Heya! Iâm Ben Reddell, GM of Bedrock LA, and curator of the Grand Ole Echo. What a year, am I right? 2020 had the music world completely shut down, which saddened me to no end. Through the power of computers I was able to remotely finish my EP, LA Baby! And live music is possible soon? Donât tempt me with a good time! With that being a possibility, this month has found me taking out the ole Rolodex and seeing what all my LA pals have been making in this trying time, this new normal, on this road to recovery. (Donât hit me!)
If youâre new to Grand Ole Echo, itâs the swinging Los Angeles country and roots show here in beautiful Echo Park on Sunday afternoons. As you will see proven by this playlist, I curate the GOE with a very eclectic mix of roots music. We love our traditional country here in Echo Park, but we also like to let our freak flag fly with the hippie-dippie, pot-smoking types as well. Hopefully all of these folks will be playing live on my stages again, and when they do, I hope to cut a rug with you. Hereâs a playlist of some of those folks. â Ben Reddell
Tony Hannah â âMy Old Carâ
Tony is kinda new to my attention. She was booked for 2020 GOE, but you know. Anyway she is super fun, and this track is pure LA bliss, Beach Boys, â80s country punk. A little bit of everything.
Mara Connor â âBlues Runs the Gameâ
My pal Mara Connor made an awesome EP this year of some beautiful tunes. My favorite on this one is her cover of Jackson C. Franksâ âBlues Runs The Game.â The whole EP is like youâre floating on a cloud, itâs simply divine.
Sam Morrow â âGetting by on Getting Downâ
I canât wait to see all of these bands live again. But boy howdy am I ready to have my face melted with some loud, guitar-driven music. And boy does Sam Morrow deliver that here with this tune. The whole record really cooks.
Joe Bourdet â âUnwritten Storyâ
My pal Joe Bourdet really delivered a beautiful country-rocker opus with his EP Meadow Rock. This is the perfect summer song to sit on the porch and feel the wind caress your face. And thatâs not hyperbole!
Sie Sie Benhoff â âNight Trainâ
My pal Sie Sie released this country cooker, âNight Train.â The song is so sweet and so tough at the same time â emblematic of what I love about Sie Sie. She the nicest gal youâre ever gonna meet, but she could also probably chew on nails.
Victoria Bailey â âSkid Rowâ
My buddy Victoria made an amazing record last year despite it all. The whole thing has awesome honky-tonk energy and she sings it with some great power. âSkid Rowâ is like an Asleep at the Wheel-style number that really makes you wanna dance.
Eric Roebuck â âNeed a Changeâ
My buddy Eric put out the single âNeed a Changeâ this year and itâs a mean, heady, â70s rock jam. Really great guitar playing by Eric on this one. Ericâs previous band, Professor Colombo, was one of my favorites. But I just know this kid is on to something and I expect some sick stuff coming from him in the future.
Katie Jo â âI Donât Know Where Your Heartâs Beenâ
My pal Katie Jo is a real sensation. She put out this single this year and I simply love the Patsy Cline vibes. Katieâs got an amazing voice and live sheâs a showstopper.
Trevor Beld Jimenez â âGet Ready to Flyâ
My pal Trevor put out his solo record, I Like It Here, last year and itâs simply divine. My favorite tune is âGet Ready to Fly.â Itâs just so sweet and happy, much like Trevor.
Pacific Range â âStudio Walkâ
My friends Pacific Range put out their amazing album High up the Mountain. These dudes were one of my favorite bands to book on the porch at GOE when they were first starting out. They just would electrify the air when they were out there.
Mail Order Cowgirls â âBrand New Startâ
Iâve was made aware of this band through my co-worker Meg at Bedrock. Iâve seen them show up to the studio in western regalia a few times, but Iâve never met them. Anyway I think they are cool as shit. They had a self-titled EP come out this year which is great. Hoping to get them on a GOE soon.
Los Bolos â âWhy Get Soberâ
This year Los Bolos put out The Best of the Greatest Hits and it was really hard not to crack open an afternoon beer when I put it on for the first time. Sure I was in lockdown, but there was a real good party going on in my head.
Photo credit: Chris Phelps