Nova Scotian Ukelele? Yes!

 I recently found this husband/wife duo by God knows what manner. Isn't the Internet wonderful for warping time and space and landing in unexpected places? Anyhow, they're Canadian (from Nova Scotia, to be exact) and they play an interesting blend of folk, old time, bluegrass, etc. The distinguishing characteristic of their music is the ukelele, which could easily be mistaken for a strange mandolin by most pedestrians. James Hill plays it really well. This cut, Ode To A Frozen Boot sounds good on a mid-February evening as we prepare for more snow, here in Maine (and probably Nova Scotia). Hill's fast picking and Anne Davison's pounding bass are deliciously frosty and crisp. Lighthearted and worth a listen as you drive, walk or bike to buy groceries.

Feeling Like An Older Guy Tonight

I'm feeling like an older guy tonight. Yesterday, a kid at school said, "Are you a dad?" I responded, "Well, yeah. Why?" He snickered, "Because you've got that dad sense of humor. You know, like dad jokes. They're always..." He tilted his head and gave this goofy look. I sipped my coffee and walked away perplexed. No. Not me. Not dad jokes.

On a musical note: I always loved the second Flying Burrito Brothers album (Burrito Deluxe) more than the first. I guess I'm a sucker for the uptempo numbers like Lazy Day, High Fashion Queen, If You Gotta Go and this one, Older Guys. Watch this cryptic video of the Burrito Boys cruising the coast of Los Angeles County and try not to do the following:
1) Giggle.
2) Guess who Gram Parsons had just been hanging out with in France while they recorded Exile on Main St.
3) Feel second-hand embarrassment for Chris Hillman as his head pops out the hatch.

Here's to the older guys. Gram, Chris and me.

Further Tales From The Great White North: Les Hay Babies (New Brunswick)

Queens of the Maritimes music scene

Since moving to Maine, I've discovered a new world of Acadian and Quebecois music. Les Hay Babies blew me away the first time I discovered their debut EP, Folio. It became my road trip album of the summer as I drove back and forth between Old Town and Portland for meetings.

Their music is stripped down and raw. It is both evergreen and deciduous. Banjo, guitar, mandolin and three part harmonies. They sing in French, English and a hybrid Acadian dialect, Chiac. One of these days I'll catch them as they swing down through the Northeast U.S. on a tour. Or maybe I'll take a road trip to Moncton and see them play to a hometown crowd.

In this clip, from some French Canadian TV show, they've got special musical accompaniment. The dude on the snare and the movie star, shaking the shakers, are NOT in the band. The band is the three ladies who look like Annie Oakley in the middle of the stage. C'est avec beaucoup d'enthousiasme et de passion que je vous présente... Les Hay Babies!



Here they are in a stripped down, elevator performance. Horse On Fire is my second favorite tune on the album.

Sounds of the Great White North

Whitehorse first came to my attention by way of my wife, Sarah. She'd heard them playing live on Q with Jian Ghomeshi. She's got a damn fine ear for songwriting and talent. They played this hauntingly romantic cover of Springsteen's "I'm On Fire." We immediately bought their self-titled debut and have since then nearly burned the ones and zeroes off of the CD. It's a great road record. Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland are one of those rare duos who not only write, perform and record music together, but they're a couple too. You can hear it in the harmonies. They've got a deep soul connection. But it's not all golden prairies and savory poutine for this Canadian group. Their music has a bittersweet, dark edge. They've got the essence of Gram Parsons and Emmy Lou Harris all wrapped up with the aesthetics of Calexico (especially on their latest album). Virtually unknown amongst most Americans that I know, Whitehorse are heralded throughout Canada. They've won at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and other national events, plus they've been runners up in the Polaris Music Prize. 

I especially love this song, Broken. It was originally recorded on Doucet's solo album, Broken (and Other Rogue States). While the original is solid, the addition of McClelland's vocals evolve the song to its highest form. Best lyrics: "You can have all your records back. I'll take Let It Bleed. You take Blood On The Tracks." Who can't relate to this harrowing decision? Enjoy Whitehorse. Tell your friends and family about them.

Deep Byrds Jams

At this point in the Byrds' career (1970), Roger McGuinn had lead his fans through so many musical twists and turns (folk, pop, psych, country)... and all in the expanse of 6 years. Bands don't change this radically anymore. I can't imagine who was showing up for a Byrds concert in 1970. But if they did show up, they must have had their mynds blown with this nearly 10 minute instrumental version of Eight Miles High. The dude at 7:40 is channeling a proto-David Byrne dance. I believe some people in the audience might be using mind-altering substances. Possibly.

Early 90s Country Rock

On a night like tonight, as we approach the weekend, I want to start a band. I want the band to play stripped down cosmic american music with sloppy guitars, drunk fiddles and stomping drums. I want the band to sound like Uncle Tupelo in 1993. "Give Back The  Key To My Heart" is a Doug Sahm song. He sang on the second verse. Billy Midnight covered this song for awhile when Jason Hee was in the group. I love singing the harmony with Billy. This song always felt so good at the Ould Sod around 12:30am. A drunk anthem for sure.

Heard a rumor that somebody might be recording an album sometime soon. Heard a rumor that he might want me to play drums. That sounds so good to me right now.

Byrds Connektions: Rainmaker

Digging into my Cosmic American roots this week. If you pick any single person who played in the Byrds, it's a sure way to find some hidden country-rock nuggets. It's also a great way to discover band/musician connections that you never knew existed. Herb Pedersen (although never an official Byrd) definitely earns his honorary wyngs for his musical associations. He performed alongside Gram Parsons and later joined forces with Chris Hillman in the Desert Rose Band.

Here's a sample of his earlier output with the Dillards. I love the funky drums and bassline. This is one for the folks out in California. May the Rainmaker bust a hole in that high pressure ridge and bring ya'll some precipitation.