Americana Monday 6

This lineup of pickers is about as good as it gets. Plus, this is one of the best bluegrass song titles ever: "Blue Railroad Train."

Murder-Song Monday: Down in the Willow Garden

I suppose if you put all these murder songs back to back, well you could form a sad commentary on the human condition. That, after all, is the point of folk music. To tell a human story, serving as a familiar reminder or lesson to the community. In this song the remorseful fellow has poisoned, stabbed, and drowned his girl friend all in the same verse! Did these songs persist in so many versions from generation to generation as a warning to young women to be careful of who they went walking with? Anyway, Kirsten Hersh does an appropriately haunting version, but since embedding has been disabled on that one, I'll have to offer up Bailey Cooke as an alternative. I like her banjo-playing and tempo here. And the sound of the peepers in the background is kind of cool too.

Murder-Song Monday: Stagger Lee

Talking 'bout the bad man . . . Stagger Lee!

Americana Week: Day 3

Americana, when it refers to music, is a loosely defined collection of musical styles, but the common denominator may be that each of these styles is clearly rooted in American traditional music. Thus, you've got Cowboy Americana, Folk music, Blues, Bluegrass, work songs, etc. You might call it "roots music." Over the years it continually draws in new influences (from new immigrant communities, for example), and changes in musical technology have also clearly impacted these traditions. The point is, it is a diverse musical form and it is clearly not a "dead" tradition. In fact, we seem to be enjoying a time of particular creativity in the Americana movement. Younger musicians are rediscovering "old time" music and playing with the tradition in very creative ways. This happened in the '50s and '60s under the influence first of bands like The Weavers and then Joan Baez, Peter Paul & Mary, The Kingston Trio, etc.

In my opinion, we are living in a kind of roots music renaissance. Musically speaking, this is one of the most enjoyable periods of my lifetime. I'm particularly partial to the Appalachian strain of roots music, sometimes called "Bluegrass," although that's actually a prominent subset. Here's an ensemble of some of my favorite practitioners, led by Tim O'Brien on vocals. I love the lyrics here, O'Brien's wonderful singing, and the musicianship is of course exceptional.

Americana Week: Day 2

This comes from NPR (the Juan Williams debacle aside, they feature some pretty good music). Welch and Rawlings are premium. I like everything about them. I like the single mic, I like the guitar playing of Rawlings, I like their harmonizing, their lyrics, everything. The second song, Ruby, is one of my favorites. These two have marked out a musical territory that no one else can occupy. In the tradition, but utterly unique.

Latest Bluegrass Discovery

I love discovering new bluegrass bands. Latest discovery: The Farewell Drifters.

Ain't No Grave

Friday is for Whiskey Before Breakfast

I got up really early this morning because I couldn't sleep. That's how I came to enjoy some whiskey before breakfast.

Let Us Break Bread Together

Somehow the barking dog sound effects, the hippie dancing, and the soulful gospel music works for me. How does it work for you?



Josh Garrels is amazing. Here's another of his fine soulful gospel songs.

Pick it, boys!

Kick Up your Heals

Wipe Yo Feets

Ooh boy, I'm going to see Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys tonight.


Yup, I'm a happy camper!