Women & Work, by Lucero
Lucero jumped on the major label train for their last release, 2009’s stellar 1372 Overton Park. Things didn’t go quite as planned but Lucero are a band that just won’t give up. Good thing, too, as the band are in peak form with a sound that marries their bar band roots with the soulful heritage of their native Memphis.

“Like Lightning” is a great example of how it all comes together. Rick Steff’s boogie-woogie piano opening the song before Brian Venable‘s guitar chimes in and the rhythm section of John Stubblefield and Roy Berry kick in with a heavy beat. And then there are the horns, which add real depth and character to the song.

The title track hearkens back to the bars of Lucero’s youth. A wisened Ben Nichols offers, “Now it’s one shot of women, one shot of work, one shot’s sweeter but both can hurt; Just let it go kid, just let it go.” Of course Nichols ignores his own advice on the rousing “On My Way Downtown,” pleading with a woman to meet him for a drink. “I ain’t looking for forever, I ain’t asking for your hand,” he sings, “I’m just on my way downtown, And I thought I’d take a chance.”

I love the burning intensity of “I Can’t Stand to Leave You,“ all the more so for the restraint in the band’s performance. They prove equally skilled on “It May Be Too Late,” a ballad that bristles with a southern soul.

Quite simply, Women & Work is the sound of a band kicking back and having a good time. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Audio Stream: Lucero, “Like Lightning”

(See what other members of the Twangville posse have to say about Lucero’s latest release here.)

THE PLAYLIST
See Me Through, Josh Ritter (from the Pytheas Recordings release Bringing In the Darlings)
Love, whether thriving or troubled, has been the inspiration for countless songs. On his recently released ep, Ritter carries on the tradition as he explores the crevices of a failed relationship. While it is hard to say that Ritter finds answers to his questions, there are few artists who tackle them with as much intelligence and thoughtfulness.

Where are the statues, colossal and bronze
That stood at the gates of our great love and kept watch
And now over the hills, over the horizons somebody’s army advances
I had faith in you darlin,’ even when I questioned our chances

Audio Stream: Josh Ritter, “See Me Through”

(See Jeff’s take on Josh Ritter’s latest here.)

On the Banks of the River Where I Died, Anthony D’Amato (from the self-released Paper Back Bones)
There’s a timeless quality to this track from D’Amato’s latest release, like an old folk tune reincarnated for another life. Against a rollicking beat, punctuated by harmonica and rinky-dink piano, D’Amato tells the tale of a fugitive on his last days. “Tell my wife and brothers that I’m sorry, tell my sons and daughters that I tried, all I ask is that you lay my body by the banks of the river where I died.”

Says D’Amato of the track, “I was thinking about what Woody Guthrie would be singing about if he were alive today when I wrote it. I expect he’d be happy about a lot of the progress we’ve made, but he’d sure be disappointed about how little some things have changed.”

Audio Download: Anthony D’Amato, “On the Banks of the River Where I Died”

Get Back, The Right Ons (from the Love Monk release Get Out)
This quintet from Spain knows how to rock. They’ve just unleashed a raucous new record filled with thunderous guitars and pounding beats sweetened by the right amount of vocal harmonies. And as good as they sound on record, they sound even better live. So when is the next US tour, boys?

Audio Download: The Right Ons, “Get Back”

Fourth of July, Dave Alvin (from the Yep Roc Records release Eleven Eleven Expanded Edition)
I’m usually not a fan of re-released “expanded edition” releases, even more so for albums that aren’t even a year old. I’ll make an exception for this one, though, as the bonus live cd is simply spectacular. Alvin and his band the Guilty Ones were clearly in fighting shape as they passed through Ann Arbor, MI in July 2011. They tear through selections from the latest release and a few choice Alvin classics. Here’s the crew performing one of my all-time favorite songs.

Audio Stream: Dave Alvin, “Fourth of July”

Why Would You Not Want to Go There?, Hoots & Hellmouth (from the sonaBLAST! Release Salt)
The Philly folksters offer up a study in contrasts, mixing melancholy and daydreams just as they surround acoustic guitars with an atmospheric glow.

Audio Download: Hoots & Hellmouth, “Why Would You Not Want to Go There?”

You Possess Me, Marvin Etzioni (from the Nine Mile Records release Marvin Country!)
The former Lone Justice guitarist invited an outstanding roster of friends and fellow musicians to join him on this impressive double-release. Duet partners range from Steve Earle to Lucinda Williams to Richard Thompson while the musical cast includes Buddy Miller, Gurf Morlix and Greg Leisz, among others. Pretty darn impressive. I’m partial to this track that features Etzioni’s former bandmate Marie McKee on guest vocals.

Audio Stream: Marvin Etzioni, “You Possess Me”

No Plans, Cold Chisel (from the forthcoming Warner Records release No Plans)
One of Australia’s finest rock and roll bands returns from an extended hiatus (14 years) with a powerhouse new collection. Singer Jimmy Barnes has one of those classic graveled rock and roll voices; his bandmates rock with a steady yet ferocious abandon. “I’m feeling no pain, I got no iPhone plugging into my brain, I’m hanging all alone in the sun, smoking a cigarette, no plans. Yeeeah, fuck you.”

Audio Stream: Cold Chisel, “No Plans”

The band uses this material and the outstanding musicianship to build their songs. This set is quite consistent throughout the first half. The mandolin and fiddle have a fantastic back and forth. The songs sound lived in and comfortable, the mark of a band who knows how to bring them to life.

The “Station Line” is one of the few slower bluegrass tunes on the album. It is actually a duet with Celia Woodsmith. The slow pace of the tune is a bit jarring and pulls the album back from the higher tempos of the other tunes.

After that track, the album gets back to where it belongs. Strong songs with beautiful rural images. “Black Sunday Blues” and “Metamorphosis” are particularly strong. Hope these guys come out my way this summer. Nothing like a good bluegrass show and they have the raw material to bring it.

Here’s a classic video from the Barfield archives. Let’s get funky now.

Dr. John has recorded steadily over the years, weaving a tapestry of work featuring the various strains of music prevalent in his native New Orleans.  But with his latest release, Locked Down, Dr. John returns to that familiar foundation he laid down in Gris-Gris.   With the support of The Black Keys’ guitarist Dan Auerbach, Dr. John has created a work that would fit in well with those earlier works. 

There are numerous strong tracks on Locked Down, each of which reveals Dr. John’s penchant for exotic rhythms and eery sound effects.   The opening title track incorporates a familiar groove reminiscent of Dr. John’s more mainstream funk of In the Right Place, as does the second track, “Revolution.”  But the third track, “Big Shot,” takes the next step into a spaced-out weirdness that at moments echoes Gris-Gris.  For a taste of Dr. John’s delicious keyboard work, check out ”Ice Age.”  ”Kingdom if Izzness” is classic Dr. John, and “Eleggua” incorporates the kind of rhythmic cool madness that made Gris-Gris so memorable.             

With Locked Down, Dr. John proves he is still in top form.

Early favorites include “Working Titles” which contains trademark Jurado dark lines reading:

You could use to be more like your heroes.
A darker shade of damaged distortion.
Wearing death like a cape or a costume.
Cut your ties and leave town when you want to.

“Museum of Flight” is another standout with a simple effective chorus that repeats thrice and hooks you with one listen. Consisting of only ten tracks, Maraquopa is a mellow enchanting album that is great for late night repeat and a worthy addition to Damien’s stellar catalogue.

RIYL:  warm candle wax, hard rain, sad poems

MARTIN SEXTON, Fall Like Rain (EP) [★★★★/3.800]
Singer/Songwriter/Soulster Sexton continues to perspicaciously reflect back on life with his songwriting while delivering mind-bending falsetto with his song. What this album lacks in length it makes up for in content. Four soul-searching originals plus a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” – a song perhaps as meaningful today as it was 46 years ago.

CHUCK PROPHET, Temple Beautiful [★★★★/3.667]
12th studio album and 3rd on Yep Roc. Best described by Prophet himself, “The record’s an unsentimental (though loving) tour of San Francisco. Made in San Francisco by San Franciscans about San Francisco. My effort to tap into the history, the weirdness, the energy and spontaneity that brought me here in the first place.” Lo-fi rockin’ goodness sure to make Dylan and Petty proud. Standout: Castro Halloween

RUTHIE FOSTER, Let It Burn [★★★★/3.500]
Recorded in New Orleans, this is Foster’s first album where she’s not playing an instrument putting extra focus on her vocals. William Bell and The Blind Boys of Alabama contribute to add extra layers of soulfulness to this collection of originals and covers.

DREW GIBSON, The Southern Draw [★★★/3.250]

Recorded over a period of four years with childhood friend, Paul Curreri, The Southern Draw is the follow-up to Drew Gibson’s debut record Letterbox. Drew and Paul team up to provide most of the instrumentation with guitars, pianos, organs and more. Drums contributions come from Nate Brown and Todd Wellons (Sons of Bill). Curreri’s wife, Devon Sproule, contributes on a stunning duet called “We Move By Wagon Train”. Forget the Jayhawks, this is rainy day music. Don’t we all need a little rain?

Levon Helm Band

Life is Good Music Festival in Canton, MA: September 2011

Post by Suzanne D. McMahon (Suzanne Davis Photography)

 I feel so incredibly lucky that I had the opportunity to photograph Levon Helm at the Life is Good music festival last year. It was hard to believe that I was standing in a photo pit with thousands of people behind me, just a few feet away from this legend. Due to his voice being impacted by throat cancer, Levon did not sing much (just one verse of “The Weight”) but he dazzled the crowd with his smile and presence. This was certainly an unforgettable experience.

Levon, you will be missed.

• Simone Felice performs “Radio Song”
• Lisa Hannigan, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
• Drive-By Truckers with Megafaun, “The Weight”
• The Black Keys with John Fogerty, “The Weight”
• The Punch Brothers, Jesca Hoop, Aoife O’Donovan, “The Weight”
• Frank Turner, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
• Warren Haynes Band, “It Makes No Difference”/”The Weight”
• Bon Iver, “Ophelia”
• Megafaun, “I Shall Be Released”
• The Band of Heathens, “One More Song”
• Mavis Staples with Glen Hansard, “The Weight”
• Bruce Springsteen, “The Weight”

They started the set with an homage to road songs with “Midnight on the Interstate.” The layers of picking and fiddle lines added depth to the subtle lyrics. They are simple and affecting. Simonette subtly crooned “Love and love and nothing else / It’s all I need.” The perfect blend of instrumental music and heartfelt songwriting.

Then the band pushed the metronome up a notch with “Help You.” I rarely like songs that have too much harmony (for the verses) but this one had an endearing chant quality live. The band put together a ragged and precise performance at the same time.

Then they seamlessly went back to the heartbreaking country of “Widower’s Heart.” The vibrato of the mandolin and fiddle lines played off each other perfectly and Simonette’s poignant voice make this one seem authentic. The lyrics are so natural they could be a journal entry.

The night flipped back and forth this way from the heartfelt country numbers to the more aggressive numbers. The harmonies have a rough quality that are endearing. “Codeine” turns into a jam between the instrumental.

Rarely do you hear such a combo of instrumental prowess and songwriting. I found it hard to believe that the turtles had been around for almost ten years with such quality music and I hadn’t heard of them. Next thing to do is start stockin’ up on their records.

Photos by Suzanne Davis McMahon

Audio Download: Antonio Lulic, “Hey, It’s Okay”

Glen Hansard
The skills that Hansard honed while busking the streets of Dublin early in his career haven’t left him. Although claiming to be nervous standing on a stage by himself with a guitar, he performed with a confidence that demonstrated his musical and performing prowess. Hansard has a distinct way of connecting with his audience, one minute delivering a spine-tingling performance, the next minute showcasing his sharp wit with his between song banter. My only complaint? It’s been far too long since Hansard has shared new music with us! The good news is that he will be sharing a new release in June.

Barfield
The self-proclaimed Tyrant of Texas Funk lived up to the title with a raucous set that got the joint jumping. The unassuming Barfield owes as much to James Brown as he does to Bob Wills.

Audio Download: Barfield, “Ask My Baby”

Brendan Benson
Nashville by way of Detroit pop rocker Benson is about to unleash his fifth solo album. I caught Benson play a vibrant afternoon set with his band. His set included a few new tracks mixed in with the old, all boisterous power pop songs that burst with energy. I, for one, am looking forward to the new release.

The Dunwells
The stage where the Dunwells performed their official showcase could barely fit the band. Even more notable, the venue could hardly contain the youthful energy of the their music. The quintet from Leeds, England had a well-honed Americana sound made all the better by the group’s brilliant harmonies.

Audio Download: The Dunwells, “I Could Be a King”

Frank Turner
Turner is the embodiment of rock and roll, a rebellious spirit with an impeccable sense of melody. With just an acoustic guitar he captivates a room, passionately spitting out lyrics one minute then cracking jokes the next.

Gush
I only got a short glimpse of this quartet from Paris but it was enough to grab my attention. The boys are well-studied in the classics, from Neil Young to Queen to the Rolling Stones. They swapped instruments about as much as they traded vocals, making for a really fun set.

Audio Download: Gush, “Let’s Burn Again”

Click here for more Twangville coverage of SXSW.

Photo credits: 30 Days Out (Brendan Benson).