Hank Williams: “The Garden Spot Programs, 1950” (2014) CD Review

It’s such a treat to get to hear some new Hank Williams recordings. Not that they’re actually new, of course. They were recorded in 1950, but most of these tracks haven’t been released until now on CD or LP (yes, this collection is going to be released on translucent red vinyl as well as CD). A few tracks were released on a special Record Store Day vinyl EP a couple of weeks ago.

The tracks on The Garden Spot Programs, 1950 are from four different programs, and the recordings include some banter and song introductions. Each program opens with “The Garden Spot Jingle,” which starts with these lines: “Hello, everybody, Garden Spot is on the air/So just relax and listen in your easy rocking chair.” It also includes this line: “We hope that we can please you.” Oh, no worries there. Hank Williams ends each program with a little spoken goodbye (about how the clock has caught up with them) and then an instrumental version of “Oh! Susanna.”

“Lovesick Blues”

The first program starts with one of my favorites, “Lovesick Blues.” When I was in my late teens, Jon Svetkey turned me on to this tune with his excellent cover of it. Of course, Hank Williams’ own version is a cover, as this is one he didn’t write. But he sure could sing the hell out of it. And on this recording we get to hear Hank introduce it. It’s a great version, with that delicious breaking yodel in his voice on words like “daddy” and “over” and “lonesome.”

There is a second version of this great tune in the second program, and this time it’s introduced by the program’s host as “a great favorite all over the country.” And Hank begins it while he’s still talking, leading to the funny “Here we go.”

“Well, I’m in love, I’m in love with a beautiful gal/That’s what’s the matter with me.”

“A Mansion On The Hill”

“A Mansion On The Hill” finds Hank lonesome too, but it’s a sweeter tune. “You said you could live without love, dear/In your loveless mansion on the hill.” And one thing I love is that fiddle. His love and care for the woman in this song never fail.  “I know you’re alone with your pride, dear/In your loveless mansion on the hill.”

“Fiddle Tune”

Each of the four programs includes “Fiddle Tune.” As you might guess, it’s the fiddle that drives these tracks. These are excellent instrumental tracks, though all are pretty short. The third one is quite lively, even including a shout of “Yee-haw!” The fourth one is also pretty lively, but is the shortest of all four tracks (and is actually the shortest track on the disc).

“I’ve Just Told Mama Goodbye” is an absolutely gorgeous and sad song. “I’ve just told mama goodbye/Mother’s Day has turned to night/Like the flowers in May, she withered away.”

“Mind Your Own Business”

The second program opens with the host telling folks to stick around because Hank is going to play “Lovesick Blues.” Hank then goes into the wonderful, bluesy “Mind Your Own Business,” joking about its title in his introduction (saying it’s called “If You Mind Your Business, You’ll Stay Busy 48 Hours Out Of The 24”). I love these lines: “If I get my head beat black and blue/Now that’s my wife and my stove wood too.”

"I Cant Get You Off Of My Mind"

Hank starts the third show with “I Can’t Get You Off Of My Mind,” a fun song about despairing over a woman who is “the two-timing kind.” I always love Hank Williams' voice, and on this one in particular he sounds wonderful. Then “I Don’t Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)” begins with a nice introduction by Hank mentioning that the tune is available on record.

“I’ll Be A Bachelor ‘Til I Die”

Hank introduces “I’ll Be A Bachelor ‘Til I Die” as a novelty song. In this one, he sings about all the things he’ll do for his girl, then adds, “But get that marrying out of your head.” It’s an absolutely delightful and totally funny tune, and he sings, “I’m afraid of church bells, how they scare me when they chime.”

He then follows that with a cover of “Wedding Bells,” saying it’s one of his favorite songs. This one is about how a woman he loves is marrying another man. He sings, “Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel/That should be ringing now for you and me.” A nice pairing of songs, don’t you agree?

Hidden Track

There is a hidden track at the end of track 24. It’s an advertisement for Naughton Farms, the sponsor of the radio program, and is introduced by Hank Williams. Quick, order now, and get “Fifteen thrilling rose bushes.” The cost is $1.98 (plus postage).

CD Track List

1. The Garden Spot Jingle
2. Lovesick Blues
3. A Mansion On The Hill
4. Fiddle Tune
5. I’ve Just Told Mama Goodbye
6. Closing/Oh! Susanna
7. The Garden Spot Jingle
8. Mind Your Own Business
9. Lovesick Blues
10. Fiddle Tune
11. At The First Fall Of Snow
12. Closing/Oh! Susanna
13. The Garden Spot Jingle
14. I Can’t Get You Off Of My Mind
15. I Don’t Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)
16. Fiddle Tune
17. Farther Along
18. Closing/Oh! Susanna
19. The Garden Spot Jingle
20. I’ll Be A Bachelor ‘Til I Die
21. Wedding Bells
22. Fiddle Tune
23. Jesus Remembered Me
24. Closing/Oh! Susanna

The Garden Spot Programs, 1950 is scheduled to be released on May 20, 2014 through Omnivore Recordings. By the way, this CD includes liner notes by Colin Escott.

John Lennon & Yoko Ono: “I’m Not The Beatles” (2014) CD Box Set Review

I’ve been a Beatles fan since I got my first Beatles album at age six. That same day I also got my first John Lennon album (1975's Rock 'N' Roll, for anyone that's curious). That was the beginning of my fascination both with the band and with Lennon in particular. I’m always interested in learning more. So what a total treat it is to listen to I’m Not The Beatles, an eight-disc set of interviews with Howard Smith recorded from 1969 to 1972. They are mastered from Smith’s original reels, and have never before been released on CD. This box set also includes some good liner notes, with photos.

Disc 1: May 29 and May 30, 1969

The first disc includes two phone interviews, which were conducted on May 29 and May 30, 1969, while John and Yoko were in Montreal doing a bed-in. In the first of these two interviews, John talks about the bed-in. “We’ve been in bed for three days now,” John says early on. He talks about wanting to see Nixon, and about re-applying for a visa. John talks about the reactions of the other three Beatles to the bed-ins, and also about the Tom Paxton song, “Crazy John.” It’s wonderful hearing John relay that message about the song to Yoko. And then John puts Yoko on the phone, and she talks about the language of peace. John comes back on toward the end, and Howard Smith asks him about “The Ballad Of John & Yoko.”

The second interview, conducted on May 30, 1969, is a follow-up phone interview. The first interview was broadcast the night before, and people had rung the station, so Howard passes those questions onto John and Yoko. I love John’s reaction to being called a leader of the youth movement.

Disc 2: December 17, 1969

The second disc has an interview conducted in Ontario on December 17, 1969. It includes a little bit of goofing around before the interview starts, which is great. They talk about the large amount of mail they receive, and how they are constantly asked to get involved with various causes. And they discuss the concept of selling people on the idea of peace, including the “War Is Over” billboards. They also talk about a big concert they were organizing. They talk about the Let It Be album (then called Get Back), and a bit about the recording process, which of course is fascinating. And they talk about Allen Klein, and at this point have nothing but positive things to say.

The disc is divided into two tracks, separated when Howard had to switch tapes. On the second track, they discuss diet, and John talks about returning the MBE award. He also talks about the horrors of touring. This is a nice long interview, and John seems quite relaxed (at least until Howard asks what the youth movement has produced).

This disc is approximately sixty-one minutes.

Disc 3: December 17, 1969

The third disc contains the rest of the interview from December 17, 1969 (approximately twenty-eight more minutes). They eat while continuing the interview. John and Yoko talk about how they work together professionally, as well as in their personal relationship. John says, “It’s all true, folks: all you need is love.” Howard Smith asks them what sort of music they listen to when at home, and if they listen to their own stuff. There is some really interesting stuff, including a bit about John Lennon’s human hair coat. He says, “Because I wanted a fur coat, you know, and I didn’t want to get an animal fur coat.” John also talks about “Revolution 9.”

Disc 4: December 12, 1970

This interview was conducted in New York (you can hear the wind howling in the background), and begins with them talking about some of the film work John and Yoko were doing, like Up Your Legs Forever, which features a few hundred pairs of legs. Howard Smith’s legs are one of those pairs. They then go into the recording of their recent records, and that is some of the most interesting material, like when John talks about how at first he couldn’t tell what was Yoko’s voice and what was the guitar, and about Phil Spector’s work. They also discuss some of their experience with primal scream therapy. (And it’s in this interview that he says, in a sort of offhand manner, “I’m not the Beatles.”)

This disc is split into two tracks, again when Howard Smith switches tapes. In the second segment, John talks about his relationships with the other members of The Beatles, and how it was unlikely that they would record together again. Yoko talks about John’s influence on her own music, and how he turned her on to rock and roll. And they talk about Ringo’s work with both of them.

Disc 5: December 12, 1970

The fifth disc contains the rest of the interview from December 12, 1970 (approximately twenty-nine minutes). They begin this section of the interview by talking about the two of them always being together. And that leads to a discussion of relationships and sex in general. From there, they go back to John’s music, specifically some of the tracks from the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band record. There is some interesting stuff particularly about “God,” with a funny reference to George Harrison.

Disc 6: September 9, 1971

The sixth disc is an interview recorded in New York on September 9, 1971. There are some little cuts at the beginning before the actual interview starts, while Howard Smith is testing the equipment and so on. The focus of some of the interview is Yoko Ono’s work, and they begin by talking about an art exhibit and book. Yoko is really funny when talking about making a double album, especially as she uses the word “endure” with regards to people listening to her music. John has a great response to the idea that Yoko broke up The Beatles. John goes into some detail of how certain tracks on Yoko’s latest album were recorded. About lawyers, John says, “It takes four hours with a lawyer to say what you could say in fifteen minutes with a normal human being.”

This disc is divided into three tracks. The first track is approximately thirty minutes. In the second track (which is approximately thirty-two minutes), there is a great section where they talk about some of the criticism they received, especially the bit about how people were angered by John using particular words in a response to one attack. John talks about “How Do You Sleep?” He mentions that it’s an angry song, written in a moment of anger, but that he believes it’s also a funny song. (It’s the only John Lennon song that I ever disliked.)

(I was surprised when Howard Smith said he didn’t like the Grateful Dead.)

Disc 7: January 23, 1972

The seventh disc contains the first hour of the interview from January 23, 1972, which was conducted in New York. There are a few sound issues on this one. They begin this one by talking about The Beatles music. John talks about why there are different version of the records in England and the United States, and talks about the early days of The Beatles. You can hear Beatles music playing in the background, and the song “Rain” catches John’s attention, and so he talks about recording that song with the backwards vocals. And later he gets excited when "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" comes on, and he actually goes and turns it up. It's wonderful, and when the song is over he talks about the tune. Yoko talks about how there were never any battles between her and Linda.

This disc is divided into two tracks, each approximately thirty minutes. The second track begins with a bit more about "Happiness Is A Warm Gun." They then talk about "Strawberry Fields Forever." They also talk about television.

Disc 8: January 23, 1972

The eighth disc has the rest of the interview from January 23, 1972. They continue talking about television, and John even mentions Monty Python's Flying Circus. Yoko says, "It's very important actually to act out madness in order to stop becoming insane." And John says, "I think anybody that's on stage in a way is acting out madness." They also talk about Jerry Rubin and Bobby Seale, and then a bit about the music industry.

I’m Not The Beatles was released on April 15, 2014.

May 2014 Concert Calendar

The whole point of this blog is to let people know about all the good music that's out there. Here is a list of concerts you might be interested in for the month of May, 2014. Most of these are bands that I've reviewed, though some are some bands that I haven't yet written about, but really like. I will try to add to this calendar as much as I can throughout the month.

May 1, 2014  (Thursday)
The Both  -   Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 
Steve Forbert  -  Salt, Stanhope, NJ
Okapi Sun  -  El Dorado Cocktail Lounge, San Diego, CA
Dar Williams  -   The Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI  -  7:30 p.m.

May 2, 2014  (Friday)
The Both  -   930 Club, Washington, D.C.
Moot Davis  -   The Remington Road House, Corsicana, TX
Antje Duvekot  -   Me And Thee Coffeehouse, Marblehead, MA  -  8:00 p.m.
Steve Forbert  -   Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA
The Grownup Noise  -  TT The Bear's, Cambridge, MA
Okapi Sun  -   Hardhat Lounge, Las Vegas, NV
Ellis Paul  - Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main Street, Beacon, NY  -  8:30 p.m. 
Brooks Williams  -   Salmon Brook Music Series, Granby, CT
Christopher Williams  -  New Lebanon Congregational Church, New Lebanon, NY  -  7:00 p.m.
Dar Williams  -   Dakota Jazz Club Restaurant, Minneapolis, MN  -  7:00 p.m.

May 3, 2014  (Saturday)
The Both  -   Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
Antje Duvekot  -   One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME  -  8:00 p.m.
Steve Forbert  -   Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA
Vance Gilbert  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Tres Hombres, Carbondale, CO
Jim's Big Ego  -  Blackstone Community Center, Boston, MA  -  6:30 p.m. 
Kelly's Lot  -  St. Francis De Sales School, Sherman Oaks, CA
Patrolled By Radar  -  The Saint, 601 Main St., Asbury Park, NJ  -  9:00 p.m.
Ellis Paul  - Heald & Chiampa - The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, Shrewsbury, MA  -  7:30 p.m. 
Brooks Williams  -   Vanilla Bean Cafe, Pomfret, CT
Christoper Williams  -  Club Passim, Cambridge, MA -  8:00 p.m.
(CD release show)
Dar Williams  -   Dakota Jazz Club Restaurant, Minneapolis, MN  -  7:00 p.m.
Keller Williams  -  The Maison, New Orleans, LA 

May 4, 2014  (Sunday)
Moot Davis  -   Love And War In Texas, Plano, TX
Antje Duvekot  -   Manchester 65, West Warwick, RI  -  7:00 p.m.
Steve Forbert  -   Natalie's, Columbos, OH
The Howlin' Brothers  -  3rd & Lindsley, Nashville, TN
I See Hawks In L.A.  -   Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena, CA  -  7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18
James McMurtry  -   Woody Guthrie Center, Tulsa, OK
Ellis Paul  - Stoltz Listening Room at the Avalon Theatre, 40 East Dover Street, Easton, MD  -  8:00 p.m.
The Standells  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA 
Brooks Williams  -   Bruce's Blues Cafe, Southbury, CT
Keller Williams  -   Republic, New Orleans, LA

May 5, 2014  (Monday)
The Both  -   Mr. Smalls, Pittsburgh, PA
Moot Davis  -   Bobtails, Winnesboro, LA

May 6, 2014  (Tuesday)
Afternoons  -  The Satellite, Silverlake, CA
The Both  -   Beachland, Cleveland, OH
Moot Davis  -   Underground 119, Jackson, MS
Zachary Lucky  -  O'Hanlon's, Regina, SK

May 7, 2014  (Wednesday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany
The Both  -   Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
Moot Davis  -   The Nick, Birmingham, AL
Jay Farrar  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA 
Steve Forbert  -   Music On Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ

May 8, 2014  (Thursday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Altes Schlachthaus, Laufen, Switzerland
Eternal Summers  -   Bigs, Sioux Falls, SD
Steve Forbert  -   Turning Point, Piermont, NY
Ellis Paul  -  The Bluebird Café, 4104 Hillsboro Rd., Nashville, TN
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Musikfest Cafe, Bethlehem, PA
Melvern Taylor & His Fabulous Meltones  -  Toad, Cambridge, MA  -  7:30 p.m.

May 9, 2014  (Friday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Stuttgart, Germany
Steve Forbert  -   Boulton Center For The Performing Arts, Bay Shore, NY
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Westhampton Beach PAC, Westhampton Beach, NY
Tea Leaf Green  -   Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY
Brooks Williams  -   Amazing Things Art Center, Framingham, MA

May 10, 2014  (Saturday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   The Blues Garage, Hanover, Germany
The Both  -   Fine Line, Minneapolis, MN
Moot Davis  -   The Record Collector, Bordentown, NJ
Entrain  -   Meeting House Restoration Project, 10 Church St., Gloucester, MA  -  8:00 p.m.
Eternal Summers  -   Railyard, Billings, MT
Steve Forbert  -   New Hope Winery, New Hope, PA
The Greencards  -   Threadgills, Austin, TX
The Highballers  -  Gypsy Sally's, Washington, D.C.
Josh Lederman And The Cambridge-Somerville All Stars  -  The Plough And Stars, Cambridge, MA  -  4:00 p.m.
James McMurtry  -   Cultural Activities Center, Temple, TX
Willie Nile  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Okapi Sun  -   The Trip, Santa Monica, CA
Ellis Paul  -  Holden Beach Chapel Fellowship Hall, 3260 Express Drive, Holden Beach, NC  -  7:30 p.m.
Penny Blacks  -  Governors Pub And Eatery, Sydney, NS, Canada
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Ventura Music Festival, Ventura, CA
Ski Lodge  -   Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Carleton Stone  -  The Rivoli, Toronto, ON, Canada
Tea Leaf Green  -   Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY
Brooks Williams  -   Sandywoods Music, Tiverton, RI
Keller Williams  -   Aiken Bluegrass Festival, Aiken, SC

May 11, 2014  (Sunday)
The Band Of Heathens  -  Musiktheater Piano, Dortmund, Germany
Kris Delmhorst  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Eternal Summers  -   The Hop, Spokane, WA
Ellis Paul  -  The Evening Muse, 3227 N Davidson St., Charlotte, NC  -  8:00 p.m. 

May 12, 2014  (Monday)
Eternal Summers  -   The Crocodile, Seattle, WA

May 13, 2014  (Tuesday)
Patrolled By Radar  -   La Cita, 336 South Hill St., Los Angeles, CA  -  10:00 p.m.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  McCain Auditorium, Manhattan, KS

May 14, 2014  (Wednesday)
Eternal Summers  -   Doug Fir, Portland, OR
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Lyric Theatre, Lexington, KY

May 15, 2014  (Thursday)
Eternal Summers  -   Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA
Steve Forbert  -   Bridge Street, Collinsville, CT
The Howlin' Brothers  - AAA Non-Com Convention, Philadelphia, PA
Ellis Paul  -  Historic Blairstown Theatre, 30 Main Street, Blairstown, NJ  -  8:00 p.m.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Midland Theatre, Newark, OH

May 16, 2014  (Friday)
Antje Duvekot  -   Spring Gulch Folk Festival, New Holland, PA
Eternal Summers  -   Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
Steve Forbert  -   Jonathan's, Ogunquit, ME
Holly Golightly And The Brokeoffs  -  The Satellite, Silverlake, CA
The Howlin' Brothers  - Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, Gettysburg, PA  -  4:00 p.m. 
James McMurtry  -  Stateside at the Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX
Okapi Sun  -   Bar Smith, Phoenix, AZ
Penny Blacks  -   Marc's Studio, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
Rodina  -  Zeferrelis, Ambleside,  UK
Jill Sobule  -  McCabe's, Santa Monica, CA
Brooks Williams  - Fiddle & Bow, Winston Salem, NC

May 17, 2014  (Saturday)
Moot Davis  -   The Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
Antje Duvekot  -   New Fairfield Community Center, New Fairfield, CT
Entrain  -  Be Kind Festival, Schouler Park, North Conway, NH  -  6:00 p.m. 
Steve Forbert  -   Alumni Hall, Haverhill, NH
Louise Goffin  -  McCabe's, Santa Monica, CA 
The Julie Ruin  -  Kampnagel, Hamburg, Germany
Leftover Cuties  -   Los Angeles Vegan Beer & Food Festival, 8950 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA  -  noon
James McMurtry  -  Stateside at the Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX 
Okapi Sun  -   The Pressroom, Phoenix, AZ
Ellis Paul  -  University of Maine- Presque Isle, Presque Isle, ME 

May 18, 2014  (Sunday)
Eternal Summers  -   Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
Vance Gilbert  -  Club Passim, Cambridge, MA  -  5:00 p.m.
Vance Gilbert  -  Club Passim, Cambridge, MA  -  7:30 p.m.
The Julie Ruin  -   Bi Nuu, Berlin, Germany
Zachary Lucky  -   The Artery, Edmonton, AB
Ski Lodge  -   Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
Brooks Williams  -   Mountain Spirit Coffee House, Asheville, NC

May 19, 2014  (Monday)
Eternal Summers  -   Smiling Moose, Pittsburgh, PA
Zachary Lucky  -   Village Guitar, Saskatoon, SK

May 20, 2014  (Tuesday)
Eternal Summers  - Rock 'N' Roll Hotel, Washington, D.C.
The Julie Ruin  -   Les Nuits de Botanique, Brussels, Belgium

May 21, 2014  (Wednesday)
Eternal Summers  -   Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Jess Klein  -  Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Bourbon Street Music Club, Sao Paulo, Brazil

May 22, 2014  (Thursday)
Marshall Crenshaw  -  Johnny D's, Somerville, MA
Entrain  -   Corning Museum Of Glass, Corning, NY  -  6:00 p.m.
The Julie Ruin  -   Tufnell Park Dome, London, England
The Monkees  -  Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton, NH
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Teatro de Bourbon Country, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Melvern Taylor & His Fabulous Meltones  -  Toad, Cambridge, MA  -  7:30 p.m.
Wagons  -  Pirie Co. Social Club, Adelaide Sa, Australia

May 23, 2014  (Friday)
Trey Anastasio Band  -  House Of Blues, Cleveland, OH
The Band Of Heathens  -  Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, TX
Marshall  Chapman  -   Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN  -  9:30 p.m.
Eternal Summers  -   Irving Plaza, New York, NY
The Greencards  -   Dosey Doe Music Cafe, Conroe, TX
The Howlin' Brothers  -  The Linda, Albany, NY
The Monkees  - The Music Box, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, NJ
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Clube Athletico Paulistano, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Railroad Earth  -  Delfest, Cumberland, MD
Brooks Williams  -   Rhythm At The River, Ferryboat Inn, Holywell, Cambridgeshire, UK
Keller Williams  -   Summer Camp Music Festival, Chillicothe, IL
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Delfest, Cumberland, MD 

May 24, 2014  (Saturday)
Trey Anastasio Band  -   Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH
The Greencards  -   The Roost, Pflugerville, TX
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
The Julie Ruin  -   Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, England
Josh Lederman And The Cambridge-Somerville All Stars  -  The Plough And Stars, Cambridge, MA  -  4:00 p.m.
The Monkees  - New Jersey PAC, Newark, NJ
Tim O'Brien And Darrell Scott  -  Delfest, Cumberland, MD
Ryan Montbleau  -   Sterling Stage Folkfest, Sterling, NY
Preservation Hall Jazz Band  -  Bourbon Festival, Parati, Brazil

May 25, 2014  (Sunday)
Trey Anastasio Band  -   Summer Camp Music Festival, Chillicothe, IL
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Atwood's Tavern, Cambridge, MA  -  9:30 p.m.
The Monkees  - The Paramount, Huntington, NY
Patrolled By Radar  -   Alex's Bar, Long Beach, CA  -  10:00 p.m.
The String Cheese Incident  -  Delfest, Cumberland, MD

May 26, 2014  (Monday)
The Julie Ruin  -   Coalition, Brighton, England

May 27, 2014  (Tuesday)
Moot Davis  -   The Way Station, Brooklyn, NY
The Julie Ruin  -   La Fleche D'Or, Paris, France
The Monkees  - Sands Bethlehem Events Center, Bethlehem, PA

May 28, 2014  (Wednesday)
The Julie Ruin  -   Nuits Sonores, Lyon, France
The Monkees  - The Palace Theater, Greensburg, PA

May 29, 2014  (Thursday)
The Greencards  -   Jonathan's, Ogunquit, ME
The Howlin' Brothers  - The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI  -  8:00 p.m.
James McMurtry  -   The Magic Bag, Detroit, MI

May 30, 2014  (Friday)
Antje Duvekot  -   House Concert, North Sandwich, NH
The Greencards  - Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, Preston City, CT
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Ignition Music/The Garage, Goshen, IN
The Julie Ruin  -   Primavera Sound Festival, Barcelona, Spain
The Monkees  - Fox Theater, Detroit, MI
Ellis Paul  -  Sub Culture - Arts Underground, 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY  -  7:30 p.m.
Keller Williams  -   Carbon Leaf's Ragtime Carnival, Chesterfield, VA

May 31, 2014  (Saturday)
Moot Davis  -   Mrs. Riley's Publick House, High Bridge, NJ
Antje Duvekot  -   Kiva House Concert, Billerica, MA
Flynn  -  Kiva House Concert, Billerica, MA
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Decca Restaurant, Louisville, KY
James McMurtry  -   Kent Stage, Kent, OH
Ellis Paul  -  Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va  -  10:30 a.m.
Ellis Paul  -  Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va  -  7:00 p.m.
Penny Blacks  -   Relish, Toronto, ON, Canada
Tea Leaf Green  -   BottleRock Music Festival, Napa, CA

Carleton Stone: “Draws Blood” (2014) CD Review

Canadian songwriter Carleton Stone’s newest album, Draws Blood, features all original material. Carleton Stone finds inspiration and expression in several different musical genres, including pop, folk, country and rock. He seems to let each song’s content and meaning determine the genre and sound, which is great. He also definitely seems influenced by a lot of 1970s music. “Signs Of Life,” for example, reminds me a bit of Jackson Browne.

“Blood Is Thicker Than Water,” the album’s opening track, has kind of a cool 1970s groove. Carleton Stone then mixes that with a sort of sweet, easy country feel, and the result is a delightful and catchy tune. But really it’s his vocals that drive the song. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Take a picture of your mother/Bury it in the yard/Just a delicate reminder/That she took it pretty hard.” And then halfway through, there is the surprising addition of horns.

There’s a certain 1970s influence heard on “Climbing Up The Walls” as well. It’s in the music, if not the vocals (think early Police, with a touch of Bowie). This one is more of an interesting rock tune, especially in the chorus, whose sound really fits the lyric of climbing up the walls – there is a bit of anxiety and contained craziness in the sound. It’s truly effective, and is part of what makes this track one of the CD’s highlights.

I love the way “Love Into The Light” begins, sneaking up, then bursting open like a flower suddenly blooming. This song has kind of an easy groove with some nice backing vocals. I love the feel of this one, and it features some good lyrics, like this line: “It only hurts you on the way out.” And the presence of horns helps make this track my personal favorite.

Carleton Stone dips more into the folk realm with “When You Come Home,” a pretty, late-night acoustic gem. In this one he sings, “And I know you’ll find just what you’re looking for/When you come back home.” Sweet, right? And then he ends the song with these lines: “There’ll be open arms waiting/When you come home/There’ll be open arms waiting/Come home.” This is another favorite of mine.

“What I Want” is unabashed pop with electronic dance elements. I like it once it gets going, but it’s initially a bit jarring coming as it does right after the sweet acoustic tune. I might have positioned this one differently on the disc.

"Draws Blood," the CD's title track, begins with an interesting combination of electronic and acoustic sounds. This is a powerful song, looking back at things that affect us still, things we wish we could have done differently, things we could have averted. "Would've sat a little longer on top of that hill/Held you there 'til I had my fill/Wouldn't have laughed so hard or ran so fast/If I knew how long this pain would last."

"The Darkness" really grabs me once it kicks in. It’s simple, but effective, and takes on a power and beauty that is surprising.

CD Track List

1. Blood Is Thicker Than Water
2. Climbing Up The Walls
3. Signs Of Life
4. Love Into The Light
5. When You Come Home
6. What I Want
7. Draws Blood
8. The Darkness
9. Like A Knife
10. Pick Me Up, Dust Me Off

Draws Blood was released on March 4, 2014 through GroundSwell Music.