Carter Tanton Is Not In Tulsa Anymore...Or, Come Hear The Murderous Joy Of Free Clouds!...Better, BUY THIS RECORD AND SEE THIS SHOW!

Carter Tanton alone in his room with a magnificent view...

From the opening strains of "Murderous Joy", the leadoff track from Carter Tanton's new release Freeclouds, I instantly remembered what it was that I loved so much about the singer/songwriter's previous incarnation Tulsa. Tulsa was one of those bands that I was infatuated with and was lucky enough to see at 2008's NoisePop Festival in San Francisco. They had a Neil Young-influenced sound that combined jangle and groove, mysterious yet defined, delicate but forceful. At the center was Tanton's ethereal and haunting vocals and guitar. I just assumed I'd have another opportunity to see them play on their next swing through the Bay Area. Fast forward three and half years and I'm finally getting that opportunity in the form of Carter Tanton solo - opening for Purling Hiss and War On Drugs at the Independent this Sunday, October 23rd. The Massachusetts-based Tanton (and latest addition to Baltimore's Lower Dens) brings a unique quality to the "neo-folk" movement - that includes contemporaries like Kurt Vile - and that is a gift for combining yearning with confidence.

His album Freeclouds, out on Western Vinyl, is an exceptional musical statement. At its core are songs that seem born of nights spent strumming an acoustic guitar alone in a bedroom. Listening to a song like "Pitch Bent Flute" you can almost see the sun begin its ascent into the sky when viewed through a window criss-crossed by the iron of fire escapes. The music washes over the listener in waves and layers with Tanton's angelic voice to calm the musical wanderlust. "Fake Pretend" (which features a vocal by Marissa Nadler who Tanton has worked with) plainly states, "I'm nobody's fool but I've got nothing now." What he does have, is a perfect blend of drum machine beats, shimmering effects on densely layered guitars, and some lovely organ carving out his musical landscape. "Gauze of Song" is a dreamlike serenade with the vague sound of horns in the distance and anchored by a bassline that rolls in and out. "Saturday" is a well-crafted ballad with an acoustic refrain that drips with melancholy minus the melodrama. This song is followed by "Horrorscope", a 3:50 second lo-fi gem that is the most reminiscent of his work in Tulsa. The song will make you want to put on your headphones and hit the streets. In fact, it might render you invisible to everyone participating in the street theatre, save for the dumb, knowing grin of glory the song inspires. "Pasture Sounds" even dabbles in dub and reggae characterized by its reverb-drenched beat. There are so many wonders to be found in this album, it truly bears repeated listens to get at all of Freeclouds nuances and subtleties. This is a can't miss album and a must see bill. Tanton will be joined this Sunday at The Independent by two of Philadelphia's best Purling Hiss and War On Drugs. DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!

Duvet Breaks Silence On Recent Nomination For PodCastAwards And You Might Be Surprised At What He Has To Say? Alternate Title...Duvet Says, "Anyone Who Says Being Nominated Is Like Winning Is A Loser!"

One of WDS's flagship podcasts, "What Duvet Said...About Music", was recently nominated for this year's People's Choice PodCastAwards in the category of "Best Podsafe Music Podcast". The 7th annual event is designed to recognize the best podcasters in the world by allowing podcasters and listeners to nominate their favorites in a variety of categories. Founded by Todd Cochrane - podcaster, new media expert, and author of the first book on podcasting "Podcasting: Do It Yourself Guide" - these awards are expected to generate  some 750,000 hits per day during the voting window which runs from October 12-27th. "What Duvet Said...About Music", recently added to Mevio.com, is one of ten nominees in its category. The bi-weekly two hour podcast is hosted by the venerable WDS CEO and self-proclaimed bon vivant, Bob Duvet. His podcast has been featured in the Nashville Scene for its Issue 18 dissection of "Music City's" underground scene. Many of the show's interview subjects (which have included Caitlin Rose, Tristen, Daniel Pujol, Tim Cohen, Tamaryn, The Soft Moon, Olin & The Moon, et al) have gone on to receive national/international attention despite having appeared on the podcast.

Mr. Duvet is a notoriously secretive, some even describe as shadowy, internet presence and has been using his music podcast to influence impressionable minds with his hypnotic vocal delivery and adventurous playlists. The show features interviews, reviews, and rambling incoherent pontificating and seems to be at the forefront of a music movement in need of rambling, incoherent pontificating. When told of his nomination for "Best Podsafe Music Podcast", Duvet reportedly became highly agitated and blamed the government for singling him out. When explained that this was, in fact, quite an honor, Duvet thanked Jesus Christ.

Winner announcements will be sometime in mid-November with prizes in each category to be determined. Given the coveted nature of these awards and their cultural significance, Duvet is rumored to be leveraging the proverbial "farm" on what he has determined to be a "given". When pressed further on the topic Mr. Duvet was succinct, "Anyone that tells you being nominated is like winning is a LOSER." WDS stock has been soaring in market trading since the announcement and has aroused the suspicion of not only podcast enthusiasts but also SEC investigators. Mr. Duvet is oft characterized as a master manipulator and is sure to exploit even the slightest stream of goodwill for his own benefit. If you would like to see this happen and help to contribute to what is sure to be a grave miscarriage of entertainment industry glad-handing, go here to vote for "What Duvet Said...About Music" in the "Best Podsafe Music Podcast" category. Below is the video hosted by Cochrane for the slate announcements of nominees in the various categories for this year's PodCastAwards.

Is Tom Waits Still A Genius?...Watch This Video And Question No Further! Or, Pay Attention Kids, This Is How You Market A New Album!

Ever find yourself questioning the creativity of a previous generation? Well, there is something to be said for being able to remember a time before the internet and then using that experience to inject new technology with old aesthetics. Music legend Tom Waits puts the private back in "private listening party" in advance of his newest release "Bad As Me" - due to drop October 24th in the US. Waits puts his bona fide acting chops and quirky sensibility to good use in creating this fun and critical jab at the lack of true exclusivity in the "iShare" generation's most treasured creation, the internet. Waits is streaming his soon-to-be-released album as an invitation only listening party. Click on title above to find out how you can crash....or simply watch the instructional video below for the full manifesto. See how a few "bad apples" can spoil the bunch!

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival In Pics...BETTER! Earles, Darlins, Heathens, Jayhawks & Dead Horses Invade Golden Gate Park!! Parting Title, This Could Be The BEST Music Festival In The World AND It's FREE!!

LA's Jonathan Wilson kicked off Hardly Strictly with an AMAZING set on Friday...photo by RLC

Jonathan Wilson in all his ragged glory...photo by RLC

New York's Woods plays in them...photo by RLC

Wood's Jeremy Earl finds the sweet note, the toe curler...photo by RLC

The Cass McCombs Band kicks off Sunday at Hardly Strictly's...photo by HFC

Cass McCombs feels it and so does the crowd at the aptly named Star Stage...photo by HFC

Two of a Band of Heathens, Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi take it to church...photo by  HFC

Heathen, Colin Brooks...photo by HFC

Ed Jurdi drops the Dead's "Brokedown Palace" on those gathered in the park...photo by HFC

Trust me when I say the harmonies were SWEET!...photo by HFC

Ryan Bingham delivers an intense set with many guests...photo by HFC

Commander Cody's Bill Kirchen lends an axe to a set that is sure to be remembered as one of Hardly Strictly's BEST...photo by HFC

The newest Dead Horse basks in the glow...photo by HFC

Ryan Bingham lays it down...photo by HFC

Enough dudes...I give you  Murfreesboro, TN's Those Darlins...photo by RLC

Jesse Darlin' is seriously gonna RAWK UR ASS OFF...seriously. photo by RLC

Duvet doesn't play favorites but if he did...Nikki Darlin'. photo by RLC

Kelly Darlin' makes the Hardly Strictly crowd stop and take notice...photo by RLC

Those Darlins drummer Lynn is no less darlin as he drives a GREAT set! photo by RLC

Hardly Strictly's "Thin White Duke" Justin Townes Earle...photo by RLC

JTE was joined by Jason Isbell who also played Hardly Stictly with his band the 400 unit...photo by RLC

A pretty impressive group of background singers Shelby Lynn, Jason Isbell, and Steve Earle...photo by RLC

All original line-up of the Jayhawks gathered on Sunday to close out Rooster stage...photo by RLC

Jayhawk Gary Louris about to take flight...photo by RLC

Missing Jayhawk Marc Olson returns to the roost...photo by RLC

Duvet's Best Sets Of ACL 2011 In Pictures...Or, A Picture Says A 1000 Words!...REALLY! Duvet Too Lazy To Write 1000 Words!!

Manhattan's Cults preaching to the converted at this year's Austin City Limits Festival...photo by RLC

One half of Australia's An Horse drummer Damon Cox at ACL...photo by RLC

England's Wild Beast play through the rain at ACL...photo by RLC

Wild beast Tom Fleming...photo by RLC

Kurt Vile at ACL 2011...photo by RLC

Vile about to violate...photo by RLC

The "Screaming Eagle of Soul" Charles Bradley about to take flight...photo by HFC

He loves you & ACL loved him...photo by HFC

Nashville based Jon Pardi & the All Nighters played a raucous set at the BMI stage...photo by RLC

Jon Pardi will have a much anticipated release out next year on EMI, don't miss the boat on this one!...photo by RLC

Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew & Andrew Whiteman surveying ACL...photo by HFC

Perhaps one of the final BSS shows for quite some time...photo by HFC

Gomez's Ben Ottewell brings a blistering set to the blistering heat of ACL...photo by HFC

Austin's own Hayes Carll was the set of the weekend for Duvet...photo by HFC

Hayes Carll playing it like he means it...photo by HFC 

 An Horse singer/guitarist Kate Cooper...photo by RLC