Series: Preview ACL Festival

Every few days or weeks I will be doing a preview of an artist that will be playing at this years Austin City Limits Music Festival. The second installment of my series preview is The Band of Heathens.

The Band of Heathens' are a super band of sorts from Austin, Tx that started as a side project, or a song-swap jam session with friends at a local Austin club. Well it just caught on and grew to the point they recorded a live album together Live at Momo's. Even then they still didn't consider themselves an actual band until they won the 2007 Austin Music Award for “Best New Band.” The Band of Heathens who are comprised of singers/songwriters/guitar-pickers Colin Brooks, Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi, bassist Seth Whitney and drummer John Chipman with great harmonies and a rootsy country-rock blend that reminds of The Band. Following the 2007 Austin Music Award they recorded another live album Live at Antone's which is a CD/DVD combo and went into the studio to record their first studio album, produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard, called Band of Heathens which will be released on May 20th. They are a great live band and should be put on your list of bands to see at this years ACL Fest.

Check out The Band of Heathens preforming their song "Jenny Was A Keeper"


Check the Band of Heathens out here:
Web Site
MySpace
ACL Discovery

12th Annual KNBT Americana Jam

One of the best radio stations in the country every year puts on a great mini festival called the Americana Jam held at the historic Gruene Hall. It is something I look forward to every May. Every year top flight musicians come together to donate thier talents for this event that raises money to support local charities. This year proceeds will go to benefit Comal County Junior Livestock Show Association and the SANE Program. Matson Rainer (program director at KNBT) does a great job putting this together. This year's 12th annual Americana Jam will be Sunday, May 18th.

This year's line up is as good as ever. Here are the artists scheduled to play:
Robert Earl Keen
Reckless Kelly
Cody Canada (acoustic)
Stoney LaRue
Wade Bowen
Micky & The Motorcars
Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros
Hayes Carll
The Band of Heathens
Tom Gillam and Tractor Pull
Scott Miller (acoustic)
and more to come.

Tickets are $50 for the whole day.
Buy tickets at by clicking here or calling 830-629-5077
Don't wait too long as it will sell out.

Son Volt at Gruene Hall

Well as most of you know from a previous post last night Son Volt played at the historic Gruene Hall. And man was it an awesome show. I don't know if it was the Gruene Hall mojo or what but it was the best Son Volt show I have seen! Jay and the guys really brought their "A" game. With a mix of old and new songs there was also cool covers of two Waylon Jennings' covers first "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" and then the encore was "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" then there was a cool cover of Doug Saham's "Mendocino". Other highlights included Eleanor Whitmore (plays with Bruce Robison's band) sitting in on fiddle for a couple songs like "Slate" and then the dueling steel guitars between both pedal and lap steels on a few others. Again great, great show if you missed it you really missed a special night of music at one of the best live music venues out there!

Series: Preview ACL Festival

You may be saying preview the ACL Festival? Isn't it like 5 months away? Well yes it is like 5 months away but in my book to preview the artists it is never to early. Hopefully the previews coming in the up coming months will either get you off the fence to go if you are not decided yet or two introduce you to a band you may not know. First up is Scott H. Biram

Scott H. Biram, the self proclaimed 'Dirty Old One Man Band' is from Austin, Tx. His one man band consists of a 1959 Gibson guitar, beat-up amplifiers and old microphones strung together by a tangled mess of cables. His music is mixed with rock n roll, blues, hillbilly, and country with sloppy, destorted guitar licks and muddy vocals. His records sound like old recordings. This will be my first time to see him live but really like his music and style.

Check Scott Biram out:
Web Site
MySpace
ACL Artist Discovery

Gruene Hall This Weekend

One of my favorite places to see live music is the legendary Gruene Hall in Historic Gruene, Texas. Well this weekend the line up rocks! Pack your bags for a road trip if you are in Texas for a trip to Gruene (New Braunfels) Texas!

Friday April 18th
Son Volt
I saw them last year at Floores Country Store and was blown away! Jay Farrar and his band Son Volt put on a great show. I am looking forward to seeing them again since they have come out with their great CD "The Search" since then. Son Volt Web Site




Saturday April 19th
Chris Knight
Chris Knight hails from Kentucky and is one of the best songwriters out there. It's been awhile since I have seen him I am really looking forward to this show. His writting is deep but simple just the same. If you have not seen Chris Knight before get to this show. Chris Knight Web Site

NBA Playoffs: Spurs Set To Defend Title

The NBA Playoffs begin this Saturday and with it the real season begins. For my Spurs it begins the defense of their NBA Championship and to cement their dynasty with back-to-back titles. First up the Phoenix Suns who won the regular season series against the Spurs 3-1. However the playoffs are a new season and a different style of play begins. I really like the Spurs in this series, I don’t think Steve Nash can keep up with Tony Parker, Shaq and Duncan will have another classic battle, and I think the Spurs just have the Suns number in the playoffs. I look for the Spurs to beats the Suns in six games.

Here are my picks for the rest of the first round match ups:

Lakers vs. Nuggets – Lakers in 6
Hornets vs. Mavs – Hornets in 7
Jazz vs. Rockets – Jazz in 7
Celtics vs. Hawks – Celtics in 4
Pistons vs. Sixers – Pistons in 5
Magic vs. Raptors – Magic in 7
Cavs vs. Wizards – Cavs in 6

ACL Line-up

Well the 2008 ACL Music Festival line-up is out. With Foo Fighters, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Beck, Manu Chao, John Fogerty, David Byrne, The Raconteurs, and Mars Volta headlining this years festival. I have to say I am very disaapointed with the headliners, Foo Fighters, Manu Chao, David Byrne and Mars Volta do nothing to excite me. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and Beck will be very cool. The Raconteurs will be awesome to see again as they were one of the highlights a couple years ago. John Fogerty maybe cool to see but doesn't excite me that much.

Other bands I am looking forward to seeing:
Gnarls Barkley, Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band, Robert Earl Keen, Iron & Wine, G. Love & Special Sauce, Neko Case, Band Of Horses, Gillian Welch, Eli Young Band, The Black Keys, Okkervil River, Alejandro Escovedo, Roky Erickson, Drive-By Truckers, Ryan Bingham, Scott Biram, Shooter Jennings, South Austin Jug Band, Band of Heathens, Kevin Fowler.

While I am disappointed with the headliners, as I was hoping for R.E.M. or Pearl Jam instead of Foo Fighters, it will still be a great weekend of music and alot of fun.

Click here for the complete line-up

Quick Review of CDs Released in 2208

Here are some of the CDs released this year that I have been in my constent rotation.

R.E.M. - Accelerate (They are back! Very good album)
The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely (Jack White does it again! Great album)
Destroyer - Trouble In Dreams (Dan Bejar's latest project and it's very good)
Black Crowes - Warpaint (Bottom line this American rock band puts out good music)
Austin Collins - Roses Are Black (Great CD by this upcoming songwritter from Texas)
Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind (Texas songwritter has another gem)
Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward - The Lonesome Dirge (Good Album from an upcomer in Texas)
Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark (Very good solid album)
Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash (Jam band type album, little disapointing, but still a good album)

ACL Wish List

With the lineup for the Austin City Limits Music Festival set to be announced tommorrow I thought I would list the artists that I hope will be included. So on the eve of the ACL lineup here is my wish list:

R.E.M.
Pearl Jam
Radiohead
Black Crowes
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Neil Young
Beck
Beastie Boys
Wilco
The Raconteurs
Ryan Adams
Kings Of Leon
The Shins
The National
Ryan Bingham
Robert Earl Keen
The Black Keys
Destroyer
Stephen Malkmus
Okkervil River
Hayes Carll
Colin Meloy
Drive By Truckers
Band Of Horses
Eli Young Band
Reckless Kelly
Cory Morrow

2008 Lollapalooza Schedule Announced

C3 Presents has released the schedule for Lollapalooza held in Chicago on Aug. 1-3.
Radiohead
Rage Against the Machine
Nine Inch Nails
Kanye West
Wilco
The Raconteurs
Love and Rockets
Gnarls Barkley
Bloc Party
The Black Keys
Broken Social Scene
Flogging Molly
Mark Ronson
Cat Power
The National
G. Love & Special Sauce
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Explosions in the Sky
Brand New
Gogol Bordello
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Dierks Bentley
Okkervil River
any many more.

Check http://www.lollapalooza.com/ for complete line up.

At first glance it is a little weak of a line up but not bad. I hope this is not a reflection of ACL line up. I do hope Radiohead, Wilco, The Raconteurs, The Black Keys, Cat Power, The National Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Dierks Bentley Okkervil River are repeats on the ACL Lineups.

ACL Lineup Song Marsh

The ACL MySpace site has a mix of songs with artists playing this years festival.
Here is what has been determined so for:

Raconteurs
Silversun Pickups
Gnarls Barkley
MGMT
Neko Case
Octopus Project
Heartless Bastards
Jamie Lidell
Robert Earl Keen
Man Man
Okkervil River
Hot Chip
CSS

Unofficial 2008 Lollapalooza Headliners

While C3 Presents will officially make the announcement of the acts performing at this year’s Lollapalooza on Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times has confirmed through sources the headliners for this year. Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, The Raconteurs, Wilco and Kanye West will headline the main stages on Aug. 1-3. A few other of the more than 100 acts that they say are on this year’s bill are Gnarls Barkley, the Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, G. Love & Special Sauce, Blues Traveler and Mates of State, Bloc Party, Cat Power, Stephen Malkmus, Girl Talk, Kid Sister, Office, the Cool Kids, Battles, the Go! Team, Jamie Lidell and Grizzly Bear.

Check http://www.lollapalooza.com/ on Monday for the complete list.

C3 Presents also does the Austin City Limits Music Festival and are scheduled to release the schedule I believe on April 15th so this list may give an idea of who will or won't be at ACL Festival.

CD Review: Austin Collins - Roses Are Black

One of my favorite albums so far this year is Austin Collins' Roses Are Black. This is Austin's sophmore album and he has truely taken it to the next level. Austin has proven to be a great songwriter and one of the most under-rated in Texas. One the cool things about this album is the production that mixes clear and destorted sounds that blend together and compliment Austin's cool vocals (which remind me a little of Ryan Adams with Whiskeytown) very well. Roses Are Black is a great Americana album that is solid from start to finish. While picking favorites on this album is tough mainly because there are really no bad songs on it. However if I had to pick a few they would be as followed: "11 Monthes," "Witching Hour," "Out Loud," "Roses Are Black," "8 Dollar Thrills," "House Without Windows" and "Goodbye Houston". Roses Are Black is one of the best albums I have purchased this year and is sure to be one of the top CDs of 2008! This is a must have album for any and all true music lovers to have.

To purchase Roses Are Black now click here