Videos Archive - Page 15 of 34 - The Bluegrass Situation

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Sing “Survivor” on ‘The Tonight Show’

Shortly after the release of a new album called The Future on Stax Records, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats headed to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Donning custom black suits, Rateliff and company delivered “Survivor” with such magnetism that it felt reminiscent of Bill Withers or the Bee Gees. Radiating cool is regular for Nathaniel Rateliff, and the third studio record from the Night Sweats does not lack in that column by any measure.

The Future is an excellent follow up to 2020’s And It’s Still Alright, a moving album that came from a tumultuous time in Rateliff’s personal life. Overall, it feels like a strong response to the last record’s low-key melancholy and introspection. Swagger and moxie riddle the new sound. The band plays two hometown shows this week at the Mission Ballroom in Denver. But, European fans should take note. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are headed your way in 2022.

Photo Credit: Danny Clinch

BGS Wraps: Emily James, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

Artist: Emily James
Hometown: Pleasantville, New York (now Los Angeles)
Song: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Album: Christmas Mistletunes
Label: Nettwerk Records

In Their Words: “‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ has always been one of my favorite holiday songs. I really connected with the lyrics of this particular version, because it speaks so much about holding on and knowing that, even though times are tough right now, it will get better. It’s amazing to me that, even though the song was written in the 1940s, it’s as relevant to the present day as ever. 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years, to say the least, especially around the holidays when we want to gather and be with loved ones, but aren’t able to. I wanted to send the message through this song, especially to anyone who’s struggling, that we’re going to be okay. All we can do is just try to make the best of the situation at hand. For now we ‘have to muddle through somehow,’ and hopefully ‘someday soon we all will be together’ again.” — Emily James

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BGS Wraps: Joe Newberry & April Verch, “Christmas Eve”

Artists: Joe Newberry & April Verch
Song: “Christmas Eve”
Album: On This Christmas Day

In Their Words: It was pretty much a given that as a duo that loves fiddle and banjo duets that we would include the old tune ‘Christmas Eve’ when recording our first Christmas album, On This Christmas Day. While there are some great versions of this tune out there, our favorite is from Oklahoma fiddle legend Uncle Dick Hutchison. We studied the field recording made by Kevin Delaney in 1973 of Uncle Dick playing this tune. The extra beat of an A note in the B part of the tune really sets it apart and it just tickles us every time. It never gets old!

“This holiday album has been in the wings since our very first Holiday Cheer Tour, which came in December 2016, just a few months after we started performing together. From the very first holiday show, audience members started asking, ‘Where is the CD?’ During the pandemic we finally had time to ‘bubble together’ and create this collection of tunes and songs. Most of these songs are our originals, and we’re so excited to share this music with the world.” — Joe Newberry & April Verch

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BGS Wraps: The Sweet Lillies, “Let It Snow!”

Artist: The Sweet Lillies
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
Song: “Let It Snow!”
Album: Sweet Holiday Sessions
Label: Americana Vibes

In Their Words: “‘Let It Snow!’ felt like a perfect addition to our holiday album. The song’s lovely, delicate textures lent themselves easily to the band’s instrumentation and vocal styles. The song came together through a collaborative effort. The instrumentation features Grammy Award winner Sally Van Meter’s stunning dobro performance, Dustin Rohleder’s woven and beautifully phrased guitar lines, Becca Bisque’s dramatic viola intro, and Julie Gussaroff’s solid bass line. Becca’s lead vocals are an interpretation created and directed by vocalist and vocal arranger Amethyst Starr, with harmony parts put together by Julie. The song was captured and mixed by Grammy Award-winning recording engineer Andrew Gragg Lunsford to give it a thoughtful beauty that makes it a standout on the album. We hope you enjoy it!” — The Sweet Lillies

BGS Wraps: Liz Vice, “Jingle Bells”

Artist: Liz Vice
Hometown: Portland, Oregon (now Los Angeles)
Song: “Jingle Bells”
Album: A Soulful Holiday With Liz Vice (EP)

In Their Words: “Initially when asked by Finegold and Oro music to create a unique cover of popular Christmas songs, I wanted to say ‘no.’ Lol. I have never had a desire to make a Christmas record but 2021 has been a year of ‘do things scared.’ Since 2020 my confidence in being a musician has grown because of the amazing musicians I’ve been able to work with over these last couple of years. To co-produce was something I’ve wanted to try, and due to Covid and having to record from home over the past two years, I felt like the right opportunity had come along. And I knew exactly who I wanted to work with: Niji Adeleye, my co-producer, co-arranger, and pianist.

“‘Jingle Bells’ was a given. I’ve probably listened to that song 100 times. It’s one of my favorites on the EP. I had so much fun during this time. I was just about to head out to Europe for work and a writing class and Niji just got word that he would be touring with Harry Styles. Outside of Niji and me, every single musician lived in the U.K. so it was amazing to see what the musicians added from so far away.” — Liz Vice

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BGS Wraps: Joe Robinson, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”

Artist: Joe Robinson
Hometown: Temagog, New South Wales, Australia
Song: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
Album: Christmas au chalet

In Their Words: “For about two years, my fiancée Genevieve and I have been trying to secure her a K-1 VISA so we can get married and live in the US. 2020 was a particularly tough year to be not able to see each other because of closed borders — I live in Nashville. In August 2021, I drove up to Canada to visit her and help her with the VISA process and getting moved to Tennessee. During my three-month stay we visited a small chalet and I realized how much quieter it was than Genevieve’s apartment in the art district of Quebec City. Sitting there in nature I couldn’t put my guitar down. There is something about being away from the hustle and bustle that makes me love playing music so much more! This is the way I grew up in rural Australia.

“After a nice stay in the chalet, we returned to Quebec City and as I was working on my Christmas arrangements, I kept thinking how cool it would be to actually record this music in the chalet. So we loaded up my car with enough food for the week, my Maton JR Signature guitar, some high-fidelity recording equipment and a pair of DPA microphones, and headed into the Quebec mountains. Because of the cabin’s remoteness, it runs on solar power. It’s a cool setup and was a fun routine turning my equipment on to record, then switching it all off to not risk running the batteries down. I set about recording 13 Christmas songs over five days in October 2021. The weather was absolutely perfect — it was a really special time.” — Joe Robinson

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BGS Wraps: Lori McKenna, “Christmas Without Crying”

Artist: Lori McKenna
Hometown: Stoughton, Massachusetts
Song: “Christmas Without Crying”
Album: Christmas Is Right Here

In Their Words: “It was such a joy making this holiday music with my Nashville family of co-writers, musicians and friends. I feel like we hit on some of the emotions that come with the holidays — the easy feelings and the harder ones. It seems impossible for me to talk or sing about the holidays without going back in time and I feel so blessed to have the music to come back with me.” — Lori McKenna

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BGS Wraps: Catherine MacLellan, “Calling You Home (For the Holidays)”

Artist: Catherine MacLellan
Hometown: Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Song: “Calling You Home (For the Holidays)”
Album: Holiday (EP)

In Their Words: “I wrote this song Christmas 2020, feeling very far from family and friends that would normally gather around my kitchen table for feasts and laughter. The longing for the ones we love is such a part of Christmas culture for me. ‘White Christmas,’ ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’ ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ the list goes on! I was touching into that sentiment of being separated from a loved one, and hoping they could make it home.” — Catherine MacLellan

BGS Wraps: Mary Bragg, “A Long December” (Counting Crows Cover)

Artist: Mary Bragg
Hometown: Swainsboro, Georgia
Song: “A Long December” (Counting Crows cover)

In Their Words: “This heartbreaking classic from Counting Crows has always struck me as a brutally honest winter song, going to the places a lot of holiday songs won’t go. But even in that pause to reflect on pain, the impending new year offers some hope, that ‘maybe this year will be better than the last.’” — Mary Bragg

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BGS Wraps: Billy Idol, “O Christmas Tree”

Artist: Billy Idol
Song: “O Christmas Tree”
Album: Happy Holidays
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Label: Dark Horse Records

In Their Words: “Before our 2006 European tour, I recorded a number of seasonal songs. A tree-trimming, fireside, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day intimate album was the result. Most probably essential at Christmas is that the music is in the spirit. Knowing that family, friends and children might be listening, I wanted a selection that would please all, while still exploring the awe and mystery that is Christmas.” — Billy Idol

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