Monthly Archives: March 2015

Episode #45 featuring The Git Rights Gospel Revue

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The Git Rights Gospel Revue (l to r): Levi Lunde, Michael Sean Cummins, Marilee Hord, Bob Dunham, Heather Jo Cahill and Chad Lanning. Photo by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #45 with the Git Rights

Praise the Lord, we had The Git Rights Gospel Revue into The Helm for a rowdy good time in recording Episode #45. And before you ask, the answer is yes, we knew exactly what we were getting into.

The Git Rights are legends in the local bar circuit here in Portland. Their live shows feature an irreverent mix of country music and Christian outreach, all spouting from the mind of their humorous leader Michael Sean Cummins. The material is presented tongue-in-cheek, but the message is very real in calling out the hypocritical nature of conservative Christianity in America. Sometimes it’s OK to be a little naughty while being nice, and followers of the Git Rights know they’re in for a fun ride every time the band takes the stage. “It’s like going to church, and there’s whiskey,” Rev. Cummins explained.

On this episode, listeners will learn “It Ain’t Gay To Love Jesus,” and also that following Christ’s example isn’t all that difficult — pretty much “try not to be a prick.”

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The Git Rights sharing their gospel music in The Helm.

The Git Rights are prepping for a big show this coming Friday night at The World Famous Kenton Club, the North Portland bar that has served as their home base since their inception. It’s a birthday show for two of their members turning 40, and they’ll also be sharing the bill with one of the best bands in town, Root Jack. It’s a show that’s sure to reveal the Git Rights in their fun-loving glory, so be get there early and prepare for a sweaty, Jesus-lovin’ good time.

While this episode frequently twists and turns toward oblivion, we manage to keep it on the rails by sharing plenty of great music from the wonderful world of Americana and Alt-Country. Topping the playlist is a song, “Asymmetrical Man,” from the new EP by Portland treasure Randall Payton and his band Chez Stadium (search on Bandcamp). We also have tunes from Seattle’s Evening Bell and Chuckanut Drive as well cuts from C.W. Ayon, Charlie Parr, Cody Jinks and Micheal Dean Damron, among others.

So dial it up and open your heart to Jesus. Here’s the playlist:

Asymmetrical Man, Chez Stadium
To Love Somebody, Slobberbone
No Lonesome Tune, Townes Van Zandt
Dust Storm, Evening Bell
It Ain’t Gay To Love Jesus (Live In The Helm), The Git Rights Gospel Revue
Dead Guy On A Stick (Live In The Helm), The Git Rights Gospel Revue
The Hand Of The Almighty (Live In The Helm), The Git Rights Gospel Revue
When God Dips His Love In My Heart (Live In The Helm), The Git Rights Gospel Revue
Bring That Bottle, C.W. Ayon
The Speakeasy Solution, Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy
Funeral Road Blues, Charlie Parr
Burning .44, Chuckanut Drive
13 Years, Cody Jinks
Bad Days Ahead (Live), Michael Dean Damron

Episode #44 featuring Jenny Don’t & The Spurs

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We’ve been Spurred (l to r): Lewi Longmire, Jenny Don’t and Sam Henry in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #44 with Jenny Don’t & The Spurs

Our latest night in The Helm was a rowdy one and made even rowdier by the presence of one of Portland’s best new country bands, Jenny Don’t & The Spurs. Featuring the terrific songwriting and acoustic playing of Jenny Don’t — best known for fronting the fabulous punk-surf-garage band Don’t — The Spurs were kind enough to stop by to promote the release of their new 7-inch and a concert they have coming up opening for Lukas Nelson & The Promise of The Real at Mississippi Studios on March 17.

The Spurs perform as a four-piece fronted by Jenny and backed by legendary drummer Sam Henry, guitarist Lewi Longmire and bassist Kelly Halliburton. Kelly missed the podcast (he’s on tour with his punk band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.), but the rest were on board at The Helm to share their thoughts on playing country music, touring Europe and reaching bigger, receptive audiences. And with Lewi adding some lead telecaster and Sam slapping a pair of brushes on a single snare drum, Jenny led the Spurs through a pair of brand-new songs that were warmly received by the excellent rogue’s gallery of Helm guests.

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Jenny Don’t has the chops and boots for kickin’ out the jams. Photo by Christopher Sohler

Once The Spurs wrapped up their interview, things devolved pretty quickly in typical That Much Further West Podcast fashion. But over the course of the episode our hosts managed to share their usual healthy dose of Americana and alt-country for the episode playlist.

Co-host Phil Favorite ran with an “Amarillo” theme, started by a request for the Austin band Lil Cap’n & Travis by our friend and in-house guest Shelby Farrar. Also on the list is a song “Amarillo” from the excellent new album by Ryan Culwell, and the same-titled classic by Emmylou Harris.

Co-host Eric Kotila added some great songs by some of the artists who will be performing at this coming summer’s Wildwood MusicFest & Campout, including Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, Matt Woods and podcast favorite Emily Herring. And third amigo Mike Lee shares some tunes from and stories about a handful of his favorites, including 500 Miles To Memphis, Supersuckers and Soda Gardocki.

We saved the last song from the one and only Willie Nelson. And for the record, news of Willie’s death last week were greatly exaggerated, which is reason enough to dial it up and dig into Episode #44. Here’s the playlist:

My Life In Amarillo, Lil Cap’n & Travis
Amarillo, Ryan Culwell
Amarillo, Emmylou Harris
Do You Know Thee Enemy?, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
The Very Best, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit
Drinking To Forget, Matt Woods
Your Mistake, Emily Herring
The Fire (Live In The Helm), Jenny Don’t & The Spurs
The Note (Live In The Helm), Jenny Don’t & The Spurs
Shot My Old Man Down, Jenny Don’t & The Spurs
You Win Again, Jenny Don’t & The Spurs
Easy Come & Easy Go, 500 Miles To Memphis
Streets of Baltimore, Gram Parsons
Roadworn And Weary, Supersuckers
Gutter Queen, Soda Gardocki
Uncloudy Day, Willie Nelson

TMFWP Special: Catching up with Aaron Lee Tasjan

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Aaron Lee Tasjan, looking slightly less shaggy than he did last month opening for The Mastersons at Mississippi Studios in Portland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to Aaron Lee Tasjan’s performance at Mississippi Studios from Feb. 17, 2015:

Aaron Lee Tasjan at Mississippi Studios, 2-17-15

Listen to an interview with Aaron Lee after the show:

Interview with Aaron Lee Tasjan, 2-17-15

Armed with his trusty six-string acoustic, aw-shucks charm and a handful of fantastic songs, 20-something singer/slinger/songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan stepped on the stage at Mississippi Studios in Portland last month ready to kill. And kill he did.

Currently on tour opening for New West recording artists The Mastersons, ALT proved himself as powerful a solo artist as he is fronting a full rockin’ band. His clever songwriting and nimble, innovative guitar work were on full display during a short, seven-song set featuring just one tune from his terrific 2014 EP “Crooked River Burning.”

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ALT, fully bearded and coming to a town near you soon.

A recent move to East Nashville, Tennessee, has led to an inspirational explosion for ALT, who’s been touring all over the states since the start of 2015. Over the coming months, he’ll be putting the finishing touches on his new full-length record, the crowd-funded “In The Blazes.”

After the Portland show, ALT sat down with podcast co-host Phil Favorite for a chat about life on the road, his plans for the rest of 2015, an update on the new record and a recent full-band performance that was taped for the internet at Electric Lady Studios in New York City (see bottom of this post).

At That Much Further West Podcast, we’re expecting big things for this terrific young artist in the years to come. Look for him later this month at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, and on the road with Chuck Mead (of BR549 fame) in the Spring. Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy our crowd bootleg and interview.

Here’s the setlist from Aaron Lee’s performance at Mississippi Studios:

1. Madonnas From America
2. Don’t Walk Away
3. East Nashville Song About A Train
4. Please Forgive Me, Ohio
5. American Tan
6. Living Proof
7. 66 Dollar Blues