Justin Townes Earle

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.

Steve Earle once visited Townes Van Zandt at his cabin in Franklin, Tennessee. After doing some hunting in the woods, Earle arrived back to the house to find Townes sitting with a loaded .357 magnum revolver. Townes put a round in it, spun the cylinder, put the barrel to his own head and pulled the trigger. Three times.

Townes escaped death (it wasn’t his first time), but it took Steve Earle years to get over the incident. His comment in the Townes Van Zandt documentary, Be Here To Love Me, was: “I was pissed. How in the fuck could you put me through that if you give a fuck about me?” I’m sure others have similar stories from encounters with the volatile Townes Van Zandt, and like Steve Earle, remained friends with with the songwriter throughout his lifetime.

Earle’s first tribute to Townes was naming his son Justin Townes Earle. Now he’s just released a tribute album called Townes, performing the songs that hold the deepest personal meaning to him. The album features guest appearances by Tom Morello, Allison Moorer and, for the first time, his son Justin on a song called “Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold.” Earle does a good job finding some lesser known tracks, in addition to Townes’ big hit “Pancho and Lefty.”

If you’re a Townes Van Zandt fan and haven’t seen the movie Be Here To Love Me, I can’t recommend it enough. The movie starts with Townes stating in an interview, “I don’t envision a very long life for myself.  Like, I think my life will run out before my work does, you know? I’ve designed it that way.” I’ll let you guys learn about the shock treatments that stole away his early memories, the hard-core boozing, the heroin addiction and how he fell to the ground from a fourth story balcony…on purpose. With Townes, Steve Earle will help you remember his friend – the genius, perfectionist songwriter.

Here’s a track from the album and a video clip that is partially featured in the movie. To hear the song, jump to the 4.15 mark. Townes’ friend in the background has a visceral reaction to one of my favorite songs, “Waiting Around To Die.”

Steve Earle – To Live Is To Fly

Video: Townes Van Zandt – Waiting Around To Die

Justin Townes Earle and Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit were in San Francisco last week, so I made the 40 minute commute into the city to check out the show at The Independent. I hired a babysitter and took the wife with me, so I didn’t take any pictures. You can’t interrupt date night with music blogging antics, but it was a great night of music. Several moments gave me chills and made my neckbeard stand up on end.

If you like country music and haven’t seen Justin Townes Earle yet, you’re missing out. Watching the stage banter between he and his long time friend, Corey Younts, is entertaining in itself, but these guys are truly talented musicians. I’d recommend situating yourself in front of Corey to watch him switch off between banjo, uke and harmonica. It’s jaw-dropping.

The song in Justin’s set that gave me chills was “Mama’s Eyes.” He gave an intro talking about how he wasn’t miraculously conceived as a Steve Earle solo project and, contrary to what you may have read, he actually does have a mother. I’ve seen similar interviews where Justin says that this song is just a way to give credit where credit is due in his upbringing. It’s his momma who raised him while daddy was on the road.

Video: Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes (Live at Spaceland in LA)

In contrast to Justin’s stripped down, country ho-down set, Jason Isbell took the stage next with his band, The 400 Unit, and exploded with their electric guitar driven, southern rock sound. The goosebumps popped up when he introduced “Dress Blues” and dedicated it to his childhood friend who died in the war. I love the song because Jason doesn’t point fingers or take pot-shots at the government. He paints a picture of family, friends and small towns coping with the loss of a loved one. It’s not a protest song. It’s just a tribute to his friend that we can all identify with. You could hear a pin drop when he performed it.

Video: Jason Isbell – Dress Blues (Live at Stubbs)

After I dried my eye, I recognized the first chords of the follow-up song which stood in stark contrast to they cry for peace on “Dress Blues.” Jason Isbell’s cover of “The Assassin,” written by former Drive-By Trucker band mate, Patterson Hood, is always a highlight and one that we’ve discussed before. It tells the tale of a professional killer that “loses his taste” for killing.

Video: Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit – The Assassin (Patterson Hood Cover)

The rest of Isbell + 400 were tracks mostly from their new album with some DBT gems like “Goddamn Lonely Love” mixed in. Watching Jason play guitar is worth the price of admission.

These guys are heading into Chicago on April 17th for a show at Double Door. If you’re in the windy city, I’d recommend getting there.

Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes

Patterson Hood – The Assassin

Jason Isbell – The Assassin (Live, solo)

Justin Townes Earle is one tall drink of water. I was really surprised when I met him at SxSW. He’s got to be 6′4″. That’s like 11 feet tall in the indie music world.

Anyhoo, JTE will be at The Independent tonight in San Francisco opening for Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit. I’ll be running around there with Mrs. Oz. If you ain’t got shit to do, you should join us.

Video: Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes (Live at SxSW 2009)

Video: Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit – Soldiers Get Strange

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit “Soldiers Get Strange” from Tugboat Productions on Vimeo.

If you haven’t been introduced to LaundroMatinee, let me do the honors. Dodge from MOKB created this website dedicated to live video sessions and he’s had some great acts in recently, including O’Death, Blitzen Trapper and two artists that will be performing at Stimulus Package, our Wednesday 15 hour SXSW Day Party at The Paradise Cafe. Joe Pug and Justin Townes Earle go on at 3pm and 5pm respectively.

Joe Pug performs an unreleased war ballad called “Bury Me Far From My Uniform” and Justin Townes Earle fingerpicks his way through “I Don’t Care.”

Joe Pug – Bury Me Far From My Uniform (LaundroMatinee Sessions)

Hear more Pug here.

Just Townes Earle – I Don’t Care (LaundroMatinee Sessions)

Hear more JTE here.

Joe Pug – Bury Me Far From Uniform

Joe Pug – Bury Me Far From My Uniform from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Justin Townes Earle – I Don’t Care

Justin Townes Earle~I Don’t Care from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

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

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.

Justin Townes Earle just released this “Mama’s Eyes” from his sophomore album, Midnight At The Movies, due out March 9th. For those of you that liked The Good Life, get ready. This is even better.

I’ll save my commentary because I’m trying hard to write a worthy review, but I will say that Justin Townes Earle will be a country music star. This tear-jerker is my favorite song from the album.

He’s at the top of my list to see at SXSW.

Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes

I keep reading all these great reviews, but I don’t get it. I gave it a shot and it must be above my intellect. Some are claiming that it’s the best album so far this year and may end up being the best of the year. I’ll stick to my advance copies of  the upcoming releases from The Deep Dark Woods and Justin Townes Earle for now. Those are gems.

You know those posters that you stare at and eventually 3D shapes start forming? I can’t do those either. Even if I go cross-eyed.