Ingrid Michaelson - not just made for TV

My wife, a good friend, and I had the pleasure of seeing Ingrid Michaelson open up for a few other bands here in Atlanta at The Loft a few weeks ago. You may have heard her songs on either an Old Navy commercial or from an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Even though she has had some commercial success, she is no sell out. Ingrid was a breath of fresh air. Her music is catchy yet still slightly quirky. You can listen and purchase Ingrid Michaelson's music here:

www.IngridMichaelson.com

Here is a picture of my wife and me with Ingrid (wearing glasses) right after her performance:


Photo by Laura Ashley

Basin Street Records

When I was living in New Orleans in the mid and late 90's (right after college) I went out to hear a lot of local live music. I became good acquaintances with Mark Samuels who ended up founding and running Basin Street Records. Mark has many qualities that we all should emulate: he is passionate, caring, conscientious, ambitious, and humble. Mark's wife passed away several years ago in a tragic car accident, and Mark has been steadfastly raising his three children while building Basin Street Records into (in my opinion) the pre-eminent New Orleans music label. To add to the challenges already posed to Mark's life, the failure of the levees in New Orleans brought over 5 feet of water into his home and flooded out his office on Canal street as well as his parents' home. Mark moved himself, his children, and his parents to Austin, TX. Here is a picture from Mark's first blog right after Huricaine Katrina in front of his gutted Lakeview home:

(photo courtesy of BasinStreetRecords.com)

Mark is finally back in New Orleans with his family, but I know it was a long and very challenging road to get back. You can read about many of the details in Mark's blog.

Over the years, Mark and his colleagues at Basin Street Records have slowly put together a roster of some of the best local New Orleans artists:

Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers

Los Hombres Calientes

Irvin Mayfield

Jason Marsalis

Dr. Michael White

Henry Butler

Jon Cleary

The Headhunters

Theresa Andersson

I have been fortunate enough to be personally introduced to all of the Basin Street Records artists, and I can tell you that they are all appreciative of working with a label so committed to their success. You can hear an interview I did with Irvin Mayfield back in 2003 when he was headlining the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

Basin Street's focus has been on New Orleans based Jazz, Blues, Funk, R&B and Rock. Basin Street artists have won a slew or awards including Billboard Music Awards, WC Handy Blues Awards, a bunch of CDs in the Top 10 radio charts, and have even received a Grammy nomination!

You can find out more about Basin Street Records at their Web site:

http://www.basinstreetrecords.com/

You can find Mark Samuels' blog at :

http://basinstreetrecords.blogspot.com/

Samantha Lane - honest eloquence through music

I have known Samantha since our days together in college, and I always knew that when she headed to California, she would find fame in movies, music and/or art. Someone with this much talent, brains, and beauty is a rare find. This first solo effort from Samantha really highlights all three facets of Samantha's best attributes:

1. Talent - Samantha skillfully wrote all of the tunes on this album and deftly sings and performs them with feeling and grace.

2. Brains - Samantha found the best musicians to back her up, the best production to put out an increadibly professional sounding and looking recording, and even assembled a beautiful Web site -
http://www.SamanthaLane.com/

3. Beauty - Samantha's music will make you smile. Great beauty makes you appreciate that you are alive, and this album will make you feel happy that you are able to experience great beauty.

Here is the review I wrote when the album was first released:

Samantha Lane's first full-length release, "Find A Way" is filled to the brim with sophisticated but truly honest lyrics and the power of a purely soulful voice. All of the songs are originally written and drawn from the intimacy of everyday life and skillfully performed with grace by Samantha and her talented band. It is easy to root for Samantha as you journey with her through the full spectrum of human emotions and back again. This album will keep you humming, toe tapping, dancing, and certainly thinking even after your speakers turn off.

Samantha won Honorable Mention for the song “Mother Mary” in the 2007 CMT Nashville Songwriter’s Association International Contest! Keep up the great work Samantha!

If you have not heard Samantha's first solo album, you should definitely check it out at:
http://www.SamanthaLane.com/


(photo courtesy of SamanthaLane.com)


photo by Joy Peters
(courtesy of SamanthaLane.com)

Help neglected kids create beautiful music!

A friend just told me about a great new charity based here in Atlanta called Let There Be Music. The mission is to provide children that have been abused, negelected, or abandoned an opportunity to learn to play music. This worthy group believes the gift of music gives all people a powerful means for expression and building self confidence, and I agree whole heartedly with them. I encourage you to support this charity by donating an instrument (I am giving them an old coronet of mine), teaching music lessons, or sponsoring a child. You can find out more about this worthy cause or leave them a message of support here:

http://www.LetThereBeMusic.org/

Ward Williams of Jump, Little Children - first solo album

An old friend friend of mine (from our days at the same junior high school in Winston-Salem, NC) graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts as a cello major. He went on join the popular Charleston, SC band - Jump, Little Children. Jump released seven highly popular albums and consistently sold out medium sized venues around the southeast and beyond from the mid 1990s to 2005. The band mates have gone their separate ways, and most of them have been working on solo projects. Ward Williams (cello and guitar) moved to Brooklyn, NY, and released his first solo album - Ward Williams.


I have to say that when I first heard Ward's first solo album, I thought it was more of the pop-tinged style that made Jump so popular with the teenage and college set, but once you "peel the layers of the onion" you find a much richer musical experience. Ward's album has a variety of different styles from straight up pop to country to folk. Ward has proven with this release that he is versatile, and his real musicianship shines through. I particularly like the use of his signature instrument - the cello on most of the tunes.

I encourage you to check out the album yourself at: http://www.wardwilliams.net/


You can also buy the album or listen to clips here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/wardwilliams


Here is a photo of Ward from his Web site:

HoundDogRadio.net 7th Birthday Bash - it was a smash hit!

The birthday bash to celebrate the 7th Birthday of HoundDogRadio.net at Blind Willie's Blues in Atlanta yesterday was a great success!

Frank "HoundDog" Coon - MC for show

(photo by Joe Koufman)

A steady stream of music lovers shuffled in and was treated to a great lineup of talent:

Kristin Tinsley warmed things up with a mixture of originals and covers as she showed off her ability to channel the spirit of Stevie Nicks.

(Photo by Joe Koufman)

April Cummings played several inspired originals and also belted out (and made her own) renditions of John Prine's Angel from Montgomery and Kris Kristofferson's Me & Bobby McGee.

(Photo by Joe Koufman)

King Cotton built steam slowly until they offered an inspired version of Devil's Delight, and then built their way to a bring the house down guitar solo in their final number, which included the hefty lead guitarist playing behind his head and also on a bar stool (as if the guitar were an upright base). King Cotton definitely brought the house down!

(Photo by Joe Koufman)

The Barefoot Hookers immediately began their set with "beer drinking gospel". They implored the huge audience to turn their hymnals to chapter one (which was a beer drinking tune). Each additional song was a chapter from the Barefoot Hookers book of hell raising. After passing the "collection plate" (motorcycle helmet) around the audience to collect additional funds for HoundDogRadio.net, they broke into their new signature tune I'd Rather Two-Step (Than Twelve-Step) and called Frank "HoundDog" Coon onto stage to sing along.

(Photo by Joe Koufman)

Terry Flynn treated the crowd to masterful guitar work, fine singing, and steady backing.

(Photo courtesy of TerryFlynnMusic.com)

April Cummings with some "interesting" fans

(photo by Joe Koufman)

The Wood Brothers - authentic roots

In case you have not heard them now, you have to check out The Wood Brothers:

http://www.TheWoodBrothers.com/

Oliver and Chris Wood have been playing seperately (Oliver in King Johnson and Chris in Madeski, Martin, and Wood), but they have been collaborating to create some of the best roots blues that I have ever heard. Rarely do you hear such a rich sound come from only two instruments! Also the soulful, gravely voice of Oliver layers perfectly over the resounding but subtle bass and the rythmic jangle, jangle of the steel guitar. Get their CD (and their live downloads) from their site, and even better, catch them live in a city near you!

BTW, I love the review Amazon gave to the Wood Brothers' album 'Ways Not To Lose' along with picking it their 2006 Editor's Pick in the Folk category.


The Wood Brothers
(photo courtesy of TheWoodBrothers.com)

I am locally, semi-famous!

So the local Atlanta NBC affiliate: WXIA Atlanta did a story about the legislation regarding Internet radio. For the story they interviewed HoundDogRadio.net owner Frank "Hound Dog" Coon. During the interview, I was preparing for my interview with Little Country Giants, and unbenownst to me, they shot some footage with me preparing for my interview. You can read the story about the good fight that Frank and other Internet radio webcasters are fighting as well as see video of me in action behind the control board:

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=96302
(Click Blair Meeks reports in the top right to see the video. Next time I will request a speaking role!)

You can catch all of the latest breaking news on this story as well as support the cause at the Webcaster Alliance site:
http://www.webcasteralliance.com/

Little Country Giants Interview

On Tuesday, May 1st Cameron and Russell Cook of Little Country Giants joined me in HoundDogRadio.net studio to talk to me and play some tunes live on the air. I found Cameron and Russell to be quick witted, engaging, and personable. The four songs they played live on the air were well written and it was quite a treat to hear them. Here is a link where you can listen to the interview online:

http://www.hounddogradio.net/productions.php

Here are a few of the pictures I took during our interview:

Little Country Giants - simply amazing!

So I went to see Little Country Giants at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA a few Sundays ago with my wife Michelle and my friend David.

I would like to share with you a few of my observations:

1. Eddie's Attic is a phenomenal place to see a show. It is a listening room, so no loud talking, smoking, etc. They do have a patio designed for that. The food is awesome, the service is great, and the acoustics are fantastic. If you find yourself in Atlanta, go to Eddie's to hear a show, and you will not be disappointed.


Bob Ephlin - owner of Eddie's Attic
(photo courtesy of Eddie's Attic)


2. The opening band for Little Country Giants was Hoots & Hellmouth from Philadelphia. The quartet of grungy, hairy, male troubadours put on an inspired acoustic performance. The last number was a gospel tune sung a cappella with the exception of a solo acoustic guitar. Towards the end of the song, they strolled out into the crowd and sang without any amplification. It was a perfect cap for a truly fun show.


Hoots & Hellmouth
(courtesy of Hoots & Hellmouth)


3. The Little Country Giants are truly one of those groups of people that just make you feel great to be alive. They are talented and honest artists who provide an intimite environment for their audience so that you feel like you are right there on a journey back to a simpler time and place. If you have not heard them, you MUST purchase Sing Pretty for the People and Breaking Hearts and Living Free. Both are excellent albums that capture the rich, deep sound of the Little Country Giants. BTW, here are the fantastic musicians that make up the Little Country Giants (featuring two sets of spouses):

Cameron Lee Cook (Upright bass & vocals)
Russell Cook (Guitar, mandolin, and vocals)
Joseph Evans (lead guitar)
Julie Evans (backup vocals)
David Long (mandolin)
Andy K (pedal steel guitar)



Little Country Giants
(photo courtesy of Chris Lewis)


I have been featuring the music of both Little Country Giants and Hoots & Hellmouth on my Internet radio show - www.GumboShow.com. Check it out on Tuesday nights on www.HoundDogRadio.net.

MerleFest 2007

So again it was another fantastic MerleFest. Here are some of the highlight moments for me:

Crooked Still on the Americana Stage
Waybacks on the Hillside Stage
Sometymes Why in front of the No Depression tent
The Duhks with John Paul Jones (from Led Zepplin) on the Watson Stage

It was another amazing MerleFest. Anyone else have favorite moments to share?

Sometymes Why
(photo by Joe Koufman)

The Waybacks with Rushad Eggleston

(photo by Joe Koufman)

Crooked Still

(photo by Joe Koufman)

The Duhks with John Paul Jones

(photo courtesy of Jeff Eason)