Friday, January 26, 2018

NY TIMES PREVIEWS MARIE/LEPANTO'S 'TENKILLER,' OUT TODAY ON BIG LEGAL MESS

WILL JOHNSON/JUSTIN PETER KINKEL-SCHUSTER PROJECT HITS ROAD SUPPORTING PEDRO THE LION IN FEB AS NYC SHOW, LIVING ROOM TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL

AMERICAN SONGWRITER, BITTER SOUTHERNER RAVE

Marie/Lepanto - the collaboration between Centro-Matic's Will Johnson and Water Liars' Justin Peter Kinkel-Schuster - has a new indie/folk Big Legal Mess album 'Tenkiller' out today, which the New York Times previewed: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/arts/music/playlist-cardi-b-migos-charli-xcx-sugarland.html

The two explore literate southern themes and spare, desolate sounds that lead to cinematic grandeur in their incredible music. Here's the track "High Desert" (OK to share): https://soundcloud.com/big-legal-mess/marielepanto-high-desert

American Songwriter gave the set 4 stars, calling it "moving... mesmerizing... unique and enticing."

The Bitter Southerner said, "A pairing made in Southern indie rock heaven… 'Tenkiller' finds their two voices shadowing one another, with Johnson's battered vocals and Kinkel-Schuster's wavering tenor complementing one another… the perfect record for a long-drive on a two-lane."

The duo will tour supporting Pedro the Lion in February and have newly announced a NYC show as well as a living room tour in April.

MARIE/LEPANTO TOUR DATES:

February 8 - St Louis, MO - Old Rock House*
February 9 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar*
February 10 - Tulsa, OK - The Vanguard*
February 11 - Fayetteville, AR - living room show
February 12 - Dallas, TX - Trees*
February 13 - Austin, TX - Mohawk*
February 14 - Houston, TX - Rockefeller's*
February 15 - Baton Rouge, LA - living room show
February 16 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jack's*
February 17 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn*
February 18 - Gainesville, FL - High Dive*
February 19 - Orlando, FL - The Social*
February 21 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle*
February 22 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West*
February 23 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In*
April 5 - Springfield MO - living room show
April 6 - Omaha NE - living room show
April 7 - Sioux Falls - living room show
April 8 - Minneapolis - Turf Club
April 9 - Madison - living room show
April 10 - Milwaukee - living room show
April 12 -  Chicago - Schuba's
April 13 - Detroit - living room show
April 14 - Toronto - living room show
April 16 - Boston - living room show
April 17 - NYC - Mercury Lounge
April 18 - Philadelphia PA - Johnny Brenda's
April 20 - Baltimore - living room show
April 22 - Asheville NC - living room show
April 23 - Athens GA - living room show
April 24 - Waverly AL - Standard Deluxe
April 25 - Mobile AL - Satori Coffee House
April 26 - Oxford, MS - living room show
April 27 - Little Rock AR - living room show

Friday, January 19, 2018

"Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" trailer

BETTE SMITH SKYROCKETS TO #35 ON AMERICANA SINGLES CHART AND #35 ON AMERICANA ALBUM CHART, HITS TOP 5 ON ROOTS MUSIC REPORTS R&B AND SOUL CHARTS

BIG LEGAL MESS ROCK & ROLL/SOUL ARTIST SIGNS WITH NEIL O’BRIEN, SHARES NEW MUSIC VIDEO
 
Big Legal Mess (Fat Possum imprint) soul and rock & roll singer Bette Smith has skyrocketed to #35 on the Americana Album Chart and #35 on the Americana Singles Chart at radio. On The Roots Music Report, Smith’s album ‘Jetlagger’ hit the top 5 on both its Top 50 R&B Album Chart and Top 50 Soul Album Chart.
 
Click here for the Bette Smith mini-documentary.
 
She’s earned praise from NPR, Billboard, WNYC, Paste Magazine, MOJO, American Songwriter, and Bust Magazine. Here’s her brand new music video for “Durty Hustlin’” (OK to share).
 
Neil O’Brien Entertainment represents Smith international bookings.

MVD REISSUES ‘GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY: THE GOSPEL SONGS OF BOB DYLAN’ ON DVD FILM FEB. 9

PROJECT PROMPTED A CHANGE OF THINKING  ON DYLAN’S GOSPEL MUSIC, INCLUDING FROM DYLAN HIMSELF

DVD FEATURES AARON NEVILLE, SHIRLEY CAESAR, OTHERS IN BEHIND-THE-SCENES PERFORMANCES OF THE MAKING OF GRAMMY-NOMINATED COMPILATION ‘GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY: THE GOSPEL SONGS OF BOB DYLAN,’ RELEASED FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

Marking the fifteenth anniversary of GRAMMY-nominated album ‘Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan,’ MVD Entertainment will reissue the film of the same title on February 9. ‘Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan’ features an intense Bob Dylan performance from 1980 of “When He Returns” as well as powerful performances and interviews with Aaron Neville, Shirley Caesar, Fairfield Four, Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Dottie Peoples, reflecting on their faith and connections Dylan’s Christian music.

Now, with the November release of Columbia Records’ ‘Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981,’ a further exploration of that period has taken place, which began with this album and film.  "It was an honor to have made an impression on the great man himself with these recordings" said the film's producer Jeffrey Gaskill. From 2009 to 2011 Bob Dylan opened 40 concerts around the world with Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (his Grammy-nominated new version re-written and recorded for Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan with Mavis Staples.) in concert halls in Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Adelaide and this performance in Tel Aviv: https://www.facebook.com/bobdylangospel/videos/10154762201361529/

Just a month after his recording with Staples he would kick off a new tour in Stockholm, Sweden and perform Solid Rock (what many consider the theme song to his gospel era concerts) for the first time in over twenty years. Dylan would continue to perform this rousing song as well as other gospel era songs at numerous concerts across Europe and beyond. The two-time Grammy nominated compilation would be released on Sony/Columbia one year later on April 1, 2003: https://www.facebook.com/bobdylangospel/videos/10154729120621529/

"This gospel music was Bob Dylan's ultimate rebellion, and it took much more courage than strapping on an electric guitar," said Gaskill. The film offers historical insights into this Bob Dylan era provided by Jim Keltner, Fred Tackett, Spooner Oldham, and Regina McCrary - all of whom performed and recorded with Dylan at the time. Famed record producer Jerry Wexler, who produced the records, and music journalists Paul Williams and Alan Light, also disclose insights.

Upon the album’s release, much praise was devoted to the project:

“The best African-American covers of Dylan songs since Jimi Hendrix.” -The New York Times

"Another corner of American music has, appropriately, claimed Dylan as its own." - The Associated Press.

"Even agnostics may now agree there was something nearly supernatural about Dylan's mastery of an unlikely idiom--black gospel." - Entertainment Weekly

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan DVD Cover

Click for high res
 Above: Aaron Neville by Donald Dietz
 Above: Bob Dylan and band, 1980, by Dick Cooper
 Above: Dottie Peoples by Donald Dietz
 Above: Regina McCrary byPaul Natkin
Above: Shirley Caesar by Donald Dietz

Thursday, January 11, 2018

NPR MUSIC SCREAMS “GOOD-GOD-HALLELUJAH,” PREMIERES NEW FAT POSSUM ACT LIZ BRASHER NEW SINGLE “BODY OF MINE,” FEATURES TRACK ON ALL SONGS CONSIDERED

BIG-VOICED SINGER ADDED TO SHAKY KNEES FESTIVAL
 
NPR Music has premiered new Fat Possum artist Liz Brasher’s new single “Body of Mine” on NPR Music, featuring the track on this week’s All Songs Considered episode.
 
 
 
Jessie Scott writes, “Good-God-Hallelujah… Brasher (rhymes with Frazer) shouts, rocks, rolls, and tears it up on stage; her music will dig down deep to touch your soul.” Fat Possum Records will release “Body of Mine” this Friday. A Memphian of Dominican descent who grew up singing in Spanish in the church, Brasher synthesizes the sounds of of ‘60s garage, girl group sounds, dirty blues, holy roller church music, and Bob Dylan into something completely her own.
 
Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival added her to its May lineup that includes Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, David Byrne, Fleet Foxes, The War on Drums, Courtney Barnett, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lord Huron, Manchester Orchestra, Alvvays, and many more.
 
The big-voiced Brasher has already earned previous praise from Billboard, Garden & Gun Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, Amazon Music, WMOT Radio Nashville, and made her NYC debut at Joe’s Pub. Her song “Painted Image” was added to Spotify’s Fresh Folk playlist. She’s also taped an episode for PBS’ Sun Studio Sessions to air this year.
 
Stay tuned for more tour dates.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

10 YEARS OF THE BROOKLYN FOLK FESTIVAL! PRESENTED BY THE JALOPY THEATRE, MOST AMBITIOUS FESTIVAL YET FEATURES 60+ DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, CONTESTS, JAM SESSIONS, FILM PREMIERS, RECORD RELEASES & EVENTS!

January 10, 2018
LINEUP INCLUDES R. CRUMB, JERRON “BLIND BOY” PAXTON, SPIRIT FAMILY REUNION, WOMEN’S RAGA MASSIVE, BRUCE MOLSKY’S MOUNTAIN DRIFTERS, ELIZABETH MITCHELL AND SUNI PAZ, INNOV GNAWA, AND MORE! 40+ BANDS.
FESTIVAL WHICH HAS SOLD OUT EVERY YEAR INCLUDES BLUES, JUG BAND, OLD TIME, BLUEGRASS, SONGWRITERS, MOROCCAN, PERUVIAN, PUERTO RICAN, IRISH, INDIAN, TURKISH, SPANISH, BALKAN, ITALIAN, MEXICAN, DOMINICAN MUSIC, KIDS MUSIC, AND MORE!
BROOKLYN FOLK FESTIVAL BECOMES NON-PROFIT, ENTERS 2ND DECADE
April 6th -8th, 2018
St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church
Presented by the Jalopy Theatre & School of Music
“Diverse, spontaneous, counter-cultural, and trenchant… One of the most vital and spiritually sound folk-music events in the country.”
The 10th annual Brooklyn Folk Festival will feature festival favorites Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton (Brooklynite and mainstay of the festival), R. Crumb with The East River String Band, NPR Tiny Desk alums Spirit Family Reunion, and folk music legend John Cohen with the Down Hill Strugglers. The festival also includes Indian Classical Music from the Women’s Raga Massive, old time string band music from Bruce Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, a performance for children by Elizabeth Mitchell and Suni Paz, celebrating the release of their new Smithsonian Folkways album, Grammy-nominated Moroccan band Innov Gnawa (who have performed at Coachella and Lincoln Center), and much more!

Photos, poster, more information, Spotify playlist, etc., click here.
This year the festival brings home many favorite performers from its decade long history, along with exciting new underground-grassroots folk and traditional groups from New York City and around the nation. Celebrating folk music from near and far, the Brooklyn Folk Festival will showcase over forty musical acts as well as workshops, film screenings, dances and contests in its most ambitious iteration to date.
In addition to musical performances, the festival will also feature the NYC premiere of the documentary “Linefork,” about living legend Kentucky banjo player Lee Sexton, “How They Got Over” about the golden age of Black gospel quartets and a 50th anniversary screening of counter-cultural cult classic film “Gold” with rare Q&A with the director. It also marks the release of the new album on the Smithsonian Folkways label from Elizabeth Mitchell and Suni Paz.
Performers at the 10th Annual Brooklyn Folk Festival include:

Jerron Paxton
Spirit Family Reunion
Elizabeth Mitchell & Suni Paz
East River String Band with R. Crumb
Bruce Molsky’s Mountain Drifters
Innov Gnawa
Women’s Raga Massive
Thomas McCarthy
Bulla en el Barrio
Radio Jarocho 
Brotherhood of the Jug Band Blues
Clifton Hicks
The Birdman of Rome
Feral Foster
Suzy & Eric Thompson
The Down Hill Strugglers with John Cohen
Mamie Minch & Tamar Korn
Steel City Jug Slammers
Piedmont Bluz
The HickHoppers
The Horse-Eyed Men
Eva Salina & Peter Stan
The Hayrollers
The Crimson Ragdolls
Wyndham Baird
Pat Conte
Little Nora Brown
The 10th annual festival has sold out every year and will remain at its home, St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, in Brooklyn Heights, where its world-famous stained-glass windows will frame the stage. The Festival is produced by the newly non-profit Jalopy Theatre & School of Music, located in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The three-day event has grown in attendance and scope each year. The festival’s partnership with St. Ann's allows for a main stage inside the church, room for food, drink and vendors, plus a second stage and additional rooms for workshops and film screenings.
Adding to the festivities, the Festival features the World Famous Banjo Toss, banjo throwing contest (as featured in Associated Press), a family-friendly square dance, a Saturday night Salsa dance, a Sunday kid’s concert with Elizabeth Mitchell & Suni Paz and several open jam sessions. There will also be group singing sessions and workshops in blues guitar, old time banjo playing, fiddle and more, along with jam sessions.
"This 10th annual Brooklyn Folk Festival promises to be a truly special event as we expand the scope of the programming and welcome home favorite performers from the history of the festival," Eli Smith, founder and host of the Festival, said. "This year we expect a powerful array of sounds, with music from a huge diversity of genres including blues, old time music, traditional music from Morocco, Mexico, the Balkans, Ireland, Puerto Rico, India and elsewhere, trad jazz, song writers, jug band music and more!”
St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church is a National Historic Landmark, built in 1844. An important example of Gothic Revival architecture in America, the richly ornamented church is notable for its elaborately vaulted roof and window tracery. Before it was removed in 1906, its spire was the most visible landmark in Brooklyn and was used by ship captains to navigate the harbor. The Festival will take place in the main hall of the church, with workshops, film screenings and the square dance in the side hall and upstairs rooms. Food, drink and retail vendors will be on site.
The performances are separated into day passes, evening shows, and a full-festival three-day pass.
Tickets went on sale this morning at www.brooklynfolkfest.com/tickets
* The venue has seating for everyone.  Seating assignments are on a first come first serve basis.
* These prices do not include service fees.
* All events including workshops and film screenings are included in ticket price.
* St. Ann's Church and Parish Hall are wheelchair accessible.  If you are in a wheelchair and would like to take a workshop please email Lynette Wiley.

Brooklyn Folk Festival performer Spotify playlist

Brooklyn Folk 2018 photos

 Above: Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton
  Above: Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton
 Above: Innov Gnawa

Above: Spirit Family Reunion
Above: Radio Jarocho
 Pokey LaFarge, credit: Nate Burrell
  Pokey LaFarge, credit: Nate Burrell
  Pokey LaFarge, credit: Nate Burrell

 Pokey LaFarge, credit: Nate Burrell


Above: Elizabeth Mitchell & Suni Paz

Brooklyn Folk Fest 2018 clips

Brooklyn Vegan item (January 10, 2018)