Category Archives: Country

Country, Folk, Music, New Release, Outlaw Country, Review

Album Review: Ethan Daniel Davidson – Crows

31 July, 2017 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I’ll openly admit that I had never heard of Ethan Daniel Davidson until Pete at Blue Arrow Records asked me to check out his latest release Crows.

I am so stoked he did.

All I was told about Davidson was that he was from Detroit and played folk music. Furthermore, I had no idea that this Americana folk album bordered outlaw country.

Crows is Davidson’s latest full-length and has been released on Blue Arrow Records. He has been playing music for years now and has released quite a few indie/folk albums previous to Crows. I learned that he is married to Gretchen from Slumber Party and once moved out to Alaska to record. He toured for years until he had a family and is known for offering up his music (downloads) for free. He’s also the adopted son of the late Pistons owner, Bill Davidson.

Just by looking at the album cover of Crows, I instantly thought of Billy The Kid as the photo of Davidson looked rustic and almost criminal. I was instantly intrigued before even hearing one song.

“My Crows” opened up the album with an almost warped sound to it. Davidson’s singing was welcoming and just caught my attention. Having expecting more of a folk style, I really dug this country style. The collective singing midway about love just made it that much more inviting.

“My Own Bad” was one track I really enjoyed. This song was more of a cowboy memoir full of twang that was fueled by evil tendencies. This is a track I wish I could have listened to when I lived out in the desert, it would have complimented my evenings so well.

“And The Never Saw Him Coming” was more of a 40s country telltale tune that I easily got sucked into. I adored the banjo with the slow drumming that carried me along for the ride. Davidson slowly sung about a mysterious natural born killer ending right at the climax leaving for plenty of interpretation.

“I Might’ve Been Wrong” was an eerie gospel-like track about a punished man with a conscience. Davidson did not hold back with his descriptive lyricism on this track.

“Close To The Gallows” kept on the with the demeanor and easily could be put in a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack – seriously, this track ruled.

“Love can go to hell” started off the twangy, tender song “Fade”. This little jam was not necessarily a romantic story, but more of a strung out, timely appreciation.

As someone who has an appreciation for real country music and not that pop crap, I loved every moment of Crows. It was a complete shocker of an album to hear and as I previously mentioned, I’m thrilled Pete told me to check it out. This is going to be one of those albums I play for the rest of my life. With that said, I think I should probably check out Davidson’s catalog, something tells me I am going to enjoy it as well.

This album is perfect if you like alt-country but are looking for something a little slower and more on the dark side. Check it out for yourself:

<a href="http://ethandanieldavidson.bandcamp.com/album/crows">Crows by Ethan Daniel Davidson</a>

Acoustic, Alt Rock, Country, Folk, Music, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Review, Rock

EP Review: Garrett Dale – Two T’s EP

7 July, 2017 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Forget the filler in this review. Garrett Dale is the lead singer of Red City Radio and just released three songs as a solo project.

You’d never know that Dale even fronted a punk rock band if you listened to any of these tracks.

Three songs of brutal honesty have been slammed into folkish alt-country music on Two T’s EP and I will tell ya, it’s fantastic. This gem of an EP was released by the good folk at Red Scare.

“2016 Was…Horseshit” is like Tom Waits meets Slobberbone. What more can I say about this track other than it is blunt as hell. Check the video below and add the song to your next porch drinking mix already.

Then there was “House Full Of Dogs”, a track that clearly was fueled by a drunken recollection of personal exchanges. The saxophone in the middle of the song made it that much more incredible. This track is like the bastard child of a miserable Brendan Kelly and Bruce Springsteen fling.

“Down The Rabbit Hole” was the last track on this EP. For someone like myself who is obsessed with Lucero and John Moreland, this song just fit in perfectly. Not that I ever did not respect Dale, but this song alone has me looking at him and his talent forever differently.

Given this small taste of tunes, I really hope Dale has more of this up his sleeves because I seriously think people are going be just as floored as I was when they hear it. This is music not to sit on.

00's, 70's, 80's, 90's, Country, Folk, Motown, Music, New Release, Pop, Punk, Review, Rock, Soul

Album Review: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Rake It In: The Greatestest Hits

28 March, 2017 Brian Mc Leave a comment

A few weeks back, I found a photo of myself from when I was working in shipping and receiving at some internet company.

I was about 21 years old at the time and looked ever so thrilled in the picture. The photo showed me working hard while I rocked a backwards hat as well as a Me First and the Gimme Gimmes shirt, a shirt that I basically wore in the late 90s until it fell apart. That was almost 20 years ago.

Where am I going with this you ask?

Well, clearly I was a fan back then, and I still am today. Ever since I heard the Gimmes play “Country Roads” on a Fat Wreck comp, I fell in love. There was just something so appealing about hearing a song my parents listened to in the 70s altered to my standards.

For those of you who live under a rock, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes consist of Joey Cape, Chris Shiflett, Dave Raun, some guy who calls himself Fat Mike, and good ol’ Spike Slawson. They have been taking overplayed and classic tunes and covering them the only way they know how to. The result is catchy, likable, and just downright fun. i should probably add that they have been doing this since 1995.

Over the years, they have tackled adult contemporary, Motown, show tunes, country, and even Japanese pop songs just to name off a few genres. I guess you could say they are not the gimmicky type. Hell, they have 7 studio albums under their belts released on Fat Wreck Chords. Clearly they are pretty damn important in the punk cover band scene.

To showcase their accomplishments (and squeeze you out of your hard earned cheddar), they are about to drop a greatest hits album on April 7th full of renditions of songs cleverly titled Rake It In: The Greatestest Hits.

Featuring 17 memorable covers, the Gimmes threw together the best of the best for all to hear in one collective listen. I am sure it was tough for the Gimmes to pick the right songs for this “greatestest” hits album, but I think they did a pretty good job.

Starting with Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin'”, the album spans the Gimme’s eclectic taste in covers. It was great to hear “Straight Up” and “Jolene” and of course “I Believe I Can Fly”.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t stoked to hear “Desperado” as well as “End of the Road”. I adore the Gimme’s take on these two originally over-played-as-hell songs.

As an added bonus, a few non-album tracks that I have not heard in a long time appeared. “City of New Orleans” off of Willie, a Fat Mail Order limited edition EP, was an excellent surprise to hear. The Del Shannon classic “Hats Off to Larry”, originally on the Live Fat, Die Young: Fat Music Vol. V, was the other.

The one track missing that I felt should have been on this greatest hits was the Gimme’s version of “Rocket Man” by Sir Elton John. Luckily, I have Have A Ball in my collection and can listen to it whenever I please, but for those out there that are just discovering this punk rock cover band, that is one song I know they would enjoy.

To be honest, I was really hoping for the band to have a new album full of covers, but I will take this “greatestest” hits release over nothing. I hope one day they decide to cover 90s hip hop songs in the key of punk rock, I seriously think that would be amazing and I know they could pull it off.

What I’m trying to say is simple: Long live the Gimmes. They are the best cover band of my time.

In support of this release, Me First are touring and have been since February. I can not even tell you the last time I have seen these guys tour, so make sure you go see them live. It is going to be an all out blast. Give them your money. All of it. Being in a cover band can’t pay that much, can it?

Tour Dates:

04/11/17 Pittsburgh, PA at The Rex *
04/12/17 Cleveland, OH at House of Blues *
04/13/17 Chicago, IL at Concord *
04/14/17 Detroit, MI at Majestic *
04/15/17 Toronto, ON Canada at Phoenix Theatre *
04/16/17 Montreal, QC Canada at Club Soda *
04/19/17 Boston, MA at Royale *
04/20/17 Philadelphia, PA at Union Transfer *
04/21/17 Baltimore, MD at Baltimore Soundstage *
04/22/17 Asbury Park, NJ at Stone Pony *
04/23/17 New York City, NY at Webster Hall *
05/02/17 Portland, OR at Wonder Ballroom ^
05/03/17 Vancouver, BC Canada at Commodore ^
05/04/17 Seattle, WA at Showbox ^
05/05/17 Boise, ID at The Olympic ^
05/06/17 Salt Lake City, UT at The Depot ^
05/07/17 Denver, CO at Summit Music Hall ^
05/10/17 Scottsdale, AZ at Pub Rock ^
05/11/17 San Diego, CA at House of Blues ^
05/12/17 Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory ^
05/13/17 Los Angeles, CA at The Fonda ^
05/14/17 Berkeley, CA at The UC Theatre ^
05/27/17 Las Vegas, NV at Punk Rock Bowling
06/09/17 Interlaken, Switzerland at Greenfield Festival
06/11/17 Milano, Italy at Carroponte w/ Descendents *
06/14/17 Attnang-Puchheim, Austria at EQUALITY Festival
06/15/17 Nickelsdorf , Austria at Nova Rock Festival
06/16/17 Bischofsmais, Germany at Rock The Hill
06/17/17 Bischofsmais, Germany at Rock The Hill
06/23/17 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany at Southside Festival
06/23/17 Scheessel, Germany at Hurricane Festival
06/24/17 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany at Southside Festival
06/24/17 Scheessel, Germany at Hurricane Festival
06/25/17 Scheessel, Germany at Hurricane Festival
06/25/17 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany at Southside Festival
07/01/17 Würzburg/Giebelstadt , Germany at Flugplatz Mission Ready Festival

* = w/ PEARS & MASKED INTRUDER
^ = w/ Together Pangea

Acoustic, Akron, Cleveland, Country, Electronic, Emo, Folk, Hardcore, Hip Hop, Indie, Listing It Up, Music, Outlaw Country, Personal Entry, Pop, Post-Hardcore, Punk, Rap, Rock, Ska

BHP Best of 2016

5 December, 2016 Brian Mc Leave a comment

It’s that time of the year again folks. Time to sit here and type out a list of bands that have impressed me one way or another. I am not keeping to a set number as it would take me forever to narrow it down.

A sincere thanks to everyone who’s ever visited this site – seriously. I know I tend to say that around the time I do my best of lists, but I really mean it. I almost called it quits earlier this year and reconsidered at the last minute.

This blog is very personal to me and even if more people find it while Googling how to fix their headphones, it is still fun to do. If I can turn someone on to a new band just by one post, then my job is done.

With that said, I plan on sticking around for a while.

I am sure I will add a few more as they come to me in the next couple of weeks (as I always do [up to 3 edits now]), but for now, here’s the list of the albums that really caught my attention in 2016:

[EDIT: The year is not over yet and I needed to throw in just a couple more…]

Chandeli’ers – Breaker
-This was the album that hit me in the right way. It was fun across the board and sounded like the Clash meets Elvis Costello. What more could you ask for?

Run The Jewels – RTJ3
-This album was not supposed to drop until 3 weeks into the new year, but El-P and Killer Mike decided to drop it on Christmas day for all to enjoy. I can not stop listening to it. I know I am not the only one either.

MakeWar – Developing a Theory of Integrity
-Hands down one of my favorite surprise releases of the year. This punk rock band has thrown together an album I will be listening to over and over for years to come.

Joe McMahon – Another Life
-This is another one of my favorite albums this year. McMahon shared with the world an outstanding collection of tunes that everyone needs to check out. His solo material is a lot different from his Smoke or Fire days and that is not a bad thing at all.

Bob Mould – Patch the Sky
-Mould recorded a masterpiece with Patch the Sky. If you have not had the chance to listen to this album, you are missing out. This album is perfect to listen to any day.

Jonathan Richman – Ishkode! Ishkode!
-I am kicking myself for not putting this on my list initially. Richman is one of the most prolific songwriters out there and put out quite the release. I loved how song his songs were fun at times while others were just complex and reached across borders. He really showcased his musical abilities on this release. This guy has been writing music for longer than I have been alive and still is able to put out quality albums.

Dinosaur Jr. – Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not
-I have been a fan of this band for over 25 years now, so it only makes sense that this release made my list. Oh, it also kicks so much ass. Lou Barlow singing on it made it that much better.

All Dinosaurs – Total Dissatisfaction
-Where do I even start with this one? It’s like listening to the Bronx, but better, and from Cleveland. I love this album so much that I literally just bought the LP from their bandcamp page. No lie.

Useless ID – State is Burning
-This band will always be one of my favorites and this release continued to keep me a fan. With a much more harder approach, they really killed it on this one. I also adored the nod to the late Brandon Carlisle of Teenage Bottlerocket.

Pulley – No Change in the Weather
This band was a huge favorite of mine in the late 90s and I thought they were done in the mid-2000s, but low and behold, they came back with an album that seemingly continued where they left off without missing a beat. “Sometimes” is such a great track.

Beach Slang – A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings
-James Alex (and former crew) have created a timeless album for music fans of all ages. Catchy yet poignant, the album has been on a weekly rotation to my ears since the album dropped. It may clock in at around 30 minutes, but it is a hell of a ride from start to finish.

Worship This! – Mint
-So what if these guys are my pals, their sophomore release blew me away. I can not say enough good things about this album. It is poppy, punky, and addictive. More people need to check this album out as these Akron/Cleveland boys really know how to make sweet jams. They are the next big thing in my mind and I love them all dearly.

Descendents – Hypercaffium Spazzinate
-Having one of my all time favorite bands release something new in 2016 was pretty rad. Having one of my all time favorite bands stick to their sound from start to finish and have no indication of slowing down made it that much better.

Nothing – Tired of Tomorrow
-I never thought I would like shoegazing. To be honest, I really never knew what shoegaze was until I heard this album and I am still not quite sure. Indie rock and neo-psychadelica mixed with plenty of distortion and emotion made for an album that I could not get out of my head for weeks. That’s a good thing.

Mean Jeans – Tight New Dimension
-Mean Jeans are probably one of the most underrated bands out there right now. This album further proved that. A modern-day Ramones-like banger. I loved it.

Bouncing Souls – Simplicity
-The Souls are like a fine cheese or wine to me. With age, this band seems to just get better. Their latest release was just full of punk rock fun. When I started singing along to the first song during my first listen, I knew I was going to love this album and play it over and over.

Blink 182 – California
-I can’t help it, I got sucked in to the new Blink and I know why… Matt Skiba. He was the perfect addition to reinvent this band.

The Avalanches – Wildflower
-16 years after their debut, The Avalanches came back with an all new release that very well probably took all 16 years to create. I know some of my pals were not digging this release fully, but I adored it. It probably helps that the likes of Danny Brown and Biz Marke helped make this album what it is.

Arms Aloft – What a Time to be Barely Alive
–This is the one album I really need to do a proper review on, but I keep getting sidetracked. I listen to it all of the time and it is freaking amazing. Punk rock from the 80s perfectly blended with punk rock from the mid 2000s is one way I can describe these fellows. The music is infections, the lyrics are fun, and from what I hear the band is pretty cool too. This kind of sounds like a review, but it is not. This is just me telling y’all that this album was impressive.

Signals Midwest – At This Age
-This is their third release and probably their most tied together, mature material I have heard them create. They have pushed their limits from a one time local band and are more or less prepping themselves for what’s next to come. I am proud of these dudes.

Arliss Nancy – Greater Divides
-This band really should be at Lucero levels by now. They are exceptional at what they do and it can be heard throughout their latest release.

Har Mar Superstar – Best Summer Ever
-Har Mar continues to put out incredible material with each release. This man is so talented that he drops albums that cover various genres and avoids any and all gimmicky sounds.

NOFX – First Ditch Effort
-After all this band has been though, it only makes sense that they dropped a more personal album. It took me a couple of listens to truly appreciate. Don’t worry, it’s still crass at times as well as hilarious, but man, that Tony Sly tribute song will put tears in your eyes.

Harvey Pekar – The Astral We
-This Cleveland hardcore band is just that… This album was insane yet intelligent, and I loved every moment of it.

The Falcon – Gather Up the Chaps
-I love that Dave Hause was on this album. I love that he had to play ska riffs knowing how much he hates ska because Brendan Kelly decided it was a good idea. This album was far from serious and a good time all around.

NOTE: I promise you, Red Scare did not pay me for putting so many albums on this list. They just had a hell of a year with releases… Toby, I take plastic btw.

I wanted to throw a couple of EPs on here as well:

Jonathan Richman & Tommy Larkins – That’s All We Need at Our Party
–Blue Arrow Records and the creative vinyl masters Wax Merge teamed up to put out an insane variant of this 7″. I was lucky enough to score #100 out of 100. It’s a thing of beauty plus the tunes on it kick ass. I love me some Jonathan Richman. I am sure there are a few left, so snag one if you can.

Throw Shade – Self-Titled
-I have talented friends who make beautiful music. This EP is absolute proof.

Nine Inch Nails – Not the Actual Events
-I really did not know what to expect from Reznor and crew with this EP seeing how I just lost interest in their material for the last 10 years. Man, was I pleasantly surprised. This EP brought me back to 90s NIN and I can not wait for their full-length to drop in 2017.

Bracket – The Last Page
-At just over 70 minutes, this is one long-ass song and it’s amazing. The track keeps it together for the listener and takes them on a punk rock voyage. My first listed was distracted thanks to my paying gig, but my second listen with headphones on was incredible.

Finally, I know this is a best of list, but it would not be right if I did not make mention of this:

RIP Dag House…
It goes without saying, sometimes you find yourself in the right situations by chance. Thanks to an amazing batch of pals who kept Dag House going for years. Not everyone gets to experience basement shows, and some of that could be by choice, but goddamn, if you are a music fan, basement shows are the best shows. Dag House threw together a hell of a rager for their last show, and I was happy to be a part of it. Thanks for the memories Dag.

2016 was a crazy year. If you’ve made it this far in my post, thanks for sticking around and being so rad. It is people like you and the bands above that keep me doing what I do. Be well.

Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Music, Music News, Punk, Rock

Darius Koski Solo Debut To Drop April 7th

9 March, 2015 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Hey Swingin’ Utters fans, Darius Koski is about to debut his solo album. Before you start throwing down assumptions that the guy is going acoustic just to to make a quick buck, please see what he had to say about the whole solo route:

“I’ve been wanting to have an outlet for it for so long—for longer than I’ve been with the Swingin’ Utters, basically. And I just hadn’t done anything with it. I didn’t really know how I was going to release it, I hadn’t done much live, I have problems remembering lyrics… So I’ve been putting it off for so many years, but it’s finally coming together, and I’m thrilled about it. I’m totally going to go for it.”

Now that you’ve read that, how about you take a listen to one of this new songs:

https://soundcloud.com/fat-wreck-chords/darius-koski-listen

You’re weren’t expecting that much twang were you? I know I was not, but I will tell you this, I love it.

Dropping on April 7th, Sisu, is in a genre really of its own with a plethora (yes I said plethora) instrument playing including guitar, piano, banjo, accordion, violin, glockenspiel, vibraphone, melodica, ukulele, and percussion. This is not just some solo album. This is years of built up creativity by Koski finally being released property.

I know I am stoked to hear this.

Pre-orders are up at Fat Wreck as of today. Hurry up and get you some.