You Tube Clip: Peter Cooper with Jerry Brightman
May 10, 2011 Youtube Clip
Over four years ago, Peter Cooper came and played a show at Paul’s Nite Club in my hometown. He met up with pedal steel player, Jerry Brightman (formally of Buck Owens’ Buckaroos) for the show. I filmed the show with two cameras and never got around to doing anything with it.
With the approaching Civil Rights Game this Sunday, I thought this would be a good place to start. This is Cooper’s song, “715 (for Hank Aaron) and I have edited the video with archival baseball footage. The video quality is not really all that good. The pedal steel is a little overpowering and as with anything shot in a bar, the background chatter is annoying. Overall though, I think it turned out okay.
It is what it is… enjoy:
Tags: Jerry Brightman, peter cooper, Youtube Clip
Album Review : Elizabeth Cook : Welder
Jul 22, 2010 Album Reviews
For those of you following my facebook pages, you know that I have been obsessed with this album the last few days since buying it. I wasn’t going to review it, being that is now two months old. Then I thought why not? That’s why write on this site, who gives a damn if it’s a couple months old? It is a great album that people need to know about.
I saw Elizabeth for the first time a few years ago opening for Todd Snider in Dayton and really enjoyed the show, even bought her last album but then largely forgot about her until the last few weeks. I started hearing talk of how good this album was and when my emusic subscription came in this month I saw it and bought it.
This record showcases all of Cook’s numerous talents: her playfulness, her extremely well crafted lyrics, her penchant for writing a catchy tune, her unique voice and her ability to marry Tim Carroll and get Rodney Crowell, Buddy Miller, and Dwight Yoakam to appear on the record.
Seriously though, I am not a huge fan of many female country singers, but Cook has something that most don’t, as a matter of fact she all those things I mentioned in the last sentence. Right off the bat this album is amazing and I’m not sure there is a letdown at all along the way for the entire 14 tracks. That’s right, 14 tracks another thing to love about this album it actually has a considerable amount of music on it.Damn, I love it more by the minute.
Cook’s exuberance and cleverness are all over this record. Starting with the absolutely hilarious recount of an one night stand with a 1980′s, mullet wearing, quaalude popping, beer drinking leftover, “El Camino”. Her humor returns in her pleas to a lover to say no to beer and “Yes to Booty” on the 5th track.
The absolute standout on the album is “Heroin Addict Sister” which is easily the most emotionally stirring song I’ve heard in quite some time. The story follows the path you’d expect from a song with that title, but Cook’s feeling and ability to write great lines raises goose bumps on your arms from the start to finish of the song. I have played this song for everyone I have seen in the past week and the reactions range from tears to just absolute amazement. I have been told that she has implied truth to the story but, I do not know for myself and if it is true all that does is make her brave on top of being able to create a song that is this stirring.
Another song that jumped out at me, was “Girlfriend Tonight”. This is basically something that will hit home for anyone who has been in a long term relationship. There is always a point when you want to put aside comfort and responsibility and revert back to being that young couple who partied and only gave a shit about each other.
Another Cook original I want to point out is “Rock n Roll Man”. A seeming ode to her husband guitar player, Tim Carroll, it contains some great lines such as “He likes to talk about Elvis, but only the Sun years” and “He thanks the Devil for his story and God for his gift”. Carroll who plays all over the record also contributed two songs to it.
Along with the Carroll songs “Follow You Like Smoke” and “Til Then”, Cook does a couple of other covers. “Blackland Farmer” is credited to Frankie Miller, “Not California” to Dan Messe and “I’m Beginning to Forget You” to Joyce Cook, Elizabeth’s departed mother (incidentally it follows Elizabeth’s original “Mama’s Funeral” on the record).
Now that I have seemingly touched on every song on the album, have you figured out that I think you should rush out and get your copy right now? If not re-read this article and visit Cook’s website to buy it here.
Cook has managed to put together one of the most well thought out, planned, and executed albums of the year. I also need to give credit to producer Don Was for allowing Cook to be herself in the studio and staying out of the way of the songs. While some may find her delivery a little odd, to me it is part of what makes her songs stick out and makes you listen to the lyrics.
I cannot believe she has not had a radio hit because of the way her songs seem to reach everyone that hears them. For my money she can continue to hang out with the rest of the hooligans in East Nashville and release brilliant records like, Welder.
Here’s a reward for making all the way through my long-winded Cook loving rant of a review. A video of her and Carroll performing “El Camnino” on a radio program.
Tags: album review, buddy miller, Dwight Yoakam, Elizabeth Cook, Rodney Crowell, tim carroll, todd snider, Youtube Clip
Youtube Clip : Peter Cooper and Eric Brace
Jul 7, 2010 Youtube Clip
Here is the first video I am uploading from last month’s Brace/ Cooper shows. This one is from Columbus where I didn’t shoot much video and I forgot the tripod so what I did shoot was kind of shitty quality. However, the performance is great and they mention their appearance on our podcast. Hope you enjoy.
Peter Cooper and Eric Brace : “Down to the Well” : June 5, 2010 Red Door Tavern Columbus, OH
Tags: eric brace, peter cooper, Youtube Clip
Artist of the Month, July 2010 : Brock Zeman
Jul 7, 2010 Artist of the Month
This month we venture north of the border for the Artist of the Month. Canadian, Brock Zeman puts out better Americana music than most everyone in the States as far as I’m concerned. With six studio efforts and a live album under his belt already this 28 year old has quite a body of work in a short time.
I first heard Brock when I was still promoting shows on a regular basis and he sent me an email. Anyone who does any promoting knows that these emails flood your inbox about everyday and you are really looking for something that stands out in them. With Brock’s, he threw out a couple of names that caught my eye. He had opened for Chris Knight and Fred Eaglesmith and in fact was then touring with ex-Eaglesmith band member, Dan Walsh.
I listened to a few clips on his site and went ahead and booked the show on a Thursday night (show available soon on this site). When Brock showed and played one of the best shows I saw that whole entire year to a crowd of ten of us, I was hooked. It was quickly obvious that the name dropping in the email was unnecessary and that Zeman’s songs could easily stand on their own two feet amid songs from any songwriter.
This guy has songs filling his pockets. He is constantly writing and it seems that he can write about any topic and really in any style he chooses. He can make you laugh one minute and bring the tears the next. On top of that he is a phenomenal showman, weaving stories and songs seamlessly together.
His songs whether on album or live have an energy that just draw you in. I know that it has become the cliche, go to description but his voice is definitely whiskey drenched, which fits his songs perfectly. I would recommend all of his records but, I do have some favorites.
Welcome Home Ivy Jane from 2006 features Brock with his band, The Dirty Hands. This album brings out the country side of Brock as well as any of his recordings to date. There a few rockers on here as well, but the 
slower songs are what stand out the most for on this one. “Cindy” is a letter to an ex lover full of lies of how well he is doing and reminds me of Waits’ “Christmas Card From a Hooker” tune with a few new twists. “Saturday Night” is the next in a long line of songs about what happens after the last chord is struck and the band finishes it’s gig for the night. More upbeat is ” Down in the Basement” the story of Brock staying in a very un-kept basement that after a few hours and perhaps some paranoia inducing drinking, seems to contain all kinds of strange characters and objects. Of his earlier albums this one stands out as my favorite.
If you are like me you have come across a bootleg of unreleased demos or outtakes from one of your favorite artists and thought, man these versions of the songs are so much better than the ones they ended up releasing. 2007′s Bourbon Sessions from Zeman and Walsh is that bootleg only it was released. Recorded over a couple of days and a lot of shots of bourbon in Walsh’s home studio this album is right in my wheelhouse. The stripped down feel of the songs that Zeman was just kicking around at the time completely captures what seeing Brock live is like. With little to no overdubbing the album just allows the master song craft to shine through.
My favorites on this one are hard to pick because really top to bottom this one is a must listen. “Don’t Ya Tell Jimmy” caught me immediately because I am a sucker for gambling tunes, and this one is a classic. Also on the album is a ramped up stomper of a tune about a night in a very rough bar, “Blood on the Hardwood Floor”. A couple of stories of eventual murder round out my picks for this one in “Rock Fence” and “Something’s Gonna Crack”.
The final album I will go into is Zeman’s latest studio effort, $100 Difference. Released in late 2008, this record brings out the rock n roll in Zeman. A lot of the tunes on this one include a full out rockin’ band and are generally more up beat than some of his earlier stuff. 
“Girl With a Gun” according to Brock, is about a relationship where you are completely afraid of the woman. “Train in Me” is a track that appeared in bare parts on The Bourbon Sessions, but here is a rocked out ode to everyone’s favorite subject. The album closer is “Once Upon a Saturday Night” and it follows the narrator through a night of drunken mischief that ends in a lot of needed apologies. Over all it is one of Brock’s finest releases to date.
Zeman also released his first live record last year with “Live @ Acoustic Grill”. I have just recently gotten a copy of this so I can’t really go into a lot of detail about it. I can say that the line up on the record is Zeman, Walsh, and Blair Hogan on bass and it features a number of previously unreleased songs. I have seen that line up on three occasions and every time it was amazing.
Shortly after the release of the live record, Zeman and Walsh parted ways and Hogan is now playing all of the lead guitar in the live sets. From what I’ve seen via Youtube clips, this change has not altered the quality of the show whatsoever as Hogan is a phenomenal guitar player. He also plays a few other instruments at times on stage and therefore brings a little something extra to the table.
Zeman, who is currently on Busted Flat Records, is almost certainly working on his next release even as you read this. I know for a fact that he is sitting on stockpile of material so it is just a matter of finding time in his schedule to hit the studio.
In addition to his own music, Brock has ventured off into the realm of producing and has recently released an album by fellow Canadian, Robert Larisey, on his new record label, Mud Music. From the tracks I’ve heard it is also going to be a great record and it features Zeman on bass and Hogan on multiple instruments.
Unfortunately for those of us Stateside we will not be getting the chance to see Zeman live for awhile as he is currently booked all year in Canada. You can, however, visit his website and buy all of his albums, which I would highly recommend. You can also find his email on the site and begin sending him messages asking for his return to the states.
Look for that first live show to appear here later this week as a download in mp3 format. Also look for a review of the Larisey album later this month.
To further convince you to check out more of Brock’s stuff here is a video of him performing “The Juggler”, a song about a performer in traveling show, with Blair Hogan
Tags: Brock Zeman, Chris Knight, dan walsh, Fred Eaglesmith, Youtube Clip
Youtube Clips : For Father’s Day
Jun 20, 2010 Youtube Clip
Tomorrow is Father’s Day, and I thought I would look up some videos that are about dads that I like and share them with all of you. Some of them are from the perspective of the child and some of them are the dad looking at his children. Anyways Happy Father’s Day to my dad and to all the dads out there.
“A Face Among the Crowd” Jackie Greene
“Things I Wish I’d Said” Rodney Crowell
“Your Dad Did” John Hiatt
“Happy Father’s Day” Ronny Cox: it’s a Jonathan Byrd song but this is the only version of it I could find on Youtube and I just love this song.
“Father and Son” Cat Stevens
“Missing You” Todd Snider
“Garbage Man” Greg Klyma
There’s a ton more out there, but these are a few that I like and could find on Youtube. Once again Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
Tags: cat stevens, greg klyma, Jackie Greene, John Hiatt, jonathan byrd, Rodney Crowell, ronny cox, todd snider, Youtube Clip
Album Review : Lincoln Durham EP
Jun 15, 2010 Album Reviews
It’s guys like this that make me wish someone would offer me a job in Austin, so I could uproot my family and move there (not that I have an serviceable skill mind you). This ep is a teaser to a debut album that is supposed to hit the shelves sometime this year. Four songs of all kinds of gritty, bluesy, roll down the window and sing along fun.
It’s no surprise that Ray Wylie Hubbard has signed on to produce young Durham’s record. The talent is overfilling the cup. Slide guitar, harmonica, a hellacious backbeat and vocals that would make Muddy Waters proud. Not to say this is a straight blues recording as Durham definitely has that Texas country charm intertwined with his whiskey drenched delta sound.
I would try to single out my favorite tracks, but with only four it is nearly impossible. “Livin’ This Hard” starts the disc out right with a hard rock n’ roll sound that gets you in the right mood.
“Georgia Lee” tells the story of a rough southern woman who wears a tattered dress and plays “Hoochie Coochie Man” on a guitar “blessed by Muddy’s hand” .
The next song ” How Does a Crow Fly” slows the tempo down a little and shows that Durham is no one trick pony. It really showcases his songwriting ability with lines like “I met a girl white as snow, I turned her a shade of grey”.
The last track on the short disc also tells of a man who loves the old blues. “Reckoning Lament” references Robert Johnson’s verse and Fred McDowell’s slide guitar by name. You can really hear Hubbard’s influence on this track as it would have been quite comfortable residing on his last release A. Enlightment B. Endarkenment (Hint there is no C).
I have listened to this disc a dozen times through since receiving it yesterday and have not tired of it yet. On top of that I have viewed every Lincoln Durham video available on Youtube today. This kid is the real deal and my only complaint is that this is only four songs. Oh one more petty complaint, when his record comes out I will already have four tracks of it, so there won’t be a whole album of new ones.
If I lived in Texas, I would be going to see him as often as I could while he is still playing solo in bars just so I could soak in the feel. Learn more about Lincoln Durham on his website here.
Here is a promo video for “Reckoning Lament”. It’s just Durham and his guitar and it is fucking great.
Tags: album review, fred mcdowell, lincoln durham, muddy waters, ray wylie hubbard, robert johnson, Youtube Clip
Youtube Clip : Peter Cooper and Eric Brace
May 27, 2010 Youtube Clip
In honor of the fact that they will be coming to town next weekend to record the second episode of the Broken Jukebox podcast (I know the first episode has not been published yet), Here is a clip of Peter Cooper and Eric Brace playing at a house concert in Virginia.
Great country harmonies and a great song, can’t wait to see these guys together live.
Tags: eric brace, peter cooper, Youtube Clip
R.I.P. Matt Scott
May 15, 2010 Rant
You may be asking yourself, who the hell is Matt Scott ? Matt Scott was an uncle of mine that I was very close to for years and he’s been on my mind a lot lately.
To fully understand why this is relevant and why I have been thinking of him recently, I must give you the short version of the back story of our relationship. I grew up pretty close to him and my aunt; my mother and I even lived with them for a short time when I was too young to remember it. For most of my youth he was just my uncle. When I was 18 or 19 we were all at a family gathering and he asked me if I knew who Keb’ Mo’ was out of the blue. Well, I was absolutely floored, never having thought about what it was my Uncle Matt listened to much less figuring he was into Keb’ Mo’.
This new discovery led to us spending the entire evening discussing different blues guys and finding out that we shared an obsession with not only blues, but all kinds of music. Over the next few years he became one of if not my best friend. We shared many a night with good smoke and better music. He was the only person in my family that not only understood my need to own more music than one person could ever need, but he had the same affliction.
At least once a week we would get together and play the game of “have you heard… (insert artist name) and copying the other’s cd’s. He turned me on to Steve Earle and Billy Joe Shaver. In turn I got him into Gov’t Mule and the Drive-by Truckers. We would go on to discover a plethora of new artists together. I remember the first time I heard Todd Snider. I had traded for a Snider show and was listening to it in my car, three songs in my plans had changed, I was going to Matt’s because he had to hear this guy.
All of this has been filling my mind lately because Fred Eaglesmith has released a new album and I am eagerly awaiting it’s arrival in my mailbox. Fred was one of Matt and my best discoveries. I had just arrived home late one evening from work and I got a phone call. On the other end of the phone was an excited Uncle Matt, “you have to come over now and hear what I just downloaded”. I had no choice, I changed clothes and headed over.
When I walked in the door there was a song playing on his computer that immediately had me intrigued after only hearing the chorus…
Time to get a gun
That’s what I’m thinkin’
I could afford one
If I did a little less drinkin’
Time to put something
Between me and the sun
When the talkin’ is over
It’s time to get a gun
What the hell was this and more importantly why had I never heard it before. Matt goes on to tell me, this is Fred Eaglesmith, an artist he had stumbled onto and found a few tracks of on limewire or something. He proceeded to play me, “Alcohol and Pills”, “Spookin’ the Horses”, “He’s a Good Dog”, and “Wilder Than Me” . Man, was this stuff good.
The next day, he and I went to the locally owned record store (remember when those existed) and had the proprietor order us up some Eaglesmtih albums. (Side note: There is a lesson here record companies…we downloaded, liked, and immediately bought everything available) . Over the next couple of weeks we digested as much Fred as we could possibly stand.
To this day anytime I hear anything by Fred, I immediately think of Matt. There are so many songs that were just perfect for my uncle. He was a car guy (“Pontiac”, “Mighty Big Car”) who drove fast (“105″) and who loved his dogs more than most humans (“He’s a Dog”, “I Shot Your Dog”) . He was also not a perfect man and Fred had songs that addressed that as well (“Drinkin’ Too Much”).
My Uncle Matt passed away very unexpectedly at a fairly young age. He had given up drinking and was getting all of his health problems under control so it came as a total shock when I got the call saying he had died. It’s been going on three years now that he has been gone. I was two days away from leaving for my wedding when he died and I thought he would not have wanted me to dwell on his passing. I don’t think I ever have really come to terms with his death, but I do so a little at a time. My aunt has since married again to a great guy, who takes care of her, but sometimes it’s hard for me to see her without Matt and I’m not sure that will ever go away.
As they were cleaning out his things, my father called asked me if there was anything that I wanted of his to remember him. I thought long and hard and decided that no, none of his material possessions could ever give me the memories of my Uncle that the music we shared would, so I didn’t need anything. So now whenever I am looking through a cd case of mine I will come across an album or a mixed disc with his writing on it and I have to listen to it. They inevitably make me sad and happy at the same time.
So in a week or so my copy of Cha, Cha, Cha will arrive via the postal service and I will spend a couple of hours listening to it and assuredly Matt’s memory will come up. I know everyone has a person in their past that leaps into their minds when a certain song, album, or artists comes out of the speakers. I’m not talking about the annoying ex-girlfriend who played the shit out of Janis Joplin, but rather someone who you have shared a positive musical experience with. I’m asking you to join me in remembering those people this week and break out that old tune, have a drink, laugh, cry a little and just remember.
In Matt’s Memory here a couple of Youtube clips, the first is Fred Eaglesmith “Time to Get a Gun” and the second his personal theme song, “Mustang Sally” performed by Buddy Guy.
Tags: Billy Joe Shaver, Drive-by Truckers, Family, Fred Eaglesmith, Gov't Mule, Steve Earle, todd snider, Youtube Clip
Youtube Clip : Black Joe Lewis Interview
Apr 23, 2010 Youtube Clip
I am obsessed with Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears’ debut album Tell ‘em What Your Name is, which came out last year. The band is great and Joe is insane. This is an interview I found on Youtube which is not really informative but highly entertaining, and below is a live performance of “I’m Broke”.
Tags: Black Joe Lewis, Interview, Youtube Clip
Youtube Clip : Todd Snider
Apr 21, 2010 Youtube Clip
Here is video I found on youtube of Todd Snider doing my favorite tune off of his latest record, The Excitement Plan. He does “Money, Compliments, and Publicity” here on a guitar with Robert Earl Keen and Bruce Robison looking on.
This is classic Todd live, he tells an amusing little story before hand and if you watch the other guys on stage they seem to be entertained as much as the crowd is.
Tags: todd snider, Youtube Clip
