Tag: terry allen

Terry Allen, For All Reasons

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

(Editor’s Note: Below, singer-songwriter and filmmaker Scott Ballew reflects on his relationship with legendary Texan musician Terry Allen for an exclusive BGS op-ed. Ballew, who directed a 2019 documentary about Allen’s life and music, Everything For All Reasons, will release a brand new album, Rio Bravo, on March 29 via La Honda Records.)

I moved back to my hometown of Austin, Texas in 2016 after 10 years of treading water in LA. California never felt like a permanent home to me, but over the course of a decade out there I was finally able to become ME. Part of that process was accepting that I was, in fact, a Texan and learning how to celebrate that.

Terry Allen’s cult album, Juarez, was reissued in 2016 around the same time I crossed state lines. It was given to me by a friend as a welcome home present. At the time, I embarrassingly only knew of Terry as the man who wrote “Amarillo Highway” as covered by Robert Earl Keen. Juarez was the first record I put on my turntable once I finally set everything up in my new south-Austin house, and it stayed there for four years. I was doing a lot of traveling back then making documentaries, and Terry’s voice traveled with me as “Cortez Sail” and “Dogwood” blared through my rental car speakers while driving through New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, and beyond.

Where had this been all my life? Was this written specifically for me? Who is Terry Allen? And how can I find him?

After a few years being back in Austin, I started a songwriting documentary series with Ryan Bingham. As the format started to take shape, we began talking about potential guests and Ryan casually mentioned he was very close with Terry and that he might be a great option. Holy shit. There wasn’t another name on the planet he could have mentioned that would have made me more excited than Terry’s.

Making The Midnight Hour was the first time the adage “don’t meet your heroes” proved to be false for me. Terry was kind, genuine, and funny. Terry reminded me that it’s ok to be Texan. And it’s ok to be creative.

Other things I’ve picked up from Terry along the way are:

  • The audience is irrelevant.
  • You have to fight for love.
  • Take care of your Art and your Art will take care of you.
  • You can have more than one calling.
  • Be kind.

I went on to make a longer documentary about Terry called Everything For All Reasons. I learned more about him during that process and came out liking him even more (not the case with most film projects). I tried to get David Byrne to address how unique and creative Terry was and David chose instead to focus on Terry’s family life, as that seemed more unique to him than anything else these days. He was right, and that ended up being the heartbeat of the entire film. 

L: Scott Ballew, Terry Allen, and Ryan Bingham. R: Terry Allen with Scott Ballew.

At this point I like to think of Terry as my creative Godfather and someone I can always reach out to when I need a nudge to have some guts and do the right thing. He is the sole reason I started writing songs and why I had the naïve confidence to follow through and actually record them. Thank you Terry, for everything.

All photos courtesy of Scott Ballew. Lead image by Greg Giannukos.

MIXTAPE: Kitchen Dwellers & Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Cattle Drive

Posted on by Editor

Back when cowboys were king, ranchers used to have to make regular pilgrimages across long, winding trails to sell their cattle at stockyards and make their living. One such trail, known as the “Goodnight-Loving Trail,” extended all the way from central Texas to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and has been immortalized many times over in movies and songs. The journey involved with moving these cattle countless miles on horseback was known as a cattle drive. This fall we’ll be hitting the road on the Kitchen Dwellers and Daniel Donato tour, and we’d like to think of it as a bit of our own “Cosmic Cattle Drive.” We hope you enjoy and hope to see you out on the road this fall.

Selections 1-6: Torrin Daniels, Kitchen Dwellers
Selections 7-12: Daniel Donato

Colter Wall – “Cowpoke”

One of the oldest and most famous cowboy songs to date, this one tells the story of the life of a ‘cowpoke.’ Colter Wall did a damn fine version here, with each country-western instrument beautifully represented — but what really sells it is the ‘cattle call’ in the chorus.

Daniel Donato – “Justice”

This tune was my introduction to Daniel’s music, way back in the spring of 2020. Nothing screams western psychedelia quite like that opening guitar riff, and right off the bat it shows that these boys are masters of their realm in a place of no space and time. Plus the chorus got that Gangstarr reference.

Gram Parsons – “Return of the Grievous Angel”

Gram Parsons is the father of country-rock and maybe the first person to coin the term “cosmic country.” With references to “truckers, kickers, and cowboy angels” and “lighting out for some desert town” — as far as road songs go, this one’s got it all.

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard – “Billabong Valley”

“Outlaws on the run, faster than a stolen gun.” KGLW are gurus of many things across the musical spectrum, but above all, they have mastered the dark art of “evil guitar.” That same style of gained up, tremolo-drenched guitar which can be heard across the soundtracks of countless western movies.

Billy Strings – “Heartbeat of America”

As a musician on any road trip, it’s an inevitable fact that you’re eventually gonna start listening to your buddies’ music. Billy and the boys really knocked it outta the park with this one, with instrumental sections that are both bluegrass-laden and psychedelic in nature. We can only hope that once we embark on our journey, we may begin to hear the heartbeat of America out there on the road.

Chris LeDoux – “Horses and Cattle”

Chris Ledoux was sort of a family friend of ours growing up. I was going to his shows long before I was old enough to realize the legend that he was. I honestly don’t know of any other country musicians that can hold both a Grammy nomination AND a Pro-Rodeo Bareback World Championship as accolades. The guy was as western as it gets, and so is his music.

Kitchen Dwellers – “Guilty”

This song is a prime example of how music can be a harmony of light and dark, hard and soft, and reflective and joyful. Emotional content not considered, the arrangement and musicianship The Dwellers play with is inspiring and transcendent.

Jimmy Wakely – “Moon Over Montana”

This song is a transportation device into a Tarantino movie taking place in a spacious and vast unknown Big Sky prairie where the search for the light through the darkness of troubles and sorrow every hero finds on their journey is about to begin.

Waylon Jennings – “T For Texas”

There was a time when country was astonishing in its danger and sensibility of pocket and edge. This live track should satiate any live music experience fix of that special vibe that a listener should have, but in a musical context that is Honky Tonk and Twangy.

Marty Robbins – “Big Iron”

The story is the framework for dark and light, love and sorrow, and life and death. The story that creates the experience that is within this song is pungent and captivating. Also note the fantastic Grady Martin picking the nylon string guitar throughout the song and story.

Khruangbin – “So We Won’t Forget”

There are few things more magnetic than music being made live by a band that understands listening and arrangement, in a format that is easy to access and feel. This song captures a myriad of emotions that feel like nostalgia, joy, and vulnerability.

Little Feat – “New Delhi Freight Train”

Lowell George was a genius in capturing a feeling, and communicating it through his sensibility of arrangement, orchestration, and singing, with these lyrics written by Terry Allen. This song feels like an adventure, like something new is on the horizon, and for all of us, this is the case in this very moment.

Photos Provided by Big Hassle Media

BGS 5+5: Noel McKay

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Noel McKay
Hometown: My hometown is really the little Central Texas Hill Country community of Pipe Creek. I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Latest album: Blue, Blue, Blue
Personal Nicknames: I think that in the US, Noel is a sufficiently unusual name that I never really got a nickname. It’s a fairly common name in the UK, as it turns out.

Which artist has influenced you the most… and how?

The artist that influenced me the most is Guy Clark. Guy took a shine to one of my songs when I was a young songwriter. He did a lot of nice things for me and I won’t ever forget it. As I began to dig into his catalog, I realized the depth of his work. Of course, I will never live up to the expectations that come from being spoken about favorably by such an amazing writer but, every day, I try to anyway.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

With the pairing of food and music in mind, I would love to sit and eat Cajun food with Lucinda Williams somewhere in the Atchafalaya Basin. So much of her work has had a huge impact on me.

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

The moment I knew I wanted to be a performing songwriter was when I was 11 or 12 and hearing Randy Newman’s records Sail Away and Good Old Boys. The very sharp expressions of his worldview really appealed to me and made me feel like it was possible to sing about something besides hedonism. Up to that point, the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati had been showing me a sort of cartoonish example what musicians were supposed to be like.

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

I have a few rituals in the recording studio. When cutting basics, I find that it’s best to avoid caffeine for the purposes of keeping a relaxed vibe. When singing, I do lots of breathing and drink tons of water. When in mixing, I like to have books with lots of pictures, i.e., vintage guitars, famous painters’ works, sculpture, archaeology, things that allow me to be partially distracted so that my ear remains engaged, but I don’t micromanage or obsess over a small part of the bigger song picture.

If you had to write a mission statement for your career, what would it be?

If there’s a mission statement for my career, it is this: “You Do It Or You Don’t.” I’ve tried both.

Photo credit: Aisha Golliher

BGS 5+5: Graham Sharp

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Graham Sharp
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Latest Album: Truer Picture

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

I think Steve Martin has influenced me more than any other artist. The level of attention and devotion he brings to every project (music, film, books, etc.) is inspiring. I don’t think I know any other artist quite so single-minded as Steve. When we began working together I had no expectations, but could easily picture him resting on his past success and coasting; nothing could be further from the truth. Over and over again he’s shown that to be successful you have to put in the daily work, keep pushing yourself and not be afraid to take chances.

How often do you hide behind a character in a song or use “you” when it’s actually “me”?

I try to keep a few approaches in my toolkit, so if A isn’t happening one day maybe B, C, or D will. Sometimes I’ll try to remove myself completely from a song and let the story unfold. More often I can’t quite get away from myself and a lyric is my way of processing a situation. Likewise, I like to place myself in a more unfamiliar setting and try on a different voice or perspective. I think my songs, in general, have become more personal over the years and they’ve helped me be more empathetic. Often a song can encourage me to say what is otherwise scary or difficult to express.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

The toughest time I had writing a song was probably “Honey on My Tongue” from the newest Steep Canyon Rangers album. We were holed up in a hotel in Vancouver for several days with no shows. I wanted to use the time to write a song for my daughter but sat there with paper and pen for hours on end with little or nothing to show for it. At some point I bought a ticket and visited a little Japanese garden nearby. But when we left town I still had nothing to show for it. It was familiar frustration of having something in sight but just out of reach. I try not to let that bother me too much, but it’s often in the background. When we got to the next tour stop, maybe Calgary, I got out my guitar backstage and the first thing that I played was a little melody. After that the whole tune just fell into place. Those are good moments.

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do those impact your work?

I write directly about nature a lot. The song “Deeper Family” is a good example. I was spending time in the woods hiking and had just read The Overstory by Richard Powers. The book talks about the interconnectedness of the forest and a vast life taking place underground. Other times, the woods is simply a great place to let the mind wander and find itself. The forests feel have the great effect of calming the brain while firing up the senses. After a bike ride I can usually count on a new line or perspective or melody.

What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc. — inform your music?

I tend to write best and most when I’m reading books, stories, or poems that I love. Short stories especially mirror what a song sets out to do. The scene is set and characters come to life so completely and economically. I think the same about the best songs, where no word is wasted and every line has a purpose.

Terry Allen – “The Beautiful Waitress”

The way he paints a scene, you find yourself sitting there in the booth with your bowl of chili and you can’t help but fall in love with the beautiful waitress. I admire writers who can set you down in a world so completely that you start filling in all the gaps from your own imagination. And the spoken word outro is the maybe the best ever.

Don Williams – “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend”

A perfect country song, outlaw with a soft touch. If I could trade my voice for anyone’s it would be Don Williams.

Nina Simone – “The Assignment Sequence”

The way this song starts in easy and builds to a monumentally intense groove never fails to get my heart pounding. Nina Simone is one of the absolute giants of American music, and she has long held my fascination and admiration.

Steep Canyon Rangers – “Honey on My Tongue”

A little song I wrote for my daughter. It’s hard to encapsulate everything that is the love of a parent but I’m proud of how this one turned out. I love the band’s take on it, from Barrett’s Astral Weeks-style bass to Ashworth (normally our drummer) playing a fantastical bubbly banjo line.

Graham Sharp – “Generation Blues”

When chaos seemed like it would swallow the world back last year, I wrote this while thinking about what we’ve inherited and what we can choose to bring with us or leave behind. Seth Kauffman, who produced the record, must have intuited how much I like The Kinks because the feel on this landed just where I didn’t know I wanted it; it seemed like he did that for every track on the record!

Photo credit: Sandlin Gaither

MIXTAPE: The Dirty River Boys’ VAN JAMZ Part 2

Posted on by Editor

When Mesa Starlight started coming together, there were two roads to take regarding the sound of the album. One: Change up the current formula we’ve been chasing the past eight years and fall into one genre. Two: Double down, highlight each member’s individuality while still creating something cohesive. Never taking the easy way out, we went with the latter. Here are a few songs that consistently spun on the long drives in the van that inevitably influenced Mesa Starlight, lyrically, sonically, and mentally. –Marco Gutierrez

“If I Should Fall From Grace with God” – The Pogues

,The Pogues take songs that can be tender and mellow, and put dirt on them. The band’s style of taking traditional Irish music into the folk/punk realm is something we be always tried to do with American folk and country. We considered covering this song on the album.

“Niteclub” – Old 97’s

Old 97’s, specifically the song “Niteclub,” got me into alt-country when I was younger. We listened to a lot of their catalogue as the album was coming together, but I always came back to this song

“Funeral” – Phoebe Bridgers

One of the best albums and songs I have heard in a long time. This probably got thousands of spins on long drives as we were touring in between recording.

“Dancing in the Dark” – Faye Webster

As great as the original is, Faye proves less is more when dealing with lyrical masterpieces. Nino’s song “Johnny” definitely needed that treatment.

“Lucinda” – The Lusitania

The Lucy was one of the best bands El Paso had to offer. They’ve been a huge influence on me since before The Dirty River Boys was formed. Their final EP, The Lucy Was Here, has been in heavy rotation since it came out a few years ago. Brilliant songwriting.

“Where Have All the Average People Gone” – Roger Miller

The idea that people don’t need to flock to ideological extremes that’s presented in this song paved the way for our song “Mesa,” which deals with a general unrest felt by all sides of the political spectrum.

“Mid 20’s Skateboarder” – Pkew Pkew Pkew

One of the best summer anthems I’ve heard in a while. Simple, catchy, fun, mean. You can hear how this song influenced “Wild in Our Streets.”

“Stay Lucky” – The Gaslight Anthem

Similar to The Lusitania, The Gaslight Anthem merges ridiculously well-written songs with a delivery that leans in the punk direction.

“The Ocean” – Against Me!

Around the time this album was coming together I was heavily revisiting the punk albums of my youth. Operation Ivy, Minor Threat, Dropkick Murphys, etc. Against Me! was one of the first punk bands I really fell in love with. The first time I heard this song at was at Warped Tour before they released New Wave. They played this song with such electric intensity. That’s what we strive to bring to our live shows.

“Amarillo Highway (for Dave Hickey)” – Terry Allen

The funky country groove on this Terry Allen masterpiece influenced the feel of “Backside of Uppers.”

“DNA.” – Kendrick Lamar

Another song and album that got thousands of spins on the long drives. Best album of 2017 in my humble opinion.

3×3: Nathan Bell on Being the Silver Surfer, a Reluctant Gypsy, and a Major League Baseball Mascot

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Nathan Bell
Hometown: Signal Mountain, TN
Latest Album: I Don't Do This tor Love, I Do This For Love (Working and Hanging On in America)
Personal Nicknames: I’ve never had a nickname and it’s uncool to give yourself one (just ask Kobe Bryant), but if I could have one, I’d like it to be “Wolverine.”

 

Bikes and shit

A photo posted by Nathan Bell (@nathanbellmusic) on

Your house is burning down and you can grab only one thing — what would you save?
I have a signed copy of a book of short stories by Rick Bass that my wife gave me when we were first together, so I’d take that. And my wife, of course. And our kids. And three dogs. 

If you weren't a musician, what would you be?
A Major League Baseball mascot.

If a song started playing every time you entered the room, what would you want it to be? 
“Atomic Dog” by George Clinton. Or, if I’m in a thoughtful mood, “It Never Entered My Mind” by Miles Davis. If somebody just died, Ralph Stanley singing “Rank Stranger.” Maybe always “Rank Stranger.”

 

Mossman one and Mossman two, pre shoulder surgery stalwarts

A photo posted by Nathan Bell (@nathanbellmusic) on

What is the one thing you can’t survive without on tour? 
The default answer is my guitar. But if you are allowing the guitar to exist separate of this question, my return ticket home. I’m a reluctant gypsy. I love to play solo live shows, but I’m a family man, and when they aren’t around, I need to know I’ll be going home eventually.

If you were a car, what car would you be? 
A battered 1997 Ford F-150, with 4×4 and an 8-Cylinder engine. I’m not so fast anymore, but I get stuff done. I don’t need any girls dancing in the bed, which is full of junk as we speak.

Who is your favorite superhero?
Silver Surfer — because he’s a complete fucking loner.

 

Acoustic Magazine has been kind enough to print some of my work. The newest issue is out. @acousticguitarmag

A photo posted by Nathan Bell (@nathanbellmusic) on

Vinyl or digital? 
Stone tablet. That way I could have liner notes and the proof that somebody worked hard to create something. But I love recording digital. Good microphones are all you really need.

Dylan or Townes?
Terry Allen. The greatest songwriter/sculptor to walk the earth. He’s unbought and unbowed, just doing his thing, perfectly.

Summer or winter?
Winter. Although, just to be contrary, I prefer Fall. Things dying, things sleeping, everything waiting to start over. The season that looks the least hopeful, like me, but, also like me, is optimistic that life goes on.

Photo Credit: Richard Duby