Archive for the 'country music' Category
Schlitz Creek
As I announced last week, I’m playing in a country band that is trying to come up with a name. We’re more honky-tonk than old-time or bluegrass, so we’re kinda leaning toward something that reflects bars, night-life, drinking, cheating, and sinning. Last week we thought we’d found our name with “The Schlitz”, but [...]
Read More..>>Last Minute Philly Gig
I have a last minute gig tonight playing honky tonk at Fergies. we still haven’t settled on a name: last week we were “Romantic Explosion” but no one could say that with a straight face. Tonight we’ll be playing as The Schlitz. Come and see us!
10 PM Fergies: 1200 block of Sansom [...]
Friday Videos: Jimmie Rodgers, Carter Family
Jimmie “The Singing Brakeman” Rodgers was the first country star ever. He really was a brakeman, back before air brakes, until tuberculosis forced him to quite.
Tuberculosis took Jimmie’s life, although he performed to the end. Often during his later performances, he’d have to stop because of the coughing fits. The [...]
Friday Videos: Louvin Brothers
When you’re feeling heartbroken and miserable, there is nothing better (nor worse) than listening to real country music, especially the high lonesome singing of brother duets. The Blue Sky Boys and the Delmore Brothers are incredible, but the gold standard is the Louvin Brothers, “the most influential harmony duet in country music history”.
As I [...]
Music Stuff: Perfomance and Mastered Tracks
Just a quick announcement that my country band will be playing at the Tritone this Friday night. We haven’t exactly come up with a name yet, so for the evening we’re (ugh) The Phillbillies. Dan, who I share bass and guitar duties with, came up with “Tears for Beers”, which I think is [...]
Read More..>>The Devil Made Three-Mile Island
The Devil Made Three Mile Island is the kind of quirky song you used to be able to hear in country music. Click on the link to give a listen, if you have real player.
This was recorded by Al and Jean Shade, Pennsylvania’s Father and Mother of Country Music (who knew? 1,333 visitors to [...]
Webb Pierce
There Stands the Glass
This song is a classic. Listen to that voice! Just listen to that sound coming out of Webb’s mouth!
That, my friends, is a voice. That there is the sound of honky tonk.
Friday Videos II: Hank Williams, Senior
Honky Tonk Blues
Roy Acuff and Hank Williams (Cold Cold Heart and I Can’t Help It if I’m Still In Love With You, with Anita Carter!)
Hey Good Lookin’
Read More..>>Friday Videos: George Jones
What can I say about George Jones that hasn’t been said?
Country music’s best male singer, perhaps one the best singers across genres. I believe it was Waylon Jennings who remarked that George Jones was the singer that everyone else wanted to sound like.
George Jones has gotten me through more than one long [...]
Friday Videos: Merle Haggard
Let’s Fix American First
Swingin’ Doors
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