Justin Townes Earle: A Nod to Dolly

On stage, Justin Townes Earle is straight from country music's past; tall and lanky, a crooked Stetson, and a big belt buckle color his appearance as much as the Hank Williams and Porter Wagoner color his songs.

The son of Steve Earle, the younger is now basking in the acclaim that his father has enjoyed for years. His breakthrough album, Midnight at the Movies, drew countless accolades, an ever-growing fanbase, and now a headlining tour. He and Dawn Landes have also collaborated on a cover of Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind."

At this point, the question is not when Justin Townes Earle's career will eclipse that of his father, but how soon.

Justin Townes Earle - tour 2010

01.26 Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio*
01.27 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge*
01.28 Knoxville, TN @ Barley’s Taproom*
01.29 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern*
01.30 Carrboro, NC @ Carrboro Arts Center*
01.31 Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic*
02.01 Mobile, AL @ Callahan’s
02.03 San Antonio, TX @ Sam’s Burger Joint and Music Hall*
02.04 Austin, TX @ Stubb’s BBQ*
02.05 Houston, TX @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
02.06 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater* (also featuring Chris Knight)
02.09 La Jolla, CA @ The Loft at UC San Diego**
02.10 Los Angeles, CA @ Amoeba Hollywood
02.11 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo**
02.12 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place**
02.13 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall**
02.14 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge**
02.15 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern**
02.16 Vancouver, B.C. @ Biltmore Cabaret**
02.18 Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room**
02.19 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater**
02.20 Telluride, CO @ Sheridan Opera House**
02.23 Iowa City, IA @ The Mill**
02.25 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club**
02.26 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon**
02.27 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall**
02.28 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick**
03.01 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern**
03.02 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place**
03.04 Allston, MA @ Great Scott**
03.05 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom**
03.06 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s**
03.07 Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere**

*with Dawn Landes
**with Joe Pug
***with Carrie Rodriguez

Learn:
Justin Townes Earle Online

Listen:
1 - Do I Ever Cross Your Mind (with Dawn Landes)
2 - Mama's Eyes (from Midnight at the Movies)
3 - What I Mean to You (from Midnight at the Movies)

Buy:
Bloodshot Records

Inlets: From Under the Covers

Photo by Kristianna Smith

Sebastian Kreuger has some high profile ins - he has played with My Brightest Diamond and appeared with Feist on Saturday Night Live - but the music he performs as Inlets is low profile, breezing from under the covers. Mellow, shifting, and coated in a layers of warm instrumentation, Kreuger beams emotion from a masterfully subtle approach to complex orchestration and multi-part harmony.

Inlets' debut long-player, Inter Arbiter, is slated for an April 20 release on Two Syllable Records, and boasts guest appearances from Zach Condon (Beirut), Angel Deradoorian (Dirty Projectors), and Marla Hansen (Osso String Quartet). In anticipation of Inter Arbiter, the album's first single, "Bright Orange Air," has been released to the masses.

Learn:
Inlets Online

Listen:
1 - Bright Orange Air

Buy:
Two Syllable Records

Drive-By Truckers Ready for 'The Big To-Do'

Leave it to Drive-By Truckers to release the least accessible title on its forthcoming release The Big To-Do as the first single from the album. "This Fucking Job" is a rocker, burning red and rowdy. And as the Truckers have shown time and time again, this is rock-and-roll on their terms, and accessibility hasn't ever been a concern.

Set for release on March 16 on ATO Records, The Big To-Do continues the Truckers' legacy of solid studio releases, albeit one that was recorded in a rapid-fire manner made possible by a stable lineup and the intimate relationship with longtime producer David Barbe and his Chase Park Transduction studio. The loose, fast-paced approach is apparent in the music; the album's vibe is wild, honest, and frayed around the edges, in contrast to the more focused releases like the classic The Southern Rock Opera and 2008's sprawling Brighter Than Creation's Dark.

In anticipation for the new album, ATO has offered up "This Fucking Job" as a free download. Check out the track at the bottom of this post.

Not only will this spring see the release of The Big To-Do, but The Truckers will also star in the documentary The Secret to A Happy Ending. Directed by Barr Weissman, the documentary will debut at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD on February 5.

Catch Drive-By Truckers on tour throughout the spring.

The Secret To A Happy Ending screenings:

Fri Feb 5 Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver Theatre - Sold Out

Sat Feb 6 Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver Theatre#

Sun Feb 28 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Film Festival

#This is a midnight screening after the screening on Feb 5.

Drive-By Truckers on tour:
Jan 28 - Huntsville, AL - Crossroads Music Hall
Jan 29 - Mobile, AL - Soul Kitchen
Jan 30 - Tuscaloosa, AL - Jupiter Bar & Grill
Feb 11 - Greenville, SC - Handlebar
Feb 12 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
Feb 13 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
Feb 14 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre
Feb 25 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
Feb 26 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theatre
Feb 27 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theatre

Mar 04 - Wilmington NC - Rox Nightclub

Mar 06 - Augusta GA - Sky City*

Mar 12 - Atlanta GA - Variety Playhouse*

Mar 13 - Atlanta GA - Variety Playhouse*

Mar 18 - Austin, TX - SXSW

Mar 19 - New Orleans LA - Tipitinas

Mar 20 - New Orleans LA - Tipitinas

Apr 01 - New York NY - Webster Hall**

Apr 02 - Boston MA - House of Blues**%

Apr 03 - Philadelphia PA - Electric Factory**%

Apr 06 - Toronto Canada - Lee's Palace**

Apr 07 - Toronto Canada - Lee's Palace**

Apr 08 - Detroit MI - St. Andrews Hall**

Apr 09 - Chicago IL - The Vic Theatre**

Apr 10 - Lexington KY - Buster's Billiards and Backroom**

Apr 11 - Cleveland OH - Beachland Ballroom and Tavern**

Apr 14 - Towson MD - Recher Theatre**

Apr 15 - Norfolk VA - The Norva**

Apr 16 - Asheville NC - The Orange Peel**

Apr 17 - Asheville NC - The Orange Peel**

Apr 30 - Nashville TN - Cannery Ballroom

May 07 - Los Angeles CA - Avalon

May 08 - San Francisco CA - The Fillmore Auditorium

* David Barbe and the Quick Hooks support

** Langhorne Slim supports

% with Lucero

Learn:
Drive-By Truckers Online

Listen:
1 - This Fucking Job

Buy:
Drive-By Truckers Store

Goodnight, Jack Rose

Music lost a great one when Jack Rose passed away in December. While his music is obscure, it is curious why the acoustic guitarist flew so far below the radar.

Rose emerged in 1998 with the acoustic group Pelt, before striking out on his own in 2006. Since then, he has released three albums, "Dr. Ragtime and Pals," "Jack Rose and the Black Twig Pickers," and the forthcoming "Luck in the Valley."

Rose died on December 5 of an apparent heart attack, an event that came too early for such a brilliant musician.

Friends will gather at the the Latvian Society of Philadelphia on February 13 to pay homage to the musician. Following are details:

Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 7:00 PM

Latvian Society of Philadelphia - 531 N. 7th Street

Tickets: $18

http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/4067

Performers:

D. Charles Speer & The Helix

Thurston Moore | Paul Flaherty | Chris Corsano

Michael Chapman

Pelt

The Black Twig Pickers

Glenn Jones

Byron Coley

Meg Baird | Chris Forsyth

Megajam Booze Band

DJ Ian Nagoski

Video clips curated by Tara Young

Learn:
Jack Rose on Myspace

Listen:
1 - Woodpiles on the Side of the Road

Buy:
Thrill Jockey Records

Dirty Projectors: Ascending Into Sound

Photo by Sara Cass

Dirty Projects' Bitte Orca was truly one of the best albums of 2009. Rife with eccentricity, the band's fourth release reeked of inventiveness and stayed true to its quirks.

Building on last year's momentum, the sextet is getting it "while the gettin's good" with the Ascending Melody 7", boasting the title track which came from the Bitte Orca sessions. Ascending Melody is free for download at Dirty Projectors' website.

Learn:
Dirty Projectors Online

Buy:
Domino Records

Clogs Step Into the Garden

Padma Newsome came onto my radar because of The National, but his work outside of the band is quite impressive. He is truly a musician, not someone who fell into the gig with a bag of words and a little harmony.

The multi-instrumentalist is a composer, and Clogs new album, The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton, marks a change in direction from the previous instrumental releases. Here, Shara Worden offers vocal work, and Clogs is supplemented by Sufjan Stevens, Aaron Dessner and Matt Berninger of The National, and the Osso String Quartet.

Clogs has only announced two dates this year, but more are promised (and as a side note, The National will also be playing at the Big Ears Festival):

February 19 – 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ Southern Theater
March 26 – 28 – Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival

Learn:
Clogs Online

Listen:
1 - Three-Two
2 - On The Edge

Buy:
Clogs at Insound

DevilDriver: The Road Calls

I stumbled upon DevilDriver by a very superficial chance; I was enamored by frontman Dez Fafara's face and neck tattoos. But what I found was a metal band that fits my taste, with fast music and a classic style that avoids the more discordant aggression that has overtaken the heavy music world.

Formed in 2003 in Santa Barbara, California, DevilDriver epitomizes hard work; they write, record, and play constantly, and have released four albums since coming together, including last year's classic Pray for Villians.

DevilDriver is constantly on the road, so its no surprise that the new year means new dates. Catch them if you can.

Jan 15 - Mesa Theatre - Grand Junction, Colorado
Jan 16 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, Colorado
Jan 18 - The Rock - Maplewood, Minnesota
Jan 19 - The Rave - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jan 20 - House of Blues - Chicago, Illinois
Jan 21 - Mr. Small’s Theatre - Millvale, Pennsylvania
Jan 22 - The Machine Shop - Flint, Michigan
Jan 23 - Al Rosa Villa - Columbus, Ohio
Jan 24 - Mad Hatter - Covington, Kentucky
Jan 25 - Jaxx West - Springfield, Virginia
Jan 26 - Norva - Norfolk, Virginia
Jan 27 - Polaris - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jan 28 - Toad’s Place - New Haven, Connecticut
Jan 29 - The Palladium - Worcester, Maine
Jan 30 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, New Jersey
Jan 31 - Crazy Donkey - Farmingdale, New York
Feb 1 - Masquerade - Atlanta, Georgia
Feb 5 - Club Firestone - Orlando, Florida
Feb 6 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Feb 8 - Emo’s - Austin, Texas:
Feb 10 - Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Feb 11 - The Rock - Tucson, Arizona
Feb 12 - House of Blues - West Hollywood, California

Learn
DevilDriver Online

Listen:
DevilDriver on Myspace

Buy:
DevilDriver Store

Real Estate, Woods: Two for the Road

Real Estate's eponymous debut was one of the break-outs of 2009, full of easy, shimmering, textured instrumentals and sunny pop songs that function more as fuzzed-out soundtracks than contemplative lyrical works. And this is Real Estate's advantage, the compositions breeze through the background, without requiring direct attention. Yet, it isn't long before the sounds are dancing limber about the ears and eyes.

After logging time on numerous "Best of ..." lists for the last year, the New Jersey quartet of Martin Courtney IV, Matthew Mondanile III, Etienne Pierre Duguay and Alex Bleeker have announced a tour with Brooklyn's Woods, whose Songs of Shame has also received lip service from many a critic. Woods have championed an experimental kaleidoscope that often bristles wildly within the confines of two minutes.

The Woodsist Records labelmates will be on tour this spring.

Real Estate Only
Jan-05 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Bowl
Jan-09 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
Jan-22 Hanover, NH Dartomouth College

Real Estate and Woods
Mar-12 New York, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
Mar-13 Montreal, QC Lambi
Mar-14 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Mar-15 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
Mar-17-20 Austin, TX SXSW
Mar-22 Nashville, TN The End
Mar-23 Bloomington, IN The Bishop
Mar-24 Cleveland, OH The Spot at Case Western
Mar-25 Pittsburgh, PA University of Pittsburgh
Mar-26 Haverford, PA Haverford College
Mar-27 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel

Learn:
Real Estate on Myspace
Woods on Myspace

Listen:
1 - Real Estate - Beach Comber
2 - Woods -To Clean

Buy:
Woodsist Records

Lymbyc Systym and the Art of Nuance

Lymbyc Systym revels in atmospherics and nuance. The sparkle is in the chaff of nickel-wound guitar strings, the cosmic blips that underlie the electro-glide, the fortitude of the horns.

Brothers Mike and Jared Bell are an anomaly, smack dab in the middle of the electronic and indie movements. Crafting instrumental epics, the duo can take nuance and inflate it with grandiose revelry, evident on the 2009 release Shutter Release. At the core, though, Lymbyc Systym is a live band, with a heavy touring schedule and the reputation that comes along with night after night on the stage. The duo has announced a handful of January dates, which should prove to be only the beginning of a lustrous touring year.

01/07 Seattle, WA High Dive *
01/09 San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord *
01/10 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater *#
01/11 San Diego, CA Che Cafe *
01/12 Tucson, AZ Plush *
01/13 Scottsdale, AZ Chyro Arts *
01/15 Austin, TX Emo's $

* w/ Helios
# w/ The One AM Radio
$ w/ This Will Destroy You

Learn:
Lymbyc Systym Online

Listen:
1 - Bedroom Anthem

Buy:
Lymbyc Systym Merch