New Digs, Vol. 24: Local Edition...

Hey. I'm still here.

Just to prove it, here are some sweet jams that will no-doubt match the sonic quality you always find here. These songs are all new to my library, and all happen to come from the Lone Star State - or somewhere very near.

Walt Wilkins - Gypsy Line
buy Vigil (2009)
Walt Wilkins is another one of the hundreds of brilliant songwriters we have hiding down here in Texas. His fluent way with words is matched by his effortlessly smooth vocal ability. Walt's been making music since '02 and has had a number of his songs featured by Pat Green. Vigil, Walt's fifth album, was released in June of this year.

Walt: [Website][MySpace][Facebook]

Mike McClure Band - Find It In You
buy Onion (2009)
McClure's 7th solo album, Onion, is yet another batch of tunes cooked up in his basement-turned studio. For this veteran songwriter/producer, pumping out albums is not the chore it once was. Mike's already talking about another album in the works. Let's hope he keeps supplying us with his work at this pace.

Mike: [Website][MySpace]

Cross Canadian Ragweed - Pretty Lady
buy Happiness And All The Other Things (2009)
Happiness... marks Ragweed's tenth album and 2009 marks 15 years that this band has been kickin' around. Produced by the aforementioned McClure, this album takes on a slightly different feel than their ealier works, but still has that classic Ragweed swagger. They were, by far, my favorite band throughout most of my adolescence, and I'm glad to see that the guys are still making good music and seem to be a genuine as ever.

CCR: [Website][MySpace][Facebook]

Stephanie Briggs - Good Guess
buy Birds Barely Know Us (2009)
I found Stephanie in the liner notes to the above mentioned album - she co-wrote a handful of songs with Cody Canada, offered some vocal help, and even designed the album art for Happiness... Stephanie's got a fun, quirky vocal delivery overlaid with electric guitars and interesting arrangement. She's much edgier than the other 'Texas' bands she associates with - in a good way. Glad I looked her up.

Stephanie: [Website][MySpace][Facebook]

photo by Alexandra Valenti

The Happen-Ins - Die
You may remember me mentioning that the two main pieces of Austin's Dedringers parted ways earlier this year. Sean Faires went on to form The Happen-Ins with the help of some other talented Austin musicians. I've since caught the band live a few times, and I'm more impressed each time. They play dirty, groovy blues/rock with infectious hooks and energetic vocals. I have a feeling after next year's SXSW, things are gonna be happenin' for these guys. This tune is from a demo I got my hands on - hopefully a taste of a soon-to-come full album.

Happen-Ins: [MySpace][Facebook]

"It's Strange How Hard It Rains Now"

After enduring near drought conditions here in central Texas for a couple months, the skies have finally opened up.

And they let it all go.

Neither Dolly nor Edouard earlier this year had enough left by the time they reached me. But a simple northern front showed up just in time to stifle the heat and quench the earth. The last 2 days of constant rainfall have not only held the dust down, but instantly turned the brown fields to green and lifted burn bans.

Rain, as well as many of mother nature's offerings, have been the subject of (or influence for) a plethora of songs. Dark clouds, thunder, lightning, and being forced to remain indoors can bring out the sadness in some and helps to create those somber songs.


Patty Griffin - Rain
buy 1000 Kisses (2005)
Willie Nelson - Rainy Day Blues
buy Songbird (2006)
Ryan Adams - Rainy Days
from The Destroyer Sessions (2000)
Walt Wilkins - 18 Days of Rain
buy Hopewell (2007)

Often used as a metaphor for the cleansing of the soul, rain songs can also be uplifting, despite the gloominess the rain might bring. You can find some hope in a storm if you look forward to the fresh skies that will follow.

The Jayhawks - Save it for a Rainy Day
buy Rainy Day Music (2003)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
buy Pendulum (1970)
James McMurtry - Walk Between the Raindrops
buy Walk Between the Raindrops (1998)
Jerry Jeff Walker - Hill Country Rain
buy Hill Country Rain (1992)

i've got an even better of mix of storm songs that i created as a mixtape when a hurricane was on its way here a few years ago. The next time one rolls through i'll try to post it.

SuperPost: The Road.....

No, even though i have been talkin' a little about books lately, this post is not about the Cormac McCarthy novel. There are countless songs that have been written about/inspired by that mixture of gravel, cement, and tar we like to call The Road.

Rather than save it for last, i'm gonna start with the song that inspired this post. It could be construed as too literal, but Jerry Jeff was best at being blunt.
mp3: Jerry Jeff Walker - Life on the Road
buy Scamp (1996)

Since the introduction of the automobile, Americans have long had an affinity for The Highway. Whether it represents the distance between a man and his lover, the treacherous path taken while transporting precious cargo, or a mythical place where the good go to be bad, the highway has always possessed transcendental qualities.

mp3: Owen Temple - Tennessee Highway
buy General Store (2002)
mp3: The Everybodyfields - Out On The Highway
buy Nothing Is Okay (2007)
mp3: Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (alt take)
buy No Direction Home - The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7 (1995)

There's something special about the feeling you get from being on The Road. Whether you're a traveling musician or not, there's a calming effect that comes from the mixture of the soft hum of your tires on the blacktop, the wind in your face, and the surrounding scenery. The long stretches with nothing to do except bounce stuff around in your head have no doubt spawned some of your favorite songs from your favorite artists.


mp3: Hayes Carll - Down The Road Tonight
buy Little Rock (2005)
mp3: Bruce Robison - Driving All Night Long
buy Long Way Home From Anywhere (1999)
mp3: Patty Griffin - Long Ride Home

buy 1000 Kisses (2005)

Of course, the best part about a road-trip of any kind is that there is no TV and no movies - that leaves one of two things: Good Conversation or Good Music. i'm the type of person that will always find time to listen to music, but so many people only give themselves the chance when they're in the car. One of my favorite things to do is use the time during a drive to subject anyone in the car (willing or not) to a little music schoolin'. And the right music will always lead to good conversation.

If i know there's a road-trip in my future, i make sure i stock my toolbox o' music with some Max Stalling. As of yet, i haven't said much about Max, but he's a got a knack for conversational songs (the topic of a forthcoming post) as well as drivin' music. i can't quite pinpoint what it is about his sound, but it will take your mind off of the road and make your destination seem that much closer.

mp3: Max Stalling - The Rock Song
buy Comfort In The Curves (1997)

for more Max Stalling drivin' music, check out I-35, Runnin' Buddy, Travelin' Lite, Dime Box TX, Probably Corsicana, and Green Lights. Jeez...... i could have made this post with only his songs.

mp3: Blake Powers - Old Blevins Road
from Old Blevins Road (2001)
mp3: Bleu Edmondson - What I Left Behind
buy Southland (2001)

mp3: Brandon Rhyder - Back Roads
buy Conviction (2005)

Often portrayed as a metaphor for life itself, The Road takes on deeper responsibility when it determines the destination and not simply the gettin' there.

mp3: The Avett Brothers - Salina
buy Emotionalism (2007)
mp3: Reckless Kelly - Desolation Angels
buy Under The Table & Above The Sun (2003)
mp3: Walt Wilkins - I Chose This Road
buy Mustang Island (2005)


i'll leave you with some gems from Townes......

"it's a hard road you're travelin'/you can't walk it alone/find a big man to stand beside you"

"mother thinks the road is long and lonely/
little brother thinks the road is straight and fine/
little darling thinks the road is soft and lovely/
i'm thankful that old road is a friend of mine"

"there's lots of things along the road i'd surely like to see/
i'd like to lean into the wind and tell myself i'm free/
but your softest whisper's louder than the highway's call to me/
close your eyes, i'll be here in the mornin'/
close your eyes, i'll be here for a while"