Tag: friends and neighbors

WATCH: Jaime Wyatt Sees a “World Worth Keeping”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

“We kissed the ring from the billionaire’s sleeve, yeah/
We let ‘em poison the roots/
I’d like my people and yours to see/
All of the earth in its bloom…”

Alt-country singer-songwriter Jaime Wyatt has announced her upcoming album, Feel Good, to be released on November 3 on New West Records, with a fiery lead single, “World Worth Keeping,” and its accompanying video. The track, though overarchingly optimistic and forward-looking, features Wyatt’s booming country croon dripping both with righteous anger and a passionate love for the Earth. The content here is more than apropos for a summer of striking, of record-setting ocean and air temperatures, and of ongoing natural disasters like wildfires, tornadoes, and torrential downpours. Wyatt’s particular brand of queer alt-country is perfectly poised to tackle issues such as these and to offer an imagination of the future that isn’t just despairing and defeatist. Like Iris Dement on “Workin’ on a World,” Wyatt chooses to see a redeemable planet, instead of a lost cause, utilizing hope not as a privileged denial of the stark realities of our everyday, but as a radical act of resistance – resistance queer folks engage in perpetually, within or without hope.

Feel Good was produced by Black Pumas‘ Adrian Quesada and builds on Wyatt’s rhinestoned and glamorous Western-informed Americana sounds, folding in R&B, country soul, and so many more roots influences. There’s a confidence and ease Wyatt continues to grow into following her critically-acclaimed prior albums. “A lot of us grow up feeling like we have to hide who we are just to be accepted, but that comes from a place of fear and judgment,” Wyatt explains via press release. “I wrote these songs as a way of letting go of all that, as permission to feel good.”

Photo Credit: Jody Domingue

The Secret Sisters Dust Off a 1940 Woody Guthrie Track on ‘Home in This World’

Posted on by Editor

Eighty-one years ago, an icon of American music released a record that has stood the test of time like few other bodies of work. Legendary storyteller and musician Woody Guthrie’s album, Dust Bowl Ballads, is that record, and now Elektra Records has issued an album that celebrates its musical singularity.

Titled Home in this World: Woody Guthrie’s Dust Bowl Ballads, the collection is far more than a restoration, remix, or remastering. Instead, producer Randall Poster tailored a reimagination of the album and rerecorded it with a slew of carefully curated artists such as John Paul White, Colter Wall, and Chris Thile. One of the highlights is “Dust Cain’t Kill Me,” performed by the Secret Sisters. “One of our COVID lockdown highlights was holing up in a hometown studio to record a tribute song to the great American storyteller, Woody Guthrie,” they said. “We loved swampin’ up his folk tune with a little Alabama mud. Hope y’all like it too!”

With such passion at the heart of it, Home in This World brings new life to music that has shaped American culture in the 20th and 21st centuries. An avid fan as well as an experienced music supervisor, Poster cast the artists by drawing on his keen sensibility for film music. “Woody Guthrie’s Dust Bowl Ballads is as relevant as ever,” he stated. “While profiteers exploit our natural resources, there is a growing sensitivity to the harsh farming practices that put our well-being at risk, and a concerted movement toward regenerative agriculture that can reinvigorate the soil and push back on climate change. I asked some of my favorite artists to help render these songs, hoping that this collection will reinforce the enduring power and prescience of Guthrie’s music and reveal the power of song. I tried to think of these songs as the soundtrack to a movie, building a narrative, a story where the world wakes up to the climate threats and unite to combat it successfully. It’s a great movie.”

Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

Chris Thile Takes Us to Church in Official Music Video for “Laysong”

Posted on by Editor

For a musician who has seemingly done it all and has the awards to prove it, Chris Thile found an excellent opportunity to create a solo record in the throes of the early pandemic. The project of that period of introspection and seclusion is one that has been, in some ways, a long time in the making, as his label Nonesuch had been hinting for some time to make an album centered around faith and spirituality. When the circumstance arose, Thile decided it should be done in as honest and straightforward a manner as possible: performed entirely by himself and recorded within the walls of a beautiful old church in upstate New York.

Titled Laysongs, the album offers a host of incredible performances, including compelling arrangements of Bartok and Bach, re-imaginings of traditional folk tunes, and original pieces inspired by literature. Enjoy this video of Chris Thile, our BGS Artist of the Month for June, performing the album’s title track in the church where it was recorded. And, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our exclusive, AOTM interview.

Photo credit: Josh Goleman

For “The Gathering,” Frank Turner Brings Jason Isbell on Electric Guitar

Posted on by Editor

Of all the things we’ve felt in the last year, anger isn’t an emotion that gets recognized as often as others. “Bullocks,” says British singer-songwriter Frank Turner. In his new single “The Gathering,” Turner lets the rage out while singing an upbeat rock number all about the optimism of coming together again. The song is energetic, exciting the audience with a glimmer of how “sensational” and “biblical” it will be when we are finally able to gather again. The stomping rhythm of the riffs in the verses is broken up by his roaring voice, rallying the troops around a strong sense of optimism about the return to “normal life.” His call was heard by heavy-hitting drummer Dom Howard (Muse) and electrifying guitarist Jason Isbell, who contributed the strong backbeat and a monstrous guitar solo, respectively.

The new single also comes attached to the announcement of a string of outdoor live shows aptly called The Gathering that will help kickstart the return of live performance for artists in the UK. The shows, imagined and designed by Turner and record label Xtra Mile, will be fitted with all measurements necessary to be flexible; socially distanced if required by mandate or filled to capacity if allowed. As Turner says, “At a time when the pandemic has wreaked havoc all across the live music industry, I feel like it’s important to get back to the basics — playing live music to entertain a crowd. This summer, with Xtra Mile and friends, I’m taking the punk approach — do it yourself, find a way. I can’t wait.”

Watch the official lyric video for Frank Turner’s “The Gathering” below.

Photo credit: Ben Morse

In a Hypnotic Video, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi Add Life to “O Death”

Posted on by Editor

Upon the release of their new record, They’re Calling Me Home, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi delivered a beautiful music video for their rendition of the old American tune, “O Death.” The video features a series of scrolling paintings done by Maeve Clancy, an Irish artist who specializes in these “crankie rolls.” It’s a suitable vehicle for illustrating Giddens’ performance, as the images match not only the drama of the story but also the pacing of the lyrics and rhythms. In this hypnotic, pre-electricity style, “O Death” comes to life with its own magnetism. It’s the latest installment in the North Carolina native’s ongoing collaborations with Turrisi, a gifted Italian multi-instrumentalist.

During the pandemic, Giddens and Turrisi stayed at home for more than a year in Ireland, and They’re Calling Me Home echoes the many ways that a tumultuous 2020 had many of us yearning for the comforts of home, of the past, or of those that were called home from this world. NPR’s Here and Now raved about They’re Calling Me Home, saying “Rhiannon Giddens’ newest album goes back in time to soothe the soul of listeners today.” In a Q&A with Garden & Gun, Giddens says, “I love the idea of old technology plus new technology. Maeve is cranking one long piece of paper from one side to the other. I hope people realize that! She’s responding to what’s going on in the song. And she found a certain style and then had to draw it so it has the same tempo as the song. I love getting inside another artist’s world for a bit.”

Watch the beautiful visual representation of “O Death” below.

Photo credit: Karen Cox

On ‘The Marfa Tapes,’ Miranda Lambert Finds “Tin Man” in West Texas

Posted on by Editor

Country fans already knew that “Tin Man” is a powerful song; it earned the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year award in 2017. In this new live video, Miranda Lambert reminds us how moving a simple performance can be. The solo acoustic version of “Tin Man” comes from a new album and film that Lambert and fellow songwriters (and proud Texas natives) Jack Ingram and Jon Randall have crafted. Titled The Marfa Tapes, the album features the recordings that are shown in The Marfa Tapes Film. Watch the trailer.

In November 2020, the three accomplished songwriters gathered in the desert of Marfa, Texas, as they have done together for years, and captured some incredibly beautiful, raw material over a five-day stretch. Some songs on the new record are familiar, but most of the music is new, only heard in Marfa until now. The trio took pains to not overdo the music; all of the tracks were captured in the Texas wilderness with only a couple of microphones.

On a Facebook Live video, Lambert explained, “The idea for the Marfa film came about because we wanted to do this organic record, where we go into the desert of Marfa, Texas, and record these songs we’ve written over the last six years. Jack Ingram, Jon Randall, and myself sort of found this little haven in Marfa in 2015 and have gone back several times over the years to write songs. We just thought, ‘Why don’t we put these out for the fans just how they are in their raw state?’ To go along with the sound of the cows and the wind, and everything that that tumbleweed country has to offer. We wanted to show the vastness and the beauty of something that we’re so proud of, that’s part of our state.”

Enjoy the new video for “Tin Man” below.

Photo credit: Jim and Ilde Cook of CookHouseMedia

Whether Your Dream Is Big or Small, Valerie June Dedicates This Song to You

Posted on by Editor

Valerie June blends her roots writing and singing styles with a markedly modern production quality in her new single, “Call Me a Fool,” giving the music a fresh yet familiar feeling. The upcoming album, titled The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, was produced by June and Jack Splash, whose resume includes powerhouse names like Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys, and John Legend.

“With this record, it finally became clear why I have this dream of making music,” says June, who was raised in Tennessee and now lives in Brooklyn. “It’s not for earthly reasons of wanting to be awarded or to win anybody’s love — it’s because dreaming keeps me inquisitive and keeps me on that path of learning what I have to share with the world. When we allow ourselves to dream like we did when we were kids, it ignites the light that we all have within us and helps us to have a sort of magic about the way we live.”

Embracing an experimental approach, Valerie June and Jack Splash recorded the project at Los Angeles and Miami studios. She notes, “For this album I wanted to see how we could bring some modern elements into that band-in-the-room approach I’ve taken with my records in the past.” To compound that marriage between old school and new, “Call Me a Fool” features none other than the Queen of Memphis Soul, Stax legend Carla Thomas. Crisp yet warm, sleek yet comfortable, Valerie June’s new music is everything we’ve been waiting for and then some. The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers will be available on March 12 on Fantasy Records.

Upon releasing the video, she wrote on Instagram, “Have you ever been a fool for a dream? It might have been a little dream like a kiss from a lover or a big one like the dream of peace that Dr. King, John Lennon, and so many others have had for humanity. No matter how big or how small your dream may be, keep believing, and let the world call you a fool!”

Photo credit: Renata Raksha

WATCH: The Secret Sisters Give “Cabin” an Acoustic Makeover

Posted on by Editor

The Secret Sisters’ Saturn Return is a beautiful record marked by stripes of maturity, grief, and resilience, reflecting the significant life experiences the sisters were sharing at the time of the album’s creation. From the hope and promise of “Late Bloomer” to the anger and passion of “Cabin,” the duo’s full range is on display, mixing incisive lyrics and truly pure arrangements to create their unique brand of roots music. In a statement, they noted, “With Saturn Return, our hope is that women can feel less alone in their journey through the modern world. We need each other more than we ever have; the less competition and the more inclusiveness and understanding, the better. We are southern women in the 21st century, convicted by our beliefs.”

Our BGS Artist of the Month in March 2020, the Secret Sisters return this year with two Grammy Award nominations. Saturn Return, produced by a roots music trinity of Brandi Carlile and the Hanseroth twins, will compete for Best Folk Album (the group’s second appearance in this category) while “Cabin” is a nominee for Best American Roots Song. To commemorate the pair of nominations, the siblings recorded an up close and personal performance of “Cabin.” Read our one-on-one interviews with Lydia and Laura, and enjoy their acoustic video below.

Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

WATCH: Larkin Poe Deliver the Healing Power of the Blues in Paste Session

Posted on by Editor

Blues is alive and well with sister duo Larkin Poe. In December, the pair were featured on Paste Studio on the Road: Nashville, an adapted version of Paste’s normal video concert series from New York City. This installment comes from Instrumenthead Live Studio in Music City and safely presents the roaring, gritty style of Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Although the audience is smaller than their usual draw, Larkin Poe perform the only way they know how: at full blast.

With more time for writing and recording falling into their laps over the course of the last year, Larkin Poe were hard at work, releasing not one, but two full-length studio records in 2020. The most recent, a covers collection called Kindred Spirits, was released on November 20 on Tricki-Woo Records. It comes on the heels of the June release of Self Made Man, which climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard blues chart. Visceral energy, raw emotion, and pure, unadulterated badass-edness jump out of the screen in this Paste session, satisfying the craving if only for a moment, for live entertainment that we’ve been so deprived of this year. Watch the exhilarating duo below.

Photo credit: Bree Marie Fish

WATCH: David Grier & Tommy Emmanuel Shred “Workin’ Man Blues”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Flatpicker David Grier and his band have missed the stage in recent months, itching to perform with the regularity they once did. Luckily, the good folks at Nashville TuneStream have given them a stage from which they can perform safely and deliver their golden musical product to audiences around the world.

A weekly residency was established for Grier and co. at the livestream production company earlier this year, and we at BGS have been watching. If you haven’t yet had the privilege of seeing David Grier work his magic live, we strongly encourage you to do so at the next safe opportunity — though streams will certainly stand in until that point! A purist and traditionalist of sorts, Grier isn’t quite a household name, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better flatpicker in the world. As a testament to his musicianship, Grier’s band is always loaded with heavy-hitting instrumentalists, this time including Stuart Duncan, Casey Campbell, Dennis Crouch, and renowned virtuosic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel.

Emmanuel leads the band through Merle Haggard’s “Workin’ Man Blues.” The train gets off to a powerful start, but Grier and Emmanuel derail the ensemble and venture off into a delightful guitars-only playground near the song’s end. During this pseudo-guitar duel, the rest stop entirely and share laughs with one another, as amused as we viewers at the mini guitar hero battle. The David Grier Band is scheduled to perform weekly for Nashville Tunestream, so watch this performance as a teaser and, if you can, support the band by tuning in!