Saints don't, but we sure as hell do. We bother with most everything that matters: music, movies, culture, entertainment and booze
...but mostly music: the most ungodly vice of all.
Academy Award winning singer/songwriter and desperado Ryan Bingham (Crazy Heart) returns to Knoxville next week for what will be another amazing show. If you don't have tickets to this show yet, you may be out of luck...I'd be on the horn now trying to get some if it's not too late.
Ryan's last album, 2010's Junky Star, was included in my Best Albums of 2010 list. For other Bingham posts, check here and get to this show at the Bijou Theatre on Saturday, March 26th.
Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses are finally coming to Knoxville! They will be rocking the Bijou Theatre on Tuesday, May 18th. Ryan is fresh off his Oscar win this earlier this year with T-Bone Burnett for "The Weary Kind", the theme from Crazy Heart, featuring Jeff Bridges, and is touring all of May.
Tickets are still available here. Check out Ryan's website and Facebook for more info. Knoxville's own The Black Lillies, featuring Cruz Contreras as well as Jamie Cook from the Everybodyfields, will be opening the show. Make sure to get there early to catch these guys too! They are making quite a name for themselves as of late. Check out the Black Lillies on Facebook here.
In Cahoots with Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers
Last month, on Valentine's Day as a matter fact, the Drive-By Truckers rolled their rock show into Knoxville to the Bijou Theatre. The Truckers are currently touring in promotion and preparation of their upcoming release this week of their tenth studio album, The Big To-Do.
We caught up with Patterson Hood, the long hauler and lead Trucker, to discuss the new album, a summer tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a few bands that we all need to know about.
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Saints Don't Bother: How would you describe the newest album The Big To-Do (your first release on ATO Records) to your older fans that have been listening for a while and to those newer fans that aren't as familiar with the progression and history of the band and album flow? In short- how does TBT-D lineup in comparison to the previous albums and to further the sound and 'agenda' of the Truckers?
Patterson Hood: It's probably a bit more concise and Rocking than some of our later records. Definitely more melodic, a little more attention paid to musical structuring. I think it's a really good sounding record sonically, definitely our best sounding record. I'm very proud of the songs and the way we played them. All of our records have been recorded more or less live in the studio and this one isn't an exception, but the band is really playing great right now.
SDB: Right off the bat, before a note is even heard on DBT albums, y'all have some of the most interesting song/album titles ("The Wig He Made Her Wear", "The Flying Wallendas", The Big To-Do ). Are your titles a conscious part of songwriting and putting the album together, or are they after thoughts that just seem to really compliment the songs/albums nicely?
PH: I often have a title before actually writing the song. I usually think about an idea for a long time before actually writing the song, then actually write the song very quickly. Finding the right title is sometimes the impetus or way into the actual song. In the case of this album, we had the album's title before most of the songs on it.
SDB: What's your favorite track on The Big To-Do and why?
PH: I'm really proud of them all but "Birthday Boy" is probably my favorite. I always love Cooley's songs and this is one of his very best ever.
SDB: The DBTs are touring with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers this summer (one of my all time faves, and the most under-rated American rock musician). How did this come about? Did it have anything to do with your cover of his song "Rebels" (it's one of my favorites) on last year's rarities and b-sides collection The Fine Print? Why, of all of his songs, did y'all pick that one? How did he respond to y'all wanting to cover it and to the finished product?
PH: I have no idea if that had any direct affect. We're all HUGE Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers fans from way back. They're probably collectively our favorite band on earth so it's a real honor to open for them. We recorded "Rebels" for the TV show King Of The Hill. We were asked to for that specific song because they wanted a more guitar rock version of that song for the show. Tom Petty played a character on that episode (which became a reoccurring role for him) and they told us he had signed off on us performing his song on the show. That was also exciting because we all loved that show.
SDB: Y'all were in Knoxville a couple weeks back on Valentine's Day, and played one of the better shows I've seen from y'all in some time. Is there a different approach to tours with a new album to promote, is there something we don't know or is everything really clicking right now? I would say it must be that y'all are well-rested, but 2009 was one of the busier years of recent past with Booker T's album and tour, your solo album, a dvd, a movie soundtrack that was shot just outside of here in Knoxville, a little bit of regular touring, etc...what else did I miss? What's different than a year ago? Two years ago?
PH: The band is in an especially good place right now. we have our magic lineup and everything is just clicking like it's supposed to be, We all loved The Bijou.
SDB: I see that y'all have several projects and another album this year, so 2010 doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. What can we expect for this year from the DBTs?
PH: We'll be touring extensively behind The Big To-Do and at some point releasing a second album from the sessions called "Go-Go Boots" which is the polar opposite version of what we do. I really like it too, but for different reasons.
SDB: Couple more things- What are 5 bands, acts, groups or singers that you are digging now that we all need to know about?
PH: Spoon, Iron and Wine, Bloodkin, Collin Hering, and Glossary all have exceptional new albums. David Barbe (who has produced our last 7 or so albums) also has a fantastic new album with his band (David Barbe and The Quick Hooks) called "Love It, Don't Choke It To Death" which is coming out this week and I really love.
SDB: What excites you the most about this year professionally and personally?
PH: Personally, my family. We have a 5 year old little girl who is my pride and joy and a 5 month old little boy who is super cool. Professionally it's the band that I'm most excited about. Looking forward to going out and playing this album live a few hundred times.
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Again, you can pick up The Big To-Do on Tuesday at your local (preferably, but not mandatory) independent record store. In the meantime, you can listen to The Big To-Do online at the DBT myspace page and download Patterson's favorite song on the record, "Birthday Boy", at the DBT page. Also, tickets are on sale now for the Truckers' summer tour dates with and without Tom Petty here, which include nearby shows in Lexington, Asheville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis and Cincinnati (with Tom Petty).
Other notes:
Here is a list of The Big To-Do listening parties. Go listen to the new album with other fans this week and see what you think...and make some new Trucker friends.
Download the DBT's cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Rebels".
Also, the DBT appeared on Letterman on Friday night. If you missed it, you can see it here:
What do you think about the new album? Let me know! As Patterson says, "See ya at the rock show!"
Obviously it's been quite some time since we've had any kind of semblance of consistent work, updates, ramblings, posts, rants or whatever. Yeah, sometimes, life gets in the way...and sometimes life takes up about a year of your time. In this case, it was my life, and my time. But here we are, halfway through the second month of 2010, and we're getting a post in now.
It helps to be motivated sometimes...and to be motivated by the reason that this blog was started...music. Rock and Roll to be specific, but any music will do, as long as it meets my standards and and has my seal of approval.
Which brings me to last night's events at the Bijou Theatre here in Knoxville. The Drive-By Truckers returned to Knoxville for the first time since January 2009...and they were long overdue. Let's see, what's happened since they were here? They put out a Grammy-winning album with Booker T. and played Bonnaroo (and a tour) with him, released a rarities album, a live dvd/cd from Austin, made a documentary, Patterson released his long-awaited second solo album and contributed songs to another unrelated movie, and much more I'm sure.
Oh, and they have a new album due out next month (more to come on that later though) with their new label ATO Records.
So the DBTs played the Bijou for the first time, and of course didn't disappoint, even showcasing more than a handful of new tracks off the upcoming album. You can see the set listhere, but a few highlights (read: rarities) to me and our crew were: Women Without Whiskey, The Company I Keep, 18 Wheels of Love and 72 (This Highway's Mean). Other favorites were Zip City, The Living Bubba, Sink Hole and A World of Hurt (which we discussed and believe that we've never actually heard that live...)
Being that several new songs were played, and I haven't been on top of things as much as I have in the past, I was unfamiliar with the lot of them except for This Fucking Job, thanks to the local college station WUTK. As with many Truckers' songs, it sometimes takes a few listens to really start to hear their songs...especially when the first time is live, it's loud, it's exciting and a few too many beers have been consumed already to be a stickler for all the details and nuances of the new songs. That's why they make albums, folks, so we can sit and home and dissect them in the comfort and privacy, as well as the sanctity and solitude, of our homes, or headphones, or wherever you do your "study-listenin'" at.
I'm not gonna bore you too much more with anymore details...but I have to be honest: this show renewed my faith in the DBTs, and here's how and why. With all their side projects and movies, and solo records, and staff changes in the last couple of years, I was beginning to be concerned about the direction of the band...and if their heart was still in it, as well as the fire of previous years (2001-2005/06). Their focus hadn't been there on the songs as much as the albums in the years mentioned, and the shows just seemed like they were becoming just another night at the office...which is bound to happen to everyone sooner or later. Being such a big fan and follower since 1999, I was hoping that maybe I was just being paranoid about my guys (and gal). After the show (actually, about four or five songs into it), I realized it was just me. They were out there with smiles on their faces and fires on their asses. And it showed, thankfully.
My only complaint, however, was that I wish my pictures turned out better from our amazing Statler and Waldorf seats in the box overlooking Cooley and Shonna. My camera is new to me, and I'm still working out the kinks (i.e. operator errors...if you know anything about a Nikon D80, holler at me). Needless to say, pictures aren't good, memory is fuzzy...hazy at best, and we had a great time. Once again, all is right with the world....sounds like a Truckers show to me.
I guess their giant has woken up too...but I doubt that it was ever asleep.
DO NOT MISS Bonnie 'Prince' Billy at the Bijou Theatre Tuesday night at 8pm with Lichens. BPB, aka Will Oldham, is touring in support of his newest release Beware, and is gracing Knoxville with his presence. Tickets are still available, so get them now. You'll be sorry when you hear all your cool friends talking about how great the show was and you didn't go...
Obviously I fell off the edge of the Earth in the last month. We missed some shows. We missed some announcements. Real life called, and I had to do what I had to do for my actual paycheck... Your praises and comments don't keep my lights on (just yet).
Anyways, in case you have missed it, here are several upcoming shows and events of interest that you should look into in the Knoxville area:
Alejandro Escovedo is one of many performers tonight at the January edition of Tennessee Shines, the monthly concert series at the Bijou Theatre. This month's installment kicks of the Bijou Jubilee, for the theatre's centennial celebration!
Also on the bill tonight will be The Duhks, Blue Moon Rising, Jennifer Nicely and the Lovell Sisters. Tickets are $10 in advance, and I think they are sold out. If not, they are close to it, so you better get them now.
Escovedo's 2008 album, Real Animal, topped many best of 2008 lists. Sadly, I missed the boat on this one, and didn't pick it up until December, and I simply didn't have enough time with it. Not that one would need a lot of time to get into this album- it instantly draws you in and hooks you with his perfect blending of alt-country, punk, rock and pop. It's really great. I'll tell you more about it when I can go into more detail. But go get it tonight!
Oh, and the show will be broadcast on the radio on WDVX, just like in the olden days, so tune it to 89.9/102.9 or listen online here starting at 8pm tonight!
Today kicks off Backyard Tire Fire's tour, with The Old Ceremony, opening for the Squirrel Nut Zippers, beginning in Asheville, NC at the Orange Peel. On Thursday, they will be here in Knoxville at the Bijou Theatre. Tickets are still available here, and I suggest you get them now, as there will probably not be many, if any, left on Thursday night at the box office. Backyard Tire Fire are touring in support of their newest release The Places We Lived, out now on Hyena Records.
Just before the tour kicked off, we caught up with Ed Anderson, the vocalist, guitarist, driving force and all around utility player for Backyard Tire Fire, for a few questions as they geared up for the tour and their upcoming stop in Knoxville. See what Ed had to say:
SDB: Knoxville is really excited about y'all coming to town. Forgive my ignorance, as I don't recall and I couldn't seem to find any record of y'all playing here before. Have y'all played Knoxville before? (if so, when/where and with whom?) Where are some of your favorite cities and venues to play?
BTF:this will be our first show in Knoxville and we’re excited about it. Always enjoy Chicago, NYC, san fran. Love the Georgia theatre in Athens. El Macambo in Toronto is a cool room. We’ve been lucky to play a lot of great old theatres like the Blue Note in Columbia, MO. Charlie Chaplin played that room!
SDB: I have been a fan of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, who y'all are touring with now, for a long time, dating back to early high school...How did you get hooked up with them and how's the tour going? Any surprises or stories that you are dying to share? Any anecdotes from the road?
BTF: we haven’t started with them yet but look forward to it. Our first show is in Asheville, nc on oct. 27th at the Orange Peel. Not sure how we got hooked up with the shows…
SDB: I saw that y'all opened for Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pussy earlier in the year-- how was that and how did that come to be? All three of y'all are totally different, which is great to see shows like that, but the three of y'all on the same bill sounded strange to me at first. That show consisted of Psycho/Rockabilly, Southern Rock/Punk/CowPunk and y'all. Also, y'all have played or will be playing with Los Lobos and Rose Hill Drive recently. What were the crowds like and how did they respond to BTF, especially for the Rev and Nashville P?
BTF: not really sure how we got on the rev. tour, but it worked out well. Nashville and the rev. and all of the folks that work with them are good people that we enjoyed being around on a daily basis. Three very different acts, but all very rooted in rock and roll.
SDB: There have been several personnel changes over the years. How have these personnel changes affected BTF? Obviously, these changes were made for the better, but what is different now than before? How is it with your brother in the band? Any "brotherly love" quarrels and shenanigans?
BTF: going from a four piece to trio, was quite different at first, but once we started gigging a lot as a three piece, it became comfortable. We can always pull it off as the trio, but we’ve found that it’s nice to add someone into the mix every now and again.
SDB: Tell us a little about your new album "The Places We Lived". It is grabbing alot of attention on the blog scene and by word of mouth. How does it compare to your past albums and EPs?
BTF:all of the studio stuff has been recorded on analog tape. This one is a little different stylistically in that it has more piano based songs and can be a bit more pop at times. I think it’s the best thing we’ve done, but then I always think the newest stuff in the best. You learn more as you go in the studio and as a writer you know?
SDB: BTF's sound is quite it's own...actually BTF's sounds are your own, as most songs on the new album take shape all their own, and are different from the song before. The Places We Lived is one of the most musically diverse albums that I have heard in some time (that I actually like and it goes together). Some of the songs are poppier like "Time With You"; some are slower, soulful piano based songs like "Rainy Day", "Home Today" and "One Wrong Turn"; some are piano driven with a dive/honky tonk sound like "Everybody's Down"; some are good old fashioned rock songs like "How in the Hell Did You Get Back Here" and "Welcome to the Factory"; and some are just a sum of the parts: "Shoulda Shut It", "Legal Crime" and "The Places We Lived".
Is there a different thought process to writing these different styles of songs, or was it planned for the songs to all sound different, but still related?
BTF:it’s all done in pretty much the same manner. Not a whole lot of thought put into what style I’m gonna write. Sometimes has to do with what I’ve been listening to. Generally I’ve got an acoustic guitar in my hands when I’m home or I’m at a piano tinkering around. Stuff starts to happen and I let it take me wherever it goes. Not really thinking about genres or any of that.
SDB: Who/what are some of your biggest influences, and what did you take from them?- neil young. Do what you want to do. Play what you want to play. And respect the music. How have the homebase/hometown relocations over the years and the personnel changes affected your music and your outlook on your music and the band? You went from Asheville, a pretty cool, artsy city, then y'all pack it up and headed South to Athens, an obvious hotbed of indie rock, beginning with REM and B-52s (and more) and now the Drive-By Truckers, Dead Confederate, The Whigs (I could go on and on...) and now to Bloomington, Indiana, which to me and alot of people doesn't exactly say "rockin'" to us. Why there and what's the town like?
BTF:IT’S BLOOMINGTON, IL. NOT INDIANA. It’s a college town, I went to grad school there a long time ago. It’s close to Chicago. Cheap to live. Three major interstates roll through town. Lots of our friends live there, etc. honestly we spend most of our time in the van and hotel rooms and bars.
SDB: Sorry about the Indiana/Illinois mistake...I realized that I did that as soon as I sent it. Sorry!!
BTF: no worries on the IL/IN. although nobody from IL wants to be known as being from IN. it's like the red headed step child. like Jersey and NYC :-)
SDB: A few of the new songs talk about coming back home and spending time with someone in particular. Between all the moving around to different areas of the country and the touring, does the road take it all out of you and have you missing home, or do you love being out and wouldn't trade it for anything...and everything and everyone at home will just have to wait til you get back? Anyone in particular that "Time with You" and "Home Today" were written for or about?
BTF: when we’re home we want to get back on the road. When we’re on the road for a long time, we’re ready to get home. Grass is always greener you know? We love what we do, and are lucky enough to have folks at home that are cool with us being gone as much as we are. Time with you and home today are both written to my wife. In fact, time with you is written from her perspective using her words from a phone conversation we had on the road.
SDB: Besides already having a fairly extensive catalog (several albums and a couple EPs), without blowing your showmanship secrets and giving away surprises for the show, do you play covers or do anything in particular to surprise the crowd with that "Oh, Wow! I can't believe they are doing that" feeling and moment? Any trick or treats that y'all will be serving up to Knoxville on the eve of Halloween?
BTF: we’ve got lots of covers up our sleeve. Usually play about one a night. When we do somebody else’s stuff, we try to play the more obscure songs. Which is probably more fun for us than anybody else. We’ve done an older Alejandro Escovedo tune for years and I think there’s been one or two people that have known it. Sure love playing it though! What's your favorite thing about performing live?-sweating. Screaming. Raising hell. Making people think about things. Watching folks let loose.
SDB: Do you have a favorite song to play live, and if so what is it and why?
BTF:I like playing them all. Although there is a steve earle song called F the CC that we cover that I enjoy because of the subject matter and the fact that I get to say the word fuck about 30 times in 3 minutes.
SDB: Do you have a favorite song that you've written? If so why and is it the same as your favorite one to play live?
BTF:I like them all
SDB: Is there a song out there that you love that you didn't write and wish you had?
BTF:Teen angst by Cracker.
SDB: What are 5 artists/records that you've been digging on lately that you might suggest to our readers?
BTF:
alejandro escovedo-real animal. neil young and crazy horse-Tonights the night Wilco-being there. The clash-london calling. Los lobos-kiko.
SDB: Finally, my fellow blogger "Davy Vegas" and I have a theory that the single greatest sound on the face of the earth is that of a well-played steel guitar. Is this a theory you can support or do you have other thoughts on the subject?
BTF: yeah, pedal steel is an artform. Our friend Jerry “Muttonhead” Erickson that plays on our stuff is simply amazing. He’s been doing it for at least 30 years and can really make it sing. Absolutely love the sound of pedal steel being played by someone that knows the instrument. I feel the same way about a Hammond organ being played through a leslie cabinet. When manipulated well it can sound like a fucking carnival.
SDB: One last question-- where did the Backyard Tire Fire name come from and how was it decided that that would be the name?
BTF: we got our name from the Springfield Tire Fire on the Simpsons. just kinda rednecked it up..
Also, check out BTF's brand new video for "How in the Hell Did You Get Back Here", directed by NYC indie filmmakers, Filipe Bessa and Nick Schwartz. It was shot in BTF's hometown of Bloomington, IL. Check it out:
Maceo Parker will be at the Bijou Theatre with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra's Ray Charles Birthday Celebration (it is actually today!). Maceo's show should prove to be a spectacular tribute to the Genius.
If you are unfamiliar with Maceo and his work, check his stats and his collaborations with everyone in the business over the past 40+ years with The Godfather, P-Funk, The Purple One, the Chili Peppers, De La Soul, 10,000 Maniacs, Bryan Ferry, DMB and a ton of other folks. Check him out...I bet you don't even realize that you already know Maceo. How many of the albums that he has appeared on have you heard and do you own?
Today at the Disc Exchange at Noon: Darrell Scott. Come check him out as he plays tunes off of his new release Modern Hymns fo' free.
Check Darrell out and go see him today at either the Disc Exchange or at the Bijou Theatre tonight at 7:oo for the Tennessee Shines concert series that SDB covered a few weeks ago here. Also on the bill are The SteelDrivers, Shawn Camp and Knoxville's own the everybodyfields. Grammy-winner Jim Lauderdale will host. $10 will get you in!
Academy Award winning singer/songwriter and desperado Ryan Bingham (Crazy Heart) returns to Knoxville next week for what will be another amazing show. If you don't have tickets to this show yet, you may be out of luck...I'd be on the horn now trying to get some if it's not too late.
Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses are finally coming to Knoxville! They will be rocking the Bijou Theatre on Tuesday, May 18th. Ryan is fresh off his Oscar win this earlier this year with T-Bone Burnett for "The Weary Kind", the theme from Crazy Heart, featuring Jeff Bridges, and is touring all of May.
In Cahoots with Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers
We caught up with Patterson Hood, the long hauler and lead Trucker, to discuss the new album, a summer tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a few bands that we all need to know about.
DO NOT MISS Bonnie 'Prince' Billy at the Bijou Theatre Tuesday night at 8pm with Lichens. BPB, aka Will Oldham, is touring in support of his newest release Beware, and is gracing Knoxville with his presence. Tickets are still available, so get them now. You'll be sorry when you hear all your cool friends talking about how great the show was and you didn't go...
Alejandro Escovedo is one of many performers tonight at the January edition of Tennessee Shines, the monthly concert series at the Bijou Theatre. This month's installment kicks of the Bijou Jubilee, for the theatre's centennial celebration!
As we mentioned previously here, the Squirrel Nut Zippers will invade Knoxville's Bijou Theatre tonight for what is sure to be a great show full of surprises and different sounds with the likes of up-and-comers Backyard Tire Fire and The Old Ceremony in-tow as well.
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