Posts Tagged ‘Honky-Tonk’

Honky Tonk Friday with the True Historians

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

I don’t think of Chicago as a honky-tonk city. But perhaps it should be as we have such crappy weather, an abundance of dive bars and a history of once being a Western cow town. Chicago’s own True Historians play some pretty righteous honky-tonk. The lead vocalist has a nice nasally Buddy Holly delivery and the musicians are mostly made up of top notch players from Texas.

The band has just released their debut self-titled record and it’s just what you might expect from a group of hard drinkin’ Texans. Buy it here.

Mopin Around
Right Back In Your Arms

P.S. I was putting together a post on the Knoxville based folk/swing/1920’s band Christabel and the Jons when I came across a fine review already published by A Fifty Cent Lighter and Whiskey Buzz so I’m just going to give that post an amen! and link to it here.

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Posted in Honky-Tonk, True Historians | 2 Comments »

Honky-Tonk Friday – Scotty Campbell and The Wardenaires (don’t check your calenders – I’ll be off Friday for the holiday so the Honky-Tonk feature’s been moved up)

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

I once wondered if Brooklyn wasn’t the new Nashville (evidence here, here, here). But judging from the amount of country inspired bands that have come out of Canada in the past three years perhaps the great white north is the new epicenter of the country music universe. I haven’t spent any time in Canada but I’m sure there are both beautiful rural areas and sophisticated cosmopolitan cities. I’m also sure our neighbor to the north has the right conditions for honky-tonk: namely loneliness, isolation, depression and whiskey.

Scotty Campbell and His Wardenaires are the perfect example of this new face of honky-tonk. He’s been called Canada’s best unsigned country act and he and the band have also just won an award for Best Roots Music Act at the recent Hammy’s (Hamilton Music Awrds).

“Smokin’ and Drinkin’” is the title track from Scotty’s 2008 release. I’m guessing it probably encapsulates Scotty and the band to a T. Here are some upcoming dates to give you an idea of the true Honky-Tonks they have up North. Order the new record here via CD Baby.

Nov 29 2008 9:00 – The Ironwood stage and Grill Calgary, Alberta
Dec 21 2008 4:00 – The Cadillac Lounge Toronto, Ontario
Feb 6 2009 10:00 – The Dakota Tavern Toronto, Ontario

Smokin’ and Drinkin’

P.S. That’s it for me `til after the holiday weekend. Have a great Turkey Day and see you on Monday!

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Posted in Honky-Tonk, Scotty Campbell | 4 Comments »

Honkey Tonk Friday with Eleven Hundred Springs (plus a new song from Jon Jackson and Backyard Tire Fire visits Sun Studios)

Friday, April 18th, 2008

Eleven hundred Springs are a Texas based country band. They’ve been around in one form or another for a decade or so. The songs I’ve heard don’t stray too far what the band knows best and that’s Texas, trucks, Hank Williams, drinkin’ and broken hearts. The song “Texas Afternoon” has most of those bases covered and is the first song off their upcoming Lloyd Maines produced record Country Jam.

Pre-order the new record here (ships 05/06)

Texas Afternoon

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P.S. It seems Jon Jackson tried to slip a new song past us. The song is called “Great Big” and is not on the new record Green Apples. If you haven’t picked up Green Apples what are you waiting for; order it here through CdBaby. Jon’s going to be coming up to do a Songs:Illinois house concert with Michael Fracasso from Austin on June 6. So save the date!

Great Big

P.P.S.

The Bloomington, IL based band Backyard Tire Fire was invited into Sun Studios to record a session for their new video series. It came out pretty great. Here’s the video for the song “Honey To A Bee”. The band opens up for Nashville Pussy and Reverend Horton Heat at the Metro tonight.

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