Steve Wynn: “Sketches In Spain” (2014) CD Review

Sketches In Spain is actually two albums that Steve Wynn did that were released in Spain but until now were unavailable elsewhere. So this CD is the first official U.S. release of this material. The two albums are the self-titled release by Smack Dab and Momento, an album by Australian Blonde Featuring Steve Wynn. From Smack Dab, one track is missing: “Smack Dab Attack,” which should be positioned between “Smack Dab” and “Never Been To Spain.” And likewise one track is missing from Momento: “Carnaval,” which should be between “Last One Standing” and “Underneath The Radar.” But what’s included is nearly seventy-nine minutes of fantastic music.

Steve Wynn is such an intriguing songwriter, singer and musician. The more I listen to him, the more I want to listen to more of him, if you know what I mean. He’s probably most well-known for his work with The Dream Syndicate, and earlier this year Omnivore Recordings re-issued The Day Before Wine And Roses, a live recording from 1982. Sketches In Spain contains a whole lot of good music. There really isn't a weak track here, and each song has its own feel.

This CD begins with the more recent album, Smack Dab, released in Spain in 2007. The band Smack Dab is the trio of Paco Loco, Linda Pitmon and Steve Wynn, and their song “Smack Dab” puts them on the list of groups that have a song sharing their band's name, along with Bad Company, They Might Be Giants, Bullied By Strings, Kajagoogoo and I See Hawks In L.A.

“I’m Not Listening”

The album begins with “I’m Not Listening,” which kicks off with a cool dance groove. While the groove gets me excited, it’s this song’s lyrics that really pull me in. “Now the dust has settled and I can see/But can’t believe my eyes/You’re back at my door, begging for more/But I’m not hypnotized/Say that you love me/Say that you need me/Say that you want me/But I’m not listening.” Great, right? I love this song. I love the kind of sneer in his voice on “what remains is only lies.”

“Quarantine” opens with a simple, but catchy bass line. It’s an interesting song, reminding me a bit of Julian Cope in its unusual vocal line and overall feel. There is some nice work on drums too. This tune is like a bizarre otherworldly jam at times. And then Smack Dab moves just a bit toward folk and sixties pop on “Super 8,” which has a sweet sound.

“Free Love”

“Free Love” is a delightfully odd trip, sort of along the lines of some of Syd Barrett’s work. There is a wonderful humor to this one, even with the serious vocal delivery, with surprising lines like “Dennis Wilson says hello/Sorry that he had to go.” This song has such a strange sound which I completely love – like a garage band of squirrels that are obsessed with dolphins and heroin.

“My Cross To Bear” reminds me a bit of something David Lowery might tackle, with a kind of fun, angry tone. While “Free Love” mentions Dennis Wilson, “My Cross To Bear” has the line “She was my Neil Young, and I was her Stephen Stills.” I also like this line: “They say I don’t mix well with others/But it’s just my cross to bear.”

“Never Been To Spain”

The only cover on the Smack Dab album is Hoyt Axton’s “Never Been To Spain.” I have loved this song since I was a kid, in large part because of these lines: “Well, I’ve never been to heaven/But I’ve been to Oklahoma/Well, they tell me I was born there/But I really don’t remember.” This is a really good rendition.

The second album, Momento, by Australian Blonde Featuring Steve Wynn, is actually the first released (in 2000), and is quite a bit different. You can tell that from the opening moments of its first track, “Suddenly,” which has something of a 1970s thing happening, plus bright vibes similar to some of Belle And Sebastian’s work. “Suddenly everything has changed/Suddenly everything is coming my way.” Australian Blonde is Fran Fernandez, Paco Martinez, Tito Valdes and Steve Wynn. (Be sure to read the liner notes on the unusual way this album was recorded.)

“Underneath The Radar”

“Underneath The Radar” begins with a really cool instrumental section. The vocals, when they come in after a little more than a minute, are delivered as spoken word. The first line is “Yeah, yeah, that was me.” It’s an unusual and interesting song, and I love the way it progresses and the way the lyrics bounce from Barry White to baseball, like one side of a conversation. It’s a nice, long track. “Here’s a few quarters. Put something on the juke box, anything you want, anything you want, I don’t care. Put something on the juke. Barry White? Barry White. Yeah, he’s good. Put some Barry White on the juke box.” And every time I listen to this tune I laugh when he says, “What’s wrong with you, man? Don’t write that down.”

That's followed by "On The Town," which is a delightful and playful tune.

"OTB"

"OTB" comes on fast and strong, and is absolutely fantastic. And it gets better and better, bursting into bluegrass and then a sort of rap thing. I completely love this track, and I bet you will too.  The announcer bit reminds me of the baseball section of Meat Loaf’s “Paradise By The Dashboard Light.”

"Black Is Black"

The only cover on Momento is “Black Is Black.”  This is a slightly slower, playful rendition that is kind of adorable. It includes an added spoken work section: "And here in my darkest hour I know I've done wrong/I can lay myself out naked for all the world to see/Or I can hide away until all has been forgotten/And still, still I can't help myself..." "Black Is Black" was written by Steve Wadey and Anthony Hayes, and originally recorded by Los Bravos.

Momento ends with another really strong track, "Sometime Before I Die." This one feels like a celebration, a nice slice of optimism. “I will raise my glass to the future and not the past/Gonna take my dreams/I'm gonna live them by and by.”

CD Track List

1. I’m Not Listening
2. Quarantine
3. Super 8
4. Free Love
5. My Cross To Bear
6. Kickstart My Jackknife
7. The Hollywood Sign
8. Smack Dab
9. Never Been To Spain
10. Lavender Foam
11. Suddenly
12. The King Of Riverside Park
13. The Last One Standing
14. Underneath The Radar
15. On The Town
16. OTB
17. Black Is Black
18. Claro Que Si
19. Sometime Before I Die 

Sketches In Spain was released on July 1, 2014 through Omnivore Recordings.

Vikki Carr: “Love Again – The Lost Columbia Masters” (2014) CD Review

In June, Real Gone Music released Vikki Carr’s 1972 LP The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) on CD for the first time. That same date saw the release of Love Again – The Lost Columbia Masters, a CD of seventeen previously unreleased tracks, the first ten of which were recorded in September of 1975, when her contract with Columbia was ending. There are lots of country vibes to these tracks. There are some excellent songs here, especially “Lyin’ In My Arms,” “Ain’t It Worth The Price You Pay” and “The Night Life.” Filling out this collection are seven other unreleased tracks from the early 1970s, including the wonderful "Lovin' In My Soul."

The CD opens with “I Finally Got It Right This Time,” a song written by Larry Keith and Steve Pippin, and released by B.J. Thomas the same year that Vikki Carr recorded her version. This is a mix of country and pop elements, with Vikki Carr giving a kind of easy vocal delivery to this love song. “Oh, I got so good at losing love/That it came naturally/’Til your love put my losing to an end.”  Her rendition has a nice, bright vibe that I really like.

“Lyin’ In My Arms”

“Lyin’ In My Arms” is an interesting song, in that it mixes the sort of playful sounds of the harpsichord with Vikki’s intimate, heartfelt vocals. This is a slower tune, with sad tones. “And lyin’ in my arms/I find that you’ve been lyin’ in my arms/And morning always brings the naked truth/Oh, how I wish that fairy tales were true.” That leads to a really nice instrumental section. I really like this track a lot, and it’s one I appreciate more and more each time I listen to it. This song was written by Joe Allen.

“I Didn’t Get To Stay” is a cool song with some catchy moments on guitar and delicious vocals. She really dives into this one and gives it all this song could want. “I didn’t get to stay/But at least I got to go.”

Sure, the country tune “A Thing Called Sadness” is cheesy, but gloriously so. And I like the sort of weary quality to her vocals. It was written by Chuck Howard, and recorded earlier by both Ray Price and Bobby Vinton.

“Ain’t It Worth The Price You Pay”

“Ain’t It Worth The Price You Pay” is one of my favorites. It’s one of those slow gorgeous country songs, and Vikki Carr’s vocals are beautiful. “Ain’t it worth the price you pay to fall in love one more time?” Oh yes, absolutely! This is one of the highlights of the collection for me. What a shame this wasn’t released earlier, but I’m happy to be able to enjoy it now.

Willie Nelson and Neil Young

Vikki Carr delivers a very cool, late-night bluesy, jazzy rendition of Willie Nelson’s “The Night Life,” her vocals accompanied only by guitar. This track has a sound that is very loose, and kind of sexy, and features a fantastic vocal performance. This is perhaps the best track of the ten from 1975. The first time I had this CD on, my girlfriend called during this song, and she immediately asked who I was listening to. Even over the phone these vocals are impressive. That’s how good this track is.

Vikki Carr gives her own spin to Neil Young’s “I Believe In You.” It has a very different feel and tone. I prefer the original, of course, but they’re almost like two separate songs. This track was recorded in February of 1972.

“Che Sera”

Vikki Carr became known for her Spanish-language recordings, and this disc includes an early unreleased Spanish track, “Che Sera.” This is a gorgeous track, with a moving vocal performance. It was recorded in March of 1972.

“Lovin’ In My Soul” is another wonderful track, with beauty and spirit and positive vibes. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “My world is filled with joy/It’s filled with happiness and pleasure/All that it can hold/There’s lovin’ in my soul.” This track was recorded in December of 1970.

This collection is rounded out with another track recorded in December 1970, Vikki Carr’s version of “The End Of The World.” She begins it with a spoken word delivery of the first couple of lines.

CD Track List

1. I Finally Got It Right This Time
2. Lyin’ In My Arms
3. I Didn’t Get To Stay
4. Will We Ever Make Love In Love Again
5. A Thing Called Sadness
6. Prettiest Face
7. Ain’t It Worth The Price You Pay
8. It’s Me And You
9. Who In The World
10. The Night Life
11. Spending All My Now Loving You
12. I Believe In You
13. Che Sera
14. If Only You Will Wait For Me
15. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore
16. Lovin’ In My Soul
17. The End Of The World

 Love Again – The Lost Columbia Masters was released on June 3, 2014 through Real Gone Music.

Vikki Carr: “The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)” Expanded Edition CD Review

Vikki Carr’s 1972 LP The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) has now received its first official CD release, thanks to Real Gone Music. This Expanded Edition contains plenty of bonus material as well. Vikki Carr is known for her 1967 hit “It Must Be Him” (from the album of the same name), and then later for several Spanish-language hit singles. The First Time Ever contains covers of several well-known and much-loved songs. (Interestingly, Johnny Mathis also released an album titled The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) in 1972, on which he covers many of the same songs.)

The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) opens with the title track, a pretty and mellow love song, Vikki Carr's vocal approach at first soft and sweet, working well with the strings. Later she adds some power to her delivery at key moments, letting the song build beautifully. “The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)” was written by Ewan MacColl, and sung originally by Peggy Seeger. Roberta Flack had a hit with it in 1972.

Vikki Carr’s vocal delivery is more playful on “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All,” a song I’ve always enjoyed. But there is still an honesty and beauty to this song. The 5th Dimension had a hit with this song, which was written by Tony Macaulay. Vikki Carr also does a good job on her rendition of “Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves,” a tune made famous by Cher the previous year.

"Without You"

I love the quiet, almost timid way her cover of “Without You” starts, with piano and her vocals. Her vocals have a sadness, a delicate element that is perfect. On the chorus, she first delivers the lines almost matter-of-factly, which is wonderful. When she then belts out the next lines, it doesn’t seem quite right – there is too much glory, too much power, rather than heartache in it. I much prefer her intimate whispers on this one. This song was originally done by Badfinger, and most famously done by Harry Nilsson.

"Song Sung Blue"

She follows that with a country-flavored cover of Neil Diamond’s “Song Sung Blue.” The backing vocals feel a bit silly when they echo “willow” and “pillow.” She has a chance to stretch out and let it rip on “Cabaret,” a song that acts as a delightful celebration.

Vikki Carr whispers some lines from Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” but this cover loses any sense of intimacy because of the strings. There’s a bit too much production to this version. I definitely prefer the more stripped-down renditions of this song. (Check out Harry Dean Stanton’s version on Partly Fiction.)

The big production much better suits the original album’s closing track, a wonderful version of “The Way Of Love.” Her vocals really shine on this track. Cher had a hit with this song, which was written by Al Stillman and Jacques Dieval.

Bonus Tracks

This special expanded edition includes nine bonus tracks, most of which are from singles. “Call My Heart Your Home” was originally released as the flip side to the “I’ll Be Home” single in 1970. Some lines are delivered almost as spoken word, others are belted out. “The Big Hurt” was originally released as a single in 1972.

“Let The Band Play On” is one of my favorite tracks on this CD, a fun tune written by Gloria Sklerov and Harry Lloyd. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “So let the band play on/And let the music swell to fill the room/Spin the flashing lights until it’s dawn/Just let the band play on/But no sad songs of love that ends too soon.” This and “Reflections” were released as a single in 1972.

There is something really delightful and totally enjoyable about “Borrowed Time,” which was released as a single in 1974. Vikki Carr then moves toward disco with “Puttin’ Myself In Your Hands (Gettin’ Ready To Move),” a 1975 single. “My body's on the east coast/But my heart is still out west/And after one sweet taste of you/I’m coming back to get the rest.” The single’s other side, “I Don’t Want A Sometimes Man,” is also included in these bonus tracks.

The bonus tracks conclude with a couple of Christmas tunes – “What Child Is This?” and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.” The first appeared on a compilation from 1972, while the second was originally released as a promotional single in 1974. (I love the original tune “Greensleeves,” but strongly dislike the Christmas version, “What Child Is This?”)

CD Track List

1. The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)
2. (Last Night) I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All
3. Theme From “Summer Of ‘42” (The Summer Knows)
4. Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves
5. Without You
6. Song Sung Blue
7. Love Theme From “The Godfather” (Speak Softly Love)
8. Cabaret
9. Help Me Make It Through The Night
10. Brian’s Song (The Hands Of Time)
11. The Way Of Love
12. Call My Heart Your Home
13. The Big Hurt
14. Let The Band Play On
15. Reflections
16. Borrowed Time
17. Puttin' Myself In Your Hands (Gettin’ Ready To Move)
18. I Don’t Want A Sometimes Man
19. What Child Is This?
20. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) Expanded Edition was released on June 3, 2014 through Real Gone Music.

Miss Tess: “Sweet Talk” (2012) CD Review

A month ago I was in Boston, and one night went to The Burren. In the front room of that venue they have these folk jam sessions that are often pretty great. There are featured musicians, but other folks might sit in for a song or two (or for a set). That night both Josh Lederman and Miss Tess sat in. I’ve long been a fan of Josh Lederman, but hadn’t heard Miss Tess before. The moment she started singing, I was hooked. I was immediately impressed by her vocals, and knew I had to hear more from her.

Sweet Talk is her 2012 release, featuring mostly original material with kind of an old-time feel that is wonderful. On this album she ventures into jazz, country, swing, rock – she can sing anything and own it. I totally dig the vibes of this album, and it is her vocals that are the main attraction for me. There is something classy about her, though that element is not in place of fun. Most of this music is designed to put you in a fantastic mood and get your toes tapping.

Sweet Talk opens with a gorgeous jazzy number titled “Don’t Tell Mama,” beginning with electric guitar and vocals. It’s a totally delightful sound. “There’s a place where we can go/If you just let me show ya/I could really get to know ya.” After a minute it kicks in with a powerful joy that will grab you straight away. “Don’t tell mama about the things that I said/Don’t tell papa about the things that we did/Don’t tell the lord in the heavens above/They don’t need to know that we’ve been making love.” There is also some really nice work on drums. “I found a hundred ways just to turn you on.” Oh yes!

Miss Tess follows that with a peppy country tune, “I Never Thought I’d Be Lonely,” and the good times continue. This tune has such a bright feel, even as she sings, “I never thought that I’d be lonely/I never thought that I’d be blue/Once I found my one and only/Once I settled down with you.” I really like this tune, even though it rhymes “self” with “shelf,” something that almost always feels awkward. (Someday I’ll compile a list of all the songs that rely on that rhyme.) Raphael McGregor plays lap steel on this track. (McGregor also plays lap steel on “Everybody’s Darling.”)

“Adeline” begins with some groovy stuff on drums and bass, and I’m immediately on board. This is my personal favorite track, in large part because of the exceptional vocal line. Miss Tess does some really interesting stuff vocally here. But the overall sound is so bloody wonderful. It’s a very cool tune. There’s even a bass solo. So strap on those dancing feet and turn the stereo up. I hope I get to see her perform this one in concert.

Miss Tess surprises me with a rock and roll tune, “People Come Here For Gold.” It has something of an early rock and roll vibe, and it is a lot of fun. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “People don’t come here to settle down/They don’t come here to grow old/People come here to be beautiful/People come here for gold.” This track was written by Miss Tess and Phil Madeira.

“Introduction” is a cool bass solo that’s approximately a minute long, and which then goes directly into “This Affair.” “This Affair” has a sexy jazz feel, with some nice stuff on guitar, particularly during the instrumental section.

Miss Tess returns to country for “Save Me St. Peter.” (Of course, there should be a comma in the title; otherwise it’s like she’s asking someone to set aside St. Peter for her.) This song has a delicious, sweet, slow groove, and features Thomas Bryan Eaton on pedal steel. “You walk on water and I’ll stand if I can/I’ll leave walking on water to you, my good man.” (According to the legend, St. Peter walked on water until his faith wavered, causing him to sink.) And I dig this line: “A sea full of barstools is all I can find.” But my favorite line is, “And you’ll tell me my future when the timing is right.” This is one of my favorite tracks.

“New Orleans” is another highlight of this album. There are lots of love songs aimed at New Orleans, and it’s totally understandable. It’s a great city, with a romantic and sexy vibe to it. When you think of New Orleans, you think of drinking, of dancing, of fucking, and of excellent music. This track captures something of that energy and vibe. (There is also something that reminds me of the flavor of some of the music from Chicago. I’m picturing Catherine Zeta-Jones while listening to it. Okay, I admit, I’m often picturing Catherine Zeta-Jones anyway, but you get the idea.) And I really dig the piano on this track.

Sweet Talk ends with its only cover, “I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire,” a slow, sexy late-night number written by Eddie Durham, Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus and Ed Seiler. “I have lost all ambition for worldly acclaim/I just wanna be the one you love.” The Ink Spots had a hit with this one. Miss Tess does a really pretty rendition, and drops the spoken word section.

CD Track List

1. Don’t Tell Mama
2. I Never Thought I’d Be Lonely
3. Adeline
4. If You Wanna Be My Man
5. People Come Here For Gold
6. Introduction
7. This Affair
8. Save Me St. Peter
9. Everybody’s Darling
10. New Orleans
11. I Don’t Want to Set The World On Fire 

Musicians

Miss Tess plays rhythm guitar and performs lead vocals. Will Graefe is on electric guitar and vocals. Danny Weller is on upright bass, electric bass and vocals. Matt Meyer is on drums, percussion and vocals. Sam Kassirer is on organ and piano.

Sweet Talk was released on October 16, 2012.

July 2014 Concert Calendar

I started this blog to let people know about all the good music that's out there. Sometimes folks become a bit negative about the state of the music industry. I understand, but there is a tremendous amount of excellent music if you just look for it. Here is a list of concerts you might be interested in for the month of July, 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.

July 1, 2014  (Tuesday)
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Hudson Square Music and Wine Festival, City Winery, New York, NY
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI

July 2, 2014  (Wednesday)
The Howlin' Brothers  -   Ram's Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD

July 3, 2014  (Thursday)
The Howlin' Brothers  -   Thunderbird Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA
The Leisure Society  -  Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, UK  -  8:00 p.m.
Kelley Mickwee  -  Tavern On Main, Buda, TX  -  8:00 p.m.
Melvern Taylor And His Fabulous Meltones  -  Toad, Cambridge, MA
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN

July 4, 2014  (Friday)
The Howlin' Brothers  -   The Village Idiot, Maumee, OH
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -  The Purple Fiddle, Thomas, WV
Keller Williams  -  Highberry Music Festival, Ozark, AR
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Moonlite Gardens, Cincinnati, OH

July 5, 2014  (Saturday)
The Howlin' Brothers  -   Fitzgerald's American Music Festival, Berwyn, IL  -  1:00 p.m.
Mingo Fishtrap  -  512 Fest at The Backyard, Austin, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Camden Park, Huntington, WV
Dar Williams  -  Mariposa Folk Festival, Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Keller Williams  -  Highberry Music Festival, Ozark, AR 
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Le Pavilion, Columbus, OH

July 6, 2014  (Sunday)
Patrolled By Radar  -  Grand Ole Echo,  The Echo, Echo Park, CA
Dar Williams  -  Mariposa Folk Festival, Orillia, Ontario, Canada 
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI

July 7, 2014  (Monday)
Jimbo Mathus  -  MOTR Pub, Cincinnati, OH

July 8, 2014   (Tuesday)

July 9, 2014  (Wednesday)
Sarah Jaffe  -   Fitzgerald's, Houston, TX
Jimbo Mathus  -   Sportsmen's Tavern, Buffalo, NY
Ellis Paul  -   Black Potato Music Festival, 56 Main St, Clinton, NJ  -  9:30 p.m.
Seth Walker  -  Beaver Creek Music Experience, Avon, CO
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Stage Ae, Pittsburgh, PA

July 10, 2014  (Thursday)
Slaid Cleaves  -   Cactus Cafe, Austin, TX
The Howlin' Brothers  -   Fairpark Stage, Tupelo, MS
Sarah Jaffe  - Southport Music Hall, New Orleans, LA
Jimbo Mathus  -   Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Mingo Fishtrap  -   Silverton Casino Veil Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV
Ellis Paul  -  Ulrich Art Museum, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS  -  7:30 p.m.
Red Molly  -  Boathouse Theater, Schroon Lake, NY
Seth Walker  -   Steve's Guitars, Carbondale, CO
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Party In The Park, Rochester, NY

July 11, 2013 (Friday)
Slaid Cleaves  -   McDavid Studio, Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, TX
Gaelic Storm  -   Annapolis Irish Festival, Crownsville, MD
Sarah Jaffe  -   Central Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX
Jimbo Mathus  -   The Klein, Bridgeport, CT
Mingo Fishtrap  -   TGIF Concerts In The Park, Carlsbad, CA
Patrolled By Radar  -   Cinema Bar, Culver City, CA  -  9:00 p.m.
Ellis Paul  - Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Okemah, OK

Seth Walker  -   The Little Bear Saloon, Evergreen, CO
Keller Williams  -   Camp Euforia, Lone Tree, IA
Yonder Mountain String Band  - Syracuse, NY

July 12, 2014  (Saturday)
Slaid Cleaves  -   Crossroads Music Company, Sulphur Springs, TX
Gaelic Storm  -    Colorado Irish Festival, Littleton, CO
Josh Lederman And The CSARS  -  The Plough And Stars, Cambridge, MA  -  4:00 p.m.
Jimbo Mathus  -   Lowell Summer Music Series, Lowell, MA
Mingo Fishtrap  -   Seven Sisters Fest, San Luis Obispo, CA
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Red Wing Roots Music Festival, Mt. Solon, VA
The Nields  -  West Cummington Church, West Cummington, MA
(Special Woody Guthrie's birthday show)
Ellis Paul  -  Maine Music Awards in Portland, 45 Spring Street, Portland, ME  -  7:00 p.m.
Seth Walker  -   Tuft Theater, Denver, CO
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH

July 13, 2014  (Sunday)
Slaid Cleaves  -   Juanita's, Little Rock, AR
The Evangenitals  -  Sunday Assembly, Los Angeles, CA  -  11:00 a.m.
Gaelic Storm  -    Irish American Heritage Festival, Chicago, IL
The Mansfield Band  -  Old Oaks Cellars, 2620 D East Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA -  4:30 p.m.
Mingo Fishtrap  -   Concerts At Common Beach, Tahoe City, CA
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Lurman Woodland Theater Summer Series, Catonsville, MD
Peter Mulvey  -  Peg Egan PAC Folk Festival, Egg Harbor, WI
Red Molly  - Ringwood Public Library, Ringwood, NJ  -  2:00 p.m.
Keller Williams  -   Luna Light Music And Arts Festival, Barto, PA

July 14, 2014  (Monday)

July 15, 2014  (Tuesday)
Slaid Cleaves  -   Bar None, Springfield, IL
Sarah Jaffe  -  The Bootleg Theatre, Los Angeles, CA 
Jimbo Mathus  -   Atwood's Tavern, Cambridge, MA

July 16, 2014  (Wednesday)
Slaid Cleaves  -   Shank Hall, Milwaukee, WI
Sarah Jaffe  -   Slim's, San Francisco, CA
Jimbo Mathus  -   Triumph Brewing Company, New Hope, PA
Mingo Fishtrap  -   Yoshi's, San Francisco, CA
Keller Williams  -   Pre-Grassroots Special, Trumansburg, NY

July 17, 2014   (Thursday)
Slaid Cleaves  -   Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson, WI
Sarah Jaffe  -   SLO Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA
Kelley Mickwee  -   Tavern on Main, Buda, TX  -  8:00 p.m.
(CD release show)
Jimbo Mathus  - Hill Country, Washington, D.C.
Mingo Fishtrap  -   Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley, CA
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Mayne Stage, Chicago, IL
Ellis Paul  -  Seven Steps Up, 116 S. Jackson St, Spring Lake, MI  -  7:30 p.m.
Melvern Taylor And His Fabulous Meltones  -  Toad, Cambridge, MA
Keller Williams  -  Pufferbellies, Hyannis, MA 
Yonder Mountain String Band  - Northwest String Summit, North Plains, OR

July 18, 2014  (Friday)
3 Leg Torso  -  Axe And Fiddle Public House, Cottage Grove, OR
(Tickets: $10)
Slaid Cleaves  -   Mississippi River Festival, Grand Rapids, MN
Sarah Jaffe  -   Ace Of Spades, Sacramento, CA
Jimbo Mathus  -   XO Lounge, Philadelphia, PA
Mingo Fishtrap  -   Friday Night Live, Cloverdale, CA
Ellis Paul  -  Front Porch Music, 505 Lincoln Way, Valporaiso, IN  -  8:00 p.m.
Red Molly  -  Tri-Lakes Center For The Arts, Palmer Lake, CO  -  7:00 p.m.
Yonder Mountain String Band  - Northwest String Summit, North Plains, OR

July 19, 2014  (Saturday)
The Howlin' Brothers  -   Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver Folk Festival, Vancouver, BC, Canada
I See Hawks In L.A.  -  Claremont Folk Music Center, Claremont, CA  -  7:00 p.m. 
Sarah Jaffe  -   The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
Jimbo Mathus  -   Wolf Hills Brewing Co., Abingdon, VA
Kelley Mickwee  -   Strangebrew Loungeside, Austin, TX  -  5:00 p.m.
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Tres Hombres, Carbondale, IL
Steve Poltz  -  Club Passim, Cambrige, MA
Red Molly  - Aspen Camp For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing, Snowmass Village, CO  -  3:00 p.m.
Yonder Mountain String Band  - Northwest String Summit, North Plains, OR

July 20, 2014  (Sunday)
3 Leg Torso  -   Festival Mosaic, The See Canyon Ranch, San Luis Obispo,  CA
Peter Himmelman  -  The Federal Bar, North Hollywood, CA  -  11:30 a.m.
(Free show)
The Howlin' Brothers  -   Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver Folk Festival, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Kelley Mickwee  -   Howard's, Shiner, TX  -  6:00 p.m.
Red Molly  - Crested Butte, CO  -  5:30 p.m.
Yonder Mountain String Band  - Northwest String Summit, North Plains, OR

July 21, 2014  (Monday)
Sarah Jaffe  -   The Triple Door, Seattle, WA

July 22, 2014   (Tuesday)
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Botanica, Wichita, KS

July 23, 2014  (Wednesday)
3 Leg Torso  -   St. Mary's Summer Concert Series, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove, CA  -  7:00 p.m.
Teddy Goldstein  -  Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
Sarah Jaffe  -   Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
Peter Mulvey  -   Space, Evanston, IL

July 24, 2014  (Thursday)
3 Leg Torso  -   The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA
(Tickets: $10)
Kelley Mickwee  -   Reata, Alpine, TX  -  8:00 p.m.
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   The Cloud Station, Crestone, CO

July 25, 2014  (Friday)
3 Leg Torso  -   Studio Grand, 3234 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA
(Tickets: $15)
Sarah Jaffe  -   In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   The Aztec Theater, Aztec, NM
Martin Sexton  -  Brandon Music And Arts Fest, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Keller Williams  -   Riverboat, Fredericksburg, VA

July 26, 2014  (Saturday)
3 Leg Torso  -   Village Homes Community Center, Davis, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
Sarah Jaffe  -   The Soiled Dove, Denver, CO
Josh Lederman And The CSARS  -  The Plough And Stars, Cambridge, MA  -  4:00 p.m. 
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, AZ
Peter Mulvey  -   Chickie Wah Wah, New Orleans, LA
Keller Williams  - Lewisburg Music Festival, Lewisburg, WV

July 27, 2014  (Sunday)
3 Leg Torso  -   Ashland Community Center, 59 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR
Kelley Mickwee  -   Lone Star Float House, New Braunfels, TX  -  1:00 p.m.
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   The Folk Sessions, The Highlands Center For Natural History, Prescott, AZ
Red Molly  -   Red Ants Pants Music Festival, White Sulphur Springs, MT
Dar Williams  -   The Bryn Mawr Gazebo, Bryn Mawr, PA  -  7:00 p.m.

July 28, 2014  (Monday)

July 29, 2014  (Tuesday)
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Seven Grand Whiskey Bar, San Diego, CA


July 30, 2014   (Wednesday)
Slaid Cleaves  -  Club Passim, Cambridge, MA 
The Evangenitals  -   The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
(with Unpopable)
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Bootleg, Los Angeles, CA

July 31, 2014  (Thursday) 
The Evangenitals  -   Art Boutiki, San Jose, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -    The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA
Melvern Taylor And His Fabulous Meltones  -  Toad, Cambridge, MA