The Pilgrim Rose - Brighter Days Will Come

2012. Vamos a saldar una cuenta pendiente, que ya va siendo hora. The Pilgrim Rose es una banda asturiana que quedó finalmente establecida con la incorporación del cantante y guitarrista Juanjo Zamorano y que ya publicaron un EP de 4 temas en 2010 ("Turns Winters Into Spring"). Dos de esos temas se han recuperado para este "Brighter Days Will Come", un disco luminoso, vibrante y optimista, aunque también con un punto melancólico que lo hace aún más atractivo.

The Pilgrim Rose se mueven con soltura entre el folk y el country rock, mezclando sonidos acústicos y eléctricos con excelentes armonías vocales. La conexión con Gram Parsons, los Flying Burrito Brothers y la Cosmic American Music es evidente, tampoco hace falta decir mucho más. 

Para la grabación de este primer LP la banda se trasladó a los estudios Guitar Town Recordings de Hendrik Rover, quien también se puso a los mandos de la grabación y como creo que es costumbre aportó sus guitarricas (dobro, petal steel...) y ayuda en los arreglos.

Pues eso os cuento, una gran banda que no deberíais perderos si os quedan a tiro. Finalmente quisiera agradecer a Juanjo su amabilidad y gentileza al mandarme el disco. Un abrazo, maestro.

Participaron en la grabación: 

Juan Villar: guitarras eléctricas y banjo.
Miguel Álvarez: batería, fiddle y armonías vocales.
Juanjo Zamorano: guitarra acústica y voz solista.
Jesús Colino: bajo eléctrico.
Ana López: armonías vocales.
Ricardo Fuentes: piano, teclados y arreglos.
Hendrik Rover: pedal steel guitar, dobro, solo de guitarra en "Daddy's", arreglos y emergencias de todo tipo.

Podéis contactar por aquí: Bandcamp - Facebook

Dave Alvin - Live from Austin, TX [Austin City Limits]

2007. Dave Alvin, por si alguno no lo sabe, fue, junto a su hermano Phil, componente de The Blasters, banda fundamental en la escena rock de raíces de principios de los 80, y con quienes llegó a publicar cinco discos, simultaneándolo con su efímera pertenencia a los The Flesh Eaters de John Doe. Tras su paso por X y The Knitters, Dave decidió probar suerte en solitario, iniciando una andadura que, si bien no le ha proporcionado un éxito multitudinario, nos ha legado unos cuantos discos de sobresalientes, el último del año pasado sin ir más lejos. Además, como es habitual en estos casos, ha trabajado con numerosos artistas como músico de estudio.

Este CD que nos tenemos entre manos, aunque publicado en 2007, recoge una actuación de 1999 de nuestro hombre para el celebrado programa Austin City Limits, que no hace más que darnos alegrías. El repertorio se compone tanto de temas de su etapa en solitario, como de The Blasters y un par de versiones de Chuck Berry y Woody Guthrie. Dave además ha compuesto para otros músicos y hay que destacar que también ha publicado un par de libros de poemas. Un todoterreno. Pues eso os cuento, os dejo con esta especie de moderno trovador, acompañado por sus habituales Hombres Culpables, su banda de apoyo. ¡Salud!

Crítica en Allmusic: Live from Austin TX, part of a series of CD and DVD releases from the Austin City Limits archive, features former Blasters songwriter and guitarist Dave Alvin recorded on January 29, 1999. On these 13 tracks, Alvin and his awesome backup band, the Guilty Men, tackle three songs from his then-current album, Blackjack David -- "Mary Brown," "Abilene," and the title cut -- along with a few tunes from the 1994 release King of California and, of course, fan favorites "Border Radio" and "Marie Marie," which were initially recorded with the Blasters. The highlight of the set is another Alvin-penned Blasters track, "Jubilee Train," which is transformed here into a medley that incorporates Woody Guthrie's "Do-Re-Mi" and Chuck Berry's "Promised Land." Alvin masterfully weaves these narratives into an engaging slice of Americana, thematically reminiscent of Johnny Cash's concept travelogues such as Blood, Sweat and Tears. It's inevitable that any time Dave Alvin covers Blasters material (all of which he wrote), his vocals will be compared to those of his older brother, Phil Alvin. Since the younger sibling's range is the polar opposite of his brother's, comparisons -- especially at this point -- are insignificant, as his deep baritone is tailor-made for these tunes. All in all, this is a spirited performance and acts as a companion set to Alvin's 1996 album, Interstate City, which was also recorded live.

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The Yayhoos - Fear Not the Obvious

2001. Si digo The Yayhoos puede que a muchos no os diga nada el nombre. Si añadimos que la banda vino a ser una especie de allstar rocanrolero encabezado por Dan Baird alguno ya caerá en la cuenta. 

Y es que The Yayhoos reunía a cuatros musicazos de la talla del propio Dan Baird (voz y guitarra), fundador de Georgia Satellites y artista en solitario y Eric "Roscoe"Ambel (guitarra y voz), miembro original de los Blackhearts de Joan Jett y Del-Lords y acompañante habitual de Steve Earle; a los que se suman Keith Christopher (bajo y voz), que ha tocado con Billy Joe Shaver, Tony Joe White y Kenny Wayne Shepherd entre otros y Terry Anderson (batería y voz), colaborador de Baird desde tiempo inmemorial y líder de The Olympic Ass Kickin' Team. Casi nada. 

Todos los miembros componían y cantaban, aunque en esto Baird también llevaba la batuta, no sé sabe si por liderazgo (lo dudo) o por pura creatividad, que de esto nuestro hombre va sobrado. 

The Yayhoos practicaban una entretenida mezcla de rock de raíces con rock'n'roll por un lado y hard rock por el otro, todo de una manera bastante jovial por decirlo de alguna manera. Bueno, sólo tenéis que ver las caras de la foto de abajo.... 

Cinco años más tarde se volvieron a reunir para grabar su segundo álbum ("Put the Hammer Down", 2006) y de nuevo, como buena banda intermitente que son, están cada uno a sus cosas. Nos queda la esperanza de que les dé otro puntazo y vuelvan a grabar juntos. Hasta ese día, disfrutemos de lo que ya nos han legado. ¡Salud!

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Mississippi Mudsharks - The Train Rolls On

2006. Pues tendríamos que haber hablado de este disco hace mucho tiempo, pero ya veis que lo mío no es la actualidad. Autodenominados como "Grease Punks", más una manera de definir su actitud que su música, que la podríamos englobar en lo que se da en llamar American Roots Music, los amigos de Mississippi Mudsharks tienen una historia repleta de cambios de formación. A partir de su segunda reencarnación abrazan un sonido sucio y pantanoso, con los pies firmemente anclados en el blues pero tirando de ritmos hipnóticos de inspiración vudú y sobretodo mucha actitud. Son tipos que llevan 2 décadas pateándose los más sórdidos garitos de la América profunda pero que por fortuna se han hecho alguna visita a Europa como en la que nos deleitaron hace 2 o 3 años, no recuerdo bien. Os pongo abajo la historia de la banda sacada de su página web. Si me aceptáis el consejo, haceos con este disco cueste lo que cueste, lo agradeceréis. ¡Salud!

Playing in bands since the age of sixteen, Scottie "Mad Dog" Blinn cut his teeth with legendary San Diego bluesman Tomcat Courtney in the late '80's. By 1992, at the age of 23, Blinn hooked up with drummer Tom Essa, who was drumming for the rock band Natashia's Ghost. With bassist Mike "Sandalwood Haze" Jones joining up, they formed the Mississippi Mudsharks, a hard rockin' blues band that took the San Diego scene and developed a young, loyal following.

By 1994, the Mudsharks were gigging 300 nights a year, and put out their first CD "Workin' For Nickels And Dimes", and opening for every major blues headliner coming through town. What really set the band apart in the blues scene was the energy coming off the stage at every show, the "we don't give a fuck if it's too loud" attitude, and the effort they put into writing original songs.

With all the hard work paying off, the band was touring the southwest and California regularly, the European market was taking notice, and they were opening shows for the likes of Buddy Guy, George Clinton And P-Funk, Dick Dale, and Willie Nelson. Even Brian Setzer and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown would drop by to sit in! But the highlight was getting to hang with ZZ Top several times, including a night where Blinn and "idol" Billy Gibbons pulled an allnighter in Dallas, Texas, talking cars, guitars, blues, and playing guitar.

By 1996, the Mississippi Mudsharks were on their way to Europe, where their first CD hit #1 on the CrossCut Records Blues Charts. Following up the tour, they returned home to record their second CD, "Traditional Heavy". This CD also hit #1 on the CrossCut Blues Charts, and by 1997 the band received the honor of receiving their third straight San Diego Music Award for "Best Blues" ('95, '96, '97).

1998 brought more of the same for the Mudsharks, with touring and more recognition in Europe, ranking #2 at the Cologne, Germany's "Talkin' Blues Show".

By 1999, everyone wanted to go in different directions. They put out one more CD, the live "Whatcha Hear Is Whatcha Get", and toured Europe one more time. Blinn also formed a new hard rockin' trio , The Tiki Torchers, with former "Hooters" drummer Dave Uosikkinnen and Tim Butler (Hot Rod Lincoln) on bass. They put out the CD "Hoodoo Charm". Blinn's efforts earned him San Diego Music Award nominations for "Best Blues" with the Mudsharks, "Best Blues CD "with the Tiki Torchers, and "Artist Of The Year" the same year. "Hoodoo Charm" went to #4 on the CrossCut Blues Chart, following Stevie Ray Vaughan & Albert King, Rory Gallager, and Luther Allison.

After a 2001 European tour with The Tiki Torchers, Blinn hooked up with old friend and former harmonica player for Social Distortion, Eric "Jailhouse" Von Herzen, and formed "Mississippi Mud". 

This proved to be a great turning point in the musical direction of the band. After three European tours and two CD's, "Mississippi Mud" (2002, nominated "Best Blues Album at the SDMA's), and the EP, "The Hangin' Tree" (2004), Blinn and Von Herzen had planted the seed for a "new sound" they coined "Grease Punk".

After a serious illness sidelined "Jailhouse" in 2005, Blinn regrouped with original Mudshark drummer Tom Essa, and bassist "Big" Mike Lars. The Mississippi Mudsharks were back! 2006 brought a new CD of originals, "Train Rolls On", which hit #3 on the CrossCut Blues Charts, was nominated for "Best Blues Album" by the San Diego Music Awards, and has received great reviews for it's hard edged roots/punk sound. The band immediately went on a festival and club tour in Europe for two months to support the CD, and came home fired up.

2007 had the boys at it again with a Summer European Tour, hitting Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland for festival and club dates. The tour was probably the best yet, hitting hard and groovin' their

European friends and fans at packed shows night after night.

2008 started off on a high note with the return of Eric Von Herzen on harmonica and vocals (fresh off of playing with Social Distortion on the So. Cal. leg of their tour), and Greg "Whiskey Willy" Willis on bass (both of "Missisippi Mud"). A new CD titled "Voodoo Doll" was recorded, and the band hit the roadon an extensive 8 week European tour to promote it. One of the main highlights was opening for one of "Mad Dog's"favotrite bands, "Tito & Tarantula" at the Rockhouse in Salzburg, Austria.

2009 brings the release of "Voodoo Doll", with special guests such as Jonny "Two Bags" Wickersham(Social Distortion), Joey Harris (The Beat Farmers), and Tim Butler (Hot Rod Lincoln). Also, the return of "Big" Mike Lars on bass/vocals! 

With a new booking agency on board (Teenage Head Music, Belgium), the Mississippi Mudsharks will be hitting the road from September-October, breaking new ground in Spain and France.

~~The Mississippi Mudshark's Sound~~

Although steeped in Traditional Blues and American Roots music, the Mississippi Mudsharks were never ones for being pidgeon-holed into any one catagory. They've always approached their music with a great sense of originality and cross-over appeal. "Grease Punk" is the term they've coined to describe their blend of Traditional Blues, Country, and Surf, done with a "fuck you" attitude.

Eric "Jailhouse" Von Herzen got his nickname directly from Mike Ness of Social Distortion...for obvious reasons going back to his younger, wilder days. Von Herzen's harmonica swings from dark and melodic, to a full steam rollin' freight train that'll knock you on your ass and keep on going.

The driving force behind the band's sound comes from Tom "Sleepy T" Essa on the drums. Solid and hypnotic, Essa lays down the foundation for eveyone else to build upon. He is the backbone, and a show unto himself.

Layin' down a groove on the bass that's 4 lanes wide is "Big" Mike Lars. Mike is as cool to watch as he is to listen to. And his tone and attack is as big as he is.

Scottie Blinn's aggressive guitar style, gravely vocals, and propensity for putting drunk patrons in their place, earned him the nickname "Mad Dog" by partner Eric "Jailhouse" Von Herzen. He approaches the Blues, and all Roots styles, with that same aggressive attitude that'll sock you in the gut every time.

With their roots firmly planted, these guys blur the lines between American Roots, Rock, and Punk with an original sound all their own. Blinn likes to compare it to his '52 Chevy..."flat black on the outside, but a souped up 350 under the hood and loud-ass lakespipes off the sides." Dark, Greasy, and Raw... The Mississippi Mudsharks. 

http://www.doublebarrelrecords.com/Home.htm

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