Eek! I have about three minutes to post, so this will be short. Paul Burch is playing the Family Wash tonight at 8 PM. I can most easily compare Burch to Robbie Fulks, his Bloodshot brethren, although that could be a bit lazy of me. I think Burch’s music is a wee bit smarter lyrically, and I love his Hankesque delivery of lines. He’s good, go see him. Free as always, take a few dollars for the tip hat.

Paul does bluegrass: Little Glass of Wine, with Ralph Stanley (like you needed that link or something!), from his recently released album, East to West

When I’m In Love, with Kelly Hogan, from East to West

Paul Burch: Life of a Fool from Fool For Love

Paul Burch: Lovesick Blues Boy, from Fool For Love

His live show is fantastic - he’s truly one of these big Nashville secrets that nobody wants to tell you about. Go see him live, you won’t regret it!

Celine

I know this isn’t exactly about Nashville, but I am excited to say that HQ, The “Official” Unofficial Source For All Things 24 (aka “the best show ever”) has posted an article I wrote! It’s about the premiere of I Trust You To Kill Me here at the Nashville Film Festival.

Make sure you click over, show them some love, and tell them how cool I am.

-Matt

Matt and I went on Saturday to see the debut of Improv Nashville’s newest group, Troupe 93. The show was sold out, with what seemed to be a lengthy waiting list, so we were glad we’d reserved tickets in advance. It was a fabulous time. Troupe 93 started the show with a few rounds of short-form improv. Overall, they did an awesome job, although it seemed like the song circle starting off the show was a little choppy. Or maybe it’s my own intense dislike of that game, owing to the fact that I’m pretty terrible at it. It makes me nervous to watch others attempt it, too! The rest of their show was great, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them grow and perform together more often. Thanks to Karen Hicks, many times over, for allowing us to share these photos with you guys.

Erin Parker, Arikah Nash, and Blake Wylie, of Troupe 93.

The whole gang!

Blake Wylie and Dylan Kinney.

After a short intermission, Improv Nashville’s Mainstage performed, and I was finally able to see them do long-form improvisation for the first time. They’d put on a series of shows during the month of July, all long-form, and I’d had to miss every single show due to work obligations. I was told at the show that the Mainstage troupe would be performing long-form from now on, which is really exciting to me. Long-form just seems to offer so much more potential for creativity and humor than short-form improv. The longform on Saturday night was hilarious, and all of the scenes flowed together really well. I’m really looking forward to getting to their shows in the future, and am glad that the groups are really taking off - this show was packed!

From the Mainstage performance (again, thanks to Karen for the pictures!):

Cindy Carter, Barry McAllister, David Jones, and Sheryl Bryant of Improv Nashville’s Mainstage.

And yes, local radio’s own Bill Fondren was indeed a part of Nashville’s Troupe 93. We love Bill - listen to him on the radio each morning - and were very excited to meet him in person. I think we actually scared him a little bit. Bill is awesome, very friendly, fun to hang out with, and he revealed to us that traffic reporting does not, in fact, involve riding in helicopters and fighting off ninjas every morning. I’m still trying not to cry about it. Here are Matt and Bill, together after the show:

Thanks, Bill, for the picture!

-Celine

For me, this week brings a return to teaching full-time, which is kind of a drag, but the fact that Old Crow Medicine Show’s Big Iron World is being released tomorrow will do a lot to make up for having to kiss my summer goodbye. You can actually purchase Big Iron World right now via itunes, or you can even stream the entire album for free over at CMT. Just click here. I thought I’d do a post today previewing two of the songs that they’ve included on the CD.. Nothing today from the new album, just older versions of a few songs, as well as a few covers of the same songs from other artists.

Remember that Old Crow is playing an in-store at Tower Records on West End tonight at 11:30 PM. They’ve also released their newest touring schedule. Check their official website for solid details in the future. It’s not been updated to reflect the new dates yet, so here they are:

August 2006
Monday 28 | Tower Records (West End), Nashville, TN
Wednesday 30 | WFPK Waterfront Wednesday Concert Series, Louisville, KY
September 2006
Sunday 3 | Sugar Bowl Music Festival, Norden, CA
Tuesday 5 | Music Box @Fonda, Hollywood, CA
Thursday 7 | Slim’s, San Francisco, CA
Friday 8 | Slim’s, San Francisco, CA
Monday 11 | Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR
Tuesday 12 | The Show Box, Seattle, WA
Friday 15 | Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Saturday 23 | A Prairie Home Companion, St. Paul, MN
Tuesday 26 | Webster Hall, New York, NY
Thursday 28 | Somerville Theatre, Boston, MA
Friday 29 | The Egg/Hart Theatre, Albany, NY
Saturday 30 | Ithaca State Theatre, Ithaca, NY
October 2006
Tuesday 3 | Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Wednesday 4 | 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
Friday 6 | Mr. Small’s Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
Saturday 7 | Tall Stacks Festival, Cincinnati, OH
Thursday 19 | Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, AL
Friday 20 | Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN
Saturday 21 | Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
Tuesday 24 | Marrz, Wilmington, NC
Thursday 26 | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Asheville, NC
Friday 27 | Canal Club, Richmon, VA
Saturday 28 | Performing Arts Theatre, Roanoke, VA
November 2006
Thursday 9 | First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Friday 10 | House of Blues - Chicago, Chicago, IL
Saturday 11 | Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MI
Sunday 12 | The Mod Club, Toronto, ON, Canada
Wednesday 15 | Music Mill, Indianapolis, IN
Thursday 16 | Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
Friday 17 | Mississippi Nights, St. Louis, MO
Saturday 18 | New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, TN (Tenative)

From the tracks that I’ve heard, the new album has a nice, robust sound that I really enjoy. I felt like they glossed up the last album a bit too much and lost a lot of the color and edginess that makes OCMS so good. Both of the tracks that I’m sharing today have been performed by the band in the past, either in the studio or on live recordings. They’re two of my more favorite traditional songs that they perform, and I feel like they’ve really gotten a good treatment on the new album, which is a relief.

Old Crow Medicine Show: Cocaine Habit from their second album, Eutaw. This was my first OCMS cd. I loved it, listened to it obsessively for months, and I still think it’s their best. It was out of print for a couple of years, but is now back in print.

A couple of old-school versions:

Memphis Jug Band: Cocaine Habit Blues (recorded in 1930)

Leadbelly: Take a Whiff on Me (recorded 1933)

Woody Guthrie: Take a Whiff on Me (recorded early 1940’s)

Another old favorite of mine is OCMS doing Minglewood Blues. This version was recorded live at the Paramount Theatre in Bristol, Tennessee, in 2005.

Cannon’s Jug Stompers: Minglewood Blues. This is the original version of “Minglewood Blues,” a song that was made very popular after the Grateful Dead recorded a couple of different versions of their own. The original version was written by Noah Lewis and performed by Gus Cannon, Ashley Thomas and Noah Lewis as the group “Cannon’s Jug Stompers.” Minglewood, by the way, was a sawmill camp in Ashport, Tennessee. Ashport is on the Mississippi River in the western part of the state (near Jackson and Dyersburg). It’s actually pretty close to where my father grew up.

Two other versions:

Grateful Dead: All New Minglewood Blues from their album Shakedown Street

John Sebastian (of the Lovin’ Spoonful) with the J-band and Geoff Muldaur: Minglewood Blues. This is from a Harry Smith tribute album, an amazing CD that I would highly recommend to anyone. This version of Minglewood is actually one of my favorite performances of all.

Hope some of this music was fun to listen to - go out and pick up Big Iron World today.

Celine

While bumming around the farmer’s market yesterday afternoon before getting my sweet, sweet haircut at cognito (thanks, Jesse!), I was browsing the Scene and noticed that Old Crow Medicine Show will be performing at the West End Tower Records on Monday evening (the 28th) at 11:30 PM. They’ll also be signing autographs! All in celebration of their newest album, Big Iron World.  I’ve heard a few tracks and haven’t exactly been bowled over, although I am excited about a few new versions of some of the older favorites that they’ve covered in the past - “Cocaine Habit” and “Minglewood Blues,” especially. They’ve also got a version of “James River Blues,” an old blues tune that I’ve never heard them do before.. Expect a more substantial post from us next week on this, after the full album is out.

Here’s more info from the site:

Mmm, free concert in Louisville. Tempting. I hope that we’ll be able to make it out on Monday evening to the OCMS performance, although a midnight show is awfully late for me. I am an old lady now. There’s also a great free! free! free! concert going on Monday in Centennial Park from 5 until 10 PM. Here are more details on that from their annoying website (we clicked so you don’t have to!):

MINI Music Festival
Make sure you pack your lawn chairs and blankets for the ‘MINI Music Festival’ at Centennial Park adjacent to the Parthenon in the heart of Nashville. Join over 1,000 MINI motorists and their guest for spectacular festival featuring street fair style booths, Southern culinary food and drink as well a dynamic musical line-up to include John Hiatt, Tift Merrit, Jimmy Hall, Chris Janson, Thad Cockrell  & Rodney Crowell - all brought to you courtesy of Spin Magazine! Festival hours are from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Sounds like a great lineup! We’ll be there.

SIGNED: CELINE (Matt is making me sign all of my posts now.)

Okay, I know that this makes two posts in a row about The Goonies, but seriously, we need to talk about this.

There are really only two movies from my childhood that I could still watch over and over again: The Goonies and The Princess Bride. But The Goonies will always be my first love. I saw this movie no less than a hundred times as a kid. During the summer, I watched it at least once a day, and as a result, I can still pretty much quote the entire thing from memory. The best thing about it is that you never really outgrow this movie. It’s funny to adults and kids alike, and it’s held up remarkably well considering when it was made (1985! I was 9 years old - the glory days).

There are just so many classic moments in this movie: Mikey’s inspirational speeches (”Down here it’s our time, it’s our time down here!), Chunk “fixing” the statue of David, Mouth terrifying the Spanish housekeeper, Sloth, the bone organ, Brand riding an 8-year-old girl’s bike, all the great quotes, that bitchin’ waterslide, a pirate ship…honestly, how can you top this movie?!? And we haven’t even mentioned the Fratellis, or the fact that the soundtrack contains Cyndi Lauper’s best song (warning: this is a link to a video that contains Cyndi Lauper, Rowdy Roddy Piper, The Iron Sheik, one of the Koloffs, AND Captain Lou Albano. You’re welcome).

So even though I’m a professed Goonie superfan, I must admit that I have never seen it in the theater (or if I did back when I was nine, I don’t remember it). So do you think there’s any way possible I’m missing this tomorrow night at the Belcourt? Not on your life. Show starts at 11:30, and tickets are $7. The best part? On Friday, there’s a Truffle Shuffle contest and a One-Eyed Willie Look-a-like contest. Even if you’re not going to get your shuffle on, that’s going to be fun to watch!

So now that I’ve exposed my superfandom, what is your favorite Goonies moment? Here’s the trailer to jog your memory.

-Matt

Got this bulletin on myspace earlier:

The Late Show Summer Finale!!! Friday Aug.25th at 11:30PM

“Hey you guys!!!” That’s right, Goonies never say die, so we’re bringin’ this one back to the Big Screen. Who needs a Dead Man’s Chest when you’ve got One Eyed Willie? On Friday, enter the Truffle Shuffle and best One-Eyed Willie look-a-like contest and win fabulous prizes. So come dressed like a pirate or a goonie! And get a Baby Ruth while the supplies last! This Late Show will have a Second Chance Screening of just the film on Saturday, August 26th at 11:30PM.

Tickets $7 On-sale now at the Belcourt box office or at Tickets.Belcourt.Org

More at Belcourt.Org

And if you’re really up for some Classic Film this weekend The Belcourt’s showing THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY on the wide, WIDE, WIDE BIG SCREEN as it was meant to be seen. Part of the Weekend Classics Matinee Series Fri-Sun @ 11:30AM also, just cause you demand it Monday & Tuesday at 5:45PM

And don’t forget, Tuesdays are College Movie Madness…regular film admission is $3.75 with ANY College ID…so that leaves you lots of change left over for delicious Belcourt beer.

-

I think we’ll probably be there with bells on. This happens to be Matt’s favorite movie of all time (okay, maybe his second favorite, behind Lebowski). We knew this was coming up but weren’t sure of the date, so there it is!

We’ll make a few more detailed mp3 posts on a few of these artists later in the week, but here’s what we’re looking forward to as our work week wears on.

Thursday:

- Of course we’ll be listening to Josh Kear tomorrow night at the early Bluebird show. Cake Bake Betty will make an appearance at the 9 PM Bluebird show, too. We were thinking about staying for both, but don’t think that we can handle the table minimums for both shows.

- If you’re in the mood for in-your-face hip gyrations, and happy, somewhat twangy pop, the Rhett Miller show at the Mercy Lounge is the place to be.

- The Spiritual Family Reunion, a band that I’ve just begun to listen to, is doing a show at The 5 Spot, over on the East side. If you have to miss them this time around, they’re playing a Monday evening show at the Basement, which is where we’ll probably catch them. They have a hazy, dreamy beautiful country sound, and the lead singer, Patty LeMay, has a beautiful voice that reminds us of Lucinda.

- Tomorrow is also the date of the RAINN benefit concert at 3rd and Lindsley, featuring performances from Garrison Starr, The Gabe Dixon Band, Sandra McCracken, Tyler James, and Rachel Sage.

Friday:

- The Gypsy Hombres take the stage on Friday night at The Family Wash, which, as we say again and again, is one of our favorite hangouts in Nashville. The Hombres are straight up Django-inspired gypsy swing, and are a very fun show to see. The Hombres show is free, as usual, just eat a bite (honey baked brie!) and save a few dollars for the tip hat. The Hombres play at 7 and 9 PM.

- Pretty much everyone has heard about this by now, but The Hotpipes are playing The Basement on Friday with super-secret-don’t-tell-anyone guests The Features. Okay, not so secret anymore, right? The show is $7 and starts at 9 PM.

- Venus Hum plays a CD release show at the Mercy Lounge. Show starts at 9:30, you can buy tickets in advance, too. They’re $10 if you’re over 21 ($13 if you’re 18-20).

- Troupe 93 makes a debut performance at 12th South Arts Venue - you can keep scrolling down this page if you’d like a few details, or visit Improv Nashville’s website.. We will definitely be there to support our friends Erin and Blake. PS: Bill Fondren!! I hope he will talk in his radio voice.

- After we leave Improv Nashville’s show, we’re hopefully going to hop over the The 5 Spot to see Kelley McRae (her site wasn’t quite working for us today, but you could hear her over at her myspace, too. Kelley’s music was passed on to us a few days ago and I just can’t stop listening to her sing. Her voice is serene and elegant, the music has a bit of twang and it’s altogether very graceful and inviting. Show starts at 9 PM.

Saturday:
There’s a ton going on Saturday night, but we’ve narrowed it down to two notable events.

- First, there is an Eef Barzelay (Clem Snide) acoustic show at the Basement, starting at 9 PM. Tickets are $8. I picked up Bitter Honey, Barzelay’s solo album, a few months ago had have enjoyed it, although I do prefer the band’s sound to his solo stuff. I saw them open for Ben Folds, once upon a time, and think that they’re a fantastic live show. We’ll hopefully get some Clem Snide/Eef tracks up later in the week. You can also check out a profile of the newly-relocated Barzelay in this week’s Nashville Scene.

- I do like Eef, but there’s a good chance that we’ll end up out in Woodbury, Tennessee, for the Minton Sparks show at the Arts Center of Cannon County. I’ve missed Minton Sparks at TPAC simply because tickets are much too expensive for my little wallet to handle, but if you’re willing to make the drive to Woodbury (out 24, a little ways past Murfreesboro), you can catch Minton for about half the price, although you might make up the difference in gas dollars. Tickets are $8 for students and $12 for general admission, and you can purchase them online through the Arts Center website. This is where we’ll be, most likely, this Saturday evening. We’ll do a more detailed post on Minton later in the week, but her work is phenomenal. Check out her website for a few audio samples.

I broke up with Belle and Sebastian in 2000. Fold Your Hands pretty much bankrupted any joy or happiness that I’d found in their music. I thought it was dull, dark, and as much as I’d enjoyed their previous records, this one inspired me to put my head under pillows and avoid talking to people for days. It wore me out, it made me angry, it made me incredibly sad. Their next two, Storytelling and Dear Catastrophe Waitress did pretty much the same thing to me, and I’m not sure why. I loved their first three albums. Capital L love, violent, huge, passionate L-o-v-e. (Friends, do not hang me out to dry over disliking Waitress, because I have certainly tried.)

Then, 2006 rolled around and an advance copy of The Life Pursuit somehow landed in my inbox. I remember smirking for a few days and forgetting about it for a while and then finally, sheepishly, coming back to it. The Life Pursuit is a masterpiece. It is, by far, my favorite B&S album, and will be eternally lodged somewhere in a small room in my brain, where the door is always open and the sounds are slowly, constantly pouring out into all of my fingers and my toes, behind my eyes and down to my stomach and my kneecaps. This summer was rude to me, it pushed and pulled me around and made me sort of miserable, but The Life Pursuit soldiered on inside and healed all wounds. It is the most magical medicine you can put in your ears.

So, is this the best I’ve heard all year? Probably. I know that we have a few more months to wait for something better to come along, but I’ll always keep this in my back pocket. The words will never smudge, the pages will never grow old, this beautiful thing will always be fresh and new to me. Here are a few of my favorites from the disc:

Belle and Sebastian: White Collar Boy
Belle and Sebastian: Sukie in the Graveyard
Belle and Sebastian: Act of the Apostle II

And a few other B&S goodies:

Belle and Sebastian on World Cafe

Stuart Murdoch interview from Fresh Air

Future Pilot AKA, featuring guest vocals from Sarah and Stuart of B&S. Click the top track to play “Eyes of Love” featuring Sarah and Stuart.

Click the second track, “Night Baking,” to hear the Belle and Sebastian contribution to this compilation album for children. (Thanks to Adam for the heads up on the myspace tracks!)

Because I’m headed out the door to a meeting. We’ll have a few more substantial updates later today:

- Picks for tonight: Americana Tonight at Douglas Corner, and The Coal Men, Matt Ramsey, and Joni Allen at The Basement.

- Last night, on my drive home from work, I heard a rebroadcast on WPLN of Live In Studio C with a stunning performance from Darrell Scott. Matt’s had his CD in pretty heavy rotation around the house, and I’ve been impressed, but his performance last night pretty much hooked me as a fan forever. It was amazing - I think you should be able to stream it online. Listen to it!

- Troupe 93, Nashville’s newest comedy improv group, performs with Improv Nashville THIS FRIDAY at the 12th South Arts Venue. Tickets are $8, and I’m pretty sure that the show will sell out, but you can reserve tickets now by calling 418-0905 or emailing info@improvnashville.com. This is Troupe 93’s debut performance, and notable members of the group include Mr. Blake Wylie of The Nashville Files and Nashville’s own Bill Fondren, WPLN Traffic Guru (unless Bill Fondren has a name-twin here in town). I am most excited about seeing Bill Fondren do improv. Anyway, we will definitely be there, so please come out and join us.

More later - gotta run.