Posted by Pete Smith on April 12, 2008, 12:11 am
86.159.201.162
Jason Eady and the Wayfaring Apostles (what a wonderful name!) are a quartet from Texas who truly know what country music is all about. Jason, after a spell in the Air Force, cut his debut album, “From Underneath The Old”, in 2005 and shortly after teamed up with the multi instrumentalist Scott Davis (guitar, mandolin, Dobro, lap steel, banjo, vocals) and the experienced drummer/vocalist Kenny Smith. Jordan Kiener was the first, and only picker, to be auditioned for bass player. Jordan also sings harmony. It really is amazing how well these four guys fit together. It is as though they share the same musically brain on “Wild Eyed Serenade” (Littoraria). All but one of the twelve songs is original and provides a feast of picking and singing that will thrill any country heart. The songs are poetic, yet never pretentious, and are pretty addictive too; I found it extremely difficult to take the disc from my player. It is not hard to see where these guys’ influences lie. There is considerable Steve Earle in “Confidently Wrong”, a little Neil Young in “Waiting To Shine” and a lot of bluegrass in “Before I Was Dead”. Really amazing stuff! Finally a stunning a Capella version of “Walking In Jerusalem”. This is right on the money country from a bunch of guys who live their music!
www.jasoneady.com
I like John Anthony Franklin - I like him a lot. Not just because he is a talented musician, singer and writer but because he loves and understands country music. This is quite obvious from just one listen to the album “Last Cowboy” and the twelve well crafted Franklin originals. Quite recently Franklin, a northern boy, discovered he had illustrious ancestors from the south and this no doubt influenced the album, which incidentally, was recorded partly in the north and partly in the south. The songs are interesting, entertaining and beautifully performed. They paint pictures of a wide landscape that travels down a “Trucking Highway” to a “Tennessee Highway” where he meets his “Holy Girl” and receives the “Greatest Gift”. Great though these songs are none can surpass the heartbreakingly beautiful “Pretty Polly”, for me one the best songs of this, and probably any other, year. www.JohnAnthonyFranklin.com
Remembering Red Sovine who died twenty-eight years ago today (4 April). Though Red had a fine singing voice he will always be remembered for his tear jerking recitations such as “Giddy Up Go”, “Phantom 309”, “Teddy Bear” and “Little Joe”. Red died in a car crash in Nashville. There certainly are stars in that southern sky. Happy birthday to Merle Haggard who will be 71 on Sunday and to Bobby Bare who celebrates his seventy-third birthday on Monday.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
89
Message Thread:
« Back to thread