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

Jonathan Wilson At Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival...Or, If You're Unemployed Or A Music Writer, You Have No Good Reason To Miss This Show...MORE OR! "Can We Really Party Today?", Yes We Can!

With a smile like that, he definitely knows something...

Occasionally as a music writer you need something to snap you out of the malaise of all the "samey" sounding recordings that come across your desk. A tendency to become blase, with the mere name of a band inspiring a mountain of irk inside you, takes over. You wonder if all those bands and artists you were so hot for a few months back were really worthy of all the love letters and verbal flowers you bestowed on them. Then, as the impulse to delete incoming emails from publicists touting their latest and greatest has become almost a reflex, you give pause, move past the superlatives and overused musical reference points, and open your ears again. The thrill of discovery washing through your body like some drug you had sworn you were gonna kick, but then, it feels so good you blow off rehab again and settle in for a night of binge listening. This is the sensation I felt when I recently discovered LA via North Carolina's Jonathan Wilson and his debut album Gentle Spirit. Gentle Spirit was released here in the states on September 13th on British label Bella Union (Veronica Falls, Low Anthem) and it slipped past my radar, as I was heading out to Austin, TX for the Austin City Limits Festival. Had it not, it would have been the only thing I would have been listening to on the flights to and from Texas. Wilson - who lives in LA's notorious Laurel Canyon - is not only an accomplished musician (having worked with Chris Robinson, Dawes, Erykah Badu, Jacksone Browne, Jonathan Rice, Elvis Costello, and SF's Vetiver to name a few), but is credited for reviving the dormant folk volcano that was Laurel Canyon in the late 60's and early 70's. He is known for hosting some the most intense all-night jam sessions at his home, where on any given night some of the finest musicians in town find their way to the circle. In addition he is a highly sought-after producer - his Five Star Studio has since been relocated from Laurel Canyon and is now based in LA's Echo Park.

The thrity-seven year songwriter and mulit-instrumentalist has produced in Gentle Spirit not simply a folk rock record for his generation but one for the ages. Songs navigate between the cosmic folk of Tim Buckley, the eerie strum and atmospherics of early Pink Floyd, and the ragged crunch of Crazy Horse. The sound is one that can sound as intimate as someone sitting on a stool playing an acoustic guitar or as howling as the weight of the Pacific Ocean crashing on California's rocky shores. His deft hand in the studio and reverence for the past recordings of some the Laurel Canyon era's greatest residents ( think CSN & Y, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young & Crazy Horse) makes Gentle Spirit and its creator stand out from the clinical, digital recordings of most of the past two decades. The circular melodies in songs like, title track "Gentle Spirit" and "Natural Rhapsody" are mesmerizing. There are elements to his songwriting that remind one of Paul McCartney. This is reinforced buy some of the best bass lines I've heard laid down in quite awhile. Another stand out track - there are no weak ones - "Can We really Party Today?", asks the needed question, "Hey, can we really party today...with all that's going on?" The albums finale, the ten-minute plus "Valley of the Silver Moon", is in a word , EPIC! It has the ominous plod of Crazy Horse's classic "Cortez the Killer" with some wonderful organ stabs and swirls augmenting multi-layered guitar tracks. Throughout "Gentle Spirit" his calming voice guides the listener through an enchanted forest of nature-inspired imagery. Jonathan Wilson is the REAL DEAL. In an effort to purge myself of the flooding feeling of self-loathing attached with missing the early boat on Jonathan Wilson, I will be heading to San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on Friday - at the unheard of hour of 11am for both writer and musician - to see him perform his set on the Rooster Stage at this year's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. I implore you to do the same. One more request, see below to listen to Jonathan Wilson's Gentle Spirit to get yourself primed.  I assuredly won't be as quick to dismiss the messages that come in my inbox in the future.

Do Kids Still Play Cowboy and Indian? Well, These Kids Do!...WAIT, HOW ABOUT! Just Enough Chiefs And Just Enough Indians!...NOT CONVINCED? THEN TRY THIS ONE! Cowboy And Indian Not Likely To Fade Under The Glare Of Friday Night Lights!!

Cowboy and Indian inspiring a rain dance onstage at this year's ACL Festival...photo by RLC

The winners of this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival, in addition to music lovers, were the bands and artists calling Austin, Texas home. Over the course of the week I saw some amazing examples of why Austin considers itself the "live music capital of the world". Whether it was the ramshackle glory of the Hickoids second annual ACL alternate the Austin Corn Lovers Fiesta or any number of bands blasting out of bar fronts on the legendary 6th Street, there was a wide array of music on display. Perhaps, no better band crystalized the city's diversity and eclectic reputation than the seven-piece collective headquartered in Austin know as Cowboy and Indian. The band has only been around for a year and a half and is already making waves on both coasts, generating buzz and interest from record labels and recruiting followers via the "tribal" quality of their live shows.

Indians Daniel James & Jazz Mills...photo by RLC

The core of singer/guitarist Daniel James (also of Bay Area favorites Leopold and His Fiction), singer Jazz Mills, and singer/guitarist/banjo player Jesse Plemons (who some might recognize from television's critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights) , tweak Americana music by giving it a spirit that feels fresh and unique. The band grew out of a songwriting partnership struck between Plemons and James, bringing Mills in to complete their vision.

Cowboy Jesse Plemons...photo by RLC

With their mid day set in blistering heat, Cowboy and Indian helped cool things off with songs that recall country while injecting enough rock to have the crowd in attendance dancing. They even managed to conjure a little rain by the end of their forty-five minute set. Songs spanned from the haunting "Bali Hai", to the rollicking choogle of "Ledbellies (Hurt My Pride)" and the just plain RAWKING of "Hand Me Down". Even more impressive was Mills who is seven months pregnant delivering an arresting performance in the extreme heat. I was able to sit down with James for an interview on the most recent "What Duvet Said...About Music" Issue 35 HERE. He details the bands inception, growth, and future in the twenty minute conversation that mixes in plenty of music from both of his bands, in addition to helping curate they show's playlist. Below are two videos the band has released in support of their EP. The band is scheduled to have their first full-length release come out sometime in 2012 on a label TBD.

Additional Indians, sisters, Phoebe (back) & Stephanie Hunt...photo by RLC

The lovely and soon to be mother Jazz Mils...photo by RLC

Daniel James of Cowboy and Indian/Leopold and His Fiction...photo by RLC

The full tribe in all their glory...photo by RLC