Bloodshot Records

Our 50th live session! I remember the day in Austin at South By Southwest when Oz and Shirk hatched this plan. And I remember my skepticism. What band is going to stop by the studio for a brand new blog? We invited a few bands to the studio, Shirk worked his magic and we slowly learned a few things. Ha Ha Tonka came in for Live Session #8 and knocked our socks off. I glanced over at Shirk afterward and we both seemed to have the same thought – “Hell, this might really work.”

Things have taken a life of their own since then and it’s fitting that our 50th session is a repeat visit from one of our favorite bands, Ha Ha Tonka. Not only do I love their music, but I also now consider Brian, Brett, Lennon and Luke friends. On their recent visit to Chicago they had a night off, so the scene in the studio was easy going and relaxed. I headed down with my 5 year old, Teddy, picked up a couple of beers and settled in for a good evening of music.

The band worked through a couple of takes before nailing “Close Every Valve Of Your Bleeding Heart,” one of my favorite tunes of the year off of this year’s album Novel Sounds Of The Nouveau South. As the night wore on, Teddy had the chance to sit in with the band for a little jam session. Lennon and Luke kept the beat as Teddy pounded away on the kit. Brian and Brett soon joined and I thought my son’s smile was going to explode off his face. The only thing that would have excited him more was if Luke Skywalker was on the bass instead of Luke Long.

As we drove home listening to Ha Ha, I thought how cool it was that my son just played with one of the best young bands in America. I expected Teddy to be asleep the minute I pulled away, but he was abuzz with excitement. After years of telling me he was going to be a construction worker when he grows up, he’s now decided to be a rock and roll guitarist. Teddy took a real shine to Brett (lead guitar) and wanted to listen to only Brett’s songs on the way home.

It’s difficult to express how much I enjoy Ha Ha Tonka. The band continues to grow and challenge themselves and their warm personalities accent their music like barbecue sauce on a slab of ribs. If you haven’t yet, catch them on tour and make sure to introduce yourself. You’ll see what I mean.

Exclusive: Ha Ha Tonka – Walking On The Devil’s Backbone

Exclusive: Ha Ha Tonka – Close Every Valve To Your Bleeding Heart

Exclusive: Ha Ha Tonka – Hold My Feet To The Fire

Exclusive: Ha Ha Tonka – The Outpouring

Download the session as a zip.

See the rest of the videos over here.

Video: Ha Ha Tonka – Walking On The Devil’s Backbone

Ha Ha Tonka – “Walking On The Devil’s Backbone” – HearYa Live Session 5/3/09 from HearYa.com on Vimeo.

Scott H. Biram, Austin’s Dirty Old One-Man Band, is back with his blend of country, blues, punk, gospel and soul. Every type of music that I like is thrown in a blender by one crazy Texan and poured into a rocks glass neat. Just like a fine bourbon, Something’s Wrong/Lost Forever is meant for sipping, but occasionally it’s customary to fire a shot back to know you’re alive.

The album opens with an authentic message from Biram’s stay in the hospital after a run in with an 18 wheeler. That intro leads into the blues/punk gospel of “Time Flies.” Biram testifies to the fragility of life and how quickly it can be gone. A couple of tunes later, “Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue” is a tear in your beer country weeper with lyrics that would make Willie proud. It features John Wesley Myers from Black Diamond Heavies and serves as the perfect accent to Biram’s sound.

But it’s Biram’s fiery, almost maniacal rants that get me excited for each of his albums. “Judgement Day” shows up smack dab in the middle of the album and is a double shot, full of piss and vinegar. Biram takes a look at our society and the leaches bleeding us dry while he plays the guitar like it’s on fire.

I don’t know if Sonething’s Wrong/Lost Forever is Biram’s best effort. Time will tell if its worthy of that distinction. Out of all of his albums, however, this is the one that I connected with most and is probably the most accessible for newcomers to Scott H. Biram’s music.

Website | MySpace | Bloodshot Records

Scott H. Biram – Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue

Scott H. Biram – Judgement Day

Justin Townes Earle just released a video for his song “Midnight At The Movies,” from his album of the same name (Our review). You can also download the tracks from our live session with Justin Townes Earle.

Video: Justin Townes Earle – Midnight At The Movies

Justin Townes Earle, “Midnight at the Movies” from Bloodshot Records on Vimeo.

Ha Ha Tonka’s Buckle In The Bible Belt is one of the best albums I’ve come across in quite some time. I’ve spun that disc and seen the boys live countless times and have been looking forward to their sophomore follow up like very few before. When I finally got my hands on Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, I was half expecting it to fix our economy and cure cancer just by pressing play.

Obviously Ha Ha Tonka didn’t consult me when writing the album, so its sound didn’t match my preconceptions. I gave it a few more spins before heading to Austin for SXSW, where I ran into Ha Ha bass guitarist Luke Long at The Bloodshot Records BBQ. We started talking about the new album and I gave him my honest opinion – it was growing on me and I wished they rocked a few of the songs longer (most songs never pass the three minute mark). Luke said that on Novel Sounds Ha Ha had set out to make a challenging record and wanted keep moving their sound forward. As artists, they didn’t want to rehash Buckle again. It would be boring.

Well I don’t know if it was that talk with Luke or seeing Ha Ha Tonka jam out their new tunes at SXSW, but something clicked that day in Austin. Since my return, I’ve had Novel Sounds of the Noveau South on repeat, enjoying the 3 and 4 piece harmonies that made Buckle one of my favorites. While our economy still remains in turmoil, the album has turned out to be every bit the worthy successor to their debut that I’d hoped and I now fully appreciate the band’s direction. Is it better than Buckle In The Bible Belt? Not quite yet. But the lines are about to cross.

“Close Every Valve To Your Bleeding Heart” is my current favorite. Lead Singer, Brian Roberts’ voice is so true and genuine that it stops you in your tracks. Other standouts are “Walkin on the Devil’s Backbone” and the closer, “Thoreau In The Woods.”

Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South will be released on June 16th and the band is on tour.

Website | MySpace | Bloodshot Records

Ha Ha Tonka – Walking On The Devil’s Backbone

Ha Ha Tonka – Close Every Valve To Your Bleeding Heart

HearYa favs and friends, Ha Ha Tonka, will be releasing their sophomore album, Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South on July 16th via Bloodshot Records. The gentleman from the Ozarks were nice enough to offer up a couple new tracks in advance of the release.

Side note: I’ll be at Lake of the Ozarks over 4th of July. Ha Ha, if you’re reading, how about a little impromptu gig in the party cove? I’m just saying.

Ha Ha Tonka – Walking On The Devil’s Backbone

Ha Ha Tonka – Close Every Valve To Your Bleeding Heart

Dexter Romweber teams up with his sister Sara to deliver his debut release as The Dex Romweber Duo on the Bloodshot label. Dex delivers a blend of surf and rock-a-billy and has a couple of notable guests on the album including Cat Power and Neko Case. “Love Letters” with Cat Power is the highlight of the album. Her smoky vocals agree with Romweber in a way that makes you wish that they did more than just one tune.

The Dex Duo also turn it up a notch on a couple of tunes like “Lookout” and “Picture” that amps up my anticipation for their set in Austin at the Bloodshot Records Yard Dog Party, co-sponsored by HearYa. The Dex Romweber Duo is currently on tour with the aforementioned Cat Power.

The Bloodshot SXSW Day Party is on Friday from noon – 6pm and features the Dex Romweber Duo,  Ha Ha Tonka, Justin Townes Earle, Deadstring Brothers, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and more. Visit Bloodshot for more details.

Dex Romweber Duo – Lookout

Dex Romweber Duo – Picture of You

HearYa favorite, Justin Townes Earle, released another new track entitled “What I Mean To You” from his phenomenal sophomore album Midnight At The Movies. The album is available for purchase now.

If you’d like to catch him at SxSW 2009, find him at Stimulus Package (our SxSW party) on Wednesday at 5pm or at Bloodshot Records’ always fantastic Yard Dog Day Party on Friday.

Justin Townes Earle – What I Mean To You

Previously released:

Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes

Here’s the Bloodshot lineup for the party at Yard Dog. Seriously don’t miss this party if you’re down there. It’s a blast.

12:15 Walter Salas-Humara / I’m Not Jim
12:45 Andre Williams
1:15 Charlie Pickett
1:45 Dex Romweber Duo
2:15 Ha Ha Tonka
2:45 Exene Cervenka
3:30 Deadstring Brothers
4:15 The Meat Purveyors
4:45 Justin Townes Earle
5:15 Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
5:45 Waco Brothers with Rosie Flores

We’re proud to announce that we’ll be co-sponsoring Bloodshot Records day party at SXSW 2009 again this year! What does that mean? We’re not quite sure, but we’ll be sure to post details about the event as the date arrives and the lineup gets finalized. We do know that Shiner is providing free beer and we’ll be drinking it and listening to the following bands.

Justin Townes Earle

Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes

Dex Romweber Duo

Dex Romweber Duo – Lookout

Dex Romweber Duo – Picture of You

Ha Ha Tonka

Ha Ha Tonka – St. Nick On The Fourth In A Fervor

Ha Ha Tonka – Caney Mountain

Waco Brothers

Waco Brothers – Nothing At All

Waco Brothers – How Fast The Time

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir – Aspidistra

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir – In Hospital

Ben Weaver

Ben Weaver – White Snow

… and about a half dozen more yet to confirm including Cordero, Charlie Pickett, Silos, Bottle Rockets, Andre Williams, Exene, Wayne Hancock, Scott H. Biram, and Bobby Bare Jr.

Here’s to hoping Biram comes down:

Scott H. Biram – No Way

Scott H. Biram – Been Down To Long

Justin Townes Earle will be a star. Writing anything about Midnight At The Movies is intimidating because I know I can’t do this album justice.  I guess Justin would say carving a name for himself in the music industry is a little intimidating, being the namesake of Townes Van Zandt and the son of Steve Earle.

I’ve been a huge fan of Steve Earle, but my interest has waned over the past several years as his songs have been overshadowed by his political agenda. Justin has decidedly taken a a different path. In his interview with Dodge at LaundroMatinee he said:

It doesn’t happen as much these days, but when I was just starting out, people would show up expecting me to have this gruff voice, writing political songs and grandstanding in front of audiences about politics, which is the exact opposite of what I do. I, for the most part, leave my politics completely out of my music, because I view music as a place to have a good time and forget about what’s going on out there. It’s time to relax and have a good fucking time. I want to make you think, but I don’t want to make you think about how shitty your life is.

Thank you, Justin (although my life isn’t all that bad, actually).

Since he’s not singing about Guantanamo, Obama or the recession, he can spend his time writing songs about chasing the girl, quitting the booze, becoming a man, and staying true to himself. The album features some ragtime music that makes you feel like you’re in a speakeasy during prohibition (Walk Out), finger-picking jams (Dirty Rag) and even a Replacements cover (Can’t Hardly Wait). And what kind of country album would this be without a train song?  The rhythm of “Halfway to Jackson” chugs its way across Americana with the harmonica blowing steam off the tracks.

But when Justin is at his best is in the tender moments. “Someday You’ll Be Forgiven For This” and “Midnight At The Movies” are fragile songs that warm you like a tattered sweater and “Mama’s Eyes” can bring a tear to any grown man’s eye. I know I got a little dust in mine.

With Midnight At The Movies, Justin Townes Earle tips the brim of his hat to his country, blues and roots predecessors and proves that American storytelling and the purity of song are still alive. This album makes country music inspired and relevant again. Hopefully Towns Van Zandt, Lightin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed and Woody Guthrie are restin’ easy knowing that Justin Townes Earle is safely carrying the torch they lit.

MySpace | Bloodshot Records

Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes

Bootlegs from a December 14th, 2008 show at the Cactus Cafe:

Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes (Live)

Justin Townes Earle – Halfway To Jackson (Live)

Justin Townes Earle – Can’t Hardly Wait (Live Replacements Cover)

Hear the HearYa Live Session with Justin Townes Earle.