tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49481986060426876332024-03-05T10:25:13.871-08:00Hillgrass Bluebilly News and UpdatesThis is the OFFICIAL blogspot for Hillgrass Bluebilly Records and Entertainment Headquarters. Read the latest reviews, become a member of the "dirty foot family" and support Hillgrass Bluebilly Records by readin' and sharin' our blog. Booking, Licensing, Management, Records, Tours.Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-79132649387893409132012-09-16T21:32:00.001-07:002012-09-16T21:35:07.606-07:00Hillgrass Bluebilly Comes to Southern California.We are proud to welcome a new Hillgrass Bluebilly chapter in southern California! <br />
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This event marks the kickoff of the Hillgrass Bluebilly Southern California Chapter and we are thrilled to have 2 of our favorite bands from the area, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/losduggans">LOS DUGGANS</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Restavrant">RESTAVRANT!</a> Also <br />
just added! Soda Gardocki, RT N' the 44's and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/honkytonkeratlarge">Peewee Moore & the Awful Dreadful Snakes!</a><br />
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Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/alexsbar">Alex's Bar</a> at <span class="visible"><span class="fsm fwn fcg">2913 E. Anaheim St</span>, <span class="fsm fwn fcg">Long Beach, California 90804. There will be a limited edition CDs available at this show that features RestavRant and Los Duggans<br />covering the songs of Johnny Cash & R.L. Burnside. <br /><br />The CD art was made courtesy of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ErikaJaneMallette">Erika Jane Mallette</a>, an artist out of Austin, TX. The songs on the limited edition are "Apache Tears" and "Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down" by Los Duggans, and "Ballad of a Teenage Beauty Queen" and "Poor Black Mattie" by Restavrant. We are pretty sure you havn't heard Cash / Burnside cover tunes like this.... we guarantee it. </span></span><br />
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Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-69604957242289655842012-08-22T20:50:00.000-07:002012-08-22T21:28:06.520-07:00Hillgrass Bluebilly in August and September 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQ915RRDb0y1mmLStIAslCGRpwoKvI6SbxeXt1MhPZW-53TBkv5Arg85mKCOeFMvqznJkFQKznU3RS8fGCVRhPA7OfKvBXx3Kc-veQn2s5weGAkd4UMQIwhgWOoMaS4sA5wikau7Kgz3O/s1600/Boomswagglers+Final+Front.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQ915RRDb0y1mmLStIAslCGRpwoKvI6SbxeXt1MhPZW-53TBkv5Arg85mKCOeFMvqznJkFQKznU3RS8fGCVRhPA7OfKvBXx3Kc-veQn2s5weGAkd4UMQIwhgWOoMaS4sA5wikau7Kgz3O/s200/Boomswagglers+Final+Front.png" width="200" /></a>Hello Dirtyfoot Family. Is everybody ready for the Muddy Roots music festival? We will be there Labor Day weekend and can hardly wait and we hope to see you there. This last Tuesday, Aug 21, 2012... "The Bootleg Beginnings from the Shack Out Back" by the Boomswagglers had it's official worldwide release and we also announced the official worldwide release date for "Mighty Lonesome Man" by James "Slim" Hand on Tuesday October 16, 2012. <br /><br /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYEOcaYsOAIBc_HNrbx11_ftUDoz7ce0-jg0V_cYtAPD5Xt7Y1KH95GtXK1HwwH7XYP_aNjUZnHGvXW4SM5CJTFMzUgxL1hbRSUMUo3qfuOJYc2IOzL_FJwhcD2vPyBwWDDuyLS7T6nD/s1600/hand+album+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYEOcaYsOAIBc_HNrbx11_ftUDoz7ce0-jg0V_cYtAPD5Xt7Y1KH95GtXK1HwwH7XYP_aNjUZnHGvXW4SM5CJTFMzUgxL1hbRSUMUo3qfuOJYc2IOzL_FJwhcD2vPyBwWDDuyLS7T6nD/s200/hand+album+fb.jpg" width="200" /></a> Hillgrass Bluebilly will have our official release write-up by Tressa A. Burns posted on "Mighty Lonesome Man" by Texas Country & Western music legend, James Hand, in the next week or so. Until then, the folks over at savingcountrymusic.com did a informational on it and you can see that, at this link here <a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/james-hand-to-release-mighty-lonesome-man-oct-16th">http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/james-hand-to-release-mighty-lonesome-man-oct-16th</a> . <br />
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After the Muddy Roots Music Festival, Restavrant will be on tour with Scott H. Biram, the dirty old one man band. Our own Tressa A. Burns at headquarters released the offcial tour bio for this SHB tour, have a looksy......<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHlUSLaNJ86KEjKFtzQbSDdMi2XKvmaSMY3Tz7jvKFPIH7LFhUqIgdtB8D7iciPu5iE5doGyHpA30u-2-kFcb7li_9nLSw4wUzjdQuX5eMK7V05HBPLVzf96fnHppyxTRYc3s_bBaHkhv/s1600/Yeah,+I+Carve+Cheetahs+-+CD+ART.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHlUSLaNJ86KEjKFtzQbSDdMi2XKvmaSMY3Tz7jvKFPIH7LFhUqIgdtB8D7iciPu5iE5doGyHpA30u-2-kFcb7li_9nLSw4wUzjdQuX5eMK7V05HBPLVzf96fnHppyxTRYc3s_bBaHkhv/s200/Yeah,+I+Carve+Cheetahs+-+CD+ART.jpg" width="200" /></a><em> "Restavrant (Rest^vRant) is junkyard high art. A catapult that soaks in a wealth of contrasting influences and Pollacks back the mash obscuring any predictable template of genre. Electrocana, roots, punk, country and slide blues would seem to be rough acts to merger but through the mad science of front man Troy Murrah the formula hits the nail. <br /><br /> Murrah, a thirty something Los Angeles based Victoria, Texas native possesses a restless wiring that lends dimensional creativity to his projects incorporating visual art and a compelling asthetic in live shows as well as promotional materials. Troy got a late start musically but hit the ground running. During a moderate "social hiatus" he shacked up with a Silvertone and cut his teeth on the works of Mississippi Fred Mcdowell. He began as a solo one man band act until joining forces with J State who expanded the dynamic and provided percussion, Korg and back up vocals on the 2008 Narnack records realease 'Returns to the Tomb of Guiliano Medidici' and the 2011 album ' Yeah I Carve Cheetahs' under Hillgrass Bluebilly Records. In the current incarnation, Murrah is backed by a rotating cast of talent that captains the elaborate salvage lot trash kit that serves as the driving force of the bands overall sound. <br /><br /> Rest^vrant's hybrid of big belt buckle break loops, slide, banjo, vox and harp have been well received over the course of two full length releases and an extensive west coast and european tour. The band is currently in studio recording what will be their third release and a U.S tour with veteran "dirty ol' one man band" Scott H. Biram has been confirmed for the fall." </em><br />
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Thank you again folks. Pre-sales are up for "Mighty Lonesome Man" at <a href="http://www.hillgrassbluebillyrecords.com/">www.hillgrassbluebillyrecords.com</a>. All Trucker Hats are in stock, plus we have a new design. Check out the store, and stock up on everything you need.<br />
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<br />Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-16790002626164237042012-07-08T12:53:00.000-07:002012-07-08T12:53:06.492-07:00What's up in July 2012 at Hillgrass Bluebilly?How goes it Dirtyfoots? We have been busy here at headquarters, and would like to catch y'all up on a few thangs. First off, we signed up to Pinterest, where we have quite a few different boards started up like "Dirtyfoots", where we showcase different Dirtyfoots around the world in Hillgrass Bluebilly gear. Other boards include "The Extra Mile", where we will showcase folks who go that extra mile and "Real Deal, Nothing Less" which showcases anybody who we think is the real deal and "Music We Love" which showcases all kindsa folks, not just the Hillgrass Bluebilly roster.<br />
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James "Slim" Hand is just about finished up with his new record, due out soon on Hillgrass Bluebilly Records. We believe the new all original release will be titled "Mighty Lonesome Man", produced by Deborah Perry and co-produced by team Hillgrass Bluebilly. The album features an all-star line-up of folks like Will Indian, Speedy Sparks, former Weary Boys Cary Ozanian and Darren Sluyter, Beth Crissman, Alvin Crow, Bobby Flores, Gary Carpenter, grammy award winning Cindy Cashdollar and more! Chris Burns at Burns Audio in Austin, TX has been the recording / mixing engineer and it will soon be sent off to our mastering guru, Mike Vizcarra, at the Cove in Laurel Pass, California. We will be releasing "Mighty Lonesome Man" on CD and Vinyl! This will be the 1st Vinyl release for James Hand and Hillgrass Bluebilly Records. Up next for James Hand is a Gospel album, to be released on Hillgrass Bluebilly Records. We will announce a release date and presales link to the website in few weeks for "Mighty Lonesome Man". <br />
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This Thursday in Austin, Texas, Hillgrass Bluebilly will feature a Country Music Showcase at <a href="http://www.antones.net/event/124645/">Antone's</a>. A local legend, Cade Callahan gets things started off at 9PM, followed by Hellbound Glory, then The Boomswagglers. It is a CD release party for the Boomswagglers and the CD comes with an emergency fishing kit. We could tell ya all about it, but the folks over at <a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/hillgrass-bluebilly-to-finally-release-boomswagglers-album">Saving</a> Country Music (.com), did a few bang-up write-ups on the boys and you can check it out by clicking that link. <br />
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Possessed by Paul James got home successfully, after 2 week tour with his family and 2 dogs and VooDoo Rhythm label-mate, Delaney Davidson. We heard there were a couple van breakdowns after his tour to Deep Blues Festival, but we heard the van problems were easy fixes. We heard it was a successful tour and some good connections made. RestavRant is also due home anyday from their tour to Deep Blues Festival and back, I heard there were some great shows on that tour, after an almost rough start. We suggest youTubin' "Deep Blues Festival" and watchin' any of the videos that pop-up. Ten Foot Polecats are doin' some shows with Molly Gene - One Woman Band, soon.<br />
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Muddy Roots Festival is approaching FAST! Last night, founder Keith, and his wife Erika, got their round-trip plane tickets and compact rental car on priceline for a total of $722.21. We hope y'all take the Muddy Roots Festival as a serious thing... you should know why you should be there, or know you need to be there, but dont know exactly why. Either way, your gut and mind should be tellin you to make plans to be at this festival... Ralph Stanley, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Possessed by Paul James, Hooten Hallers, RestavRant, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Lone Wolf, James Hand, Wayne Hancock and MANY MANY more! Holy Moly! Oh yeah, they even have air conditioned bunk houses for a $150 a night thats RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE ACTION!<br />
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...and on a final note... if your routing allows French Lake, Minnesota in travels or vacations.. Weber's Deck has officially announced open season at the Deck. Look into it, if ya haven't already. <br />
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Thanks, <br />
HBHQ<br />
Keith<br />
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Thanks again folks....<br />
<br />Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-56195385651371443592012-06-20T23:33:00.001-07:002012-06-20T23:33:29.821-07:00Summer 2012 UpdateHello, friends, fans & dirtyfoots,<br />
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We have been busy busy since we last posted. To follow up on the last post, we have held about a 7 or 8 events at the Austin Moose Lodge, including our 5th annual XSXSW event, it has been a good start! <br />
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We have accepted more submissions for our Cash/Burnside tribute album titled JR & RL. It is shaping up nicely. June 12, 2012 was the worldwide release for <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wreck-of-a-fine-man/id522291209">"Wreck of a Fine Man"</a> by Tom VandenAvond. We signed <a href="http://www.jamesslimhand.com/">James "Slim" Hand</a> for a few albums, and we have been in the studio with him since January. We feel James Hand is the most authentic man living in country & western music today. Possessed by Paul James is also in the studio, we will update you on that as soon as we have some details. The Boomswaggler CD "Bootleg Beginnings....." will be available for purchase in mid- July 2012. We began the year on Jan 12 with the worldwide release of <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/yeah-i-carve-cheetahs/id482829648">"Yeah, I Carve Cheetahs</a>" by Restavrant!<br />
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We celebrated our 7 year anniversary in Phoenix (Tempe) with Possessed by Paul James & Dr. Ralph Stanley & his Clinc Mountain Boys in April 2012. We will hop back on here and keep you better updated. Thank you for your continued support.<br />Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-43399064467235537642011-10-30T20:03:00.000-07:002012-06-20T21:46:50.166-07:00Change is Gonna Come<div>
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Hello Friends, Fans & Dirtyfoots,<br />
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We have hosted many events in Austin, since our arrival in 2007. We announced in 2010, that we'd be searching for a way of doing things that would better suit our endeavors & presentation. On Veteran's Day, Friday November 11, 2011 at the Austin Moose Lodge 1735, we present: "Searching For Guy Clarks Kitchen - Tour 2011" featuring Tom VandenAvond, who was nominated for "Best. Alt. Country Album of 2011" at the Independent Music Awards for his latest release "You Oughta Know Me By Now" & Willy Tea Taylor who has been called one of the best songwriters & deliverers of this generation. Yes, they are singer/songwriters.... but I can tell you that NOBODY can put them in that box.<br />
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On to the Moose Lodge... Like I said, we have hosted many events since 2007, Scoot Inn, Emo's (inside & out), Jovita's, Ruta Maya, The Oaks, Beerland and of course, Hole in the Wall. Hillgrass Bluebilly "Entertainment" released statements for almost 2 years that we would be looking to host our events, on a national level, at local VFW's, Moose Lodges, Italian-American Halls/Banquet Halls, Country Clubs, Barns, and the like. I feel these places/communities have been on a rapid decline since I was a young boy and was taken to the Tomball VFW, being a part of all the holiday happenins, dances, concerts and run around the property, behind the stage, in the offices and meeting rooms I wasnt supposed to be in, behind the bar, all up in the kitchen, runnin and slidin ' across the sawdust dance floor, playin' pool for the 1st time, Bingo night.... late 70's early 80's... it was a beautiful time. Shit, everyone knew the barber, the dude at the hardware store, grocery store, the local plumbers, AC guys.. the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ..even the owner at 7-11 ... you'd see em all at the V.F.W.<br />
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Thanks for allowing me to paint a picture of the community I was privileged to be a part of. I have been looking for a place that resembles things like that this.... I would like to think the Dirtyfoot Family would like to have things like that. Loyalty, follow-through, respect, a foundation to build on... a place we can be a part of, and contribute to when we can.... ACTUALLY be a part of y'all.. a place for our kids a lot of the time, our grandparents and all of us. Places like this STILL exist folks, but barely.... they are on there last leg. They need our help, and we want to give it to them. I believe we all need to embrace a lot of things that are in place and within reach, and we can start right here at the Austin Moose Lodge, when it comes time for you to spend an evening with our time tested and approved of, successful events.... successful to the soul 1st, the bar last mind you. At the end of the day, I am Loyal Order of the Moose, and my wife, is Woman of the Moose, and hopefully a lot of you Dirtyfoots will soon join us down at the Moose, and embrace our contribution/idea/endeavor for a revival of "lost America", for our friends and family to have a place of our own. A place that IMPROVES & BUILDS FOR US as we bring them beautiful, exceptional music that you just flat out cant get anywhere else.<br />
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We will host Possessed by Paul James at the Austin Moose Lodge in Mid-December for the Hillgrass Bluebilly Happy Holidays Hoe-Down. Konrad Wert (Possessed by Paul James) took home "Best Alt. Country Album of the Year" at the 2011 Independent Music Awards this year for his latest release "Feed the Family" on Hillgrass Bluebilly "Records". He was also nominated for "Best Americana Album of the Year - 2011", which was won by Pokey LaFarge. Konrad was also one the best, if not the best performance at this years Muddy Roots Music Festival outside Nashville, TN, which also included Wanda Jackson & Don Maddox. We will say goodbye to 2011 in tribute to Possessed by Paul James, who is currently recording his next release, due out on Hillgrass Bluebilly Records in earlyish 2012.<br />
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We will also host the 5th Annual Hillgrass Bluebilly X(not)SXSW Showcase at the Moose in March 2012. SavingCountryMusic.com, the Muddy Roots Festival, has teamed up with us to present a HUGE 2 day "SAVING (country music) DEEP (blues) MUDDY (roots) HILLGRASS (bluebilly) XSXSW FEST" (more to be announced on savingsountrymusic.com soon). We are very proud to make the connection and call the Austin Moose Lodge our new home in Austin, TX. The Moose has reached out to folks in the past, but we will open up shop for the Moose and start booking folks who we see deemed fit at the Moose Lodge in our efforts to revive "lost America" and prove once again... that you never know where a song might take you! We need your help y'all... can't make a difference... without you!</div>
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Thanks a lot, Keith M. / HB<br />
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Veteran's Day<br />
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Friday 11/11/11Austin Moose Lodge<br />
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2103 E.M. Franklin Ave.<br />
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Austin, TX 78723</div>
Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-40242576452270025522011-08-04T20:03:00.000-07:002012-06-20T21:48:39.703-07:00Yeah, I Carve Cheetah's"Yeah, I Carve Cheetahs"<br />
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Every so often something will come along and snap your neck to it, flipping the auto pilot to full attention. A new sound that reconciles the familiar with the foreign, and pulls you into it. In 2008 our own Keith Mallette had such an experience as he caught the captivating bucket thump and grainy slide stylings of REST^vRANT through the trees of the "Enchanted Forest" ( no joke ) in Austin, Texas. Since then Hillgrass Bluebilly formed a lasting connection with Troy Murrah and J State that led to REST^vRANT performing in 2 of the 4 H.B.E SXSW showcases and joining forces with Left Lane Cruiser on the H.B.E Hard Luck Summer Tour in 2009. Today, REST^vRANT and Hillgrass Bluebilly Records & Entertainment proudly announce the upcoming release for the long awaited 12 track opus of an album "Yeah, I Carve Cheetahs" to you! This unique duo delivers a diverse cannon of sonic emotion that reaches rafter shaking, floor stomping heights and dreamlike contemplative depths using an inventive arsenal of unconventional instrumental implements. A guaranteed good listen, whatever your mood! REST^vRANT has the H.B.E middle finger of approval in spades. We encourage you to pick up the album and support this incredible act when they come to your town. Also look for their contribution to the upcoming J.R & R.L, Johnny Cash and R.L Burnside double tribute album from Hillgrass Bluebilly Records coming in 2012! "Yeah, I Carve Cheetah's" is expected for an October release, official release date coming soon.<br />
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Tressa A. Burns / Managing Editor / Curator / Creative Consultant<br />
Hillgrass Bluebilly Records & Entertainment HeadquartersHillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-40047789651062261422011-08-02T07:37:00.000-07:002012-06-20T21:57:46.470-07:00The Boomswagglers - The Bootleg Beginnings from the Shack Out Back<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636270152049481490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4X4eQjChsbsRey57sr4UkT008GP-zAKrrsQBKhz5gF7R352Os9B9qnM7rMdO8UvswIFdHRpyjKxlZ0ycJfI5mYaVzG6iVgoJpyovhGzg9SPLO6oBVGP4WqkrZ50m5Teu9At9V122zqdK/s200/Boomswagglers+Front.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /><br />
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We present to you our first installment of the Hillgrass Bluebilly "Bootleg" series in the form of a ten track chunk of hard sentiments spawned from harder living. The Boomswagglers -"The Bootleg Beginnings from the Shack Out Back" is a hopeful window into the next generation of pickers and grinners backed with an all-star cast of accomplished musicians. Formed in 2009, this duo of troublemaking Texas young bucks managed to get themselves thrown out of more venues than they played in, stirred up controversy during their sets with the nature of their lyrics and crammed a lazier mans decade worth of rehab jail time and bar brawls into a short but enthusiastic three year run that sadly, for now, has come to an end. Luckily, before they disbanded they joined with Brian Salvi and Darren Sluyter (former members of the Weary Boys), North Dakotan turned Texas alumni Leo Rondeau and Molly Salvi (who has lent her lovely silky rasp to the likes of Woodsboss , Tom Vandenavond and the Salvi Family band) in Elgin, Texas to make this gem of a record.<br />
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I had the pleasure of speaking with Lawson Bennett and Spencer Cornett in separate telephone conversations whose transcripts read like Dukes of Hazard meets Gummo. Bennett and Cornett met in Georgetown, Texas where the south end of the San Gabriel river runs and the city motto is "sincerely yours". They bonded over fishing, catfish noodling and making explosives to collect arrowheads. Lawson was living in a shack in the area and Spencer would come by for picking sessions. Lawson wrote the majority of the songs he and Spencer played and attributes much of their influence to his long time admiration for Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band.<em> "This is kind of a bummer album"</em> said Lawson. <em>" A lot of the songs were written in a house with no running water. We were stealing from a hose from the neighbors place. Shitty girlfriends, shitty jobs , the world treated us like shit and that's the truth. Like that song <strong>'Even Lower Down'</strong>, that came from a tough time. I came home sad as shit, shits fucked, aint no money, aint no phone, well... just the CB radio, aint no runnin water, hardly any beer, goose shit all over the house and my girl at the time yellin in my ear. Same with <strong>'Morning Pills'</strong>, Doc told me I had high blood pressure, had me on all kinda medication. I fucked up my knee and they had to set it, they gave me vics for the pain and it fucked up my heart more. wasn't nuthin I could do. Country goes two ways, you got your Willie Nelson hippie folky types and that rich kid drivin daddies truck bullshit. We were listenin to punk rock, fishin and shootin guns. We didn't know country , then we heard Merle Haggard. Most folks didn't figure out shit like we did. We are like an oddity to them , sumthin they read about in books. Thats fuckin life. Bad times. That's why we don't play much anymore. We aint pissed off anymore. People want to hear me upset and I aint tryin to be upset my whole life." </em><br />
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Shame. It's a chainsaw juggle to balance playing and surviving but I have a feeling this wont be the last we hear from the Boomswagglers. Till then, enjoy these tracks and as always... support local music , wherever it may be local to.<br />
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1. Low Down<br />
2. Workin' Man<br />
3. Why I Sleep Alone<br />
4. Trailer Park Special<br />
5. Jim & Jack<br />
6. I'm Comin Home<br />
7. Even Lower Down<br />
8. Mornin' Pills<br />
9. Wilco Blues<br />
10. Run You Down<br />
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This afternoon, over at http://www.hillgrassbluebillyrecords.com, you can download/have this album for free!<br />
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Tressa A. Burns<br />
Hillgrass Bluebilly HeadquartersHillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-35753571247993896512011-07-06T16:03:00.000-07:002012-06-20T21:23:55.034-07:00The XXX Steel Horse of the ApocolypseHey Folks, <br />
Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend! In the spirit of independence I'd like to take a minute to address, well, independence. As you know we run an independent label. In the 7 years we have had this team together, for better or worse, we have had a clear idea of our mission since day one. Every ounce of articulated press from the archive to date, compliments the ideas that got us started and the actions we take that keep us running with the same amount of steam our founders barreled into our creation.<br />
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It's a good deal we've got. Promoting what we love, on our own terms for the sake of the music that changed us when we found it, drew us in as individuals and pulled us together. If you have the means I highly recommend it. Whatever you love, you are not alone and there is no better time than now to organize and find an audience to support it with you.<br />
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All of us that work in this industry on an independent level have our own views on the society that wired our motives to spotlight whatever frame we built. The "mainstream" has always been run on the buck and now more than ever the generic hit rotisserie files into the five approved genres and cranks out minty fresh sound cubes to the digital breadline of consumers celebrating their individuality through their marketing demographic. That's a bleak dystopian angle but thankfully only a portion of a free market. As long as we have the power of cultural autonomy the music industry version of Soylent green doesn't have to have anything to do with us.<br />
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If you follow the message boards on Saving Country Music and No Depression, you have a head start on where this is going. We have hit a crux on the political side of business and some tough decisions have been made. What should have been a private and brief conversation between Adam Sheets of XXX and Keith here at HBE hit the bike racks of the board and sparked a public dialogue that we now have no choice but to acknowledge. It aint' pretty. On a business level, I'd love to call a spade a spade close the door on the badger den and go back to work, but it has gone to far now. <br />
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It came to our attention that our logo and a few of the artists we represent were listed throughout the XXX site in a way that made it appear that we were directly affiliated. No one from XXX had approached us prior to this. No glove slap, just a matter of principal we were within our rights to make note of. When we called on them to remove the images only part of our request was granted and the conversation didn't go well, a good portion of which can be found on the SCM public forum. The feed back from the posts had some common themes ; <em>'What's the big deal as long as the artists are being promoted?' 'This argument is pointless' 'We are all in this together, why can't we just get along?' </em> I'll tell you. Not all promotion is good promotion when it compromises the continuity of our philosophies concerning the greater good. This requires some looking into.<br />
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First of all, yes our primary goal is promoting our artists through the HBE cause but the company and artists are not interchangeable. That being said, this is an issue strictly between labels and the observations that follow are separate to the company itself. We do our best to work for our artists but make no attempt to speak for them. In the same turn our choice to draw a thick line between ourselves and XXX as entities falls under conflict of interest between ourselves and XXX's proprietors and not the artists they carry. Our instincts led us to be wary of XXX from the beginning and through revelations over a short amount of time our notions were consolidated and confirmed. We will get to some of the statements that led to this but first let us tell you what this isn't about.<br />
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We don't care what XXX calls itself. Weather the moniker conjures ties with porn, moonshine or x-treme snack chips makes no difference to us outside of opinion. Hell, as far as logos having offensive implications one of the main images we use is a middle finger. However in our case there was never any doubt as to the message the symbolism carries.<br />
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We don't care about the general career connections or family influence or monetary advantage Shooter inevitably brings to the XXX table. The closing line in Shooters post to us on SCM was <em>" If you really believe music is better without XXX then we can ask the people, but from the amount of positive responses i've gotten from my radio show, I really don't think thats the case." </em>Great Shooter Having a radio station is an excellent way to have listeners. You should use every tool you have to move your agenda. We don't have a radio station. We don't have any of that. You win. We are a small operation but we are here. We've been here. The sudden X-posure of XXX coming in quick with the interest of representing the "underdog" might have sank in a little better with us If they had put the horse before the cart.<br />
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Ultimately it breaks down to opposition of mission and method. All over XXX is the desire to put a pretty extensive and varied list of bands that are "Too rock for country, to country for rock!" into the pantheon of media that has its back turned on them. <em>"We want our own genre." "Sign the petition!" "We want the same for XXX that every piece of slop that gets played in other genres gets!"</em> ..........................Woah. Sounds like 'meet the new boss to us. We don't need a boss and I can die just fine without my favorite songs on the top 40 chart. God speed XXX but that aint our fight.<br />
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XXX came out with their first compilation yesterday morning. Southern Independent XXX Volume One. With it came a <em>"Warning- This album is intended to ruin the sanctity of roots music. By downloading and or listening to the material herein you are actively contributing to its demise. Despite this it is expected that you will fucking love it."</em> I could keep citing examples of why XXX doesn't work for us, even have a good time on a personal level bashing Shooters "Southern Family Anthem" track, but in a predictable twist It has done that on it's own in a neatly wrapped package. Way to steal my journalistic exposition thunder XXX. Again, though its a mix mash I wouldn't have thrown together, the XXX roster has some great bands that despite their new powerhouse endorsement I will continue to buy their albums and attend their shows. Its not necessary to choose sides when it comes to the music, or the lables for that matter we just wanted you to know where we stand. Any and all feedback is more than welcome and if there are things I may have overlooked in my conclusions please, have at it. Till next time Amigos.....<br />
TAB<br />
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-- <br />
Tressa A. Burns / Managing Editor / Curator / Creative Consultant<br />
Hillgrass Bluebilly Records & Entertainment Headquarters<br />
http://www.hillgrassbluebillyrecords.comTABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10151228882218834113noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-9251843350934212152011-04-19T01:10:00.000-07:002012-06-20T21:29:54.919-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlmISxCPd8oEVg6yrO-ZJtxc4DPt3yRczQ2ietKMAdv0dLqy6QRV2TV2U4UT2K9PDSrFbgpk3oik9_VZHH0blUBZHdojdek3WrAJewfVPRJU6iARQEIIghnt1JCssDJcSzJfMmrl3eSU/s1600/images-2.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597205230113706242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlmISxCPd8oEVg6yrO-ZJtxc4DPt3yRczQ2ietKMAdv0dLqy6QRV2TV2U4UT2K9PDSrFbgpk3oik9_VZHH0blUBZHdojdek3WrAJewfVPRJU6iARQEIIghnt1JCssDJcSzJfMmrl3eSU/s320/images-2.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 214px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 235px;" /></a><br />
My first intro to Possessed By Paul James was sometime in early '07 at an H.B.E showcase at the Hole In The Wall in Austin Texas. I didn't know much about him and the only notion I had of the quality of the show I would get came in the wide eyed and nodding instruction of friends familiar with his work to "just watch". <br />
I took my usual preferred spectating stance up front and to the left as he took a seat on a chair on a wood platform on the stage surrounded by an unconventional setup of an old amp, various instruments and a battered tambourine rigged at his feet. A decent crowd had accumulated, hungry and shifting with anticipation. He settled his fiddle and picked up a bow so frayed it looked as if a razor had been taken to it sending it's hairs, thick with rosin, to curl in all directions. Without introduction he pulled out a few stark and rolling notes. His knees jerked. a slight semi rhythmic spasm at first then a pulling and pounding of his foot into the wood and rigged tambourine creating a full and layered thump that built into a pulse that he let hang in the air between the increasingly frenetic fiddle arrangement. He craned his neck and reeled, gritting and gnashing his teeth akin to the effects of some kind of religious revival. He let out seemingly involuntary yips and yells and sharp exclamations as the music and rhythm welled up and out into the crowd. He burst into the hook and I was taken by the rawness and clarity of his vocals and keenly original and intimate lyrical content. Throughout the set he switched between banjo, fiddle, and guitar hammering out a catalog of intense, emotionally charged songs. This was the real deal and possessed was a good word for it. This wasn't just a show this was a 40 minute battle cry against heartache and the high cost of living.<br />
It is clear through his albums and performances that Possessed by Paul James is his music. His talent for viscerally projecting the weight of living makes him an unapologetic conduit of his own device. There is nothing contrived or forced. He seems to be continually and with great humility 'working it out' through his songs. The resulting progress is illustrated in the way his tone has altered in the time between his first self titled release and his most recent endeavor "feed the family". <br />
In an earlier performance just before the birth of his son, I witnessed as he exscorscized the stress he was under almost alarmingly. He explained to the Audience he would have to make it quick as his pregnant wife was waiting in the van. He delivered the usual set but towards the end he loosened and unraveled and started chanting and wailing " I've got babies on my mind! I've got babies on my mind!" Men were stomping and shaking their fists in response to the rhythm and women were dancing and swinging their hips to what appeared to me to be a nervous breakdown. Good show to be sure but this this was serious. This was a stranger wrestling his struggle to the ground in front of a "mostly" live audience. The struggle to pay his bills and his dues, to straddle lives without losing footing on either side of a duplicitous nature and the struggle as a man to bring new life into the world in uncertain times. <br />
Feed the family is a 12 track anthem to the general growth and maturity gained through sacrifice and reflection. Kinder versions of 'Color of my bloody nose' and 'Old man's souls' don't retreat from their original power but relax their grip as if reconciled by time. Tracks like 'Older in my body' We welcome you home' and 'fathers and sons' are all shining testaments to the best of earnest song writing. The album in its entirety seems to end a chapter in a life on a triumphant note and as a fan I eagerly await the next installments from this truly unique and irreplaceable artist. <br />
In an excerpt from Faulkner lies a fitting sentiment, " Not for glory and least of all for profit , but to create out of the materials of the human spirit that which did not exist before." I just got word that PPJ bagged best alternative country artist at the independent music awards. Goes to show a little glory is inevitable when the material is lightning in a bottle and as for the latter, the lines blur in the expectation of profit when its time to "feed the family". TAB<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AHLTiYK56EY" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>TABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10151228882218834113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-18465617871370569172011-04-19T00:19:00.000-07:002012-06-20T21:35:05.562-07:00Tom Vandenavond<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxQntzWudN7cKrMQ_fMKLnNZ9ycfUlIlEcehS67oyFjGxICFFe9JckjAQocH2A3fBcfWmPLDRkRJiK89U9dL6LU9K1ynVkB-1MOD8zIO1Okqr-PwX3OY85-iyJXTOXhoy0zcMq_OlFxs/s1600/images-1.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597191189610928418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxQntzWudN7cKrMQ_fMKLnNZ9ycfUlIlEcehS67oyFjGxICFFe9JckjAQocH2A3fBcfWmPLDRkRJiK89U9dL6LU9K1ynVkB-1MOD8zIO1Okqr-PwX3OY85-iyJXTOXhoy0zcMq_OlFxs/s320/images-1.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 225px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 225px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tom Vandenavond</span></div>
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Guthrie said a man should know his country like the back of his hand. Some people spend their whole lives in the towns they grew up in, nothing wrong with that. Some people spend most of their lives traveling for their jobs from chain hotel to chain hotel strip mall to strip mall and don't have a story about the American experience that i'd like to hear. Other folks may harbor a stifled wander lust as they are beaten into their respective corners of the world in a gridlock to pay their rent and feed their children.</div>
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Times are tough all over and the upper hand it seems could care less about the old American dream only bending to the bottom line. There was a time that great detail and care was placed into American design. Architecture, cars, even the way communities settled themselves into the landscape had a modicum of pride and sensibility. You see that less and less anymore in the pre-fab slap together cheap labor replacements of destroyed land marks and shut down mom n' pops. At this rate all we have, is all we have left. Chunks of our culture are eroded in a white wash of ''progression'' and I'm afraid of what America will mean to our children's children. Thankfully we have an archive of music and literature to tell our stories. An archive built by crusaders who weather they meant to or not put a permanent stamp on the people and places that otherwise may have remained an undocumented flicker. Our history and our time now is to important to lose to subjection and white knuckle survival. There are plenty of examples through popular music of where things went wrong that are widely available and slurped up like the last dance club cocktail by consumers who, I can only hope , just don't know any better but when it comes to the good American hard luck hittin hard tour driven troubadour , like George says , "whose gonna fill their shoes?'' </div>
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Tom Vandenavond is a contemporary ghost with a wisdom in his music that exceeds his years. His sound embodies the nature of solitary travel and the inevitable connections made from a life on the road. He has torn through his midwest roots and created an auditory imprint of the highways and byways, truck stops and roadsides of the afforded white line spectacles of the American construct. If you listen you can hear a long haul on the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental highway. Where the day glow over exposure of Los Angeles meets the dessert of palm springs. Red rocks and mesa tops before Phoenix and Tucson. The cumbersome nothingness of West Texas where a man can can only bide his time with his thoughts and am radio. El Paso with a glimpse of the third world at the boarder of Juarez. San Antonio and New Mexico heavy with Spanish and Native American charm. A brief pass through future city Houston and the descent into the thick air of southern Louisiana stretching over the 35 along the Pontchartrain into the heart of Cajun Country. Mississippi's Jackson County into the Panhandle. These are just a few of the back drops that bleed their influence into a catalog of work as eclectic as the land itself. You don't need to visit the hotel lafayette or have a hard south texas christmas to identify , any amount of living should draw you in.</div>
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He seems to take his notes from the rambling Jack Elliot handbook a bit of a maverick he's also not afraid of the odd straight job painting signs or slingin beer. He is part John Prine and a bit of Mark twain. He has written some of the saddest songs i've ever heard but most are coupled with a wink and a nod. He's like Rory Callahan in the Texan or Chuck Conners in the Riflemen with a guitar, A squint in his eye weather from the desert sun or the smokey respite of any bar U.S.A, you get the idea he knows something we don't and no matter how rough it gets there is comfort for the stock that he'll pull the ace from his sleeve and more or less come out on top. </div>
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Tom is a great act to catch when he flies solo but their is a great deal of magic in the company he keeps on his albums. The unparalleled talents of the Weary boys, Good luck Thrift Store, and members of the genre decimating Larry and his Flask (the Say Hey Kids when they play with Tom) have all thrown their efforts into his recordings. Each album has it's own feel and with his latest release "Oughta Know Me By Now" it's clear he can't make a bad album. Pick up the latest release but while your at it grab the other three and get to know your country. TAB <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fYGO2JM0RPo" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></div>
</u>TABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10151228882218834113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-45028273485195312522011-03-22T09:30:00.000-07:002012-06-20T21:38:18.967-07:00A small recap of the 4th annual HBXSXSW on 3/18/2011Thank you to everyone who came out to the 4th Annual Hillgrass Bluebilly Records & Entertainment Showcase (HBXSXSW4) last Friday, March 18, 2011. This may very well be the last XSXSW event we have at the Hole in the Wall, so we are glad you came out! We do not have youtubes of everyone that performed Friday night. "<a href="http://rosespawnshop.com/">Rose's Pawn Shop</a>" captivated the crowd outside with a very strong performance, as usual. "Shake it Like a Caveman" joined us for his 2nd HBXSXSW event and did not dissappoint. The night was started off by <a href="http://theharmedbrothers.com/">the Harmed Brothers</a>, doing the best start off in HBXSXSW history by takin' the floor over in the front room. This year may have been the strongest set for <a href="http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/artist/tom-vandenavond/">Uncle Tom VandenAvond</a> & the Say Hey Kids, we hope to find some y'all Uncle Tom videos from that night.<br />
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<strong>This is our 2nd XSXSW showcase with <a href="http://www.austinlucasmusic.com/biography">Austin Lucas</a>. He was joined by his sister Chloe Manor, this time & Cory Branan on a song or two.</strong><br />
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<strong>"Go West" </strong>(with sister, Jon Snodgrass & Cory Branan)<br />
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<strong>"Sun or Snow"</strong> (with Chloe Manor & Cory Branan)<br />
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<strong>"Somebody Loves You"</strong><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kh8bvlb2y4g" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<strong>"Dead Factories"</strong> (with Chloe Manor)<br />
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<strong>Drage the River - This was our 1st time working with Drag the River, here are a few videos of Drag the River at our showcase. They were on stage 2.</strong> <br />
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<strong>"Dancing in the Moonlight"</strong> with Cory Branan & Austin Lucas joining them on stage.<br />
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<strong>"Death of the Life of the Party"</strong><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s53qjHGzM2U" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<strong>"Medicine"</strong><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cB7cFj9dw44" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Our brother, <strong>Soda</strong>, has performed at 3/4 of the HBXXSW events, maybe all of them. Here is Soda performing "Gutter Queen" at our event on Friday. He took over stage 2 with a 12 string Banjo. Hillgrass Bluebilly will have a Soda release for you, shortly after summer.<br />
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<strong>"Gutter Queen"</strong><br />
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"Possessed by Paul James" finished the night off us again, for his 2nd HBXSXW showcase. Enjoy the video from our showcase that Friday night, March 18th, 2011.<br />
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This is the last post by co founder Keith Mallette (me) for awhile, Tressa B is now on detail. She was our writer / pr / editor back in 2007 and 2008 and we are super excited to have the one & only Tressa back on duty.<br />
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We would like to leave you with a video from Willy Tea Taylor, the newest edition to the Hillgrass Bluebilly Records family.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e_6F87t93xw" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-38060222580154463392011-02-19T18:12:00.000-08:002012-06-20T21:42:57.010-07:00Possessed by Paul James & Tom VandenAvond are nominated for BEST ALBUM!<strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">HILLGRASS BLUEBILLY RECORDS HAS 3 NOMINATED ALBUMS IN THE 10TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WITH "FEED THE FAMILY" by POSSESSED BY PAUL JAMES & "YOU OUGHTA KNOW ME BY NOW" by TOM VANDENAVOND featuring: LARRY & HIS FLASK!</span></strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYRZ76WVvKhEKTLNZ1lp_CFSeodvn4qrpoY8-HKfzeGrzjRzTutG3kN6F_LynDxtAdaW14jvMIP_LKVaoM36snKWHU9Xw9WvA8wHSqMhB5KX3TjBDDlyMHQPP0e-B9JrksgYx2nRWt_Du/s1600/Tom+VandenAvond+-+You+Oughta+Know+Me+By+Now+-+CD+Cover.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589631045040306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYRZ76WVvKhEKTLNZ1lp_CFSeodvn4qrpoY8-HKfzeGrzjRzTutG3kN6F_LynDxtAdaW14jvMIP_LKVaoM36snKWHU9Xw9WvA8wHSqMhB5KX3TjBDDlyMHQPP0e-B9JrksgYx2nRWt_Du/s200/Tom+VandenAvond+-+You+Oughta+Know+Me+By+Now+-+CD+Cover.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589014972273042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyBYhGAFyz0gYnE2l1EAJIU8yACiQvHecLzz0hnNEv8lB_IwT1ObSd2byTbcc1sbtAH1fLU3P0frkNDc9wD8gWfsAIAS_-3BjyL3Hyh5P1RFH04pl7ft4H07mrhsWSPl-wbEqIFrmoQAf/s200/IMA_NOMINEE+1.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWnnyWj0K-bn9enHlPDrffNnDRLKfOyArvjMElxI36NgBcplOBj72IGMjDSsCIncwuolRwr6oGxYlMKfjGS-tSTQrJ0myQaCj2KACLoaYmfVbQMtbhFYDaf7BVXsGc6aFdNcahhe8zcuw/s1600/Possessed+By+Paul+James+-+Feed+The+Family+-+CD+Cover.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575589145712850610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWnnyWj0K-bn9enHlPDrffNnDRLKfOyArvjMElxI36NgBcplOBj72IGMjDSsCIncwuolRwr6oGxYlMKfjGS-tSTQrJ0myQaCj2KACLoaYmfVbQMtbhFYDaf7BVXsGc6aFdNcahhe8zcuw/s200/Possessed+By+Paul+James+-+Feed+The+Family+-+CD+Cover.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>Austin Texas’s Own Possessed by Paul James & Tom VandenAvond</strong>, Joins Ra Ra Riot, Melissa Auf der Maur, Flying Lotus, Jim Campilongo, Jackson Browne and David Lindley As Nominees for The 10th Independent Music Awards<br />
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Last year about this time, Hillgrass Bluebilly Records was VERY PROUD to announce that "Hiram & Huddie Vol. 1 & 2" was nominated "Best Concept Album" for the 9th annual Independent Muic Awards. <strong>WE DID IT AGAIN!</strong> "Feed the Family" by Possessed by Paul James has been nominated for both "Best Alt. Country Album" and "Best Americana Album" and "You Oughta Know Me By Now" by Tom VandenAvond has been nominated for "Best Alt. Country Album".<br />
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February 19, 2011 – Austin based Possessed by Paul James and Tom VandenAvond joins Ra Ra Riot, Melissa Auf der Maur, Flying Lotus, Hemoptysis, Darrell Scott, Jim Campilongo, Jackson Browne and David Lindley and other self-released and independent label talent as Nominees for The 10th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent bands and fans.<br />
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Representing the broad spectrum of today’s global independent music scene, the more than 300 Nominees in nearly 70 Song, Album, Music Video and Design categories were culled from submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Australia and Europe.<br />
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Known for celebrating artists that follow their own muse, The 10th IMA Nominees are an eclectic mix of rising stars including Strawfoot (Alt. Country Song), Hemoptysis (Metal/Hardcore Song), and Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three (Amerciana Album) and established talent including telecaster virtuoso, Jim Campilongo (Instrumental Album), experimental multi-genre artist, Flying Lotus (Music Video and Dance/Electronica Song), and indie rockers, Ra Ra Riot (Pop/Rock Album). Perhaps better known as major label acts, this year’s Nominees strutting their independence include former Hole bassist, Melissa Auf der Maur (Indie/Alt./Hard Rock Album), and songwriting legend Jackson Browne with David Lindley (Live Performance Album).<br />
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Winners will be determined by a panel of 62 influential artist and industry judges including Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, Pete Wentz, Bettye LaVette, Seal, Adam Duritz, Ozzy Osbourne, Arturo Sandoval, Martin Atkins, Andrew W. K., Shelby Lynne, Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone), Pat McGuire (Filter Magazine) and Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter) and will be announced in mid-March 2011. Music fans have until July 11 to cast their votes at The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners.<br />
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Hear the music of all Nominees at: http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/10th/album<br />
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If you have a minute, we ask that you please go and vote for both "Feed the Family" and "You Oughta Know Me By Now". We have the opportunity to win BOTH judges vote AND fans vote. Like last year though, if we do NOT win over the judges, the BIGGEST statement we can make as listeners... is to achieve the vox pop vote so we can help push Possessed by Paul James & Tom VandenAvond on to bigger and better things.<br />
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GOOD JOB BOYS, WE LOVE YA!<br />
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Celebrating the democracy of creativity and meritocracy of talent, The Independent Music Awards honor exceptional independent artists who are, traditionally ignored by mass media and big box retailers. For the past 10 years, artists and labels from around the world have found new fans and prominence through The Independent Music Awards. Produced by Music Resource Group, publisher of the popular industry networking database The Musician’s AtlasOnline, and producers of the original webTV series, Grooveable Feast, The IMAs use its unrivaled access to performance, promotion & distribution opportunities to connect Winners and Nominees to new audiences and revenue opportunities. Earning IMA honors goes beyond a badge of distinction. Artists credit The IMAs with increasing recognition among music fans and industry gatekeepers. <br />
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Past winners and nominees include: And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Cursive, fun., The Flatlanders, Spinerrette, Holly GoLightly & The Brokeoffs, Vienna Teng, The So So Glos, Cephas & Wiggins, The Matches, All That Remains, The Cliks, Oran Etkin, State Radio, Lee “Scratch Perry, The Very Best, Tim Easton, Marco Benevento, Kes The Band, Jamie Lidell, Lacuna Coil, The Trews, Joan As Police Woman; Koko Taylor, Miguel Migs; Speech, God Forbid, Lionel Louekee; Jeff Healey, Johnny Dowd, Chris Whitley, Ike Turner, The Apples in stereo, Mary Gauthier, Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland), The Mooney Suzuki, and Denque Fever among many others.Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-85319446690183417412011-02-03T21:17:00.000-08:002011-02-03T21:23:48.152-08:00Somebuddy over at Hillgrass Bluebilly is sad tonight!We didn't forget you Buddy. At 22, to record all that beautiful music. A true man. Much love tonight .... wherever you are<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gL9CjiIPmUs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Buddy Holly R.I.P. <br />Winter Dance Party. Fuckin Suck.Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-56300005069124437102011-02-02T07:30:00.000-08:002012-06-20T21:46:17.386-07:00Brand New Song from Possessed by Paul JamesHere is a BRAND NEW song from Possessed by Paul James. This is from the Ghost Room in Austin, Texas. I was at this show, and this was one of the best PPJ shows I have ever attended. Lets hope we hear this song and "Amazing Life / Sweet & Bitter Life" on his next album. <br />
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<strong>Original Link:</strong> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbU-5YXp5lY<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qbU-5YXp5lY" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Konrad Wert A.K.A. Possessed By Paul James will be at Ruta Maya on Friday Feb. 11, 2011 with the Calamity Cubes, Boomswagglers & Uncle Tom & the Say Hey Kids. Join us Dirty Foot Family & friends.Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-88254452411333645932011-02-02T05:39:00.000-08:002011-02-02T05:53:12.430-08:00Not long after we stuck the flag in Ft.Wayne, Indiana's ground...<strong>Original Link:</strong> <a href="http://www.fortwaynereader.com/story.php?uid=1195">http://www.fortwaynereader.com/story.php?uid=1195</a><br /><br /><strong>Hillgrass Bluebilly Entertainment<br /></strong>By Sean Smith<br /><br />Fort Wayne Reader<br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vlQwt5RLLEmMsRYGzepNU0akr5JCgSQ8OQGBJsN0PtncbpIljtJETExCgYfujvPqbVJIK5nIjUb0gjzi7NEXjWbNSNabe9mJNTlnH_n9-2CvINq_tGlr_NohK-TJOi7tpmdvPk8STIvb/s1600/FTW+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569089739752215842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vlQwt5RLLEmMsRYGzepNU0akr5JCgSQ8OQGBJsN0PtncbpIljtJETExCgYfujvPqbVJIK5nIjUb0gjzi7NEXjWbNSNabe9mJNTlnH_n9-2CvINq_tGlr_NohK-TJOi7tpmdvPk8STIvb/s200/FTW+1.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>If you've been paying attention to the local music community in the last six months, there's a pretty good chance you've come across the name Hillgrass Bluebilly Entertainment. Perhaps you've seen the logo on show flyers, numerous websites, t-shirts or hats. And more than likely, you've been a tad curious just what exactly HBE is. The answer, much like HBE, is quite simple. They are a promotional company.<br /><br />The basic idea behind HBE, which is based in Austin, Texas, is to create chapters in different cities across the country. These chapters then create a welcoming atmosphere for various HBE-affiliated musicians to play while touring the nation. The ultimate goal is to have one chapter in every continental state. The man behind all of this is Keith Mallette.<br /><br />Keith (as he is known to everyone within the HBE organization) was cleaning pools in Phoenix and growing tired of the same old bands touring through his area. Along with the help of his friend Ryan, Keith began booking shows. The response was overwhelming, so the groundwork for a new network was laid.<br /><br />That was three years ago and now there are chapters in six different cities. In January of this year, Fort Wayne became the first expansion chapter.<br /><br />Anderson, a local music promoter, and Brenn Beck, one-half of the dirty blues duo Left Lane Cruiser, became co-owners of the Fort Wayne chapter of HBE earlier this year and have been bringing in bands that play blues, bluegrass and all around good quality music ever since.<br /><br />According to Beck, HBE has been in his sights for a while now. "All the really big people in our genre have used them as a promotional tool. They've really done a good job of pushing our genre and getting it in the public eye. So, Joe [Evans, the other half of Left Lane Cruiser] and I have kept an eye on them for, probably, three years and finally got invited to do a show with them."<br /><br />The show was unbelievable. The crowd knew all of the bands songs and the hospitality shown to LLC was unlike anything they'd ever experienced. They came back to Fort Wayne raving about it, and Beck started talking to Anderson about bringing one to town.<br /><br />Anderson began conversing with Keith via e-mail and the discussion ended six months later. "Finally, he told me to throw the flag up," says Anderson, "It's been history ever since."<br /><br />When it came time to book their first show, Anderson and Beck thought about all of the great bands they had seen at Deep Blues Fest the previous year. "It's just outside Minneapolis and it's killer because it's just this guy, Chris Johnson, who got [Left Lane Cruiser] signed to Alive. He's a huge fan of the genre and he basically puts on the festival so all the bands can meet," explains Beck.<br /><br />Bob Log III, Scott H. Biram and Possessed by Paul James are a few of the top acts that HBE works with, but the guys decided to start small and grow the chapter slowly. The BirdDogs from Detroit, Michigan were chosen as the first band to play a HBE FW show. It was a success and many more soon followed. "The shows so far have been really good. The turnout's been great and I think the more people hear about HB, the more they come to the shows," says Anderson, "We had The Pack A.D. and Gravel Road come in March and it was phenomenal."<br /><br />"We brought Black Diamond Heavies in January and that got us a good base. At least 300 people showed up," smiles Beck.<br /><br />Anderson is quick to add, "The next day, the Heavies called Biram in Austin and said, 'You've gotta come through Fort Wayne."<br /><br />"Word spread like wildfire," agrees Beck, "Fort Wayne's become kind of a hot spot for bands, which is cool. We're right in the middle of Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Louisville and Indy. They're all right there, so if you're going from one to another and you've got an off night, it's the perfect spot."<br /><br />Fort Wayne is the only HBE chapter in the Midwest currently. The other chapters are in Phoenix, Austin, Louisiana, Oklahoma City and Tennessee. Bands do not have to be associated with HBE to play shows that include HBE-affiliated bands. "They'll work with anybody that plays something good," states Beck, "We're not going to do a pop band or a cover band. If it's heartfelt, you can play an HBE show. Otherwise, we got no problem telling you no."<br /><br />One problem they do have is people confusing the organization for a band. "We've had a hard time getting people to buck down and associate the shows as Hillgrass Bluebilly shows, rather than Left Lane Cruiser show or an A3K (Anderson's promotional name) show or whatever," admits Beck.<br /><br />That's where an official HBE kickoff weekend comes in handy. Although the entire event was a happy accident, the guys are more than ecstatic to offer it. "RMike told me I had to book the Buffalo Killers. Then, Th' Shack*Shakers came along and said they wanted to play. We can't tell them no," confesses Anderson, "Since we had two shows back-to-back, we decided to have the kickoff weekend."<br /><br />Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers will be playing The Brass Rail at 10 p.m. on May 23rd, along with Left Lane Cruiser and Poopdeflex. Cover is $8. The show will be preceded by a 9 p.m. screening of Shack*Shakers lead singer Col. J.D. Wilkes' independent film, Seven Signs, at CinemaTech. Tickets to the film are $5. Anyone who attends the film or wears an HBE shirt will receive $3 off of the cover charge for The Brass Rail show.<br />"It's been a pleasure to work with the Hillgrass Bluebilly guys and I'm grateful and honored to host a show for a band that my business partner and I are both fond of," says John Commorato Jr., co-owner of The Brass Rail, "They put on a hell of a show."</div>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-31879044154648185292011-01-18T17:46:00.000-08:002011-02-02T06:08:14.776-08:00Hillgrass Bluebilly on XXX, the Stupid Idea Shooter Jennings Had...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIKh15za29MAxGXF74fZ4MjvWa9jNXntraEmeztd9DmSsqoTSGLG7xeEtYBS7TOsv5jIiEkfBKrGlO8zEJcp6xB5zt5SHniFlWabQ5CsOdtVC62Gc2VfuvPMpSQ_8Wxw1KxUWW0ZF-Xll/s1600/keith+office+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569093494219616018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIKh15za29MAxGXF74fZ4MjvWa9jNXntraEmeztd9DmSsqoTSGLG7xeEtYBS7TOsv5jIiEkfBKrGlO8zEJcp6xB5zt5SHniFlWabQ5CsOdtVC62Gc2VfuvPMpSQ_8Wxw1KxUWW0ZF-Xll/s200/keith+office+2.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I feel the importance to properly address my feelings, as cofounder of<a href="http://www.facebook.com/hillgrass.bluebilly"> Hillgrass Bluebilly Records</a>, on the subject of this proposed "<a href="http://www.givememyxxx.com/">XXX</a>" from Shooter Jennings & "<a href="http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/introducing-the-xxx-movement">No Depression</a>" writer Adam Sheets. I feel I state the facts as I see them, and as many of you think I may take things to an extreme, that is whats always been here...since day 1 HB, seemingly extreme. Extreme is never the case, the strange & dangerous times we live in does not welcome the sign of any beast, on my fight of the (re)introduction of roots music. Hillbilly, Bluegrass, Blues, Country, Country Blues, Hillbilly Folk, Hillbilly Blues, from uptop the Hillbilly Mountains down in the thicks of the Hillbilly Swamps and last but not least... good ol' heart, that is the combination of our success! The times, they ain't a changin', the people are...the MEN are.<br /><br />Shooter Jennings will never be a part of anything successful. I knew he was a 5000lb anchor when I first looked into him, and "man"... you know it too. I never was a sleepwalker and I swept the streets of Phoenix for .50 a driveway 1.00 includes the sidewalk and curb, When I was a kid. So when I set out to sweep the street, onreader, I must have felt the importance of this, the desensatization of this, the hokeyness in this... a calling for my mouth. This is the same old song & dance of anyone that has a "name" and a mouth. I am not going to sit and watch some absurd reasoning of Hank III's thoughts, signature, whatever...as an all welcomin' to XXX. Believe me readers. It is time to let everybody know, but you have to listen to the music and be your own judge, and not be weighed down with all these "names" and bullshit recordings, and bullshit admittings to bullshit recordings. I ain't got NO time for that, and they are really not worth my addressing them. I am offering a service here, an insight to a man that will never give up, never misrepresent.<br /><br />Hillgrass Bluebilly is here to represent, and that is exactly what I am going to do. I can sit here and bash folks, but just go buy and album and listen, you'll know what you don't believe... you will know what you don't like. I don't need to hold your hand, and I do not need to lead you in by the ear. I ain't your father, my boy aint going to have problems... So men, work on being just that, follow your gut, be a man about things. Let it go in your ear and then let it go to your gut. Leave the heart to the artist and your head out of misinforming, misguiding beasts that do nothing but destroy, what men like me are trying to build and improve on.<br /><br />Hillgrass Bluebilly aint shit but a stepping stone to the truth, Yes, we are aggressive, and yes we arent ready for folks to "get it" on their own, we have to help... and we are... by delivering solid albums from solid people spitting their hearts out in our efforts to help speed up the process of elemination. The truth wins, the heart is light, people come. It's not about the fucking money, it never was, it was always about heart, truth, never recording a song that someone didnt believe. It was about celebrating through music...what you believe, what you live, what you experience. Why fluff that up with foggy misrepresentations? Why drop a bunch of names? All the sudden these XXX ARTISTS are going to save everybody? Yeah fucking right.. its 50/50 people (rar rar). Has their ever been fair compensation for standing up for what you believe in? XXX is going to deliver? Not without us they aint.<br /><br />You have to fight for whats right and stand up and discipline the red handed. Shooter needs to be spanked or something because he is fucking it up for everybody. He is taking a "name". If he was Shooter Smith, y'all wouldn't give a rats terd about him. Everyone is too hopeful of some figure to come in and lead the march, huh huh... it's just us people, look to your right and left at a show. More importantly...look at who is NOT at the show, where the show is at, where are the people that would like this at?<br /><br />The system in place is not built for us. We have our own "American Pickers" and the hauntings of them surviving/thriving in a system that has ALWAYS shoved them away. Noone is taking the measures to just flat out build something for whats in demand.<br /><br />I believe Shooter & Matt both forgot what "work" is and are in survival mode with a trap. They are looking to ride a system that is not built for us. Y'all can eat off that plate all you want, that is not the dirty foot way. I believe we need to cut the life support of this system that has created humdrum shows, where bartenders walk out with the same amount as the artists because the promoter worked their ass off... to make it work. Our job. There is no compensation because people are sucking each others dicks (paying compliment) before defending and cleaning up their profession, simply just because it needs it. (one might get the same pleasure from painting a house for an old broke lady, or being a big brother/sister to someone who needs it). Refreshing... a job well done.<br /><br />This is DO or die, not CONFUSE and complicate. Very simple. People start making buffers and go betweens and ammendments and bends and adjustments to the most simple thing and you do nothing but promote another failed attempt before it happens. You start running your mouth in a system that is pushing out promoters and using all monopilizing sister companies to Clear Channel, Viacom.... all these companies & venues & booking agents are working hard for THEIR system. Not ours. Shooter and Adam Sheets are really digging a hole... their own, and taking folks down with em. Dead<br /><br />Now to DO, would be to build you own system and start on the local level. To DO, would be to use their system against them. Use a system that is in place, AGAINST them. Noone owns the fans, and they are working harder to get at them before you do. Why don't you just talk to every lil fucker that drives around with "Brad Paisley (who I like) & Taylor Swift" (see Adam Sheets remarks below) blaring out the window. They are really easy to spot. They live in the small towns, and have some kind of Mossy Oak dashmat, pocket knife or hat and maybe a fishing sticker on their truck. Start there, real hard. From there, turn around and look at the VFW that has gone to shit, right with Hank Jr. in 1983. The beginning stages of MTV, CMT, Signature Series, all this made up, fairy tale, trying to sell me something. bullshit. XXX is trying to sell me... this is bullshit too.<br /><br />I demand you put an end to this today, you don't have to say anything, just take down the bullshit website and leave yourself out of our community on your quest to fluff things up. Show rigerous truth, a sweating back, a look in the eye, a song in your throat... fuck... you'll have the ladies... can you do that? Can you make every mother fucker cry in that room? Why dont you come in that room with me. You can tie my hands behind my back and I guarantee you Shooter will be saying "Hillgrass Bluebilly" before "XXX" then on out. Bring your friends too, Adam... and anyone else you dont give a fuck about.<br /><br /><strong>LOCAL VENUES</strong> - obtain local venues, your 200 max occupancy and your 1000 max occupancy space. VFW's, Elks Lodge, Mooslodge, a lot of them have the space and the stage (now storage, etc). These VFWs and Mooselodges are diappearing fast. The community has abandoned them. I believe we can revive concerts, dances, bingo, everything they used to represent and stand for..old ladies cookin up hamburgers, Dwayne, the big funny dude in the cowboy hat workin the door... the good. Community, paying dues & RESPECT. Shooter will not revive things like this with XXX. Hillgrass Bluebilly can. Our heart is in the right spot. I am willing to organize this... Is Shooter & Adam going to back my approved of and easily backed suggestions? Are they going to stop all this nonsense and quit finding ways to a sour milked teet? Farm fresh man. Bring that shit home. We aint living in the highrises down here in Austin, TX. Making things happen on your own is a movement, bringing good representation to the people is a movement. Again, You not only need to stop XXX, you need to strip down what you think you got and take it somewhere else for ANY kind of recognition. THEN you give back to a community, you start something, something wholesome. Booking agents are pushing folks like me out of the picture, so they can piss all over our talent, but it's not going to work. What I can build, very easily will beat out the system you are trying to work with. I do not know when all of this will happen, but I know it will friend. I dont have the clothes to unfortunatley sell myself past a fat secretary or a business door right now, so my options on who I can address are limited. We all need money... but we need to make a difference for it and not just work for it. Pride and commitment happens...and is written about... not by you, about you... kinda like I am doing here, but I am more believable than you.<br /><br /><strong>LOCAL RADIO</strong> - I dont have XM, but Austin Texas is BLESSED with radio stations like KVRX/KOOP, even KUT in a smithsonian type of way and programs like "The Roadhouse" which have ALL been very friendly in playing our releases, because I tried, I'm real, and gave the right presentation... some even "gettin it" on their own by mistakingly walking into a show on the way home, random stop. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Possessed by Paul James / Chris Mosser "Roadhouse" on KVET radio 98.1 - a full on country radio station... Possessed by Paul James.... the MUSIC won.)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> If I can hear a bunch of ki yi yi'n on 5+ radio stations, im thinking picking up local airwaves and using their system (airwaves) to transmit to the peoples, is not a hard thing to do... you are lookin for easy outs (ins) Shooter. Not making a difference. Start venues & radio stations (real ones) in Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta.... then come on back...and I'll give you the next tasks....</span><br /><br /><strong>MAGAZINES - </strong>I cannot think of a better example than Lubricated Magazine. I wish I had a link, but there is no better example.<br /><br />How many more bad decisions are to follow this dirty money driven XXX?<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffff33;">******<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span>Here is some copied & pasted back and forths between me, Shooter & Adam on the <a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/artists-back-xxx-genre-roundtable-discussion#comments">savingcountrymusic.com</a> website:<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Hillgrass Keith </strong>January 16, 2011 at 6:07 am<br />…<strong>and I will always support Jashie, Outlaw, Saving & Trig. You are right, I will not NOT like anyone, because of something else they support that I may not. The idea aint bad, but I will be the 1st to put a stop to a “movement” that aint with me or I with them. If they start with XXX tours and/or a festival, it could grow on its own. THEN we arent losing any fans, interested sponsors, airtime etc…. xxx (symbol) resembles no faith, drugs, rape, deadbeat dads, not welcome,PORN, solicited sex, alcohol made to destroy, …ok…maybe that is a bit much, maybe not. A man that walks a line and plows his own course is a maverick, unmarked & meaningful (imagine Johnny Cash reading about XXX) The mens just need to have a look in their eye and a song in their throat. Start there. But XXX is 1 up a dirty sanchez. Can ANYONE imagine the bullshit one would have to put up with THIS agencies booking agents? Do we, as promotion companies get to pay an extra $100 + because of the XXX endorsement? What about the shit ass merch and XXX flag, Hey Kids… go look “XXX country music” on google images and tell me what you find </strong></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>(<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/xxx%20country%20music/HipKidsEatQueerCulture/20070316_1334522.jpg">http://media.photobucket.com/image/xxx%20country%20music/HipKidsEatQueerCulture/20070316_1334522.jpg</a>)</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>….. Americana, done.</strong><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Reply<br /></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Denise January 16, 2011 at 7:40 am<br />That was so well said Keith I’m not sure what else to say other than thank you for conveying the image in the proper way. A maverick does plow his way, stays the course and thinks about the implications down the road. XXX is not the image JC would have liked. Nor Hank. If it’s about the music and supporting the musicians that’s one thing most everyone would agree with. But Shooter said it himself: xxx is a catchy theme. I personally ain’t lookin’ for catchy. I’m looking for honesty in the strings. Escape from the pain. Joy in the art. You can leave catchy to the glaring lights of hollyweird and trashville.<br /></span><br /></span>.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Adam Sheets</strong> January 16, 2011 at 9:10 am<br /><strong>How would Johnny Cash feel about XXX? I don’t know and assuming you didn’t know the man, neither do you. But I think it’s telling that both his son and his godson are on board.</strong><br /></span>.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">BlueRibbonRadio January 16, 2011 at 9:23 am<br />Assuming what a dead man would think about something is both absurd, and borderline disrespectful.<br /><br />.<br />BlueRibbonRadio January 16, 2011 at 9:42 am<br />And Hillgrass Bluebilly has artists that sing about murder, suicide, drinking, and drugs. And they’re great, but you can’t try and take the moral high ground when that laundry list of what bad “XXX” can stand for is featured in your own artists songs.<br /><br />.<br />The Triggerman January 16, 2011 at 10:16 am<br />Keith may be taking the point to an extreme, but I think it is a fair and valid argument, and one I raised myself initially and continue to. Does that mean we should throw the XXX ‘baby’ out with the ‘bathwater’ bad name? I don’t know. Maybe dropping the name down to two X’s or raise it up to four X’s will get it out of the bad connotations that people have with ‘XXX,’ but it still won’t resolve his deeper concerns about the fundamental issues that might arise with the formation of a new entity. One of the reasons grass roots are so effective is because they are deep and true and hard to kill. However it can also make deconstruction and re-alignment difficult.<br /><br />On Friday night I was hanging out with Keith in a bar in Austin, watching two Hillgrass bands. I stopped down writing a review/uploading videos to join this discussion. Possessed by Paul James, a Hillgrass artist, was voluntarily put on the XXX list as a potential artist. Scott Biram, who is a member of the Hillgrass family, is the first name on that artist list. These roots run deep. And in both directions.<br /><br /></span>.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Adam Sheets</strong> January 16, 2011 at 10:24 am<br /><strong>But, again, I do not see any problem whatsoever with the name. Think for a minute, not what Johnny Cash would think of the name, but what would Hank 3 think of the name (maybe what would he think if Shooter wasn’t on board). Would a guy who uses as much profanity in his songs and even led a “Fuck Curb” campaign, really give a shit about being associated with something called XXX? Give me a fuckin’ break. </strong><br /><strong>And also, as I have already pointed out, most “outlaw” country fans have never spent one day in prison and you can apply the same argument to the “dirty blues,” “stoner rock,” or any number of other labels that seem to have worked out just fine.</strong><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;">.<br />KAK January 16, 2011 at 3:05 pm<br />I have to agree that I will NEVER tell anyone I listen to XXX anything. I am a mother. I am a college professor. I am the faculty sponsor of an organization that raises funds for rape victims in Uganda. I would be humiliated to tell people I go to “a lot of XXX shows”…being a grown up sucks but it comes with a price, unfortunately.<br /><br />XXX doesn’t ever make me think of moonshine. It makes me think of sex.<br /><br />.<br />D.S. Troubadour January 18, 2011 at 6:33 pm<br />I think it’s awesome the response is so massive on this thing. However, if a bunch of underground country “nerds” (and let’s face it, that’s what we are) can’t agree on something as benign as a name, how in the hell are people going to jump on board who are nominal fans. People on the fringes. The 50,000 Shooter says he wants. Names and labels may be silly in some ways, but they can be important. XXX seems very problematic to me. Not the concept, but the name. Googling XXX is never going to bring up a music site. It will ALWAYS bring up porn. As a publicist and marketing guy, that is the first thing I thought of. It’s just bad planning. I do like the idea. I will support it, but I think a name change would be beneficial.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span>.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Adam Sheets</strong> January 18, 2011 at 6:39 pm<br /><strong>D.S., as I’ve stated below, we’re willing to change the name to something a bit less controversial, but since XXX has already been put on the table, been covered on this site and many others, and will even receive some newspaper coverage this week, we must stick with the name in some fashion, whether it is the “main” name or not. Otherwise it just creates confusion.</strong>..... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Tmac January 15, 2011 at 5:47 pm<br />I joined the Facebook page. I totally agree w/ Pete Berwick. Bottom line is that it can’t hurt. It’s a start and it contradicts my earlier comment but we gotta start somewhere. The only need for labels and genres in my opinion is so we can find your music in the music store or iTunes etc…<br /></span><br /><strong>Reply<br />.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hillgrass Keith</span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> January 16, 2011 at 11:49 am<br /><strong>ok, extreme, yes. apologies to JC. I am personally pleased that is your only argument. distasteful sure, but not disrespectful. lead by example, never put out a shitty album. never put on a shitty show, unless there are understandable circumstances of course.but are these artists not busy enough to have to start alliances with confusing branding?</strong></span><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">stage – truth, soapbox, gavel holder, time on the stand, supporters mobile ground zero, THE MUSIC.<br /><br />off stage – if anyone offstage thinks they are ANYTHING other than a stepping stone or a contact to the TRUTH on stage, then take HB, you deserve it friend. I am still fighting for Americana, Blues & Country genres…. as simple as ABC. I will not abandon it, I will fight for it. We have sand bags, effecient stepping stones, effecient walls, effecient shelter. XXX is not wholesome and full yet..therefore only a bag of dirt, a dirtbag. XXX Country, cmon… quit fucking me here, I will take it personally.<br /><br />I personally feel this is exclusion and is only for the betterment of those on board, yet creating another monopilization (kindly pardon any misspellings) and another blinding element for whats supposed to take place on stage. and the only thing that takes place on stage… the truth. I am not here to entertain in the true essence of the word. I am here to represent, host and work for what I have found myself to believe in. I really am starting to think I don’t have any business explaining in detail what it takes to unbrand and only bring truth in representation in the genre of Americana.<br /><br />Im sick of everything that aint spelled out and real. I try hard everyday, not to confuse people. A monkey can figure out the meaning of “Hillgrass Bluebilly” by attending 3 – 5 shows. any one person can figure out “Muddy Roots”, “Farmageddon”, “Deep Blues”. Truth is, those names have physically bled, to push all this, as not to confuse but to promote, aid, and gain respect by leading….by example, not creating fluff until a real geniune hard-on is achieved on it’s own.<br /><br />Shits gonna die on its own. 100% of ALL “Blues Societies” will be reformatted or non exsistant as that generation dies off. Truth takes over… what people actually believe in, “Mustang Sally” will finally have tombstone. But there will be Blues Clubs.<br /><br />Country – go play in a club/bar/venue where country people go, walk the owner through it, lead by example abd buy one, build one and quit feeding the system…. last time I checked, Clear Channel ownes a lot the venues that Shooter was performing at, that III performs at…. so on and so on. Country fans aint coming cause noone is playing to the country people, so suck on that greasy pecker and realize what “agencies” are creating here, ways into the bullshit, instead of convertin folks with common sense, stripping it down, and doing shit where it belongs, playing it to who will listen. I for one think there is a lot of laziness and people wanting to dig their paws in some jackpots, instead of workin that shit.<br /><br />I am going to stop for now, because all I am going to do is create problems for people, not me.<br /><br />xxx – ok a home for country & rock, I get it. you have to go the the rock section to buy Biram, Whitmore, Hiram & Huddie. I know. its fucking weird. take an x out or add one, and bring some shit to the people via “tours”, “shows” & “events” and let the “movement” happen on its own. I’ll sign that. Take this coalition and outbid Mexican Radio for LOCAL OPEN AIRWAVES, radio stations starting in Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas. I’ll sign that. Be meaningful in your sponsors, fuck vitamin water, budget ads for our working class… the struggling working class of local business owners that actually listen.<br /><br />Give us something to believe in. People aint followin HB because I have a big ol finger sayin “c’mere”…. I do not have paths in branding. We have a flag.. not a brand of more publisher clipart with no heart.<br /><br />argh, I am in for different reasons than most, I need to hire a PR person so I can get back to work</span>.</strong><br /><br /><strong>Reply<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Adam Sheets</span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> January 16, 2011 at 12:38 pm<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">First of all, I just want to say that I’ve always respected what your label has done, but I must answer a couple of points.<br /><br />What the hell is Americana as a genre? Over the past few weeks there have been numerous discussions about just that subject on No Depression and nobody seems to be able to reach a consensus other than agreeing it is a MARKETING label hijacked by the mainstream labels and used to market slightly roots-influenced music to white, urban, middle-class liberals. This is NOT the traditional country or blues audience and that is who we think deserve to hear their own music and their own culture. Americana and roots stations will never play Hillgrass Bluebilly. NPR will never get on board. Rolling Stone will never review them and even the more mainstream “Americana” audiences will never hear these artists.<br /><br />Talk about how great podcasts and sites like this are all you want (and I’ll mostly agree with you), but the fact remains that 85% of the people in the country still listen to radio and that number goes up to 93% if you factor satellite radio in to it. You say “shit’s gonna die on it’s own,” but it’s not as long as the kids are being force-fed Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.<br /><br />Furthermore, XXX has nothing to do with exclusion. The list on the website doesn’t feature every artist and neither would a list Triggerman made, nor would a list you make. It’s a guideline. We know there are dozens of other great artists who fit in to the format and just because you don’t see them on the site doesn’t mean they aren’t on our radar.<br /><br />Your problem is that you are judging the movement before you see it in action. Wait until the festival, the web series and possible TV series, the radio shows across the country, more podcasts and internet programming, etc and then talk to me about “converting people.”<br /><br />The bottom line is we want you on board. We want your artists on board. We love what you do and we welcome your ideas. So give us some ideas instead of simply pointing out what we’re doing wrong. That doesn’t help anybody, including you.</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Reply<br /></span>..<br />Hillgrass Keith</strong> January 16, 2011 at 12:09 pm<br /><strong>please do not mistaken me for someone who gives a flying fuck what Hank III thinks. If anything, Im bettin he escapin from all of this bullshit branding and figuring out how to rebring the meaning of truth in what’s within him, I hope. But if I see XXX, Stanton Levy or who the fuck ever, hell or demons or common references to porn in my fucking ABC’s of americana, blues & country you can thank my Jesus for my not taking action on you…. and Id advise you pray to him, if you cannot, I will lead by example there too, alone, against all of you and anyone who defies faith & truth in American Roots Music. ARMS are for embracing & defending. create with balls friend and BE MEANINGFUL. BE REAL, BE A MAN. Bring filthy shit near me and watch what happens! Adam Sheets wants to bring porn into our country music everybody!!! read all about it, read all about it….</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Reply<br /><br /></span>Shooter</strong> January 16, 2011 at 12:50 pm<br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Hillgrass,<br />I’m sad and sorry that you’re so upset about this. To think there’s any part of this that could be me trying to make money, or have ANYTHING to do with porn is ridiculous. I stand to make as much money as any other artist on that list, and really porn has nothing to do with this. (if you search for XXX in google, the first two entries are the stupid Vin Deisel movie). If anything, my neck is the one on the chopping block, and I totally am aware of that and I’m willing to leave it there. I know alot of these artists personally and I see how hard of a time they’re having out there, and a lot of them are jumping on board because I think it makes them feel like there’s something happening that they can actually embrace. Whatever… My point here is that this was an idea that I had over five years ago, and just felt right about sharing. I reached out to Adam because I knew he was someone who knew the landscape really well, an area in which I really needed collaboration. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to meet the folks on here and make some friends and really get a better idea of what needs to be done (as well as being made aware of the significant legwork that SCM, OR, CBN and all these others have done in the past, and the importance of trying to get us all to work together). I really respect you and your label, you have many artists on that label that are so talented and deserve exposure, and I’m sure that’s what you want for your artists. And you deserve to be as much of a strong part of this as anyone else who believes in these things. We’re not coming along saying that we’ve got some kind of answer, or we’re trying to discover some golden city long forgotten, or for ANY reason be exclusionary. You can’t try to liberate and be snobby at the same time, and we are definitely not doing that. Our list is clearly marked as partial, and there is no ultimate goal of who is cool enough and who is not. You make this sound like XXX is against your label, which is absolutely silly. We’re FOR your label. We’re FOR everyone who hangs out on this website instead of having to google all the artists SCM cover’s separately. It’s about a home. We would love to have your input in all of this, as well as support. As for your demanding that Phoenix have “No Shooter”, for whatever reason that is, I can’t help you there, but I can tell you that this has nothing to do with my own personal agenda or wallet. It started as an idea of how to separate the music I was playing on my radio show from the Americana/Outlaw Country playlists which focussed on more middle of the road type music or on older and legacy artists. But it really seems to be something that people like to hear being said, and that is enough for me to believe in it. We also think it was important not to put a “Country” “Blues” “Americana” etc label on it because it defeats the purpose. All of these artists have been shut out because it’s not what the mainstream world associates with the defined genres. If so Hank III, Justin Townes Earle, North Mississippi Allstars and Ryan Bingham (not to mention tons of others on there) would be household names… Look it’s not about fighting, and if you keep thinking this is some personal attack on your label, then it’s never going to get anyone anywhere. But the door is ALWAYS open for your input, collaboration, label, taste and criticism. Please, take a beat and try and see that this isn’t some angled creation. I’ve been called alot of things on this site and on many others, but the one thing I am not is motivated by anything but creative freedom and justice. It’s what my dad fought (and died) for and, whether doubting eyes believe it or not, he and I were very close, and I saw how he cared about music. He cared more for it than anything on the planet, and the music industry broke his heart, many times, and when he was young enough to fight back, he did and he won, and I feel like there is an entire generation of artists that have come from the bloodshed of that battle, and simply hoping that the right people will come around looking for them is not enough. They must be exposed and given the credit and careers they deserve.<br /><br />If you disagree with me still, please feel free to rail me, and I’ll read every word and try and find every bit of truth i can in it. But I want you to understand that I care about this very much and only want to finally give the Old Media fucks and their puppets something that they cannot control or contend with. In our Civil War, we are all wondering around on one side of the battlefield (with encampments scattered across the hills and valleys like SCM, NBN, and all the other fine establishments), but the enemy are WELL ORGANIZED and WELL ARMED, and if we can just find a way to all organize, we can make a stand like no other, because we have the heart and soul. That includes you, HB, and all the artists you love and support.<br /><br />Okay I’ll shut up.<br />Shooter</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#000000;">Reply<br /><br /></span>BlueRibbonRadio January 16, 2011 at 1:07 pm<br />This is why I’m supporting it. You guys came here and welcomed input from everybody. That’s what turned the corner for me.<br /><br />If this was some sinister plan to make a buck off the work of others it would make no sense to get all of us involved. This, in theory, is what we’ve all been trying to do but we didn’t have the resources to do it.<br /><br /></span><strong>Reply<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Shooter</span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> January 16, 2011 at 1:19 pm<br /><strong>Thanks for the support BlueRibbon. You’re a big part of it, as well as everyone else here. For sure everyone’s input here and other places like this who REALLY know the landscape, will help get this to the next level. We don’t have much better resources I don’t think than anyone here, I just think getting all the artists on board is the first key. Hopefully Hillgrass Bluebilly can see positive in this. What they do is really fucking respectable, so it would be awesome to have them on our side!</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Reply<br />..<br />KAK January 16, 2011 at 3:08 pm<br />I for one appreciate your comments here, Shooter. I also appreciate your emphasis on being an advocate for others. Folks do need to earn a buck and I see that you see this. I just hope you all come up with a different name if you proceed with this…<br /><br /></span><strong>Reply<br />...<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hillgrass Keith</span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> January 16, 2011 at 12:37 pm<br /><strong>Blue Ribbon: drinkin & druggin is fine, it happens..I tweeked, I snorted, I smoked, but I wasnt taping myself fucking to country music while doing so, and I grew up, and I know that system and how to destroy it. was it really murder…or was it a good decision, listen, it may have been a story, a dream… a thought, but it was real and it was geniune if you see HB, guaranteed! suicide is a real issue, but sometimes, real mother fuckers dont want to be here anymore, and maybe make a bad decision, I have come close twice, I’ll scan and post the papers…. finding the truth is the scariest thing folks, you know it and you are probably afraid of it, like me. but dont hide from it….. It will find you. (not you Blue Ribbon). but I back my shit up and do not have to worry about what anyone digs up on me and especially Hillgrass Bluebilly. we represent the good. Noone here or exsisting can call that out on us…..</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Reply<br /></span>.<br />Hillgrass Keith</strong> January 16, 2011 at 12:39 pm<br />to Adam:<br /><strong>“Hillgrass Bluebilly will turn the world of music upside down” – John Carter Cash</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Reply<br /></span>.<br />Hillgrass Keith</strong> January 16, 2011 at 1:20 pm<br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Adam, I agree and thank you for the opportunity to help and calling me out on the bashing. but XXX will be blocked in todays parental security programming. You are right about Rolling Stone, holy fuck are you right…<br /><br />refine XXX for the people that it bothers and you will have our support. with the right presentation from the community, maybe you can sway me on not taking xxx for the worst possible meaning… but I am very negative too. I dont even think I can work on the way my mind works. But I cannot get past XXX. and our fight is still a fight with that name. I look to step over and continue every battle I pick, which is most of them by nature. But I am here to help the good first.</strong>cXtry MusiX RoX<br />ExCo<br />CouXtry RoXs by Xample<br />Southern Stoned on the Rocks<br /><br />i know those suggestion suck<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Reply<br /><br /></span>Shooter</strong> January 16, 2011 at 1:27 pm<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">This is what someone said a long time ago to me.<br /><br />X X X<br />County Rock Southern<br /><br />I’m sure someone said the same thing about naming that movie XXX or the silly country song by one of those pop country bitches xxx’s and ooo’s. I even found an old badass record called “‘Dirty Dope Infected Blue Grass Hillbilly Hobo XXX Country Music”<br /><br />For now the XXX still doesn’t bother me. To me it’s, if anything, taking back the XXX name. Besides nobody searches for porn by searching for XXX. They look for “ass licking” or whatver, haha. It’s one the second page of GOOGLE now with XXX. Enough discussions and it’ll be on the first page. Look up AAA music (Adult Album Alternative, the top 40 adult contemporary/katy perry ballad airwaves that flood our radios) that was why it stuck for me in the first place. There’s a Billboard AAA chart. I’d love to see Left Lane Cruiser or Hiram and Huddie on an XXX chart.<br /><br />I won’t hammer the name right now tho because I think it just gets everyone crazy.</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Reply<br /><br />BlueRibbonRadio January 16, 2011 at 1:33 pm<br />Zerno Tornado! Fuck yes, I love that record!<br /><br />Reply<br /><br />BlueRibbonRadio January 16, 2011 at 1:35 pm<br />*Zeno<br /><br />Reply<br />....<br />Ojaioan January 16, 2011 at 1:34 pm<br />I like the premise, not crazy about the name though. Shits still in developement but I’am on board to see where this X-rated ride goes. sheeeeesh!<br /><br /></span><strong>Reply<br />.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hillgrass Keith</span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> January 16, 2011 at 1:43 pm<br /><strong>Shooter, I had no rhyme or reason to your bashing, if you must know. I have an ex, now in OK who would drive to no end to go see you, but never lift a finger for my productions and I had to FIGHT for Biram to leave your tour in Phoenix so we could not stop what we created in Phx for him and my vision with folks like Bob Log and such, I accomplished that twice with Biram, you and Phoenix (if I recall right) but he rocks the fuck out, and belongs in that line up of the proposed XXX, and he encompasses more than what HB can offer him, but folks like him need something more. I am very sad to say, but HB has realized our stepping stone, and Biram has got by on ours and needs to continue with organizations of the right support and with better opportunities. Put Jesse Dayton in there, get Billy Bob to endorse it, he needs a home too. But my point aside not being able to use you in our rootsy format (or budget) and not listening past that 1st CD did not call for me saying I do not like you. I simply dont know you. I talked to your mom a few times, I sat with her at her table during a Billy Bob Thorton/ Holly Williams show YEARS AGO. We shared small discussions at the Rhythm Room too… X can work…. but lets use our good resources with good names. Plus I have had ex’s pop up in the porn industry… I have some verifiable backline to my issues with the XXX industry and my issues with country music industry… I let this get personal, as I always seem to do</strong>.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Reply<br /></span><br />Shooter</strong> January 16, 2011 at 1:53 pm<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">It is ALL water under the bridge. Here’s the way I look at it. I’ll include you in the links section, and when we get this going, we will need to have a kind of “Great Panel” discussion on how to pool all of our resources to make this move forward, and I definitely would be honored to have you on board with that as well as your partner in HB (and whoever else you thinks is necessary). I appreciate your honesty, as I think everyone does. We all have our own motivations in this, and our own reasons for caring so much… Ambivalence gets no one anywhere. It’s that PASSION that is exhibited on this website so much and which is why it’s such an important part of this. Triggerman’s passion hasn’t always been in my favor, nor has many others (I don’t think we’ll EVER get Autopsy4 on board with this, talk about passionate! Ha!) But the real reality is, everyone has their own tastes and they have their own beliefs. If we can find away to give everyone a handle to hold onto, we will have one motherfucking big and strong merry-go-round here. I’m gonna throw up a link to your site (do you prefer the myspace site?) on that Links section, to make people aware of your cause. Let me know what we can do, or who we can add to make this thing even stronger.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;">Thanks man,<br />Shooter</span></strong><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Reply<br /></span>..<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hillgrass Keith </span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">January 16, 2011 at 1:52 pm<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">ok…. good point. I do actually type in ass licking and not XXX, and I stayed away from the XXX in moonshine…. and I believe in taking back a name.<br /><br />and XXX is close to maverick type branding (if that makes sense)<br /><br />welp, another case of maybe, MAYBE keeping my mouth shut is a good thing? Maybe not. But all my friends, I was mean too until I figured out I liked them…. its the way it is.</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Reply<br />.<br />Jason 3.14 January 16, 2011 at 1:53 pm<br />There seems to be a lot of passion on this subject. I don’t know much about it but I do know myself and Muddy Roots. I work in marketing and merchandising and ponder classifications of music, food, drink, any damn thing that get’s sold to you daily. As an American I believe in capitalism, hard work, and feeding your family. As artist I can’t stand the very same “classifications” used to compartmentalize our music and arts. When I study music I learn that the artists I love are all the same. They are all influenced by the next one. Prime example of Charlie Feathers looking up to Junior Kimbrough. Now go ask a “rockabilly” kid what he thinks of the blues. You’d be lucky if he even knew who Charlie Feathers was but if he did he’d probably think they were oil and water. That’s because the very same machine that helps us identify the bands and music we might like becomes the defining force on what it is. It’s my job as a promoter to “Muddy” up the lines between these genres to show that it’s all just rock n roll. Hell it’s older than rock n’ roll but that’s the word I describe the soul and energy in this music. I don’t stand for or against any “scene” but I promise to show everyone that it is just a blend of 5 others.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Hillgrass Keith January 16, 2011 at 4:14 pm<br />the “Fat Possum” is “Alive” when “XXX” marks the spot where the the “Deep” “Muddy” “Hillgrass” grows on the “Farmageddon”, is this how it works?<br /><br />the cause aint bad, the name sticks….in my craw. We need no more issues. Its like the people who dress sexy or even wear weird make up and wonder why people stare at them, or they know exactly what they’re doing, or really (sadly) dont..too much confusion. Or its like the girls who dress sexy and wonder why they cant be taken seriously. I cant take Dale Watson in Phoenix in July wearing a big black trench coat… I cant fuckin do it. I cant see him get massages and die his hair black and think of him as country, when I have Roger Wallace & James Hand real dealin it. But I can sure as shit listen all day to “you lie” or take your pick of a DW hit. So point is, imagry plays a big part. the masses live by perception, my swimming pool service customers think I do rockabilly music. there are so many things I can answer with “take a CD” and “come to a show”.<br /><br />Here is my commitment. Drop me off in Tomball, Texas with nothing but 72 CD’s, a few pens, and a shitload of napkins. I will have 1000+ people within a 15 mile radius come to the Tomball VFW for a night of American made country & blues infused rock and roll. Point is we have to build away from the current. We are doing nothing to bring our music to the people who doesnt know any better yet. We are trying to fit in to a system that aint built for us…<br /><br />I say VFWs & State Fairs, Circus Tents, Revivals, continous Muddy Roots festivals (and the like, if possible) are really big tickets to a rumble on the ground, yes, a STAMPEDE on this movement. The music will win… we just have to go to them….. the burbs. This is probably not the answer either. We need Venues….. Venues, Venues, Venues. How about we pull our resources and do planet rootswood type venture in the music cities… Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles, Seatlle… we need venues…. we need alcohol sales!<br /><br />Or we sell out to sponsors and sell our music to money…. not people…. what can we do to actually change things?<br /><br />we can all make something work… but we all will have to agree to defend the xxx name and control it, can that be done?<br /><br />I am obviously back and forth, I need a breaky break and want to read some more of the fans input. If everyone is really down to make a difference, then lets do it.</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Reply</strong></span><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Shooter January 16, 2011 at 4:21 pm<br />I LOVE the way you think Keith! You sound like the kind of warrior of days of old! I see how your passion drives you too! Let’s find a place in the middle where we can all meet and plan our attack(s).</strong><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Reply<br /><br /></strong></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Hillgrass Keith January 16, 2011 at 6:06 pm<br />that lonely stretch of road in Mesa is familiar to us both, a common respected ground, about smack dab in the middle of the place if I remember right, sounds good to me. This warrior was parked there every Wednesday for a couple years on my pool cleaning route for a few minutes, payed respects and reflected my life and doins many a time there over a bowl…. but im in Austin, bout ready to be a father. We should meet. Noone should be alone in their struggle for the betterment which is what we all want, I want to believe. But know I never danced, so with 36 fast approaching, and as much smoking as I do, I have to stand up fight and protect against anyone at anytime when I feel threatned… and Im a defensive guy, there is no winning with me… only fighting and accomplishing right now. when i rest, I ask myself why I am fighting, but I still accomplish, and still today i do not know why. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be at the beheading, but if you know your head is an option for the chopping block, do you really care who pulls you free when you ask for help? Will they tax you for it? Will there be any cost of any kind? When does this (not us, this, HB, XXX) but this, life, music, turn cutthroat? I have nothing, you got a $1000… maybe a little more, I honestly think it will take 1 more cat to walk by before this dog is off the chain. All HB chapter owners, yes, are in agreeance to NOT feed this system any longer until we have our own! On 4/12/2011 we go all exclusive, no bookings agents allowed, I already NEVER signed a contract or rider agreement, and we will cater to artists, their right hands or family so to speak. I do not know why I am doing this, but I am in survival mode and doing what god (or the operater of this particular SIMS game) gave me to help this survive. I have verifiable “signs” (ooOOOoooOOooOOo *ghost sounds) and stories best told by members of the Williams family themselves, or myself, as far as me personally, and my slot as a promoter. My heart & gut are hunting for the greater good, there is only one thing that settles me, it’s the good… and if I don’t get it… I am payed off somehow, and its cost will come to all of the sudden and I will be convinced of the justice I seek, hopefully it just being a learning experience for me, which is 95% of the case. I am a fucking pool guy and the other founder works Sunday – Thurs and as I type installing cable, internet & phone. He has a wife and three daughters and I stepfather 2 with my legacy 10ish weeks away. I look at things, maybe even a bit drama queen, but everyone knows I mean it, and they understand that. So are we going to have a beheading on my watch? Caveat Emptor brother, savings and sacrifices is a fine line with us. All of us at HB.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffff33;"><strong>*******</strong> end</span><br /><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">So that was the beginning of me getting all fired up about this. Plus, now, I am already bored with it. Thanks to blogspot for initiating some closure for me.</span></strong></div>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-52189109001090465882011-01-17T05:28:00.000-08:002011-02-02T06:16:44.816-08:00Live Review - Boomswagglers & Possessed by Paul James<strong>Live Review:</strong> Boomswagglers & Possessed by Paul James<br /><strong>Original Link:</strong> <a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/live-review-boomswagglers-possessed-by-paul-james">http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/live-review-boomswagglers-possessed-by-paul-james</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iLDnIp2a10Flph-XQlZjYrg4iGGYcjY9OhfzbrmoZ9KANT2I5QDvlj94FxymvBgyNz87ApIikhVEDK9nNP5tBBfjEk2D3Sa5I1ntUw_LFQDcnGmfgCGHaDi9PMq5jWSDVb55rj75lyN6/s1600/Boom+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569095607573710034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iLDnIp2a10Flph-XQlZjYrg4iGGYcjY9OhfzbrmoZ9KANT2I5QDvlj94FxymvBgyNz87ApIikhVEDK9nNP5tBBfjEk2D3Sa5I1ntUw_LFQDcnGmfgCGHaDi9PMq5jWSDVb55rj75lyN6/s200/Boom+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(picture is not from event)<br /><br /></span>Hillgrass Bluebilly Lunch Party, but because I was too busy managing the live internet audio stream during the Boomswaggler’s set, and the stage was so surrounded by teeming “dirtyfoots” for Possessed’s nightcap performance that I couldn’t steal even a peep, I headed down to Beerland in Austin, TX Friday night to take in the double bill of Hillgrass artists.<br /><br />The Boomswagglers are a band on the rise people, mark my words. For an act with no formal release, and up to this point no major touring or even residency in a local scene, they have created quite the buzz and following. There were people there that night just to see The Boomswagglers, many of them singing along to songs and screaming out requests.<br />Unfortunately the sound was pretty muddy, and the beginning of their set was a little rough. But when they were joined on stage by Possessed by Paul James, they rallied:<br /><br />A similar observation I had seeing them previously is that they are both extremely-talented guitar players, but their use of tones and volume doesn’t always lend to that being translated to the audience. Same could possibly be said for lyrics. But this one song emphasizes both:<br /><br />And be aware, The Boomswagglers do have a big release and tour coming, but they are making sure to get it right, because they are worth it, so no specific details just yet on either.<br /><br />Next was Possessed by Paul James, and of the three times I have seen him live, this was by far his most inspired performance. Not that the previous two were bad, but this was just a different, more rowdy energy. Konrad is a school teacher, and my guess would be a damn good one, but he mentioned during the show his frustrations for the red tape involved in teaching, and wondered aloud if his future wasn’t better cast in music. Like I iterated<br /><br /><a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/review-possesed-by-paul-james-feed-the-family" target="_blank">in my review of Feed The Family</a>:<br /><br />Possessed certainly has the chops to be a full-time performer if he wanted to, but he’s chosen his path from a belief of what is best for his family, and because of a dedication to service that was instilled in his Mennonite upbringing. I respect Possesessed’s decision, but I hope he understands that his music is a service as well; a touching, uplifiting, empowering experience that the world is a better place because of.<br /><br />Regardless of the reasoning, Possessed was on fire on Friday. His gear was dogged by technical difficulties, but instead of adding hiccups to an otherwise good show, it created moments of spontaneous beauty, like when he couldn’t get his banjo and amp to work together, so he headed out into the crowd to make sure energy didn’t die:<br /><br />When I posted this year’s <a href="http://www.blogger.com/target=">Muddy Roots lineup</a>, there was a reason I put Possessed by Paul James’ name second to the top. He is a headliner, and an elder of the fusion of country, folk, and blues, and has the songs, stories, road time, wisdom, and bald spot to back it all up. The lighting wasn’t good that night, and as per usual of a PPJ show, the front of the stage was crashed by rabid fans and sight lines were few if any. But the music and energy was great as always, and below are a few more vids worth checking out. I don’t know, but for some reason I am really digging what the bad lighting and sight lines created. I think they capture the magic of the night better than a clean video could.Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-81161100884458749732011-01-12T16:16:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:26:18.889-08:00The Deep Blues on Possessed by Paul James<strong>Album Review:</strong> "Feed the Family"<br /><strong>Artist:</strong> Possessed by Paul James / Konrad Wert<br /><strong>Record Label:</strong> Hillgrass Bluebilly<br /><strong>Original Link:</strong><a href="http://realdeepblues.blogspot.com/2011/01/possessed-by-paul-james-feed-family.html">http://realdeepblues.blogspot.com/2011/01/possessed-by-paul-james-feed-family.html</a><br /><br />Konrad Wert, aka Possessed By Paul James, is a musical iconoclast. As Brian @ <a style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif" href="http://ninebullets.net/archives/the-rock-report-deep-blues-festival-2008" bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED">Nine Bullets</a> blog (re: PPJ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ44HQ2Jkc0" bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED">playing</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaefIIHd6WU" bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED">The</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4phpKKSkw88" bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED">Deep</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEl5Mg-Wwnc" bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED">Blues</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmUzbgjuKgY" bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED">Festival</a> '08) so aptly puts it:<br /><br /><em><strong><span style="color:#00cccc;">"Watching him was more like watching a person give birth to music than it was watching a person play music".</span></strong></em><br /><br /> Live, <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Possesed By Paul James is an experience like no other. Raw, challenging, literate, thoughtful and free.</span></strong> This recording, while somewhat more controlled than his live show, is no less powerful and just as thoughtful. The intensity of the live performance still shines through bright and clear but slightly more refined. Drawing from the deep well of American roots music, PPJ takes the immediacy, vigor, and grit of old timey country music, melds it with the soul of early gospel and blues, and channels it all thru the power of punk rock.<br /><br /> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Feed The Family (Hillgrass Bluebilly Records) is already at the top of many Best Of lists</span></strong> (mine included) <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">and deservedly so</span></strong>. At once unique and original sounding and, at the same time, familiar and inviting, Possessed By Paul James' new release is a powerful document that grows with each listen. <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">In performance, live and otherwise, Konrad lays his heart and soul out on the stage and sings, kicks, howls, grunts, grinds and wails the dirt off 'em until they stand clean, shining, and glowing and on fire. </span></strong> It's real, raw, and wholly honest music played as if it might be the last time. And for me that's what it's all about. If you are not prepared to die for the song then get yr ass off that stage and don't play it. I'm sure Konrad/Possessed By Paul James would agree.Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-40829580942277895382011-01-11T06:45:00.000-08:002011-01-11T07:15:35.134-08:00You Oughta Know Me By Now<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi-OEnmnGxSWCulc6LAFtHi-qiK8RHGhGOHa1eIKHONMFOx-DZYqED5g8QWjjtd30BypucgZ3KMcl0vvhz7Q7QQOR0Lj88vedN_v07o_VtBh0YrxeLj9LNS8mqy2OR-VsmdOZAzBW291d/s1600/tva+good+pic.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560946970085991106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi-OEnmnGxSWCulc6LAFtHi-qiK8RHGhGOHa1eIKHONMFOx-DZYqED5g8QWjjtd30BypucgZ3KMcl0vvhz7Q7QQOR0Lj88vedN_v07o_VtBh0YrxeLj9LNS8mqy2OR-VsmdOZAzBW291d/s200/tva+good+pic.jpg" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Artist:</strong> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tomvandenavond">Tom VandenAvond</a><br /><strong>Album:</strong> "You Oughta Know Me By Now"<br /><strong>Record Label:</strong> Hillgrass Bluebilly Records<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B001T5EZQA?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=digital-music&field-keywords=Tom%20VandenAvond">AMAZON</a> <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/tom-vandenavond/id212971752">iTUNES</a><br /><br /><strong>Author:</strong> James G. Carlson<br /><strong>Original Link:</strong> <a href="http://www.examiner.com/indie-music-in-philadelphia/tom-vandenavond-releases-fifth-full-length-album-you-oughta-know-me-by-now-review">http://www.examiner.com/indie-music-in-philadelphia/tom-vandenavond-releases-fifth-full-length-album-you-oughta-know-me-by-now-review</a><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />It is no secret that country music has really gone downhill in recent years, both in the mainstream and underground alike. In fact, many of the late, great progenitors of the movement – Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Woodie Guthrie, Waylon Jennings, and Merle Haggard, to name a few – would undoubtedly roll over in their graves if only for a moment they were subjected to what passes as country music these days. Like a piece of depreciated real estate, no one wants to live anywhere within close proximity to modern country music anymore, save for a few brave souls scattered about the globe who have dedicated themselves to rescuing the genre.<br /><br />One of those brave souls is singer/songwriter Tom VandenAvond, whose latest release on Hillgrass Bluebilly Records "You Oughta Know Me By Now" proves just how far he's willing to go to do his part for country and other roots-related forms of music. This soft-spoken, cool-mannered, scruffy-faced Texan is all trucker caps and flannel shirts, and his songs sound the way he looks…with the help of Larry & His Flask as a backing band this time around.<br /><br />Tom's songs are as real and down-to-earth as the patrons that populate the dive bars he frequents. Indeed they are as potent as the shots of liquor he throws back, as bittersweet as the beer chasers that follow, and as muddy as the cups of coffee that no doubt serve as so many early morning remedies. His sound doesn’t just possess the spirit of VandenAvond himself but that of Texas as well. All such comparisons aside, it is quite simply a sound that is rustic and romantic, gritty and honest and raw, with a bit of alt-country twang and folky balladry. And between his smoky, mellow vocals and a little crooning, the stripped-down notes and chords of VandenAvond’s acoustic guitar and the combined instrumentation of the backing band, great songs such as “Rustbelt,” “The Landlady,” and “Dear Dirty Dublin.” Also worth a mention are the album’s opening track “Knights Ferry,” the title track “You Oughta Know Me By Now,” an upbeat Spanish number titled “Vacilando” (which literally translates into hesitating), and the closing track “Even the Olives are Bleedin’.”<br /><br />In a way Tom VandenAvond’s songs are of the sort one might hear playing on a barroom jukebox at two o’ clock in the morning, last call having been announced, as the last few tendrils of cigarette smoke drift up into the dimly set light fixtures, a tired couple shuffles through the last few drunken steps of a slow dance out on the floor, and the remaining whiskey is sipped from tumblers and beer drained from bottles. They are also the sorts of songs one might hear on the drive home after leaving the bar at two-thirty in the morning, emanating from the old, battered speakers of an equally old and battered Chevy, while the early morning scenery goes by in a blur outside, and the country road goes on like a winding ribbon of asphalt to the horizon. ‘Course, he also writes and plays the occasional foot-tappin’, hand-clappin’ number, with the all energy and excitement of just starting out for the night, the winding down portion of it all a seemingly distant eventuality…more like bonfire shindigs with good pals, beautiful women, fiery gulps of Mason jar moonshine, and deep pulls on roll-your-own cigarettes than the former scenario.<br /><br />"You Oughta Know Me By Now" is Tom VandenAvond's fifth full-length album to date, after a self-titled release, "A Gambler's Prayer," "A Broken Home Companion," and “The Right Time.” Truth of the matter is, the self-titled album, for which VandenAvond had The Weary Boys as a backing band, was his courageous first step out into the scene, and it remains a fan favorite to this day. "You Oughta Know Me By Now," however, for which he had Larry & His Flask as a backing band, may just be Tom VandenAvond at his very best. Then again, he is also at his best on the two songs he contributed to Hillgrass Bluebilly’s two-disc tribute to Hank Williams and Leadbelly, “Hiram & Huddie.” And his accomplishments as a singer/songwriter don’t stop there, as he made an appearance in M.A. Littler’s film “The Folk Singer,” along with John Konrad Wert (Possessed by Paul James), Scott H. Biram, Ghostwriter, and Reverend Deadeye.<br /><br />At present it is my understanding that a tour is being planned for Tom VandenAvond and singer/songwriter Soda. I for one will be checking the locations and dates in hopes that he will hit the East Coast and pass through Philadelphia in doing so.<br /><br />find <strong>Hillgrass Bluebilly</strong> on the web:<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/hillgrass">twitter</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/hillgrass.bluebilly">facebook</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/hillgrassbluebilly">myspace</a><br /><a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/label/hillgrassbluebilly">reverb nation</a><br /><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/hillgrassbluebilly">linked in</a><br /><a href="http://www.nodepression.com/profile/HillgrassBluebillyRecords">no depression</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/HBEKEITH">you tube</a></div>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-21149886109824136362011-01-10T10:09:00.000-08:002011-01-10T10:15:11.706-08:00"the Folksinger" is NOW available in the U.S.A.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyKJfvKCW7GcOxMrjTjM5S1d-L-OHtn6MHG2EkRvYSYow04PMixmeAGrGVm-KQOaAlBvW2FDfxD3KgaP1jzL7VKCexcSzpXYD2jR_dSlqF1x97yqTmOrPVRVzazc1D9YzlHK5UJ5-A0r/s1600/PPJ+Folksinger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560622087499102050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 91px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyKJfvKCW7GcOxMrjTjM5S1d-L-OHtn6MHG2EkRvYSYow04PMixmeAGrGVm-KQOaAlBvW2FDfxD3KgaP1jzL7VKCexcSzpXYD2jR_dSlqF1x97yqTmOrPVRVzazc1D9YzlHK5UJ5-A0r/s200/PPJ+Folksinger.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://muddyroots.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-folk-singer-dvd-cd-set" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" __untrusted="true">http://muddyroots.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-folk-singer-dvd-cd-set</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Click the link above to purchase your very own copy of "the Folksinger" DVD/CD combo set.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div><strong>featuring:</strong> </div><br /><div>Possessed by Paul James</div><br /><div>Uncle Tom VandenAvond</div><br /><div>Scott H. Biram</div><br /><div>Reverend Deadeye</div><br /><div>Cade Callahan</div><br /><div>Ghostwriter </div><div><br />Steve Dean </div><br /><div>and many many more~!</div><br /><div></div>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-75546475300702817302011-01-10T08:25:00.001-08:002011-01-10T08:50:21.260-08:00An exclusive interview with Possessed by Paul James<a href="http://http//www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/oneman-band-series-12?xg_source=activity">One Man Band Series #12 feat: an interview with Possessed by Paul James </a><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Original Link:</strong> <a href="http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/oneman-band-series-12?xg_source=activity">http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/oneman-band-series-12?xg_source=activity</a><br /><strong>Author:</strong> James G. Carlson<br /><br />January 2011<br /><br />Almost every artist involved in the one-man band movement does things his own way, making his endeavor wholly individualized. He selects the type of instrumentation he is going to use, develops a sound often by combining more than one musical style with his own, and then slaps some sort of moniker on it. Both the sound and the setup with which he creates his sound range from simple to intricate. And though there are a handful of directions from which to choose, he more often than not either adopts a purist approach or a more experimental approach to crafting his songs.<br /><br />One singer/songwriter whose sound is both unique and pure is John Konrad Wert, or <a href="http://www.examiner.com/indie-music-in-philadelphia/feed-the-family-by-possessed-by-paul-james" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Possessed by Paul James</a>. An exceptional vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, John Konrad Wert assembles the components of his sound into a seamless whole with acoustic guitar, fiddle, banjo, an old suitcase and tambourine for stomp percussion, and an incredibly powerful singing voice. Just as much a bluesman as he is a folk artist, Wert’s songs possess both traditional and modern qualities in abundance. In addition to that, he is one of those rare singer/songwriters who is equally in his element busking on a crowded city sidewalk or on a subway platform as he is at a local hole-in-the-wall punk venue or large folk festival.<br /><br />Wert’s sound can be described as soulful and primal, worldly and spiritual, raw and thoughtful and uncompromising. It is real life music, his compositions and their subject matter. And though he seems to somehow transcend himself and his humanity through song, he remains irrevocably human, and so too does his music. Music is something called forth from the innermost depths of the artist, after all, at which point it is communicated to his fingertips, his voice, his feet, and the other parts of his body that go into creating the song; a perfect mergence of an artist’s inner and outer self…a crossroads, if you will, where the physical and immaterial intersect. Few know this better than John Konrad Wert. And all one needs to do to come to that realization is attend one his live performances, as it is one of those experiences that stays with one for a long time to come.<br /><br />“Feed the Family,” the third and most recent album by Possessed by Paul James, is a collection of twelve original and important songs released on the Texas-based <a href="http://hillgrassbluebilly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hillgrass Bluebilly Records</a>. Wert’s earlier releases have appeared on Italy’s Shake Your Ass Records and Switzerland’s Voodoo Rhythm. He has also toured extensively, sharing the stage with many of today’s notable bands and singer/songwriters.<br /><br />Recently I had both the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing John Konrad Wert for my One-Man Band Series. What follows is that interview in its entirety.<br /><br /><strong>In the interest of giving the readers of this piece a better understanding of the artist I am interviewing, I would like to begin in an introductory fashion and ask you: Who is John Konrad Wert (aka Possessed by Paul James), not just as a singer/songwriter but as an individual, as a human being of this mad world in which we live?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Well, first off, I'm a daddy with two boys; and second I'm a schoolteacher. I've been working and involved with non-profits like Boys and Girls Clubs, gang prevention gigs, community development, case management, and now teaching since the late '90s. James, I guess I mention that to give reference to why we approach music. It's meant to be a social service, so to speak. It allows us as a family to subsidize the income a bit, exorcise life's frustrations and gather together with friends and strangers for some singing, drinkin' and pickin', ay. I find it even more of a release now as a father. When your children come about, such opportunities to pick are pretty limited, so when it does come it's always a good time.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>Your youth was spent in a rather unusual way compared to that of much of the rest of the world's youth at that time, when you resided in Immokalee, Florida, with your family and their very spiritual ways. How has that experience shaped you as the artist you are today? And how is your way of life today in comparison to the one you knew in your youth?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Good question.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">The thing here to remember is that our particular family, like many others, was a household built on faith, specifically within the Mennonite Church. The cultural dynamic is interesting when there are very few Mennonite congregations south of central Florida on the Gulf side. Now, our church community was in Immokalee, where I was born, but we soon moved to Lehigh Acres. My parents worked there in the Church nearly ten years prior to moving to Lehigh, but still attended prayer meetings, Sunday service, potlucks, caroling, etc.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">It taught us community. It taught me very early how to sing, or at least follow along in music. It taught me about diversity and understanding at a real early age, and what it means to see poverty and hope, what it means to see people working with and for one another, and what it means to hear music in the Haitian churches nearby, or recognize the smell of orange blossoms along the citrus groves, and so on.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">I think now as an adult and parent our approach is to take with us what was most beneficial as opposed to the dogma of the church. I'm not a person who believes in a religion, so I no longer identify with such a group. But with that said, I think there are some very true teachings regarding what it means to 'serve' one another, what it means to live simply (less is more), what it means to think globally and act locally. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">In writing there's always the danger of coming off too preachy or standing on a soapbox. I think there's a trick to it, and sometimes we figure it out and other times not so much...ha.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>Having listened to your songs absorbedly and again and again I am rather confident in referring to you as one of today's genuine living bluesmen. Of course, there are also bits of folk, country, and even punk in your sound, but the blues seems to be the dominating style overall. How did your sound come about? Experiences? Influences? Etc?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">I tell ya what, I don't identify with the blues more or less than other genres, but I do favor writing about regret and lament. The double thumb bass picking style I do enjoy when fingerpicking. I think the punk and folk flavors cross paths with blues, but it's a different demographic. It's not.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Chicago or Delta black men and women, nor is it Prine, Biafra or Christopherson; rather, we throw those styles in a pot, add some Hank Chinaski and apostle Paul, and there ya go. Artist-wise and music-wise I'm most influenced by the other players I meet or share bills with at the shows. I think that's a fun thing about playing when ya really dig another artist and what they're about.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">The actual performance or “sound” came from busking, honestly. We would go down S. Congress, or when on the road, and make a little cash and share conversation. When the first show came about it wasn't planned out; it just came about – the alternating of the instruments, using the suitcase to smack like off S. Congress, the growling or yelps and whatnot are just a feeling or fun way to add melodies. I also think the early touring overseas in Europe helped tremendously since it was much more of a cultural representation in the eyes of the Europeans. I better identified with and understood what we were trying to share when folks appreciated the roots and raw style that came about.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>"Feed the Family," your latest album on Hillgrass Bluebilly Records, has only been available for a few months now. In that time I have come across a lot of favorable reactions from both fans and press alike. Now, most of the songs on the album have appeared on your previous recordings on Shake Your Ass Records and Voodoo Rhythm, save for one or two, though they sound decidedly more polished and produced than before. Did you re-record all of them for this album?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Well, actually we only re-recorded four tracks – "Old Man Souls," "When it Breaks/Vodka and a Fight," "Take Off Your Mask," and lastly "Color of My Bloody Nose." The other eight have never been recorded on an album we've released. I like the fact that those previous four songs were able to share a different feel and intent. For example, the fingerpicking in "Old Man Souls" felt real strong and fitting to the tone and meter of the song. "When it Breaks" feels like the finished version of "Vodka and a Fight." See, that song was originally recorded while I was drunk after fighting with Jen. Though I like the way it originally sounded, I wanted to put more structure into it and add our catch phrase, so to speak, with "What you gonna do when it breaks, I'm gonna keep on coming." Haa haa. A friend of mine said he was listening to that track while makin’ out with his lady and they kept laughing because it sounds like we're talkin’ about a condom...ha ha. Lastly, "Color of My Blood Nose" is my favorite love ballad. When it was first sung in '06 it came out real raw and even primal, not melodic or inline with it's real meaning. Granted, folks dug that version, but I wanted to add it again since the recording was so nice and it brought a slight edge to the somewhat contemporary overall feel.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">See, the themes I enjoy the most when writing are recognizing the flaws and failures in all of us but adding lines of acceptance and strength. We can sing about our shortcomings, but we can't hide from them when they're declared. In answer to your question about the remaining tracks recorded for this album, yes they're from sessions in Austin, Elgin, San Francisco, and one from the film “The Folk Singer” by M.A. Littler’s Slowboat Films.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>Now, I know you don't exactly consider yourself a one-man band, though you have been included in that scene, as well as others, for some time by fans, press, music enthusiasts, labels, etc. With your methods of making your music – strumming your guitar, picking your banjo, playing your fiddle, stomping on a block of wood, and singing – most would say that those things constitute a one-man band. As a matter of curiosity, why did you choose to go it alone, rather than take on fellow musicians for your musical endeavor?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">The intent was to simply play music. In Austin we started pickin’ at Pizza Shops and busking around. Then we found some real opportunity pickin’ with friends, and writing, but sadly that went south. We didn't want to stop pickin’, so we threw a show together in 2005 – 2006, and this is what came out. Didn't really intend for a solo act; it just worked it's way into being as the response for the songs slowly grew. But if I had my choice, I'd much rather pick with friends. Some of the coolest things about music are the conversations you have with other musicians. And I don't mean phonetics; I'm referring to playing and reading off one another's playing. When you stick pickers in the same room who enjoy it as much as you do, I tell ya what, it's simply amazing, man. It's orchestral and fun and creative, and you can share those travels and experiences with folks. The kicker here in Boerne, Texas is I haven't found too many cats to play with, and the closest ones who do either live in Austin or New Braunfels. No worries, I think in time it'll work it's way out.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>In your lyrics there's a recurring theme of everyday life, sometimes in general, sometimes presumably quite personal. The album's title track "Feed the Family" is pretty much self-explanatory, while songs like "Color of My Bloody Nose" need to be interpreted by the listener to an extent. What goes into your songwriting process as far as the subject matter and the feeling the accompanying music creates?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Good question, brother.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">So here's my opinion, I think a song should first be colorful, pose either a question or a solution, grab the attention of listeners by the imagery or wording, oftentimes recognizing our universal connection with what is ugly – and by ugly I mean our failures, our challenges, our heartache, and our battered achievements. I think if ya can lock onto that you've got a nice formula for a meaningful song. Also, the interpretation is the best part. We tend to say 50/50 when playing a show 'cause it really is just that. Without the listening audience, what have ya got? Ya got nothin'! See, without the freedom to interpret anything, why would anyone want to listen? And if they do listen regardless what are they really hearing?</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">I have my ideas and intent, but it takes on another level or presence when someone else tweaks it to meet their need or interest.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>Since you've become a husband and father your touring schedule has decreased considerably, with you rarely venturing outside of Texas for shows, no doubt so you can stay close to your family. Is that how you plan to keep it indefinitely? Or can we hope to see in our hometowns sometime in the future?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">I have no bloopin’, bleepin’ idea. Ha haa. This new adventure in life, having children, is crazy man! We've talked about being a family on the road, living overseas, etc. But right now, this very time frame, we need to be close to our surrounding family for support and community. It's a wonderful thing to have a cousin nearby, an uncle, a Grandma, etc. Know what I mean? Strange enough, we could make a good living on the road, but look at what's being given up. See? So I think music is always going to be played and written, but regarding how often we pop up in a city...no clue.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Now, if it's just pop out and about, sure enough I'd be first runnin' to Canada for a tour, then down to Florida (my home state) and up to Pennsylvania, etc, etc. I miss that, of course, but once again the tradeoff is missing those early stages with your kids, figuring out the financial aspect, leaving yer partner alone, always on the road. Ya know?</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">I don't think folks always realize that touring takes a lot of sacrifices in your personal life. For us the intent has always been that music should better our lives, and sometimes it's really rocked us. I mean when yer out there pickin’ in the venues and crowds we find ourselves…well, it's not always the best situation, ya know?</span></em><br /><br /><strong>At around the same time you released "Feed the Family" you also made available a Possessed by Paul James songbook…which is very cool, by the way. How did that idea come about? And has it proved a much sought after item for your fans so far?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Well, it came about as a result of receiving e-mails from folks here in the states and overseas regarding the written songs. I think it's a nice way to share personal ideas, as we added a little bio of each song on a neighboring page. No chords were added since I think it's always better to challenge your ear more and more. Also I don't really know what key the songs are in as we jump that capo all around when picking. And yes, the response has been very nice. We only had 100 - 150 made to mainly sell them at the shows. See, our merch sales are a funny thing, as we only play about thirty shows a year, so we do a lot of our sales via the website and online. Our intent is to try and put out a songbook every time we put out a record, kind of a nice added thing to throw around.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>A while back you were the subject of M.A. Littler's documentary "The Folk Singer." Having seen it several times, it seemed like it was a rather difficult time for you – emotionally and spiritually speaking, that is -- with the upcoming arrival of your baby and a host of intense thoughts and feelings surrounding it, with your wife at home with child, with the possibility of putting the singer/songwriter life behind you for a more conventional occupation, and with several other things weighing heavy on your head and heart. Will you please talk a little about that experience and what it entailed, as well as the inner struggle that was taking place within you at the time, and what it was like to work with M.A. Littler?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Sure enough. Well, not to disappoint, but “The Folk Singer” was a fictional depiction of examples from being on the road. And by the road that too was a staged part of the filmmaker's process. I'll back up. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">The entire experience was wonderful. I mean...come on, it's pretty cool when a small German film group, Slowboat Films, wants ya to be a part of a project like that. I'm small potaters, so anything in the realm of what they were doing I thought was freakin’ great and still do think they're great. But we did enhance and attempt to properly stage certain scenes and dialogues among the characters involved, and I think that went well considering none of us are actors and we've never been a part of something like this before. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Case in point, there is a rather large section within the film where I've lost it emotionally. We specifically wanted to capture that somehow on film since there have been plenty of times where you're gonna lose yer shit in life because of all the heavier shit backing up on yer shoulders. We ended up shooting that segment in a small, middle of nowhere Louisiana motel, I think. We told Mark I'd have to be pretty wasted and in-tune with the emotion to do what we wanted to do, so we started drinking. Mark started referencing some of the very real questions coming up, at which point I started to dive into the feeling of it, and we did all right. I remember after that shot, though – we, the crew, me and Mark, were all pretty taken aback by what transpired, but there was definitely a feeling of, "Yeah, we got somethin’." That was our intent, and they worked it out so well.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>What's next for Possessed by Paul James, both musically and whatever else may be in the works?</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">See, since we like writing there's always more to write. I think it would be fun to figure out how to get another record out by February or March. I like this past album, but it still feels like we're shaping something together, as if the finished product still hasn't come about. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">I hope to pick a little more out of state again, and I'd love to head back overseas. We sadly had to cancel this past summer's run to the UK and Central Europe as Kai (our second boy) was coming. We hope to have “Feed the Family” pressed via LP by an interested label this upcoming year. So we shall see. There are projects in the wings, but of course they need to fit into this puzzle of an elementary school teacher and father.</span></em><br /><br /><strong>Lastly, if there's anything I failed to cover, or if there's anything you would like to discuss or express, please feel free to do so now. The floor is all yours, Mr. Wert.</strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Ok, hmmmmmm. So how ‘bout this: I think, though I'm a hypocrite and an ass from time to time, that we need to figure out where the industry of music is going. I think we as an audience need to really push for the artists we appreciate. I say that because everything is changing in a real weird way lately. Has it changed for the worse? No, not necessarily. But there feels like an air in which music will lose the purpose of serving others. And by that I mean not only entertaining but also challenging and motivating others.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">If you look at it like music is a way an artist expresses himself or herself, the way he or she better understands love, or relationships, or religion, or battles with society or celebrates it, etc, then ya would hope that when we listen we pick up on the intent or it's very process. Not only are we there on a Friday night to get fucked-up and hoot n’ holler, but it's also an amazing opportunity to do something so socially and historically important during a time when we're glued to the ideas of separation and individualization. </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Music cannot be the idea about "me, me, me, us, them, better than, worse than." If it really is 50/50, then we all need to do better and recognize that these Friday and Saturday nights are times when we share both wine and stories. Where we share our burdens and our celebrations. Where we share our failures and our attempts to succeed.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">While saying this I realize I'm a failure in many ways, but that's ok. I'll try and make the better choices in life next time. I'll come on Friday night and try to clean my head free of shame and guilt. I'll toast another brother in the same boat and we'll look 'em in the eye and say, "Yup, yer a dickhead, but that's ok. You won’t always be a dickhead." </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">That's what it's about. Nothing more or less. It needs to be about lifting one another up and encouraging one another when we fail over and over again. I think when we leave that outlook behind we really cheat music. And I don't want to do that anymore. Music needs to embody what is most helpful at the time. It needs to make us better as people, as pickers, as families, as listeners. And when we take advantage of it and forget what it's all about…well, then we need to recognize that and try again, damn it.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Cheers James, and thanks again for both the interest and the time.All the best.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#ffff33;">Sincerely,Konrad</span></em>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-44569601362373390702011-01-04T09:28:00.000-08:002011-01-04T09:32:27.463-08:00I Get Blamed For Everything I Do is "Saving Country Music".com<strong>Original Link:</strong> <a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-ten-foot-polecats-i-get-blamed"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-ten-foot-polecats-i-get-blamed</span></a><br /><strong>Album Review:</strong> "I Get Blamed For Everything I Do"<br /><strong>Artist:</strong> Ten Foot Polecats<br /><br />January 4, 2011<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.tenfootpolecats.com/fr_home.cfm" target="_blank">Ten Foot Polecats</a> on Hillbilly Bluegrass Records are more straight blues than I would normally cover around here. Usually a band needs at least a little something contrified for me to get behind them–a small piece of fried chicken hanging from their beard, or a gravy stain down the front of their shirt–something. But because they are participants in this year’s <a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/2011-muddy-roots-music-festival-dates-lineup-location" target="_blank">Muddy Roots Festival</a>, and were there last year, and honestly, because they are just so damn good, I am making an exception.<br /><br />With I Get Blamed For Everything I Do, the Ten Foot Polecats aren’t reinventing the wheel, they’re just helping it find its groove. This is high-octane punk-inspired driving blues music. If you’re a tragic audiofile like me, that like a drunk whose spent years and years in the bar building up a huge tolerance, the normal stuff they peddle on the radio has no effect. The Polecats are the wickedly pure stuff in the bottle with X’s on the front that your uncle keeps out in the woodshed that is able to bust through. Even to the most reserved music listener, when The Polecats start to screeching, your legs start twitching worse than a dog that’s got to piss like a Russian racehorse. This is raw, infectious, booty shaking, head banging shit that makes you boogie like a meth head on the business end of a stun gun.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-ten-foot-polecats-i-get-blamed/ten-foot-pole-cats" rel="attachment wp-att-12244"></a>The key to The Polecats magic is the groove and tension. They find the perfect tempo and rhythm that nestles right into the human heartbeat and drive it home. Without getting too music nerdy on you, music is made up of chords, and the way music works is by building “tension” and “resolution” with chord structures. All music does this, but what makes the Polecats unique is they know how to create unbelievable amounts of tension, to where the song feels like it’s about to bust it’s buttons, and when the resolution finally does come, the payoff is orgasmic. The only other groups I’ve ever heard use tension so well are jazzy fusion bands like Phish, or someone like Frank Zappa.<br /><br />Anybody can get up there and play Mustang Sally. These guys get it. Jim Chilson is one of the most unheralded blues guitarists out there today. When I saw The Polecats live at the <a href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/live-review-hillgrass-bluebilly-launch-party" target="_blank">Hillgrass Bluebilly launch party</a>, I said about Jim & Co.:<br /><br /><em>The best flat out musician from the night, on a night filled with so many great ones, might be Jim Chilson . . .The seemingly effortless trance-inducing guitar rhythms with ridiculous fingerwork put the blues in this Bluebilly event, and was accompanied by balls out singing from Jay Scheffler and expert drumming. Who needs bass?</em><br /><br />You could not fit a bass in this music; there’s not enough space and range in the mountain of noise that Jim squeezes out of his guitar. Singer Jay Scheffler and drummer Dave Darling do a great job of letting Jim do his thing and not getting in the way, but still adding their color and uniqueness to the band in irreplaceable ways. Dave’s drumming matches the same “Don’t just listen. Feel.” approach as Jim’s guitar playing, and Jay is there to remind you that all this noise is actually about something; blues is blood as they say, and this music came from the heartaches he sings about from the depths of his gut.<br /><br />The songs “Big Road” and “Dryspell” are probably the best examples of The Polecat’s up-tempo, punk-infused, tension-building blues, but with a band like this the true measure of their talents is if they can slow it way down and still keep you enthralled. They prove they can shift gears with the best with the song “Couple More Miles.” It includes the title lyric of the album, which only seems fitting because it might be the best track on the project.<br /><br />Again, don’t expect anything mindbogglingly groundbreaking here, beyond Jim Chilson’s fingerwork, but I Get Blamed For Everything I Do reminds you that you should feel music first, then listen, and then not be afraid to succumb to its magic.<br /><br />Two guns up!Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-71534296596070146242011-01-03T03:57:00.000-08:002011-01-03T04:33:35.282-08:00Original Link: <a href="http://www.bostonblues.com/features.php?key=storyBeck-Interview">http://www.bostonblues.com/features.php?key=storyBeck-Interview</a><br /><br />Ten Shots with Brenn Beck of Left Lane Cruiser<br />By <a href="http://www.bostonblues.com/people.php?key=GFats">Georgetown Fats</a>January 2011<br /><br />The term “deep blues” tends to give purists agita as it is a sub-genre full of musicians who push all who believe blues have to reflect the I, IV, VI Chicago sound. The majority of these “deep blues” artists trace their roots back to the blues sounds of the North Mississippi hill country sound with punk, hard rock or roots influences.<br /><br />Hailing from Fort Wayne Indiana, Left Lane Cruiser is a two piece deep blues act blending high energy hark rock and punk with obvious North Mississippi hill country roots. Rather than stick to standard 12-bar blues conventions, Left Lane Cruiser’s sound has obvious blues roots while taking a sledgehammer to standard 12-bar blues. LLC is loud, brash, trashy and entirely refreshing.<br /><br />Having been provided the opportunity to learn more about the band this blues movement which is being met with open arms from a younger, non-target demographic for contemporary blues I gladly took the opportunity to line up Ten Shots with Brenn Beck, percussion and blues harpist with Fort Wayne Indiana’s Left Lane Cruiser.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> Brenn, thank you very much for the interview but let’s get right down to the questions. As you may know, nothing is sacred with my Ten Shots columns and the questions run the spectrum of what ever comes to mind or is solicited from colleagues to make someone squirm. So let me start this: on the new disk I see you’ve been given both percussion and blues harp credit. In a live situation will you be performing both at the same time like Hezekiah Early, or is the harp work only for the studio?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> Yeah I will be going Hezekiah style and playin’ it live. We have done several songs in the past with harp, and I always play ‘em live. It is important to us that what you hear on the record is what you see in person. Plus, people eat that shit up when your playin’ multiple instruments on stage.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> How has your new addition and Joe's new addition to your respective families affected touring?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> It’s definitely gonna slow us down a little. We’ve been taking a hiatus since March, and probably wont hit the road again till this upcoming March when the new album drops. You gotta put family first. We love the road though, so while it will slow us down a bit for a while, we will be back at it soon. We're just gonna try and keep the tours shorter, and try and make some money doing it.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> Given how Alive Records has both T-Model Ford and The Black Keys on their roster, how has this helped provide exposure to Left Lane Cruiser?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> The whole experience of being part of Alive Records has been fuckin’ amazing. Joe and I both owned the (Black) Keys album The Big Come Up, long before we could have even dreamed of having our album on a shelf with it. Having their name so close to our’s has definitely helped us. On all the download sites we are recommended listening on their page, so we've sold quite a few albums from that. T-Model, though, is a whole other story. We've gotten the chance to know T real well over the last couple years, and that has meant more to us than selling any amount of albums. T-Model is one of the last remaining true bluesman from the hill country, and one hell of a guy on top of it. Sitting on my front porch listening to T-Model tell stories has got to be one of the best moments in my music career--not to mention sharing the stage him.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> Are there any tales from the road you care to share? Names can be changed to protect the guilty, but I am either looking for something that makes the lay-fan understand playing music professionally is actual “work,” or a humorous road tale? In a pinch, ratting out a roadie or Joe would be perfectly acceptable.<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> Shit-.if you name it we probably seen it. We have drank moonshine with hillbillies from Tennessee to Serbia, played shows on the back of moving vehicles, ridden on homemade roller-coasters, narrowly escaped riots, and hell, we've even been deported. It’s a hell of a lotta fun, but it sure as shit is work. When we toured the US with Bob LOg III and Scott Biram, we did something like 38 shows in 40 days, and flew to France for a 3-day festival in the middle of it. For anybody that don't think it’s work I'd say: Get in your car, drive for 8 hours, drink about 15 shots of whiskey, do push ups till your drenched in sweat and your hands are raw, drink five more shots of whiskey, sleep for four hours in the backseat of your car in a Wal-Mart parking lot, wake up hungover and don’t take a shower, and then repeat this 40 days in a row. Call me when you get you get home and tell me how you feel.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> Though LLC is signed to Alive Records, there seems to be a strong working relationship with the guys at Hillgrass Bluebilly. Would you be able to extrapolate on this unique relationship between one band and two labels?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> We met Keith Mallette, owner of Hillgrass Bluebilly Entertainment, in Phoenix on our first tour we ever did. He treated us like every musician outta be treated when they are on the road. We had always looked up to the bands that HBE was working with, and really wanted to be a part of what they were doing. When Keith offered the chance to play a show we jumped on it, and he did not disappoint. The show he put together for us that night was one of the best shows we have ever played, and really gave us a lot of hope for the future of music. Keith is the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back, and has done more for us in the few years we've known him than most people will in a life time. Keith has single-handedly pushed underground blues music into the faces of thousands. And the guy does it all simply cause he loves music .I would take a bullet for that fucker. Anyway, we have always worked with HBE on shows across the country. We put two albums out with Alive Records when Keith called and said that HBE was becoming a record label. I had hoped he would want to do an album with us, and he did. He re-released our first independent album, Gettin' Down On It. He since has put out quite a few amazing albums that you would do yourselves a favor to buy. (available digitally worldwide, and <a href="mailto:hillgrassbluebilly.records@gmail.com">hillgrassbluebilly.records@gmail.com</a>)<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> I am testing out a theory here; your input is appreciated. The type of person who puts Kid Rock songs, Godsmack songs, Nickelback songs, and a pop country song all in a row on a bar room juke box is the same type of person who believes there is a “homosexual agenda,” President Obama is not American, all Republicans are racists, and that Keith Olbermann and Glenn Beck speak the truth. What do you think?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> Yeah, I know a few of those folks. I have to say though, if you’re at a bar that has those songs on the jukebox, you might wanna find a new bar, brother.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> Touche. Sometimes I miss the obvious and perhaps I should relocate or strongly consider a juke joint of my own. While I admit this is a recycled question, it has always elicited great responses: What term on Left Lane Cruiser’s rider will have to be met in order for your two to know you’ve “made it?”<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> Shit, if we could get a hotel room, and more than $400, I'd be happy.<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(added by Keith M. /not a part of this interview - That last comment by Brenn was about the best thing I ever read)</span></em><br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> Bourbon, Scotch or Irish whiskey?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> If your buyin’, we'll take all three. Me and Joe are both Jim Beam fans, but we’ve been known to drink our fair share of Jameson’s too.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> So with the strategically early release of the teaser/single titled “Lost my Mind” from the forthcoming “Junkyard Speedball” full length, what message are you trying to pass along to your existing LLC fans, and what message do you want to extend to those who have yet to be hipped to your material?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> Well, “Lost My Mind” just tells some tales of touring Europe, drinking grappa in Italy, bribing the border patrol in Serbia, and getting deported in London. Most of our songs are just stories about shit that has happened to us. We do have a tendency to write a lot of songs about food though. I guess we really just want people to come out to the shows, get drunk, and stomp their feet. The blues is somethin’ that has evolved past a slow 12- bar. We try and bring a rowdier, more get-down kind of party to the table.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> If you were not right now part of LLC working to push the envelope of blues, where would you be?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> Probably working a nine-to-five and actually making some money. Fortunately for me, LLC is something that Joe and I have always had fun doing, so we aint going’ anywhere, and I will never have to seriously give this question any thought.<br /><br /><strong>Georgetown Fats:</strong> So how about some current or updated info on the new LLC release? When can your fans get ahold of it?<br /><strong>Brenn:</strong> Junkyard Speed Ball is due out March 1. This album is a little different for us. We still have a lot of dirty rockin’ shit on it, but we added quite a few mellower tunes. Joe is playing a few standard tuning songs on this one, and we laid down a shit ton of overdubs on this one. I think the most exciting part for us though, is John Wesley Meyers from the Black Diamond Heavies came into the studio and laid down keys on four tracks. Joe and I are both really excited about this album. It has a little something for everybody.<br /><br />The Boston Blues Society is in the process of securing an early release version of Junkyard Speedball for review. Please make sure to stay tuned for the forthcoming review or for additional information on Left Lane Cruiser.<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-Lane-Cruiser/16313548150" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/pages/Left-Lane-Cruiser/16313548150</a>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-12304856679842199012011-01-03T03:15:00.000-08:002011-01-03T03:38:17.059-08:00An exclusive interview with a man who is Possessed by Paul JamesOriginal Link: <a href="http://www.bostonblues.com/features.php?key=storyJames-Interview">http://www.bostonblues.com/features.php?key=storyJames-Interview</a><br />Artist: Possessed by Paul James / Konrad Wert<br /><br />Possessed by Paul James Interview<br />By <a href="http://www.bostonblues.com/people.php?key=EM">Elliott Morehardt</a>January 2011<br /><br />“Possessed By Paul James” is the stage name of multi-instrumentalist Konrad Wert. He was raised a Mennonite with Amish roots in the swamps of Immokalee, Florida and presently resides with his wife and sons in the Hill Country of Texas. Wert’s performances are so energetic that he could easily be mistaken for a small crowd.<br /><br />For those of you not familiar with the recent deep-roots, folk/blues movement aka “hillgrass and bluebilly,” you ought to hop on this train, at least for awhile, and grab a big taste! One of the more creative forces among these young, passionate musicians is the one-man-band known as Possessed By Paul James. Coming from the bible thumping Florida swamplands, now in the somewhat less pious Austin, Texas, this accomplished artist is highly respected among his peers, and now it’s time for the rest of us to see what this is all about. It is a true pleasure to interview the man and review his latest, timely recording Feed The Family.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott Morehardt:</strong> Growing up, was there any other desire besides playing music, like being a preacher? I’m sure you’ve been told that you would have been good at it.<br /><strong>Konrad Wert:</strong> Oh sure. The only time we felt music was a viable source for income was really when it started taking on steam back in 2006. Prior to then it was and still is just a fun way to express your thoughts and ideas. I don’t think I could do music full time as it too would become a little drab. My trade is carpentry, teaching, non-profit work etc. and music is the release of all of those. If music became a full time gig I think it would lose some of its appreciation. I’m an elementary school teacher ya see and I think it’s a great gig. We need more men in early education! Regarding preaching, as my dad was a pastor for some time, yes I did consider it. It was even recommended by some old Profs to explore the seminary. But religion is religion and I’d much rather share my joys and burdens on a Friday and Saturday night over some drinks than in a church come Sunday morning ... ha ha.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott Morehardt:</strong> Your songs range from the very dark “When It Breaks” to the very hopeful “We Welcome You Home.” Did you have this dark vision as a child?<br /><strong>Konrad Wert:</strong> Ha haa well that’s a good question. The nature of bible study and a conservative faith brings up some very twisted images for some kids and I was one of those kids. Keep in mind when you’re flooded with stories of men being sent to fiery furnaces, lion’s dens, the drowning of millions by flood waters, famine, water being turned to blood, crucifixion, the “eating” of the “flesh”, demon possession, lepers AND add that to the martyrdom of Mennonites (burned at the stake, boiled alive, beheaded etc.) ... man that would fuck up any kid!! ha ha haaa. And well, those were the consistent teachings and imagery we learned every week. I think that would be my first guess on where some of these themes pop up.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott Morehardt:</strong> Do you remember the first song you wrote?<br /><strong>Konrad Wert:</strong> Yes actually, it had something to do with teen love and Jesus ... ha ha ... I don’t know how the two are connected.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott Morehardt:</strong> Wow, maybe you need to dig that up. So what were your earliest and/or fondest musical influences?<br /><strong>Konrad Wert:</strong> No lie, but I gotta say it’s Dotty Mae. My mama singing and playing piano and guitar. Though church was a stressful time, it did expose my sister and me to music. We learned how to sing melodies and harmonies there. We were made to take the string instruments in 4th and 5th grade public school. I didn’t want to as I was already a fat, glasses-wearing preacher’s kid, the violin only made things worse.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> I’ve read that punk had an influence for you. Was that a big change from what you were used to hearing?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Yes man!! When I read “Please Kill Me” and began exploring Bukowski, I was sold on that ship, man. The stories of MC5 and the Stooges, the roots of urban blues and ‘complaint’ rock, I loved it. I took a break from non-profit work and started at this vegan/veggie coffee joint in South Austin and was exposed to soooooo much. Yes, without a doubt, the punk approach from affordable music, tapes, LP’s and ‘black’ was a beautiful awakening.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> That’s a great book! It’s a broad subject, and too many in my generation dis it. So, you went to school abroad, how was that experience and did it affect your music much?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> I took a lot of time off, dropped out, in college. First it was to explore Africa, then down to Mexico and Central America and finally just bumbling along the States before finally finishing my degree. I think the more practical you can make your education the better. Why take out all those damn loans if ya don’t know the answers to why and what you’re learning. Specifically in Ghana, the most powerful lesson was to learn the phrase “I am because YOU are...” I think that’s a beautiful approach to living.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> Your songs are highly personal, sometimes eerily so, yet I guess you’re also quite a private person. Is the name “Possessed by Paul James” one way to keep your public and private life somewhat separate?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Most definitely and also to recognize there’s nothing we accomplish or create that doesn’t have the influence from another person. My experiences are my own yes, but my outlook, strengths and weaknesses are of course greatly influenced by those around me. Paul (my late Grandfather) and James (my Pop) have as much to do with these weird ass songs as I do. So I’d rather express their influence within the name, it feels best.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> Your new CD Feed the Family has a live raw sound, yet has very clean production. Frankly, I’m blown away by the quality. Was it a long or difficult process?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Anything is a long process now with two boys at home. But all in all it worked out quite well with a weekend trip here and there to Austin. I recorded with some good friends and talented musicians in Denton TX, and a strong collection of the works actually came about by a fan wanting to record some sessions. We never have much means for these endeavors but this one came together and the finished product turned out surprisingly clean.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> The title song “Feed Your Family” is really powerful and sounds like it was written for the fiddle. Do you have a preference writing for fiddle, guitar, or banjo?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Guitar for sure. The fiddle is so much fun to play but as I get older it’s getting trickier to balance the rhythm of the stomp with the syncopation of the fiddle. The trick writing to the fiddle is the double stops when bowing. It gives it a full tone and ya can sing on top of it. That’s an area where I need to write more, granted we’ll have two to three additional new fiddle tracks on the 2011 album, but right now we’re writing for the guitar and banjo.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> That’s great; you’re already onto the next project. Now that you have a new addition to the family is it tough being on the road?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> I suppose that’s what the title track is about. Ha, what road? Road? Touring? Yeah, that’s off the table for a bit except here in Texas. I like my kids and seeing them this early in childhood (2 year old and 2 month old) is an important time. Hell yes, I miss picking but honestly we never did this full time anyway. It’s always been a stretch here and there, no longer than 2 or 3 weeks. I like the road, but too much late nights and crap food can get ya down. On the other hand, when touring overseas everything is new, ya take the train, swim in the Auire in Bern, eat Italian food in Milano, etc. I could easily stay in Europe and pick year round, I’d be happy cat, yes indeed!<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> After the title track, you slow it down with “When It Breaks,” a really powerful and disturbing song. The balance throughout the CD really keeps the listener tuned in, almost transfixed. As a prolific writer, did you have to edit songs out?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Much obliged. Yes there are always too many songs, but not enough of the songs ‘grab’ me the way they need to in order to convey the emotion or ‘catch’. There’s a sure way to know if the song is true, so to speak. In the process of writing I’ll find a tune on that particular instrument and start flowing words in the mix. When the lines begin to come and the wording sticks, if I get ‘growly’ or sometimes teary-eyed I know it’s gonna be a good song. And most importantly, if I can remember how I picked it the day before and it sticks, well then we’re good … ha ha.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> The 1st track “Four Men from the Row” is both somber and energetic with its complex rounds. Is that based on a particular story or just a fact of life living in Texas?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Actually we give reference to this in the new song book we just put out. I used to work in a transitional house for VA offenders. So these guys would bunk in the house and find work as they transitioned out of prison. Criminal justice and the ‘prison complex’ were big interests of mine back in the day and I had a few friends that worked with life term and death row inmates. I think it’s important to write about social issues and concerns as well as the broken heart. The key is to somehow address such points without sounding too preachy, sometimes it works and other times not so much, but I think we did all right with a few of these tracks.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> The 2nd track has some of my favorite lines... “No young man shoes gonna fill those old mans souls”…“dressed in black and on the attack across the USA.” What’s the back story?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Johnny Cash, brother. This song is all about the big JC and I don’t mean Jesus … ha ha. I was greatly influenced by Cash growing up. We couldn’t listen to much secular music at home but we did hear a lot of folk and gospel. From the Mandrell Sisters to the Carter family and of course Cash, such music was a very strong influence. When he died it took me back a bit, so I wrote a song keeping him in mind. And it’s true in my opinion, there are no young man shoes that can fill such old men’s souls. It just not there anymore. Our folk writers of today don’t have that grit or power. They’re all very good and accomplished of course, but where the hell is the singing and passion? Just my opinion, but this new breathy way of singing blows!! I like my writers and such with power, the kind of power that says “He can write a song that will make you weep, but he can also kick yer ass down the stairs with the intent of the words and physical presence.” That is what we’re talking about.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> “Oh The Rhythm” from The Folk Singer soundtrack has a big juxtaposition of sensual beauty and destruction with some political overtones. Are you ever tempted to get more political?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Oh hell yes, but as we said before that is a very slippery slope in terms of writing. Not because of popularity but because a well written political song in my opinion gets snuck into the mix. I’d rather trick someone to think about a certain issue as opposed to shove it down their throat.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> Are there any plans to make The Folk Singer available on DVD in this country?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Well, we sell it at shows here in Texas. I think the German Film Group is working on State-side distribution as well.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> “Older in My Body” and “Take off Your Mask” are haunting with shape singing and gospel undertones. Were those techniques learned in your youth?<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> The structure of hymn singing is a consequence of being Mennonite and I sincerely enjoy taking those structures and adding in the twisted themes of such writing. I think its fun to add a touch of ‘ugly’ to what’s always been perceived as beautiful. A little ugly goes a long way, I say.<br /><br /><strong>Elliott:</strong> The last track “Color of My Bloody Nose” sounds like one hell of a love affair you might have had. Songs like that make me want to write a tune or two or three. I’ve got some great stories if you run out.<br /><strong>Konrad:</strong> Ha haaaa, right on. I like to think that “Color of My Bloody Nose” is one of the best songs I’ve written. I love the imagery, the tragedy, the phrasing “The trash man took your soul ...” I love the way it makes people at shows sing along etc. It’s good to write and even better to sing what’s been written with attending friends. It’s magic when we all gather and realize it’s a 50/50 process and that we’re all contributing to the process. Music is a great release to the burdens of life, we’re very lucky to have explored this path.<br /><br />For more information on check out http://www.ppjrecords.com/ and for a <a href="http://www.bostonblues.com/features.php?key=cdPossessedFamily">review of the ground-breaking release Feed The Family</a> by Possessed by Paul James be sure to read the Boston Blues Society January newsletter.<br /><a href="http://www.ppjrecords.com/" target="_blank">www.ppjrecords.com</a>Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948198606042687633.post-83292239459717681562011-01-03T03:07:00.001-08:002011-01-03T03:12:01.996-08:00Boston Blues Society wants to "Feed the Family"...Original Link:<a href="http://www.bostonblues.com/features.php?key=cdPossessedFamily">http://www.bostonblues.com/features.php?key=cdPossessedFamily</a><br />Author: By <a href="http://www.bostonblues.com/people.php?key=EM">Elliott Morehardt</a><br /><br />Artist: Possessed By Paul James<br />Album: "Feed the Family"<br />Record Label: <strong>Hillgrass Bluebilly Records</strong><br />January 2011<br /><br />I’m no musician, but I know great music when I hear it. I also know soul when I hear it, and I got an earful of both from the new Possessed by Paul James (PPJ) CD Feed the Family (soon to come out in vinyl!)<br /><br />My first real taste of PPJ was on the recent Hiram and Huddie cover compilation from Hillgrass Bluebilly Records, and among the songs that are all gems, PPJ’s sticks in your head just a bit more. Possessed by Paul James is one of many young artists putting renewed energy into a flabby folk scene, with their deep respect for and fresh interpretation of traditional folk/blues.<br />Feed the Family is Possessed by Paul James’ newest and most mature work to date. You can feel the years, the tears, and the fears come to full fruition within a wide array of musical intricacies, driven by this young artist’s powerful vision. Feed the Family may just be a landmark work for both him and the burgeoning deep-roots movement, which is deserving of more notice in the public eye.<br /><br />The first track, “Four Men from the Road,” cranks it up with high-energy, complex rhythms as it lulls you into a hard, somber tale of a man’s last walk in prison. Whether going to meet his maker or going back home, it all feels eerily similar in this beautifully crafted song.<br />Killer lyrics in “Old Man Souls” (an ode to Johnny Cash) like “dressed in black and on the attack across the USA,” and “no young man’s shoes gonna fill those old man’s souls.” They come off as totally spontaneous with a re-energized inspiration from folklore, which is typically tired and dusty, but not this time.<br /><br />There’s some real dark stuff here also, namely two must-hear songs, “When It Breaks” and “Color of My Bloody Nose” (the folk version of the F.U. song). Both of these songs have strong imagery, not just from the lyrics, but from those magical moments when the musician seamlessly translates his deepest feelings through his instrument and vocals. While “Breaks” pulls you into its dark state, the last track, “Color of My Bloody Nose,” could leave you gasping a bit, and that just makes this humbled writer want to re-load the CD for another listen.<br />It’s not all darkness, though, folks ... both the title track, “Feed the Family” and “We Welcome You Home” are heart-warming and full of hope, still edgy, and as spirited as any song from the master Woody Guthrie. Nor is the record all esoteric. There’s a song with commercial potential in “Shoulda’ Known Better.” It’s what all country music should aspire to be, but then, pipe dreams can be eternal.<br /><br />True to his name, the artist may be a bit possessed by his demons and angels, so be prepared. Feed the Family is pure infectious wonder to the discerning folk/blues aficionado, and it only gets better with every listen. Pick up Possessed by Paul James’ new CD now or you can always hear about it later in the annals of American folk music history!Hillgrass Bluebilly Recordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10450219764325047604noreply@blogger.com0