Why did you turn up again? I was doing fine.
I’d found another sweetheart to drive you from my mind.
I thought that I’d forgotten you but I know that it’s not true.
Or else you couldn’t make my heart ache the way you do.
I’ve got a new heartache about an old sweetheart …
that left me for somebody new.
I’ve got a new heartache about an old sweetheart …
and that’s why I’m feeling so blue.
Ray Price
Likewise, Dallas … this is one that’s tough to get over hearin’ … the best kind of song in my book.
I only knew of Dallas Moore from his sketch on the wall of a Bowling Green, KY country bar … and being told of his top rank in outlaw country music back at that bar in September, by my new friend Kenneth Marr, author of the sketch.
Well, after making the several hour drive from near Detroit, to Win, Place or Show bar in West Chester, Ohio … to finally see DM in practically his own backyard, gettin’ his guitar on, and goin’ off in every which way but loose, for friends, family and fans on a sunny, brisk Sunday in October … let’s just say the big guy sure got the right first name, as he does that honest, hard livin’ music up right- larger than life in that big wide open, Lone Star State.
The veteran outlaw country road warrior had as much fun as the crowd out on the WPS deck- maybe more, Mr. Moore? I did after all lose count of which was highest (haha)- your number of beers, shots or songs? No bother- Dallas lifted us all higher and higher with his 100 proof plus, honest songs.
From the road weary but gotta ride my life away blues of “Rollin’ On” … to the drunken, wailin’, wonderin’ about a woman of “Where You Gonna Be, When I’m Gone”, to the heart-on-his-sleeve, shiveringly sensitive “I Can’t Get Over You”. Not to mention when Dallas cranked it up with cool covers like Billy Joe Shaver’s “Georgia on a Fast Train”.
To us lucky ones who were there, or anyone who has seen the YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsxH09tfYSE) …
the heartfelt highlight at dusk was Dallas bringing on his revered mother of bluegrass royalty, Mama Madgelee Hanes Moore, for Hank Williams‘ sorrow-steeped classic “I’m So Lonesome, I Could Cry”. Having recorded it in recent years with their friend, the late, great Jody Payne … at the Ohio studio, in the circle where Hank laid it down himself … this was easily the most moving, memorable moment that night.
As darkness began to fall, DM’s fellow outlaw country road compadres- my new musical friend from an unforgettable 9/11 concert in Nashville, Brigitte London, and her music mate Cley Reynolds– didn’t let the spark from DM’s sound fade one bit.
Her Blondness summons up her soul in her music … strummin’ and pickin’ the guitar, and most importantly singin’ strong thru all kinds of life’s stormy weather- as they say, once she sings a song, it stays sung. Her biting blues, ferociously confessional, “If I Was That Kind of Woman”, lit us all up, far into the darkness of the night.
Then after his silent steady, guitar-grinding act playing with Brigitte, Cley burst out on his own with a lively New Orleans-centric lyrical song that really hit home for this no-small-lover of all the glorious gumbo of sounds from NOLA. And his other down home, drivin’ songs were all full of it- in the best rowdy rockin’ and reelin’ sense- like the two-steppin’, “Dancin’ by the Country Store”.
Dallas closed out on guitar with a rowdy, rocking, outlaw song- and he just plain out outdid hisself … sending out the best damn, down home, pedal-to-the-metal, swift, swirling, frantic, fiery hot flamenco-spiced solos … sitting up front, I couldn’t help but fix my gaze on his silver skull ring on his right hand turning into a shiny, streaky blur.
After the music race was run at Win, Place and Show, I was lucky enough to join Dallas, Brigitte, Cley, Bobby Mackey and other friends, to see DM’s buddies in Straw Boss do it up, good ol’ hillbilly rock style in their weekly Sunday showcase at Southgate House Revival, just a few minutes away in Newport, Kentucky. Yep … down home singin’, a few guitars, pedal steel and stand up bass in a remodeled church will damn near cure what ails ya, every time.
I got almost as much pleasure from the Straw pickin’ boys indulging my Buck Owens and George Jones requests … as from the dancin’ I enjoyed with a local lady (just about the prettiest girl in the house). No insult to the band, but I said almost 🙂
Dallas and Bobby M. took turns with the band, but Brigitte stole the show by bringin’ back Patsy, soul deep and dreamy … on “Walkin’ After Midnight”.
Then both before retiring to, and after rising and shining outta, my hotel in nearby Mason, Ohio … I hit the eatin’ sign you’re in the South … Waffle House, for pecan waffles at night, and sausage gravy/biscuit/eggs/hash browns & onions at breakfast- boy howdy!
Check out the good ol’ sound stuff, straight no chaser, from my friends at-
http://www.dallasmoore.com
http://www.brigitte-london.com
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cley-Reynolds/100000026980871
http://www.bobbymackey.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Straw-Boss/584368948246142
“The kettle’s on the boil,
Lord, the night is almost gone.
The fire is a-dyin’ down,
and I’m tryin’ to write this song.”
“The Highway Callin'”
Sit back and give a good, close listen to this live wire of a live album of Fred J. Eaglesmith’s songs about the living and the dead- whether in heart, mind or soul- and you’ll be damn grateful he opened a vein in pain to let loose this bracing bunch of songs … these tales from his musical root cellar of growin’ up in the open farmland of Ontario, Canada.
It was his American debut twenty years ago next month, for about a hundred of us soundly stunned listeners in a tiny, suburban Detroit church choir room- but let me be very clear that these, fatally true country blues birthed north of the border … speak loud and very clear to anyone, anywhere with an open heart to the struggles of others- even if you’re never planted seed, raised cattle or been to a rodeo.
It’s just a pack of straight shootin’ songs- cracked, detail-packed, a bit sweet ’til gone bitter, story-stacked … a view into the small gains and oft’ permanent, soul slaying pains … of Fred’s people from the plains.
And on this special night of razor sharp, raw and rowdy, quietly shocking and even rocking sounds … Fred’s mates The Flying Squirrels- the now sadly late, master and so moving mandolinist Willie P. Bennett, and solid bassist Ralph Schipper, earned my huge respect for their instrumental and vocal harmonic contributions … professionals and pals perfectly pitching in for the concert cause.
As to them truth-telling voices, the opening acapella three-part on “(He’s got a heart made of) Yellow Barley Straw” alone flat out flattened us that night … it just ain’t for the faint of us still runnin’ on our red, flesh-and-blood organs.
On the “odds stacked against us” side of relations with the fairer sex, just be real still and hear Fred’s achingly blunt “ain’t fooling no one but myself” confessionals, “I’m Just Dreamin”, or “My Last Six Dollars”.
And go ahead, close your your eyes and hear it from each side of that personal picket fence- a bridge too far battle in the stillness of “Summerlea” … and the wild young ones in the ridin’ high, yet still lonesome sound stakes of “Rodeo Rose“- on a lifetime loser to the law, and a lifetime loser of a maw.
As Fred’s family were losers of their farm when he was a teen, sending him train-hoppin’ across Canada … the heart-breaking songs here make it clear the crops lost and financial drops cost are just the tells … of the inner bells that toll louder, and kill the prouder of the growers, once lowered.
A few of the stake-in-the-soul, sown-and-blown, down on the farm ‘ers … “Thirty Years of Farming”, “Sunflowers” and “Go Out and Plough”. Hear ’em and either you get it, or you don’t.
After Fred tells his tale of him and his siblings crowded in front in his Dad’s five-ton, with cattle crowded in back … the really rough-on-the-ears, rocky road rhythms of “Rough Edges” … leaves far more than mere scratches on your soul.
Fred gets the last word here …
“The whistle wails, the trains roll on
“I guess I’ll go back to where I come from …
to where my daddy sits, on a little porch,
on a little farm, in a little town that they call Jericho.
He always told me, son, you should know,
The walls always tumble down just when you’re sure they won’t.”
“Jericho”
To get your own copy, and get to know some new old friends, go to
Folks, unlike on the cover of his album of the same name … I capitalize his four self-labels in my caption, since Michael on Fire (MOF) just plain out don’t do nuthin’ musically small at all.
Whether he’s softly singing and strumming, or wailing and slashing guitar strings with all his weight … is irrelevant … he just goes balls-to-the-wall when he plays for one and all … thankfully, MOF just don’t know any other way.
My hearty fellow- paisan and native Detroiter- … is just one of them musicians who seemingly explodes his songs on stage- always unrehearsed, unabashed and unbowed … and lets the chips fall in our heads and hearts where they may.
After 40 years of putting himself out there across the world, now using a California base … am embarassed to say I just was smacked in the soul with MOF’s music early this year, as he opened for pal Billy Brandt, at an intimate church/house concert gig in Livonia, MI.
After soaking in his energy, as he roamed the wooden stage, rocking on his guitar, wild curls tossed back over his army jacket … he then retreated to a piano off to stage left. He just tore us all up, as he humbly, softly played piano and dedicated to Billy’s dying mother and his own seriously ailing niece … “Thank You For Today (for all those times you never heard me say)”. Talk about reminding one what’s really important.
He’s done many albums over the years, after cutting his teeth in highly regarded Detroit bands like jazz/fusion group Prismatic (didn’t always get their power as a non-musician, but recall the sheer talent) … and country rock pioneers Old Buck.
His albums … with their variety of soully strong, historically, wildly worded songs, shot thru with his potent vocal passion and urgently executed instrumental backing by his friends-in-arms … all are truly meaningful sonic snapshots in time- he wrote, played and sung ONLY what he wanted to do that musical moment- dig it or don’t, but MOF has never let his pilot light go out … that internal flame keeps him trying to jump higher and higher. Ain’t no accident, that album title, “Keepers of The Flame”.
And when not off traveling the world, seizing solo gigs at house concerts or various venues … MOF’s backed by a strong, natural country outfit out of his Cali base. To testify a bit to their talents, they’re prone to be abducted by a certain “crazy-hearted” actor and country musician for easy traveling, moonlighting duty out on the road. Have heard them backing both MOF & JB … first rate fellas one and all, able to bring it back home … all that down home sound.
Just a couple notes on a couple of his very musically noteworthy recent releases-
on “Live from London”, MOF gathered some new friends with UK and Irish ties … and they all just cut some killer, unrehearsed live takes on his soaring songs. He headed across the pond to find the old country’s ties that will always bind them with our “new” country’s so real, rocking and reeling roots music. I brand this boldest of cultural collaborations in sound … loosely and lovely dangerous– only hurts if it’s first time you’ve taken your sad ears outta the mundane musical box.
Back home in a Detroit studio last year- an almost hellish wintry period including a power outage- “Cadillac Ranch” (nuthin’ to do with The Boss auto ode) was birthed by MOF on all instruments … a rich sounded, oft-romantic but not rose-eyed remembrance of The Motor City and really America’s glory days … as well as a sharp shout out to awaken our sleepwalking selves, and once more at least try bringing back a great land of the free.
As you might’ve gathered by now, Michael on Fire plys his craft larger than life, of course … living out his songs on stages for us all … and in essence, daring us to love life as he does … work till our own dreams come true, and just maybe enlarge our own little lives.
Anyone who’s heard his music at all, or sees MOF play anywhere … must humbly thank him for that gracious gift.
Now go catch a spark with Michael on Fire at …
http://www.michaelonfire.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-on-Fire/243920222693
The curse of an artist … the family lost.
All he don’t have … and how much it cost.
Poets like Dylan … live in his brain.
Is he a writer, or is he insane?
He dresses in black … and he goes it alone.
Is he the writer, or is he the song?
Billy Don Burns- “Is He the Writer”
She said “If you’re from Texas, son,
where’s your boots and where’s your gun?”
I smiled and said “I got guns no one can see …”
She laughed at that and we both agreed …
Spanish is a loving tongue.
But she never … spoke Spanish to me
Joe Ely- “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me”
OK folks, a week late here’s my tour of underground country outlaw legend Billy Don Burn’s shows this mad musical month … sights, sounds and inner sensings. Read on, then open your ears to my nine videos attached below, of just about the steepest, sincerest and sharply striking country music you’ll ever be lucky enough to lay ears on. I will post all my pics, and a blog link on my Facebook page. And if the length of this post is too much for you … get outta my blog, loser.
Unique Bar and Grill, Blue Ridge Summit, PA- Sept. 6
Whatta trip … a great, scenic 500 mile, Friday drive from Michigan to track down Billy Don doin’ his strong songs, straight up no chaser, at this lil’ dive bar in the breathtaking, beautiful Pennsylvania mountains. BDB was on fire, tellin’ tales and belting out plenty potently, “Outlaws At The Cross”, and my request, “Haggard and Hank”, amongst much more. As to the “racin’ down country roads” story, I will add to his words of song- “I don’t tire, and I don’t bleed”- that he don’t hardly ever lose– unless comin’ ’round a curve at 110 mph to … umm .. “run into” a pair of crawlin’ truckers at 20 mph, crampin’ his speedin’ style, and then some. Big fun also that night to meet my new music master buddies of the mountains, who played before BDB- Jeff Swope the chameleon cornucopia of country music, who threw out classics from Buck, George and Porter, at my shout outs … and Josh Morningstar, the strong and soulful, country blues man. See my Facebook post with pics of Jeff’s ostrich boots, owned by Keith Whitley, and Josh’s Billy Don signed guitar. Perfect night of perfect songs with perfect pals.
Billy Don Burns 9/11 Military Tribute- Silver Dollar Saloon, Nashville- Sept. 11
So this was the second BDB show on the tour, as I flew in that morning … and was eatin’ at famed Nashville diners like Pancake Pantry (berry and pecan, maple syrup-soaked pancakes with side of sugar-cured ham) and Brown’s Diner (burgers burgers burgers- thanks Terry for the tip!) by afternoon. Before getting over to Silver Dollar, I hit a couple of classic cool bars down Broadway Ave, aka The Strip- Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Layla’s (Nashville Hillbilly Music). See Tootsie’s band pics, they indulged my Buck Owens’ jones on “Streets of Bakerfield”- that’s the guitarist playing himself right out the door, so to speak.
At Silver Dollar, after a set of local singer/songwriters did some subdued song-swapping on stools, BDB guitarist Aaron Rodgers’ wife Cadie Calhoun crackled like a live wire, as her band tackled a down home, hard drivin’ set of songs.
Then Silver Dollar host, BDB friend and my new buddy that night, Robert K. Wolf aka “Wolfie” … provided an awesome, heart-gripping American moment for Billy Don, and all there to witness … surprising the Vietnam vet. with a folded Stars and Stripes, as a long overdue welcome home from that overseas war. See pics- ’nuff said.
Then BDB, aided and abetted by beautiful, soulful singing Brigitte London and another new pal, gritty guitar slinger Daryl Wayne Dasher … took the plunge together as comrades-in-arms … laying it out without fanfare … “Fall On My Sword”. This BDB confessor flat out cuts to the heart of the matter- humble don’t even begin to describe it, folks.
As he matched me that night in BDB black T-shirt, meeting Daryl en route to his heading onstage, carrying his guitar with harmonica rack on his neck … by way of intro, I told him I knew he was going to bring that Billy Don personal intensity and integrity to the music he would play. Whew, between Daryl and Brigitte … let’s just say they don’t need to grow a pair, they both got ’em in spades.
Later, Billy Don was just his plain singin’, truth tellin’ self with his band … the outta sight, outta his mind, outlaw country leader, supported by loyal, musically-lethal friends like Buck Thrailkill and Aaron Rodgers. Give a little listen to my video of BDB recounting how Aaron came to join his inner country circle.
And coming in off a tour for just this one night to Nashville, Waylon Jennings’ son Shooter (youngest brother to BDB’s manager, eldest bro Terry) and his band crazily rocked out the joint … sending out helluva raw energy to feel up close. Thanks also to Shooter for taking in my rambling about my ever-closening relationship to true, natural country music.
Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse- Pottsville, TN- Sept. 12
Being a big fan of Joey + Rory, the very likeable farming couple, RFD-TV stars and experienced crafters of unadorned, naturally fine country and gospel music … I had to stop in at Marcy Jo’s for a sausage gravy-graced, egg-on-Angel biscuit breakfast. Walking in just after 7 a.m. open, I was blessed enough to find Rory, diner queen and his sister Marcy, family and friends gathered around the family table in the quaint eatery. Rory was kind to sign all the couples’ CDs, and take a pic with a stranger from Michigan, who stumbled in, wearin’ an even stranger shirt! I had to return a couple days later, for a berry French toast breakfast, and to leave a Carter Family anthology CD from Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop in Nashville, as gratitude.
Billy Don Burns, Britni Coffey and Friends- Spillway Bar, Bowling Green, KY- Sept. 12
And the final BDB tour stop, just over an hour north on I-65, outta Nashville. This BG, kinda dark honky tonk was the perfect sight in the night, for Billy Don
to ply his trade, once more singin’ and playin’ by himself, as at Unique Bar in PA. Really the best way to take in the lasting lyrics, cutting chords and deep-in-the-vault voice of outlaw country’s sly, surveying and soul surviving outlaw … playing his life out, in barrooms across the country. I will shut up now on BDB, and let videos speak volumes.
Arriving early at sound check, like a green tourist, I was frankly bowled over by the sound and sight, under blue lights, of natural country woman Britni Leigh Meador Coffey, multi-instrumental picker/singer/songwriter of Scottsville, KY. This rural organic farmer and biologist similarly sings out very back-to-basics country music … diving deep into bluegrass and country blues roots at ease … soulfully, sweetly singin’ and story-spinnin’, on top of her cutting to the core, raw strummin’ and pickin’. Her faultless, truthful takes on our mutual heros Townes VanZandt’s “Dead Flowers” and John Prine’s “Angel from Montomery” … ain’t never sounded more alive, soaring and emotionally explosive to me. Listen y’all … just go watch and hear her videos, and get a country clue.
And I found that night BG, KY has an amazing depth of country music talent, as evidenced by the variety of others I was lucky enough to hear play that night. Also, kudos to my new pals Kenneth Marr and his wife. Kenneth has done an awesome, charcoal BDB sketch … Billy Don was kind enough to sign one for me (see pic). Closing the night, I was very pleased and blessed enough to drive Billy Don to his hotel. We had a great, interesting chat along the way … our newly deepened friendship means the world to me. And when he wondered where we could get a good burger that late … I was very happy to make him happy with one of my six-pack of Nashville Brown Diner burgers, from my hotel fridge!
“Sounds on Dumont”- Dumont Hill, Scottsville, KY- Sept. 14
After digging deeply her intense, warm singin’ and playin’ Thursday, I changed plans to stick in town … and go see Britni’s bluegrass band, Honeysuckle Conspiracy, at this first ever bluegrass fest, on a sunny Saturday on this mountainous site of a Civil War battle. After gettin’ musically warmed up with the young Red River Fiddlers and the versatile veteran Banjocats, HC flat-out flattened and flattered us lucky listeners, with a sizzlin’ set of intimate, intense bluegrass with just the right sharp-bladed, grassy edge of blue- to let us all feel real close … their musical “conspiracy theory”. Recovering from that storm o’ sound after, I shared with Britni my nickname for HC … “Bluegrass Big Band”, in honor of the multi-instrumentalists in the quartet, anchored by just the right toe-tappin’, dummin’ up a storm. Later, lazily laying with new friends on the grass … we all enjoyed Leipers Fork Bluegrass Band (bluegrassers mainly manned in red) smooth pickin’ and harmonizing on my hometown Motown classic, “My Love”. Sincere sorry to Britni, HC, et al as I lost my I-phone pics and video from the day.
Harlan County Line at Spillway Bar- Sept. 14
Drawn in by their Jim Ford-inspired name, led by rhymin’ named Joe Coe … I returned to Spillway, sat back and reveled in this feisty rockin’ country band.
The locals dancin’ up a storm, bowled over by the back woods power of this bunch. JC promised to consider my plea for them to do up right some day, KY native Ford’s rowdy, leavin’ home classic “Harlan County”. Check out their Facebook profile pic in my BDB photo album- I’m right about dead center, just behind girl in glasses.
Sunday Blues Jam- Wahbah Steakhouse, Bowling Green, KY- Sept. 15
And for y’all big bad blues (& all great freakin’ music) fans out & about Bowling Green … this self-proclaimed roots musicologist from Detroit is tellin’ you the Sunday nite 6-10 blues jam, at this high, high, high ceiling, wooden room on Russellville Rd, is a MUST HEAR. Sorry no pics/video (too busy enjoying’ the smokin’ sounds)- but stumblin’ in on a whim, found 15 to 50 plus blues bad a–es wailing in all the right pianna-poundin’, rockin’, guitar screamin’ & instrumental dreamin’ ways- a great chaser for what ails ya’. Highlights included the 15-year-old jazz/blues/classical young man piano prodigy … to the sparkly beret-clad, very young girl w/mini-box tabletop percussion silencin’ the house acapella, in heart-breaking tribute to her late father … to KY’s own blues guitar gonzo & ex-Cali sideman to Carlos Santana, Bobby Baldwin– who felt compelled to share with me his love of Ben Franklin’s all-time best-selling, irreverent essay collection titled for BF’s not “ass-inine” appreciation on … ahem … the habit of “breaking wind”- “Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School”.
An appropo end for such a long-winded post!
Now y’all best be sure to get with it …
find Billy Don and all my new friends in serious country sounds at …
http://www.billydonburnsofficial.com
https://www.facebook.com/TVJennings?fref=ts
http://www.ShooterJennings.com
https://www.facebook.com/britni.meadorcoffey?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/HoneysuckleConspiracy
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leipers-Fork-Bluegrass/160237813994558
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.swope?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/joshuamorningstarmusic?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/aarondavidrodgers?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cadie-Calhoun/135883449783378
https://www.facebook.com/buck.thrailkill?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/daryldasher?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/brigitte.london.9?fref=ts
http://www.joeyandrory.com
https://www.facebook.com/HarlanCountyLine
Live at PJ’s Lager House in Corktown, Detroit. This is my musical nirvana … hearing John and his band play this live … put on your country “hearing and dancing” cowboy boots … and swing it folks, two-step style!
On the eve of another appearance at The Detroit Zoo Summer Nights outdoor music series … it’s more than time that I talk about a few of his trusted musical, accomplished colleagues, all I proudly call friends … in his Sugarees band- I think of them as the Sweet Notes!
My friend, “the king of Michigan guitarists” (another’s most appropo label), rocking Chris Degnore has been with Billy for years- BB even “gave” him to veteran Michigan musician Jill Jack, to replace himself in her band. He’s had careers in both Ireland and Nashville- only a true music fan can appreciate the very real musical roots tie, from the Old Country to the New World. Chris won a Nashville annual songwriter award in the 2000s- in my words, in “the home of the song”. He released his electricifying, take-no-prisoners album Cinema this year, with his power pop trio, The Blackdrops. Whatta a CD release show we celebrated that Feb. night at Callahans in Auburn Hills- I actually took the (Cassata) cake that night- to surprise Chris on stage!
Go dig him at http://www.chrisdegnoreandtheblackdrops.com
Now my stoic bassist friend (fellow country music craver & Honky Tonk Wed. bar night pioneer), Ann Arbor’s John Holk- another BB vet. He’ll often play with Billy that sturdy ol’ string bass- sign of great country, jazz and bluegrass to myself- in trio with Jason Dennie on mandolin- love that lineup. John also plays jazz and classical, educated at U. of M. My wake up call on John was seeing him with his shiny, happy country Sequins band- playing guitar and singing out front in that cowboy hat. They churn it out like good ol’ country buttermilk- smooth, sweet with just the right amount of tang … er, I mean … twang! His Sequins album, “If You See Her” is one richly produced set of country pop songs- in the very best sense of the word- never could be better. Linking above this post my all-time Holk fave “The Mountain”.
Stay in John’s country at www.facebook.com/johnholkeboer?fref=ts
Last, but never musically least, my mandolin guru and friend Jason Dennie, another BB well-seasoned player. I’m the one saying he’s Michigan’s most valuable mando picker- hands up, down and all around! And (so far from afar) also mando tutor to this rookie picker- among his many students. His bluegrass band Wayward Roots won 2011 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Best Band- that’s what I call being in the green, green grass of home! Now let’s hear it Jason one time- “biscuits and gravy” (inside country joke!).
“Pick” up on Jason at www.facebook.com/jason.dennie.7?fref=ts
and
Apology to Kris K., but readers here will find true country music has become perhaps my most intense musical passion- going back to Hank Sr. and Roy Acuff, through the likes of Buck Owens, Porter Wagoner, Roy Clark … right up to “newer” legends such as Marty Stuart, Vince Gill and already ascendant songwriter/singer Jamey Johnson. And whether documenting a “down” or “up” side of life … honest country music is never a downer.
So let’s go over a few of my favorite Michigan-rooted, country bands- who all are big stars to me, in the best sense of that twisted label.
First, see my last post of Downriver son Ryan Dillaha’s instant country classic for my birthplace, “Detroit City”. He often country rocks out (even using soulful horns) with his band, The Miracle Men … but this is a de minimis, muted version. A true country craver/cracker has gotta love the chorus open, “I won’t cry for you Detroit City … the record player’s alive and living … the needle always finds your broken heart”. RD and the MM are starting a Midwest states’ tour, plus dropping down to Nashville- now it’s their turn to rise up and get him while he’s there.
Find Ryan and the band on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanDillaha
Second, also outta Downriver is Don (Doop) Duprie, who runs Doop and The Inside Outlaws (gotta love country wordplay like that!). This naturally (and) seasoned, rocking country songwriter/singer/guitarist easily moves from rowdy honky tonkers, tales of the working man … to woeful country blues, always with just the note-hanging amount of twanging accents. You gotta get out there to hear them to be really shaken and stirred, from your butts to your hearts.
Find Doop and the band at http://www.doopandtheinsideoutlaws.com
Third but never least, are the Deadstring Brothers, well-worn country veterans who record on Chicago’s eclectic, outlaw-loving label, Bloodshot Records. Lead songwriter/guitarist Kurt Marschke’s plain folks lead vocal sets the tone for some sloppy loose honky tonkers, not to mention some great country chorus harmonizing on two-steppers or low fi ballads. They’re just as at home playin’ around The D, as kickin’ up dust out on the road, from Nashville to the weird West Coast. A double name drop here- longtime Willie Nelson harmonicat Mickey Raphael is on their “Cannery Row” album … and my friend bassist J.D. Mack confided once he knows well the longtime Porter Wagoner guitarist Fred Newell- both signs of true country cool to me.
Find The Deadstring Brothers at https://www.facebook.com/deadstringbrothers
Ryan D. doing his seminal country paean for The D … stripped down trio style … at Dino’s in Ferndale, MI. Sorry Bobby Bare, love your classic, but this is THE song for real country music lovers to hear at home in these parts.
TimMusic- “I don’t fear the words and sounds … just try holding them close to my heart” 