In every pursuit, there are different levels of geekitude, and I use that fake word in the most affectionate sense. Take beer drinking. You’ve got the self-proclaimed beer monster who will drink the holy hell out of a keg–as long as it’s full of Bud Lite. Others ride a trajectory that goes something like Old […]
Rick Cornell
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Carolina Chocolate Drops
Carolina Chocolate Drops Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind (Music Maker) Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind is a study in contrasts, perhaps even oxymorons. The sounds found on the record are often classified as old-time, yet Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson and are all in their 20s. Furthermore, for the last 70 years or […]
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Tim Lee
If a panel of lovers of so-named Southern pop was assembled to describe the music of Tim Lee in five words–LP shelves moaning under the weight of Stands for Decibels, Cypress, The Deep End and Terminal–consensus would go something like “catchy and literate guitar rock.” However, these Mitch Easter-philes would be lobbying to add “rugged” […]
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Tres Chicas and Sally Spring
There’s the story of the woman who is perfect except for a small birthmark on her face. Her husband insists that she go to a doctor to have it removed. Just as soon as the procedure is complete, she disappears. The world can’t handle perfection. On record and on stage, there are times that the […]
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Miles of music
Just shy of 285,000 miles, my 1995 Nissan Pathfinder finally gave up the ghost. Good riddance, some of you will say. Good memories, I say. If you want to disrupt a memorial service with jeers, that’s certainly your prerogative. I’ll just turn up the music. See, if Pathfinders could talk, then mine, well, it would […]
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Otis Gibbs and Stephen Yerkey
You could call Otis Gibbs and Stephen Yerkey outlaw singer-songwriters, but not because they’re prone to rebellious behavior. No, it’s that they’re so good at what they do, it’s criminal. And that they’re not better known is a crime. Both write songs that, while conversational in style, have little time for clutter and small talk, […]
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Crossing the Line
We asked Chatham County Line to pick their five most influential bluegrass records as a band. Of course, they decided on six, scribbled in nearly illegible fashion on notepad papers taped together, faxed in while the band was on tour in Europe. The stationery, of course, was that of their favorite Norwegian brew, Hansa. Hello, […]
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Singing songs into being
Play along with me here: Suppose a mandate was issued stating that you can listen to the music of only one songwriting team. Sure, Lennon-McCartney and Jagger-Richards have some pretty decent stuff to their names, as do your Holland-Dozier-Hollands and your Bryant-Bryants. But my team of choice would be Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, a […]
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Hooverville
Hooverville Follow That Trail of Dust Back Home (Back Up and Push Records) The rustic work of Triangle-based quartet Hooverville will not likely be mistaken for the flashiest slacks in the closet. Nope, their roots music is more like Dickies work pants– durable and utilitarian with a certain rugged appeal. And because the band sports […]
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Building a bouquet
You are forgiven, as you carom back and forth between heart-wrenched and heart-warmed, for letting the new compilation Songs for Sixty Five Roses: Re-Working the North Carolina Jukebox pinball your emotions. You’re not alone. That terrible ache is apparent as Lane Wurster recalls the meeting he had with longtime friend John Plymale when Plymale told […]