Proving further that Nashville is more than just rhinestones and honky tonks, Kaby has released the video for his newest track, "Cigarette Holiday." Premiered today over at Break On A Cloud, the clip was directed by Joschka Schaffner and features the rapper in the backyard with a 40 and, naturally, some Marlboros. Visually impressive with a laid-back cadence, "Cigarette Holiday" is slow-burn hip-hop song with a video that effectively complements the track’s vibe and theme with its authentic-yet-stylized candor and well-orchestrated grit.
NSFW without headphones. Special shout out to that Wu Wear skull cap.
"Cigarette Holiday" is available now on HM4: Smoke & Mirror Tricks," via Bandcamp. –Brianne Turner
Wanda Jackson, Jonny Fritz and Courtney Jaye at 3rd & Lindsley Courtney Foster 8 December 2012
Nashville’s venue 3rd & Lindsley played host to a music event of epic proportions on Friday, December 7th. Local favorites Courtney Jaye and Jonny Fritz shared the stage with the legendary Wanda Jackson for a showcase of Nashville’s finest musical offerings.
First up was the beautiful and talented Courtney Jaye. Her vocal excellence and well-written lyrics took the unsuspecting crowd by surprise. Supported by a very solid backing band, Courtney captured the whole room with her vintage country and folk inspired set. Her clear voice is similar to that of Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis from her 2006 side project with the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat, and possesses a strength reminiscent of country greats Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.
With an effortless togetherness, the entire band set the mood for a night of stellar music, even closing her time with the classic Holiday tune, “Mele Kalikimaka.” Courtney has received quite a bit of radio play on local station Lightning 100 and is currently working on new material. Look for Courtney Jaye’s newest album, Love and Forgiveness, to be released in April 2013.
Next up was the homecoming show for Jonny Fritz, formerly known as “Corndawg.” Having toured with up-and-coming artists The Alabama Shakes, Dawes, and Deer Tick, Fritz and his band definitely lived up to the positive praises from the folks at SXSW. With his hybrid of folk, Americana, bluegrass and honky tonk, the band could easily become a Lower Broadway staple with countrywide touring capabilities.
Adding to the existing strength of the band, noted Nashville fiddle player Joshua Hedley set his strings on fire as well as adding strong backing vocals. Jonny Fritz’s lyrics are autobiographical and the crowd took on the feeling of being on tour with the group, meeting every new person and seeing every new sight along the highway. Straying from typical lyrical subject matter of love and the lack thereof, Fritz chooses to thoughtfully observe the world around him with a relatable sense of humor. The best quality about the group seems to be the fact that every member looks like he’s having a darn good time.
The last act of the night was the fabulous Queen Of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson. Despite being 75 years old and in the business since the mid-1950s, Ms. Jackson still plays over 100 dates a year, all across the country and beyond. She was a proud inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and contacted by Jack White shortly thereafter to record The Party Ain’t Over with Third Man Records in 2010, reaching a wider and younger audience.
Ms. Jackson was backed by Lower Broadway favorites Heath Haynes & the Hi-Dollars, who used their extensive musical knowledge to nail classic country and rock tunes “Rock Your Baby,” “Funnel of Love” and Elvis tribute, “Heartbreak Hotel.” Along with crowd-pleasing tracks like “Shakin’ All Over” and “Riot In Cell Block Number 9,” she also paid tribute to the late songstress Amy Winehouse with her hit song, “You Know I’m No Good” which appeared on the aforementioned 2010 collaboration with Jack White.
Unlike most performers who have been performing as long as she has, Wanda Jackson hasn’t lost a bit of fire. A passion and love for music is evident in her feisty vocals and energetic performance. Ms. Jackson currently has a new record out produced by Justin Townes Earle titled “Unfinished Business.” Look for her on one of her endless tour dates and pick up the new album, which surely won’t disappoint.
The fortunate folks at 3rd & Lindsley witnessed an event that won’t soon be seen again. All of the performers put on jaw-dropping performances and gained some lifelong followers in the process. Check out Courtney Jaye, Jonny Fritz and Wanda Jackson to listen to some sweet tunes and find tour dates near you! –Courtney Foster
Released in early October 2012, Samantha Harlow’s record Love Letters is a charming and easily relatable addition to the Nashville local charts. Produced by acclaimed guitarist Kenny Vaughan, the album holds tremendous promise even upon first glance.
Harlow’s fusion of Americana, honky tonk and classic country sounds makes for a very memorable listening experience. Her sound is reminiscent of indie rock icons Iron and Wine as well as the calm, intimacy of Band of Horses’ first record, Cease to Begin. Her musical influences can be traced across multiple genres, from country similarities to that of Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty to Americana legends the Avett Brothers.
Opening track “Trouble Fades” intrigues the listener to continue on with strong imagery and a message straight from the heart. Harlow’s voice is quiet and comforting, like a familiar friend or a soft inner-monologue. She saves the most powerful ballads and honest lyrics for the middle of the journey through Love Letters. In the track “Lay Me Down,” Harlow pleads to “Love me just once like you love her all the time.” The album regains a steady heartbeat with the hand drums in “Marie,” providing life and energy for the remaining tracks.
Closing tracks “Fairy Tale” (with electric guitar work reminiscent to that of rockabilly royalty Chris Isaak) and “Telephone Call” end the record with a strange sense of optimism and that everything will one day be right. By the end of the album, the listener is left with his or her own quiet personal revelation.
Love Letters is the perfect record to choose on the dusty jukebox at the local honky tonk or as an understanding companion to a melancholy night in with a bottle.
Samantha Harlow is currently touring New England with Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons and recently opened for Lisa Marie Presley at the Exit/In. Look for her on tour in 2013 with Andrew Leahey, Elli Perry, and more. –Courtney Foster
Just in time for your holiday music roundup, Annalise Emerick has unveiled her video for "This Love Won’t Break Your Heart," from her seven-track debut EP, Starry Eyed. Directed and produced by Tyler Evans and David Lavender, the video follows Emerick on her way to a party and ends, in true Nashville fashion, with a group of friends surrounding the backyard fire pit.
"This Love Won’t Break Your Heart" was co-written with John Flanagan and, fittingly, weaves "Auld Lang Syne" throughout a song about new beginnings.
To stream Starry Eyed or check out some behind the scenes shots from the video, visit Annalise Emerick’s official website.
If it seems that the indie music scene in Nashville is shifting, speculations are correct. In the past few years, the folk genre has been broken down and divided into subsects of its own, and the newest division– best described as the lovechild of roots, gypsy jazz and blues– has hit the scene. With artists such as The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, Humming House, and Memphis Dawls leading the way, it’s safe to say there is great company all around. One of the most recent bands to join this bill is The Flea Marketeers.
From Nashville, this six-piece band is made up of Mark Sloan, Jordan Taylor, Andrew Hunt, Kellen Wenrich, Kevin Whitsett and Stephen Puckett. The Flea Marketeers have been playing together for a few years and have played alongside fellow Nashvillians, Apache Relay. According to their website, the band name “The Flea Marketeers” is honed from their self-comparison to a flea market. “The hodgepodge of items strewn about each booth paints a picture of a previous era. Yet, as each item is purchased, it becomes new, inheriting fresh connotations it may not have had in its primordial state.”
In May of this year, the band released their full-length, self-titled album. This 10-track album is highlighted by tracks like “High Society” and “When it Rains.” “High Society” is a fun jazzy track; think champagne, pearls and a 1940s lounge singer. On the opposite but just-as-satisfying end of the spectrum, “When it Rains” is a slower and dream-like tune that spotlights the more harmonious side of the band. Although there are no shows in the immediate future, keep in contact with Flea Marketeer news via Facebook and Twitter.
The Flea Marketeers’s self-titled album is available now on iTunes and Bandcamp. –Bailey Rush
Saving his special guests for the Saturday show, Will Hoge‘s sold-out Friday night benefit for Vanderbilt University Medical Center was predictable to any weathered Hoge fan. Playing a wide and varied collection of songs from his storied discography, Will Hoge did exactly what Will Hoge does best: put on a solid and heartfelt rock set that leaves the audience nearly as exhausted as the artist putting on the show. Gone (or hibernating) are the days when Hoge would stop a show entirely to quiet a chatty crowd, but the singer-songwriter can still subdue an audience by telling them that "this song sounds a whole lot better when it’s quiet in here." If you buy a ticket to one of his shows expecting the same sweaty rock show you got the last time, the Franklin native will make sure you get your money’s worth.
Though the Saturday set featured appearances by Vince Gill in addition to cameos from seemingly the entire cast of ABC’s Nashville, Friday’s benefit was intimate, with Josh Hoge opening and Will filling the quiet moments with stories and anecdotes about his journey as a musician.
After seven albums, countless tours, and a life-threatening accident that seemed to put it all into perspective, Will Hoge’s live show continues to prove that substance and talent trump publicity stunts and wardrobe changes. –Brianne Turner
If you’ve missed the chatter around town as well as this week’s cover story in the Nashville Scene, you may have also missed the hype surrounding Will Hoge‘s two-night, post-Thanksgiving stint at 3rd & Lindsley.
Tonight’s show will benefit the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Trauma Center, where Will was taken after his life-threatening accident in 2008. After stating in multiple interviews that he credits VUMC with saving his life that night, Will has decided to go one step further and put his ticket sales where his mouth is. Josh Hoge will join his brother onstage for tonight’s show, and a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the VUMC Trauma Center and Trauma Survivors Network.
Tomorrow’s show is slated to celebrate a much less somber cause. Just in time for the spirit of the holiday season, Will has invited a myriad of music-minded friends and special guests to join him on the Lindsley stage.
Both shows begin at 8 pm. Tickets are available here. –Brianne Turner
Tucked away from the bright lights of Music City, eight of the most promising rising acts around town provided an impressive three-song musical sampler, which won’t soon be forgotten. East Nashville Underground and the High Watt hosted an 8 Off 8th event Monday, November 12, featuring acts associated with the Underground’s quarterly festival and sponsored events around town.
All of the featured artists, including local acts such as The Gills, Cult Logic, The Young Liars, Schools, and the Allen Thompson Band, drew a strong crowd reaction. Several musicians seriously blew the top off of the High Watt and absolutely gained a loyal following.
The first to go on was the extremely talented Kim Logan. Sheer vocal force and authentic style immediately differentiates her from other singers around town. Comparable to strong vocalists as Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks, Logan’s voice does her sensual and powerful lyrics justice. As for her band, she has three incredibly strong musicians to aid her in delivering a truly unique musical experience.
Following Kim Logan was Anderson East’s Mike Anderson, going solo for the evening. From the first song, the audience was captivated. Infallible instrumental work, excellent lyrical integrity and astoundingly powerful vocals are a guaranteed from any Anderson East performance, and he certainly delivered to the folks at the High Watt.
Applause for Anderson East was in response to an absolutely astounding set from The Young International. An interesting similarity to indie and alt legends Radiohead, Coldplay, Muse and Hot Hot Heat, this group swept up the entire room and secured a dedicated fan base via a high-energy performance and quality indie rock goodness.
Although the task of choosing a favorite act from East Nashville Underground’s 8 Off 8th is a daunting and nearly impossible task, you can decide for yourself at this weekend’s ENU event. Follow the Underground on Facebook and Twitter for an event schedule. –Courtney Foster
Tonight 1 Cannery Row is busting at the seams with free music. Starting at 8 pm, the High Watt will play host to "East Nashville Underground Presents…" The lineup is solid, featuring the likes of:
The Young International
Kim Logan
Schools
The Gills
Anderson East
Cult Logic
Allen Thompson Band
The Young Liars
The usual 8 Off 8th rules apply: Eight bands, three songs each.
Down the hall at Mercy Lounge, it’s business as usual with BMI hosting their 8 Off 8th night with a stacked lineup:
Static Revival
The Paranormals
The Weakenders
Sonsett
Dax
Mckenzie’s Mill
Ryan Silver
Aevory
Featuring two well-stocked bars and two solid lineups, this is basically a free, one-night music festival.
In the video for their newest single, "Leave Me Out," JEFF the Brotherhood spared no expense. From artistic shots of glittering oceans to motorcross crossfades, this video has it all. Watch Jake and Jamin perform their latest release from Hypnotic Nights in front of a hilariously (and probaby purposefully) terrible green screen.
Things are not looking great for The Civil Wars. As just posted over on the duo’s Facebook wall:
We sincerely apologize for the canceling of all of our tour dates. It is something we deeply regret. However, due to internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition we are unable to continue as a touring entity at this time. We thank each and every one of you for your amazing love & support. Our sincere hope is to have new music for you in 2013. – Joy Williams & John Paul White.
As a nice gesture, however, the band is offering to try to pay for any cancellation fees or service charges that you may have been left with as a result of their irreconcilable differences.
Here’s to hoping that a bit of distance during the holiday season makes the heart grow stronger for these two!