Straight from the Garden state

I remember catching a band called From Good Homes in Waterloo Village, NJ back in 1998. These local northwest NJ cats were huge around the area but also hit it fairly big nationally around the same time. Unfortunately, the band was around for only a couple more years and broke up in early 2001. What emerged following was the creation of a jam/bluegrass supergroup of sorts called Railroad Earth. The group balanced the edge of traditional bluegrass and the jamband tradition to produce an eclectic combination of folk, rock, and jazz; all with a bluegrass feel. With frequent stints at the Telluride Bluegrass Fest, High Sierra Music Fest, as well as the Fox Theater in Boulder, CO, Railroad Earth manifested that they were a band to be reckoned with. The band released the live “Elko” in 2006 and this effort really revealed the high energy and amazing musicianship that their live shows can bring. Got a chance to catch them for a third time last night at the Sherman Theater in East Stroudsburg, PA. Awesome show.

mighty river (live) (from "Elko")

Old 97's

Classic tune from the bad boys of alt/rock/country. Blistering lyrics and awesome guitar riffs accompany Rhett Miller's sweet croon. love this tune.

dressing room walls

test

Inspiration: music for the unwashed and well read

So, anyway, here it goes. Music is elemental. There is music all around us; There are those that channel this phenomenon and these feats are nothing short of amazing. This blog will pay tribute to the uttmost creators of the musical art form. Whether its a straight good groove, kickass lyrics, or simply sheer energy, music has the power to move us all.

One band that always comes to mind is dem good ol boys, The Gourds. Remember back in the day, when the free downloads of the Napster era were frequent and rampant, you downloaded a bluegrass cover of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice? You know what I'm talking about. This cover was widely distributed but incorrectly labeled as being played by Phish or other jam bands. They are Austin, Texas' own, The Gourds, and as my friend once said "I freakin love the Gourds". Those are 100% my thoughts exactly. The Gourds are awsome. Gourds music, as it has come to be known, has a loose, earthy, down-home, high energy feel that is difficult to categorize. They have a spectacular tandem of lyricists in Kevin Russel and Jimmy Smith. Their witty, ironic, reference-laden prose lift them to a prestigious level of songwriting. Most fans will tell you that you are either a Jimmy or a Kevin fan and there is some truth to that fact. One will most definately lean slightly towards one or the other. Whichever way you lean though, there's no denying the fact that you love both.

They recently released Noble Creatures, the Gourds tenth full length LP, in which they made an album not quite like any of their others. Things do, although, stay the course that has brewed and fermented the Gourds sound from the beginning; Like clockwork the Gourds have, on every album, had an almost strikingly even ratio of Jimmy and Kevin songs. This balance combined with thier creative differences come together in a musically chemical anomoly that creates beautifully free-flowing LP's. From thier humble beginnings in 1997's Dems Good Beeble, through 2006's Heavy Ornamentals and now Noble Creatures, thier albums are exciting and spellbounding.

It is music for the unwashed and well read, and generally The Gourds are one the most enjoyable bands I have ever heard. They embody all that is good . Here's a couple of my favorites (2 Kevin and 2 Jimmy songs by the way; a well balanced post). Let go and enjoy.......

from Noble Creatures
Spivey


from Blood of the Ram
Cracklins


from Dems Good Beeble
When Wine Was Cheap


from Cow Fish Fowl or Pig
Bottle and a Dime




By the way, a friend of mine has a great blog and he has subsequently and indirectly led me to create one of my own. Check his blog out: http://grocerystorefeet.blogspot.com/