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Thoughts on this and that...
There always seems to be that new artist, album or such that is grabbing my
attention. Here is where I'll post on items that I like or dislike and
why. Feel free to
email me your
thoughts.
August 31, 2008 - Ticket are now on sale. If you want more information, please check your email newsletter from us. Before you know it, Peter and Fayssoux will be coming. Don't miss out!!
August 23, 2008 - Well, for those that know I work at the
incinerator, you understand why I haven't been posting much here lately.
With the fire that occurred in early June, I've been spending many hours at
the facility. This means there hasn't been much time spent on this
site. Since last posting here:
- Susan and I went and saw Tom Waits play live in three different
cities (Mobile, Birmingham, and Atlanta). It was amazing, and Susan
and I had a great time at all three shows/cities.
- I've been listening to a bunch of new CD's from: Devotchka,
Alejandro Escovedo, the Duhks, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet,
Amber Rubarth, the Figs, Dan Tyminski, and T-Bone Burnett
- I had a surprise potential future artist fall into my lap, that was
actually listed on our Wish List. I hadn't
contact them, but it may happen in the future someday.
- Tickets go on sale for Peter and Fayssoux this coming weekend.
We believe it will sell out, and should be a great evening of music and
friendship. We can't wait till October 18, 2008.
May 4, 2008 - Between long work hours and finishing my first semester of courses towards my MBA, I've had little time to update the website for Music Under the Moss. This weekend, I've updated Tommy's visit here in Panama City. I have most of Springfest ready to go up as well. All I need now is to go back and do some shows we've seen in the past few months: John Prine, Robert Earl Keen and the Avett Brothers. Finally, there are strong rumors that Tom Waits is touring soon...don't know if it's in the states or in Europe...but god another chance would be great!
March 31, 2008 - Yet another great Springfest. I think it was one of the best as far as weather was concerned. Artists like Steve Simpson (winner of the singer songwriter contest) and David Jacobs-Strain were highlights for me. I'm sure as time permits, I'll get up a fully-detailed description of Springfest.
March 24, 2008 - Don't even get a chance to catch our breath. This weekend is Springfest. We leave on Wednesday and don't come back till the following Monday.
March 23, 2008 - Tommy put on one hell of a show last night. Between laughing my ass off and being lost in his lyrical landscapes, you can't beat getting a taste of "Tommy's world." The music afterwards was great again this time as well. Thanks everyone who came, and for those who didn't...you missed out!
March 22, 2008 - Tommy's here, and we're just about ready to get this show started!
March 15, 2008 - Tommy is one week away from coming to Panama City. Ticket sales lagged there for a while, but now the tickets are flying out the door. It's going to sell out or come pretty darn close. Don't miss out!
March 5, 2008 - Tommy is coming later this month, and it's going to be a great time. Be sure and get your tickets! Things are going to be crazy for me though as we start getting ready for Tommy's visit. We've suddenly moved up some large projects at work, and it's going to take a lot of time away that I would have had for the house concert prep.
February 24, 2008 - Tickets are selling well out of the gate for Tommy Womack. Be sure to get your tickets before they run out. The next show promises to be another great evening of music and friendship.
February 17, 2008 - Tickets are on sale for Tommy Womack. The show will be on March 22, 2008 and it'll be a great show. First come first serve!
February 10, 2008 - We just experienced a very nice weekend, and Susan and I took advantage of it. We got some good work done in the back yard. I did a ton of raking, Susan did a bunch of pruning, and the yard looks much better because of it. We're getting a good jump on house concert prep. Hopefully next weekend will be just as nice. I just picked up another Malcolm Holcombe album. It's his Geffen album that almost never happened, and it's titled, "A Hundred Lies." It's a bit more toned down, but I'll give more thoughts on it at a later date when I've had time to digest it all. I did just recently see that Malcolm does house concerts. Damn that would be awesome.
February 2, 2008 - Why the hell did I decide to go back and get my Masters Degree? I don't wanna study anymore...I don't wanna give up my free time to write a paper or do homework...I don't wanna have to be ready to justify my opinions in class with informed reasoning...I...just...don't...wanna. I do want the degree though...thus why I guess I'll quit my bitching and get back to my homework.
January 27, 2008 - Forgot to mention that Susan picked up a copy albums for me this past Christmas. The new Steve Earle album, "Washington Square Serenade," and the first Old Crowe Medicine Show album, "O.C.M.S." I think the one thing that really doesn't work on the new Steve Earle album is the electronic drums/Dust Brothers feel to the album. I like that Steve is trying new things, but it doesn't work for me. Hell, he covers a tune by my musical god, Tom Waits, and the song feels sterile and too tidied up. I do like the tunes "City of Immigrants" and "Sparkle and Shine" though, because the electronica influence is minimal. The Old Crowe Medicine Show album is more up my alley though, but their newest album, "Big Iron World," is more focused. I still really wanna see them live....badly.
January 27, 2008 - After reading an article in the new No Depression issue, I snagged an album of Malcolm Holcombe off iTunes. I decided to get the most recent album of his titled "Gamblin' House." This disc and the newest Tommy Womack album have been getting played non-stop since. Malcolm has a rough voice in the newer John Prine vein, and hell at times he sounds more like Tom Waits of late. I can tell I'll be snagging the majority of Malcolm's material when I get the chance....top notch material. While he has a bang backing him up, the strength here is Malcolm's fingerpicking and his stories. Hope to catch him live some day.
January 20, 2008 - Forgot to mention that I had picked up Tommy Womack's most recent album "There I Said It" last month. It has been getting semi-permanent play at my disc at work. Other than the Daddy album and in the live setting, this is really my only exposure to Tommy. Tommy's got a sense of humor up my alley, and his blunt honesty about his own life is really what grabs you here. "There I Said It" is him finally admitting he won't get to ever be a huge rock stock. "25 Years Ago" made me smile because he references the Ralph Emery Show, and unless you lived in the middle Tennessee area years ago, that doesn't mean much. Finally, the album's best track, "Nice Day," is a sweet tune about a truly nice day with his wife and song. REALLY looking forward to seeing Tommy play these and many more tunes in our back yard in March.
January 19, 2008 - Final disc I snagged while visiting Mickey's Mecca, was an album by the Greencards. I'd seen them on TV and liked what I heard, and now they're going to be playing Springfest this year. Thought I'd get a leg up on the band. The only problem was the only album available was their second album "Weather and Water." Not a bad choice, but I'm expecting even better things with their new album "Virdian." I particularly like the first track on the album I have titled "The Ghost of Who We Were." I saw minor similarities between the Greencards and many of the other new neo-bluegrass bands like the Nickel Creek, Duhks, Mammals, etc.
January 18, 2008 - I picked up the new Mary Gautheir during that visit to Orlando, and you couldn't have picked an album more in contrast to all the happiness galore of Disneyworld. Mary is an amazing songwriter, but it's normally not the most upbeat material. This album like most of hers for me, finds a few moments of brilliance, while the rest is not as even. The gems are "Can't Find the Way" and "Last of the Hobo Kings." Mary's a Louisiana native. "Can't Find a Way" does a great job of capturing the hopelessness of that tragedy. I still find her albums are best for long car rides. Pop it in, and get in lost in her aural landscapes while trying to make time.
January 15, 2008 - While we were down in Orlando visiting Mickey, I picked up some albums to listen to on the ride back. The one I most excited to check out was the new Red Stick Ramblers disc named "Made in the Shade." It's their first album for Sugar Hill Records, and I'm glad to see a top notch act like this going to a great label in Sugar Hill. The first song is almost a tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis yet in their own special Cajun way. The rest of the songs venture in many music genres like their last album: blues, bluegrass, Cajun swing, and the occasional two-step ballad. Can't wait to see them this coming Springfest!
December 25, 2007 - Albums of the Year:
Patty Griffin - Children Running Through - This album has won a bunch of
album of the year awards already, especially since Patty Griffin won best
album and best artist of the year for the Americana Awards. This album does
show Patty finally realize her great potential. Her voice really soars on this
album, and the bluesy tone of her voice works very well with her Americana
blend. This was a pretty easy album of the year for me.
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism - Believe it or not, I'd never heard the Avett Brothers' music until this past Springfest. After seeing them live, I
bought all their albums to date. A few months later, Emotionalism came out.
This is more of the same for the Avett Brothers but the album is more
consistent across the board. It's not their loudest or roughest album, but
it's still a damn good time.
Charlie Parr - Jubilee - Charlie is averaging about an album a year. He
nearly always ends up on my favorite of the year lists. Fast, rough, fingerpicking, acoustic blues on a National Resonator. Can't beat it for me.
Will Kimbrough - EP - Will's newest album, and one of his more laid back
albums to date. This album would end up on this list for the song "Hill
Country Girl" alone. The rest of the album is strong from start to finish as
well. It was especially nice to have Will perform this great new album in our
back yard.
Juke Baritone - Juke Baritone - This is a CD Baby find. CD Baby is a great indie artist online CD store, and this was probably the find of the year for
me. Their description was if you merged Tom Waits and Screamin' Jay Hawkins,
and this Aussie band couldn't be described better. Great young band that has a
great future in my opinion.
Aric Riley - The Long Road - Aric's new album shows a lot of growth from
his debut. The main reason is due to the fact that the majority of the music
this time around is Aric's own material. Great fingerpicking blues that
Mississippi John Hurt would be proud to call his own.
Iron & Wine - The Shepard's Dog - Iron & Wine's best sounding album. Sam
forsake the low-fi sound and went for a more lush and complex sound with great
production. The magic hasn't been lost, and material out under the name of
Iron & Wine has yet to produce a bad (or even mediocre) album.
Tommy Womack - There, I Said It! - While this album has been out for a
while this year, this was a late entry for me. Tommy had not released a solo
album for four years, and this album features Tommy having a mid-life crisis
of sorts...not musically, but lyrically. Tommy has come to the conclusion that
he's not going to be a rock star or make millions, and he's okay with that. In
the process, we get a damn fine folk/americana/rock/etc album.
Uncle Earl - Waterloo, Tennessee - The ladies are back and put out another
great album. It's a little more daring than their last album, and it works for
the most part. About half way through to the end though, it's fine old-timey
bluegrass with a modern touch.
Jud Caswell - Blackberry Time - I don't have this exact album. When Jud
came to Springfest in 2007, he had an early version of this album. It looks
like all the songs are there but in a different order (I don't know if the
mix/sound is different though). Jud is easily one of the best
singer-songwriters going right now, and it's no wonder he's been winning
songwriting contests all over the states. Very smooth live performer too.
The Infamous Stringdusters - The Fork in the Road - Another act that has
won a ton of awards this year. They dominated the bluegrass awards this year
(best album, best group, best single, etc). After seeing them live, they are
the real deal. Looking forward to seeing them again at the next Springfest.
December 22, 2007 - We are happy to announce that we'll be hosting Tommy Womack at our spring house concert. It will be on March 22, 2007. It'll be another great evening of music and friendship. Everyone have a great holiday season and see you in 2008!
December 1, 2007 - Aric Riley's new album "The Long Road" is a definite step up from his first album. Almost all of this album is his own material this time around. Great country blue fingerpicking tunes. Catfish Keith has another album out titled "If I Could Holler." I like it, but it sounds awful similar to his last album "Sweet Pea." I know the overall genre is going to be the same, but there seem to be many of the same riff licks from one album to the next. And finally, I picked up an album from Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir. I picked up their first album, "Saint Hubert," and it's like an Americana version of Tom Waits and a juke joint blues band. Great stuff that was released back in 2003, and their latest album was released back in 2004. They are still active though and here's a YouTube link to a recent show.
November 25, 2007 - Anther great CD I got recently was Boulder Acoustic Society. It's their newest album, "Now," and it's a complex yet accessible modern bluegrass album. Here's the band performing "Daddy's Got a Jake Leg." It's one of my favorite songs off the album.
November 24, 2007 - I bought a bunch of CD's from CD Baby a while ago. Every single one is a pretty damn good. The one that has caught me ear the most has been Juke Baritone. They are a band from Australia that mixes Tom Waits and Screaming Jay Hawkins. Here's a YouTube link of the band playing. Fun stuff.
November 13, 2007 - Will Kimbrough has come and gone, and we've finally recovered from the great evening of music and friendship! The web site has been updated to give everyone an idea of just how great Will was on 11/10/2007. Go to his site if there are any CD's you didn't buy that you didn't have cash for that night. I'd say buy them all if you can!
November 10,2007 - Will Kimbrough is here and ready to kick ass!
November 4, 2007 - We warned ya! Will Kimbrough is now sold out! We are starting a waiting list if you're interested, but unless others drop out, we are not going to sell anymore tickets at this time.
October 27, 2007 - We got to see Robert Earl Keen live last night in Mobile, Alabama. Great band...awful audience. I don't know if we're spoiled by house concert audiences, or they were really that awful. I'll do a page on it, along with the recent John Prine concert, when I get a chance.
October 24, 2007 - Tickets are going fast! I believe we'll sell out for Will Kimbrough, and you shouldn't miss your chance to see him live and up close!
October 13, 2007 - Tickets are selling well. Get yours while they last! Will Kimbrough is going to put on a great evening of music! Don't miss it!
October 3, 2007 - The new Iron & Wine album just came out. It's called "The Shepard's Dog," and it's probably the best Sam Bush and company have released to date. It has the best production of an Iron & Wine album to date (the early ones were notoriously low-fi). It's also much more layered and involved. Still loyal to the Iron & Wine sound though. Great album.
September 28, 2007 - Tickets for Will Kimbrough went on sale today. First come, first serve!! Click here for more information.
September 3, 2007 - Well, now that it's finally official, I can talk about my new job. I decided to continue working at the incinerator under its new operator, ENGEN LLC. Looking forward to the new job and its challenges!
August 26, 2007 - This was the second time we've seen John Prine live. This time was much better than the first time. I believe that he was just finished recovering from his throat cancer ordeal, but this time he had a lot more energy. The set list was top notch as well. Great evening of music! We've also learned that Robert Earl Keen is playing the same location later this year. We'll be attending that too!
August 25, 2007 - We're off to see John Prine play tonight in Mobile, Alabama with Ron and Julie. It shall be great!
July 13, 2007 - Very good news on Friday the 13th! We received word today that our offer was accepted by our fall house concert artist. Will Kimbrough will be featured at our house on November 10, 2007. Click on Upcoming Show for more information.
July 8, 2007 - Saw Tidewater last night at the Place here in Panama City. It's been a long while since we've seen them. We'll have to see them again on a more regular basis...good stuff.
July 2, 2007 - Picked up the new White Stripes album, and it's pretty much like every other White Stripes release. Some brilliant tracks and some that are mediocre.
June 30, 2007 - Received the new Charlie Parr album today in the mail. It is called Jubilee. It's a not a dramatic change compared to his prior albums, but he's one that couldn't change a thing and I'd be happy. You can go to his web site and hear a couple tracks from it, as well as ones from his prior albums. The only major change is that he has more musicians playing along this time (it was normally just his voice, guitar and stomping foot), especially a great harmonica player.
June 22, 2007 - Susan also picked up tickets for John Prine in August over in Mobile. He's always a great live show.
June 22, 2007 - Picked up a few great albums recently. The new Uncle Earl album, Waterloo Tennessee, starts off slow, but from the "B&P Blues" on, it's a top notch effort. The new Avett Brothers' album, Emotionalism, is a bit less noisy than past efforts, but it's a great album. Finally, I picked up the two newer albums from William Elliott Whitmore. And both albums, Songs of the Blackbird, and Ashes to Dust, are simply amazing. Rough vocals, just him on a guitar or banjo, and some dark imaging comes from all his songs. I found Whitmore by listening to Pandora, which is cool free internet radio. All are worthwhile of your hard earned money.
June 20, 2007 - Saw Marc Broussard and Shannon McNally tonight. Wasn't really my cup of tea in the end, but I ended up liking Shannon more than the headliner Marc in the end. Here's a more lengthy review of the show.