Back Down South

Music Monday – The Black Cadillacs

Photographed by Logan Burkhart

Dear readers – you have been awesome lately at recommending great bands to me. Thanks to Wes Davenport, The Black Cadillacs have a new fan in me, because what is there not to like about blues-based rock ‘n roll bred in Tennessee?

Young Giant – Classic Fool

Stream: “Classic Fool”

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Raised in:
Will – Knoxville, Tennessee
Matthew – Memphis, Tennessee
Philip – Memphis, Tennessee
John – Orlando, Florida
Adam – Nashville, Tennessee
Kevin – Knoxville, Tennessee

Lives in:
Knoxville, Tennessee

Favorite Knoxville venue to play:
The Bijou Theatre. It’s world renowned for its sound quality and has featured famous acts from all over the world. Having said that, we’ve played some great shows at our favorite bar, Preservation Pub. It’s a great atmosphere and a really rowdy time.

Now would ya look at that:
Our wardrobe for the photo shoot was largely supplied by Marc Nelson Denim, a company based in Knoxville. Our jeans for the shoot were Marc Nelson as well as the leather jackets on Matthew and Kevin. Our look is stylistically based on a southern, blue collar aesthetic. We like down to earth, approachable, but well considered style for the most part.

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Their sophomore LP, Run, releases tomorrow, and you can download two songs from it on NoiseTrade for free right now (“Classic Fool” and “Run Run”). They were kind enough to let me stream their new album and seriously y’all…get it first thing tomorrow.

Music Monday – War Jacket

Photographed by Stephen DeVries

My introduction to Caleb Chancey, performing as War Jacket, was this simple performance of “Box of Wine.” What is there not to like about it? I downloaded Leaflet No.1 on NoiseTrade for free and was hooked. It’s safe to say Alabama is producing some seriously excellent musicians.

02_remember_you_used_to_love_me_mastered_v2

Stream: “Remember You Used to Love Me”

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Raised in:
Ozark, Alabama

Lives in:
Birmingham, Alabama

Describe your sound in 5 words or less:
Ambient folk rock.

Favorite southern sound:
Music – Current (Duquette Johnston) and Old (Son House).
Life sound – My wife and kid laughing.

Music Monday – Sanders Bohlke

Photographed by Seth Newell

Sanders came up during my lunch with Micah a few months back. He raved about the guy, and I was intrigued for a few reasons: one, Micah has great taste, and two: Sanders is my maiden name and will likely be the name of one of our future children. I liked the guy before hearing a song.

…and then, I heard a song…and I loved the guy. The more I heard, the more I loved, and the quicker he raced up the my singer/songwriter ladder. After a few months of listening over, and over, and over, I’m going to say this: Sanders Bohlke is hands down one of the best musicians hailing from the south.

01 Quiet Ye Voices

Stream: “Quiet Ye Voices”

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Raised in:
Sardis, Mississippi

Lives in:
All over, I’m very Nomadic. Just moved from Birmingham and now living in Jupiter, Florida.

Favorite song about the south:
Anything from R.L. Burnside or Junior Kimbrough. That’s what I grew up listening to. When I think of the South, I think of Mississippi, and when I think of Mississippi, I think of that kind of music.

Song you are most proud of:
Search and Destroy – it was my favorite song to write, and has continued to be my favorite song to play.

Southern city you haven’t performed in but would like to:
I have two – Knoxville and Athens. I would love to play both of those places very soon.

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Stream Sanders on Spotify and buy on iTunes.

Music Monday – Micah Dalton

Photographed in Atlanta, GA

Mark introduced me to Micah Dalton years ago, back when he had dreads (Micah, not Mark). Since my first listen in 2005, his music (and hair) have evolved, and his recently released album, Blue Frontier, is proof of his continued growth as an artist. Snag the Blue Frontier sampler for free on Noise Trade. Once you get a taste, listen to and purchase the rest here.

Micah Dalton – On My Behalf

Stream: “On My Behalf”

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Raised in:
Atlanta, Georgia (Decatur and Grant Park)

Lives in:
Atlanta, Georgia (West End)

Favorite meal in Atlanta:
Jr. Crickets chicken wings and fries.

Favorite venue in Georgia:
 Eddies Attic.

Favorite track on Blue Frontier:
“Another Discovery.” I was able to really play outside of singer/songwriter rules with the horns, African choir, and Doobie Brothers riff, and it reminds me in some ways of some of the pop music I grew up with in the early ’90s.

Describe Blue Frontier in a few words:
People have said “Peter Gabriel” a lot. So: southern, soul, Peter Gabriel.

Music Monday – The Oh Hello’s

The Oh Hello’s are Maggie and Tyler Heath, siblings hailing from my great state of Texas. The two cite Mumford & Sons and Los Campesinos!, among others, as their influences. Needless to say, they manage to show their influence and range in their incredible four song EP (get it here for the price of your choice).

“Hello My Old Heart” and “Trees” are tied for my two favorite tracks, though I’ve noticed that the former has been shared more among the music blogging world, so I opted to give “Trees” some love.

The Oh Hello’s – The Oh Hello’s – 04 Trees

Stream: “Trees”

I read a perfect review of the album on Cardinal Playlists, and couldn’t agree with this more:

On the lyrical side, the record beings with an uneasiness towards the idea of love that develops, as the record moves, into a blissful acceptance of the things that makes us human. On the musical side, the songs work like puzzles with each of the tracks fitting in new ways. The use of percussive clapping and instrument or vocal layering help to add depth to the songs and make them feel epic, dramatic, and hopeful. (source)

Nailed it.

Music Monday – Penny and Sparrow

I cried the first time I heard this song. Though I am a self-proclaimed “crier,” a song has got to be beeaauutifuuul for it to make me cry (or be accompanied by a dramatic movie trailer, wedding video, or commercial featuring Sarah McLachlan and needy puppies). Austin based Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke are the men behind Penny and Sparrow, and I’ve been listening to their three song EP since it was released in August. With each listen, it somehow seems to get better. This is talent, folks. Raw, wonderful, fierce talent.

01 Creature

Stream: “Creature”

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Raised in:
Kyle: Dallas, Texas.
Andy: North Richland Hills, Texas

When and why did Penny and Sparrow form?
Kyle: About two years ago I got some cheap recording equipment as a Christmas gift. Andy and I had always shared a love for music, so began messing around with recording stuff together in his apartment. We ended up loving it and decided to put a few songs on iTunes (Creature EP) and have just kept the ball rolling since then.

How would each of describe your sound?
Kyle: Messy, but strong and pretty.
Andy: We hover between a bunch of genres…folk, rock, country, singer/songwriter. Kyle and I write music that we would want to listen to…then we cross our fingers and hope other people like it, too.

Is a full length album in the works?
Andy: Why yes, yes it is! We aren’t sure on when we will finish, but God willing in the next few months.

Full time jobs:
Kyle: Recently graduated, so looking around for a full time job right now. It’s a tough market out there.
Andy: Young Life staff member in NW Austin…and I just so happen to love my job.

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They recently released this video for “Creature,” part of the Confessionals project by Steven Bush and Kyle Lent, featuring local Austin musicians. It proves, much like their music, how beautiful simplicity is.

Grab their EP Creature, here. It’s the best $2.97 you’ll spend today. If you want more, which I often do, visit their YouTube page for some killer covers. My favorite is “Hallelujah.”

7 in 7 – Drew + Ellie

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Raised in:
Him: Memphis, TN
Her: Nashville and Franklin, TN

Lives in:
Nashville, TN

Favorite bar in Nashville:
We love The Patterson House. It’s quiet enough to hear the folks you’re enjoying a drink with. It feels like a speakeasy as you walk through a velvet curtain into a dimly lit room with incredible vibe. They put your receipt in an old book before you sign it for them. The bartenders know what they’re doing and can always give a good recommendation based on your likings, and every drink is worth every penny of the $11 you’ll spend. That’s saying a lot.

Now would ya look at that:
Drew + Ellie Holcomb, who are no stranger to this blog. Get Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors Chasing Someday (Deluxe Edition), released yesterday, for $3.99 on Amazon!

On Him: Lucchese boots from Hinton and Hinton in Oxford, Mississippi. Shirt from The North End, now a closed restaurant on North Main in Memphis, one of his favorite places to eat as a kid.

Her: Purchased these “pre-loved” boots, along with two other pairs, at a western store in Taos, New Mexico for $150! It was a “B” sale day, so anything that started with “B” was over half price off. The man who sold them to her was a genuine gentleman and cowboy. Ellie gets these re-soled almost every year because she wears them so often.

Music Monday – Bruneaux

I’ve said for a while now that “mashups” are one of my favorite things to listen to. As in, the top three. Combining multiple beats, even genres, and creating music that’s not only fascinating but makes me bob around in my office on weekdays and want to throw a party on the weekend – what’s not to love? To quote DEV, “I like my beats fast and my bass down low.” I can’t help it.

I often spend too much time in my day trying to discover new music (to be honest, spending my time doing this is my dream job). On Wednesday, I came across Bruneaux while in the mashup room on Turntable FM. Let it be known that not just any mashup wins me over. About five had previously played as I worked that didn’t impress me enough to see who it was. Then, while jamming to one, a Mumford & Sons riff came on, and I quickly pulled up the page. Bruneaux? The name intrigued me. I went to the song on Soundcloud, downloaded it, and listened to it again. I then spent my next hour searching his work, downloading his albums, liking him on Facebook, and following him on Twitter. I played his albums on repeat the rest of the day, excited about my discovery. And to top it all? He’s a UGA student. Yes, I’d struck gold.

That’s My Word

Stream: Bruneaux “That’s My Word” – as with most songs on a mashup album, they are best when part of the album as a whole. I chose this one to share because of the shorter length and lack of obscenities. Though the slew of profanity in rap songs in these mashups do not bother me personally, I thought I’d respect the handful of mom readers this blog has, my own mother being one of them.

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Year at UGA:
I’m a senior at UGA, but currently taking the semester off to focus on my music and do some shows.

Favorite place to DJ in Athens:
My favorite place is probably The Bad Manor. That was where I played my first show, so it’s always gonna have a place in my heart. I remember my first DJ set. I was nervous as I’d never done anything like that before. I also had to use dj finance to make sure I could purchase some DJ equipment. My first show was good, but there was a lot of room for improvement. I really need to break into the frat party scene and start playing shows there.

Favorite UGA moment:
I used to be on the drum line in UGA’s Redcoat Band…so I have a bunch of favorite moments. My favorite one was probably when we beat the Florida Gators in 2007.

Southern musician who most inspires you:
I really am a huge Outkast fan. More specifically, Andre 3000’s stuff. The Love Below is one of my favorite of all time. The stuff that Outkast comes up with is just incredible. They’re probably the most original and innovative rap artists in the game.

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UGA frat boys: I think Bruneaux would be a amazing edition to one of your parties!
Download his albums Pure Magic and Too Hot to Hoot on for free.

Merry Music Monday – Vol 4

“Hear the baby Jesus crying ‘Ho Ho Ho!'” – Stephen Colbert

holly

Damien Rice “Happy Christmas (War is Over)”. First off, if you don’t have Lennon’s original version, grab it now. Released in 1971, supposedly as a protest song about the Vietnam War, it’s become a Christmas standard. In a poll by VH1, it was voted the ninth favorite Christmas song, and it’s definitely in my personal top ten. Damien Rice is hands down my favorite singer/songwriter, so when I heard this version I naturally loved it. Everything the Irishman touches is gold to me. It was a free download last year on Downplayer and I’ve yet to see it anywhere else, so click the down arrow on the track to have it for yourself.
Folk Angel “O Come Emmanuel” from Christmas Songs, Vol 2. Yes, I did share a Folk Angel song on my Vol 3 post, but I couldn’t help but share another. They’re all so solid.

 

Willie Nelson “Please Come Home for Christmas” from A Very Special Acoustic Christmas. It’s Willie Nelson singing a classic…what more needs to be said?

 

Jeremy Lister “Santa’s Lost His Mojo” from Ten Out of Tenn Christmas (free on NoiseTrade). The entire collection of Christmas songs from Tennessee artists has been a favorite since it was released in 2008, and as I said last Monday, everyone needs some fun Christmas songs in the mix of their favorite classics. Santa losing his “mojo?” I’ll take it!

 

Justin McRoberts “O Holy Night” from Christmas Songs (free on NoiseTrade). I have more versions of “O Holy Night” than any other Christmas song. It is in my top five favorite hymns, and I’ll never get enough of it. Justin McRoberts has managed to keep the song as powerful as it should be in his acoustic rendition (I’ve found this to be rare). Make sure to get Tracy Chapman’s version if you don’t have it, as that may be my all time favorite.

Get more merry goodness with my 350+ song Christmas playlist on Spotify.

Merry Music Monday – Vol 3

“Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old fashioned family Christmas!” – Clark Griswold

holly
Marc Broussard “On Santa’s Way Home” from Christmas Gumbo. Everyone needs a collection of fun, somewhat ridiculous, Christmas songs, and this is one of mine. Broussard’s Bayou-soul track is one of my favorites from the album, and it’s especially fitting to sing about doing a little dance on Bourbon street as Mark and I head to New Orleans today. Bonus: Broussard is from Carencro, Louisiana.


Sleeping at Last “Snow” from their Christmas Collection (free on NoiseTrade!) Ryan O’Neal singing about snow, what more could you want? Sleeping at Last has become one of my all time favorite bands and have produced some of the most gorgeously written and composed songs that I’ve heard in the past year. I highly recommend getting their entire Yearbook collection, a 12-EP project.
Folk Angel “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (featuring Robbie Seay Band) from Christmas Songs Vol 3. You can get their Christmas Songs Vol 1 collection for free on NoiseTrade, or get the entire collection for a great price here. Every song is solid, which is expected from a collection of artists that got together to write and rearrange traditional Christmas songs. The band is made up of Jeff Capps, Caleb Carruth, Ryan Duckworth, and Hunter Hall, who all live in the Dallas area.

 

Seryn “Go Tell It on the Mountain” from Seryn and Friends Christmas (and download this song for free here). I featured Seryn a few months ago and knew I’d be sharing more of them. I’ve been eagerly anticipating their Christmas album release and this unique rendition is my favorite. They even managed to make me like “Away in a Manger,” one of my least favorite Christmas songs. Bonus: Seryn is from Denton, Texas.

 

Future of Forestry “The Earth Stood Still” from Advent Christmas EP, Vol 2. This song is BEAUTIFUL, and that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Get more Christmas music in your life and listen to my 300+ song Christmas playlist on Spotify.

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