Tag: premiere

LISTEN: Mike and the Moonpies, “If You Want a Fool Around”

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Artist: Mike and the Moonpies
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Song: “If You Want a Fool Around”
Album: Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold
Release Date: August 2, 2019

In Their Words: “I first heard ‘If You Want a Fool Around’ on an album that Brian Black, Clint’s older brother, had released in the mid ’90s when he was living with us at my dad’s house. Even as a teenager, it was one of the most clever songs I’d ever heard. I knew that I would sing that song one day, but I didn’t have the right band or opportunity back then. I had forgotten about it until last summer when producer Adam Odor and I were discussing songs for the Abbey Road record. I played Brian’s version for him and we immediately knew it was perfect for the record and how great the chord changes would sound with the London Symphony Orchestra behind them. I had finally found the perfect time to sing that song.” — Mike Harmeier, Mike and the Moonpies

Photo credit: Benjamin Yanto Photography

LISTEN: Esther Rose, “Lower 9 Valentine”

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Artist: Esther Rose
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Song: “Lower 9 Valentine”
Album: You Made It This Far
Release Date: August 23, 2019
Label: Father/Daughter

In Their Words: “This is a sweet song about a love I had in the Lower 9th Ward. I thought of the title one day while I was driving and thought, ‘Has anybody written this song yet?’ so I pulled over immediately and started writing it out. I sent it to my boyfriend at the time and he said, ‘But you hate Valentine’s Day,’ which is actually true. So I added the line, ‘February 14th don’t mean a thing to me.'” — Esther Rose

Photo credit: Rush Jagoe

LISTEN: Audie Blaylock and Redline, “Love Is an Awful Thing”

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Artist: Audie Blaylock and Redline
Hometown: Auburn, Indiana
Song: “Love Is an Awful Thing”
Album: Originalist
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Label: The 615 Hideaway Records

In Their Words: “‘Love Is an Awful Thing,’ written by Redline bassist Reed Jones, I believe is a perfect bridge between tradition and the future. I think the lyrics and the musical interpretation — as well as vocal interpretation — show a fresh approach to bluegrass music and still pay homage to the roots and tradition that it came from.” — Audie Blaylock

Photo credit: Carter Vintage Guitars

WATCH: Jon LaDeau, “Call My Name” (Feat. Hayley Thompson-King)

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Artist: Jon LaDeau
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Song: “Call My Name” (feat. Hayley Thompson-King)
Album: Roads
Album release date: October 11, 2019

In Their Words: “‘Call My Name’ is the first single from my new album, Roads. It’s a duet with Hayley Thompson-King. I wanted to get the feeling across that a strong relationship with a close friend or family member or partner is such a special thing to have. You can always call on this person and they’ll be there. And they can call on you, no matter what.” — Jon LaDeau

Photo of Jon LaDeau by Brian Geltner
Album cover image credit: Jon LaDeau, Brian Geltner, Alyssa Kriner

LISTEN: Songs from the Road Band, “Any Highway”

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Artist: Songs from the Road Band
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Song: “Any Highway”
Album: Waiting on a Ride
Release Date: July 31, 2019
Label: Lucks Dumpy Toad Records

In Their Words: “‘Any Highway’ is a song about the one that got away! It’s set out west in a desert town. Its relevancy is timeless. It was written by Darren Nicholson of Balsam Range fame and Charles R Humphrey III. We made it the first track on our new album because it introduces the themes of change, transition, travel, and nostalgia. Those threads are woven throughout the album and seem to tie this batch of songs together as one cohesive project.” — Songs from the Road Band

Photo credit: Keith Wright

LISTEN: Chris & Adam Carroll, “Hi-Fi Love”

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Artist: Chris & Adam Carroll
Song: “Hi-Fi Love”
Album: Good Farmer
Release Date: August 9, 2019

In Their Words: “I asked Adam if I could cover ‘Hi-Fi Love’ after we met at Roger Marin’s Cicada Fest in Ontario. Who knew that years later we’d be married, working together and putting it on our collaboration? We made a few minors adjustments to change with the times, and to suit what we are doing now.” — Chris Carroll

Credit: Todd V. Wolfson

LISTEN: Edan Archer, “Scenes from a Spanish Cantina”

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Artist: Edan Archer
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida, generally nomadic though 🙂
Song: “Scenes from a Spanish Cantina”
Album: Journey Proud
Release Date: August 2, 2019

In Their Words: “This song was inspired by Miami, where I spent many years, both as a young child and later as an adult. The rhythm is a kind of samba and references the drum schools of Brazil where ‘all of the dancers come, and all of the little drums.’ It also contains imagery of fleeting love and celebrating — roses going for a dollar and a half, Valentine’s chocolates melting in the sun of a street market. The singer is warned not to go ‘running with the leader of the band,’ but when the drums play in the street, the dancers still come, and in the moment, it’s worth it.

“My grandmother was from Cuba and my mom also grew up in Spain, so I’ve always loved Latin music and felt a special connection with it. I do speak Spanish and sing in Spanish also. I learned traditional Cuban songs from my uncles and even sang Spanish songs at their funerals. I sang in the Brazilian ensemble in college and developed a love of Samba and big percussion. We also spent most summers in Mexico so mariachi and ranchero music are faves too. I loved being able to combine all my influences in this album, and that had to include something with a Latin vibe.” — Edan Archer

Photo credit: Gregg Roth

LISTEN: Jesse Dayton, “If You Could Read My Mind”

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Artist: Jesse Dayton
Hometown: Beaumont, Texas
Song: “If You Could Read My Mind”
Album: Mixtape Volume 1
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Label: Blue Élan Records

In Their Words: “I remember hearing Gordon Lightfoot on our early ’70s Buick car radio and thinking he was so different than all the other singers. Years later, while playing guitar for Waylon, I found out so many of the country guys, like Waylon, Elvis, and Cash all loved Gordon. While Gordon’s song ‘Sundown’ might’ve been one of the coolest songs from that era, ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ was a deep study in psychological romance. Women around me seemed to be moved deeply by the lyrics and still are. I saw Gordon on tour six months ago and he’s still mesmerizing… I’m a fan for life.” — Jesse Dayton

Photo credit: Ray Redding

LISTEN: Che Apalache, “Rearrange My Heart”

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Artist: Che Apalache
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Song: “Rearrange My Heart”
Album: Rearrange My Heart
Release Date: August 9, 2019
Label: Free Dirt Records

In Their Words: “The first part of this song is the result of attending a Moravian church as a child and singing Bach chorales. Just fiddle and voices is a cool concept, reminds me of the organ. I wrote the second part at a late-night party in Buenos Aires, singing as I banged on a doumbek. Turns out it is in 9/8. This song has a ton of influences: Rajasthani folk, British Isles ballad singing, bluegrass, pop. It’s the kind of mystical world music I feel directly results from a deep respect for all folk music traditions while using one as your guiding light, in our case bluegrass.” — Joe Troop, Che Apalache

Photo credit: Mauro Milanich and Andrés Corbo

WATCH: Manda Mosher, “Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore”

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Artist: Manda Mosher
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Single: “Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore”
Single Release Date: July 26, 2019
Label: Blackbird Record Label

In Their Words: “When I first heard John Moreland’s album In the Throes, his honest songwriting and delivery hit hard. ‘Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore’ resonated strongly with me as a songwriter and [it’s] a song I wanted to perform and record with CALICO the band. It didn’t come to fruition then, but made a lot of sense to record for my new solo record, which we’re making in my studio as my first run out as a co-producer with Eric Craig. You can pour your heart out into song to have it be either quickly consumed or ignored in the fast pace of our age… and then you add in the factors of the public at times being more interested in flashy appearances or production than the quality of a song itself which can bring on this feeling. BUT this song pretty much proves itself wrong because it’s so damn good.” — Manda Mosher

Photo credit: Shots by Morrison
Directed by: Bob Wayne
Edited by: Bob Wayne & Eric Craig