense. You’ve seen acts that had ‘made it’ but then everything seemed to go wrong for them. You've heard the horror stories of bands sinking deeper and deeper into debt even though they were selling lots of records. You’ve read reports of artists who’d been ripped off since day one (especially the old blues guys).

"So basically I stayed outside of all that. I’m a very independent-minded character anyway (some might say too much so) but if you care enough about what you create, how can you then just throw it to the wolves? My songs and my music are my babies and I treat them as such. I know I’ve got to put them on a record, or a disc, or available for download but I do it with the utmost care. They are not just means to an end. I don’t write or play music so that I can own a big house with a swimming pool or whatever else some guys chase. I have no problem with it if it comes along on my terms, but I’m not going to change what I do just to get it."

Of course, you know Barry has lots more to say. You can read the rest of the interview at www.gatewoodjournal.org/mind26.html.

Labels: Music, Think Tank

03 December, 2006

...the consensus here is that $79 is a ridiculous amount to pay for the new boxed set, particularly when he just released a "best of" double CD only three years ago. Granted, there are a lot of extras (many video clips and so on), and the cover art is beautiful and well-suited for this long-time voyager. However, since I already have the CDs included in this set, my only interest was in the unreleased live tracks and remix versions - many of which can be had on iTunes without having to buy the whole thing.

I promised our esteemed senior editor that I wouldn't draw any conclusions about the title Nine Lives coincidentally being the same as an album title used a few years back by another band with a penchant for releasing "best of" albums as often as some people change socks.

Labels: Music

26 November, 2006

There's a great clip over at YouTube of Barry McCabe doing a live acoustic version of "Crazy Love." Check it out. Way, way better than Mentos & Coke.

Barry on BalconyTV

Labels: Music

13 October, 2006

Barry McCabe’s newest offering Beyond the Tears once again treats us to his knack for pulling wildly diverse musical influences into a cohesive work of art. The blues guitar we’ve come to expect is there, as is the Celtic folk element that surfaced most noticeably in The Peace Within. But the new disc adds subtle shadings of other genres as well; there’s much more to Barry’s music than his love for blues and his Irish roots.

Beyond the Tears is in the tradition of what we used to call a “concept album” back in the ’70s. The theme woven around the songs here is that of the quintessential misunderstood outsider, personified by “Johnny”; he is, as Barry explains in the liner notes, “the part of society and ourselves we’d rather not know about.” There’s plenty said within this set of songs about the travails of life and about how prone anyone can be to downheartedness under the right circumstances. But overall it’s a positive theme, urging us to look beyond the immediate happenings and come out the other side better and stronger.

The disc kicks off with a classic Chuck Berry riff on the Dave Edmunds-style number, “Johnny Nobody.” It’s hard to imagine anyone else being able to bring off a rocker like this while incorporating lyrics that deal with serious philosophical issues like the power of positive/negative thinking on one’s reality, but Barry handles it in understated style without ever sounding pretentious or preachy about it.

Strong Peter Green influences are evident on “In the Dead of Night” as well as “Trouble,” and both are good solid tracks with moody guitar riffs that stick in the brain long after the disc has stopped. The Celtic factor comes to the front on the instrumentals “Catch Me If You Can,” “Arthur” (my personal favorite) and “The Sunset Waltz.” There’s only one cover tune this time around (Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love”) which fits in surprisingly well with the rest of the tracks as well as giving us the opportunity to notice that Barry’s not just another guitarist - he can pull off beautiful vocals too.

The remaining tracks are more straightforward accessible rock that will likely appeal to a broad range of listeners. “Rollin’” picks up the pace on the second half of the disc; it's a freight train of a song reminiscent of some of Rory Gallagher’s high-energy numbers like “Just Hit Town.” And if the radio industry ever develops aesthetic sensibilities, the Claptonesque “I Wonder” will be all over the airwaves.

One commendable thing about Barry McCabe is that even though he’s clearly a masterful solo musician, he appreciates the nuances of ensemble playing. He's assembled a congenial group of musician friends and acquaintances to work with him on this recording, most of whom just happen to have a solid pedigree with one band or another (in this instance, Pat McManus, Horslips’ Johnny Fean, and Mark Feltham from Rory Gallagher’s band). This is in stark contrast to most solo guitarists whose egos take over the show in long, self-indulgent leads while other musicians are on the recording merely for back-up or window-dressing. You’ll hear excellent guitar solos on Barry’s discs, but they’re always tasteful and appropriate for the context; the songs are never just a showcase for his licks.

Overall, Beyond the Tears is a fine effort from an extremely dedicated and talented musician. Listeners who appreciate solid guitar work, subtly introspective lyrics, and an eclectic blend of musical styles should enjoy this disc.

The CD is available at CD Baby and Barry's website is www.barrymccabe.com.

Labels: Music

24 September, 2006

A year or so ago, some of our staff here discovered an Irish blues guitarist named Barry McCabe on the CD Baby site. CD Baby, as some of you may know, specializes in marketing the music of independent artists; you don't go there to buy the latest blockbuster single you heard all over the radio--you go there to find quality music by musicians who haven't been co-opted by the corporate conglomerates. Barry McCabe caught our attention at first because we thought he sounded remarkably like another Irish guitarist, the "Last of the Independents," the late Rory Gallagher (although after listening to "Alberta" off Barry's Absolutely Live disc, Erin commented that she thought Barry was the more versatile vocalist of the two). Delving into his more recent CD The Peace Within, I noticed a broadening and deepening of musical perspective as Barry worked with piper Davy Spillane to create a compelling blend of Celtic blues.

Recently Barry McCabe has been hard at work on the new CD Beyond the Tears, as well as taking time out to play at clubs and blues festivals here and there. The CD is due out September 9; however, it's now available for pre-ordering online, and Barry has four tracks available for free download in the music section of his site (all the other tracks have samples available for listening as well). In addition to this, he's taking a unique approach to the new CD's release: recognizing that his listeners quickly become ardent fans who want to share their new discovery with their friends, he's giving away an extra CD free to everyone who pre-orders the new CD, so you have one for yourself and one to pass along to someone else who'd enjoy the music. (You can do this when you're not beholden to a bunch of corporate fat-cats, you see.)

From what we've sampled so far of the new disc, it sounds like it's every bit up to his usual high standards. Things start off with a Chuck Berry-style rocker reminiscent of Dave Edmunds, progress through a very smooth cover of Van Morrison's "Crazy Love," cruise the moody waters of a Peter Green-ish "Trouble" and finish up with the folky acoustic simplicity of "Sunset Waltz."

In his latest newsletter, Barry writes about how the new CD came about:

"OK, a little bit of background on the CD itself and the recording process.

"The songs on the CD are all ‘roughly’ connected in that they relate to this character called Johnny. As I say on the CD sleeve – who’s Johnny? Johnny is the personification of many people we see – or don’t – around us every day. Johnny is the misunderstood, the lonely, the outcast, the unfortunate, the part of society and ourselves we’d rather not know about.

"The idea to do an entire album based on one character hit me one evening as I was sitting in the car waiting for someone. The idea took shape in my mind pretty quickly and as I sketched it out on a piece of paper even some of the song titles were already there. I had been ‘waiting’ for an idea to hang the album on for a while so now that I had it I could get to work.

"I called up the guys in the band, told them to dust off the equipment and that the new CD was now a ‘work in progress’. It’s not always fair on them as they often have to wait on me and as I work very much on ‘feel’ I often have to wait for things myself!!

"We started working on 'Lonely Road' first and it fell into place quite fast. It was exciting to work on it but it was also a bit strange as this time I was going to attempt to write a complete album without ‘testing’ the songs on the road first. This time I had the feeling that I should leave everything until the last minute and basically work off what we’d hear back in the studio when we laid down the backing tracks. It was a terrifying idea at times but again I just ‘felt’ this was the right thing to do.

"I had a rough draft of 'I Wonder' ready and we ran through it just once as we were finishing up one evening. Then working in that strange fashion I have I basically did NOTHING for about another year. I was still working things out in my head but I didn’t get together with the guys anymore. I decided to buy myself a small 4-track recorder and proceeded to lay down a basic guitar track and a basic vocal. Then I overdubbed either a harmony vocal or one or two guitar parts.

"I had the idea all along to bring some friends in on the recording session and I was absolutely thrilled when they ALL said ‘yes’. I’ve known Johnny (Fean) for many, many years (from his days in Horslips) and he’s one of the most soulful guitarists you could ever ask to meet. He’s also a BIG Peter Green fan.

"Pat (McManus) is actually a cousin of mine and obviously I’ve known him for quite awhile too. Pat was with us in the studio from the very start and played a huge part in the album turning out the way it did. I’ve known Mark (Feltham) since his Rory days but got to know him much better over the last while as we kept bumping into each other at festivals across Europe. I’ll write more about these guys later (and their contributions) but it’s sufficient to say that they are among the top players of the world.

"When I did finally get back to working on the new songs I ended up turning out a song a day sometimes. It became a very prolific period for me and I felt inspired. I was laying it all down on my 4-track and as soon as I had what I wanted for the album I sent the rough mixes off to the guys. We met up the Saturday before going into the studio and we raced through the material. We worked up a very rough version of each song and that’s as far as I wanted to go with it. We all arrived at the studio the following Monday and proceeded to get stuck in. We worked really fast but at a very leisurely pace. There was no pressure on anyone and when we had what we thought was a good take we’d move on. We recorded in a very ‘live’ situation, meaning we all played in the same room without using headphones – just working off each other live. The up side of working like this is EVERYONE is REALLY in tune with each other. You get that special feel of it, when everyone is in the same place at the same time. The down side of it is that everyone’s got to get it right as there is no possibility to overdub because of the ‘leakage’ from the mic’s (in other words you’d hear the bass on some of the drum mics’s, etc.). Intense but in the end worth it, I think.

"I’ll write more about the experience later but hopefully now you’ll feel some of the same experiences we felt going through getting the music this far."

Regarding the promo in effect for pre-ordering the new CD, Barry writes, "Maybe it’s the heat or my generous nature, I don’t know, but we’re going to try the following and hope that it works. As a ‘thank you’ for your support, and for pre-ordering the new CD, all copies bought during the pre-order period will be autographed - AND - we’re going to give you all an extra CD for FREE with every CD that you buy. I know a lot of you have bought extra copies of my previous CDs for your friends (or maybe it was your enemies!) or had some of your friends bug you to make them a copy, so we thought we’d make it as easy as possible for you this time by actually doing some of the hard work for you already. This way they get their own copy (12 page full colour booklet and all).

"Music is a gift and it should be shared as much as possible. We’re starting the ball rolling by giving you a ‘gift’ with your purchase. We hope that whoever receives the ‘gift’ from you will in turn tell someone else about it and that way we can keep the ‘chain of giving’ moving forward. With the purchase of this CD someone somewhere will always be getting a ‘gift’ of music for free!

"I really hope we can make this work. Obviously we’re cutting our profit margin to the bone to try and achieve this so we’d be very grateful if you can alert your friends to this action. Only by doing that can we keep it moving forward and keep giving someone something for free."

So here are your links for Beyond the Tears:

Download 4 Tracks Free (and preview all tracks)
http://www.barrymccabe.com/music/?id=5

Pre-order from CD Baby (and get an extra one free - both are signed copies)
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bmcband4

Best wishes to Barry on the upcoming release, and thanks for sharing your music and insights with us.

Labels: Music, Think Tank

18 August, 2006

Kelly Richey's newest CD Speechless comes out next week (Aug. 8) but you don't have to wait--you can get it now on the Kelly Richey Band website. Three of the new tracks are also available for listening on the site: "One Day We'll Feel the Sun," "Climb the Highest Mountain," and "The Longest Road." I admit I was somewhat skeptical when I heard that the band's first studio album in five years would be entirely instrumental, but on the tracks I've heard so far, the guitar work is so articulate and expressive that you don't miss the lyrics. Have a listen for yourself.

Labels: Music

28 July, 2006