January Podcasts Picks

Thars the Stars: Portland’s Stars of Cascadia are back with a new record, Fairfield.

We’re keeping it live and local to start off 2019, and kicking things off with a killer cut from that fun and rollicking band of Portland alt-country grinders, Stars of Cascadia. Their new CD Fairfield just hit the streets this week, and “The Great Divide” is a near perfect tune to sum up the mid-Trump swamp we find ourselves wading through daily. Singer Scott Jeffries gets nostalgic on this new disc, ruminating on the Viet Nam era and the last time . . . say, 1968 . . . when the U.S. felt this very divided.

The Delines may be considered a local band in our neck of the woods, but they’re killing it right now in the U.K. and Ireland on their first tour in a couple of years. We caught both of their warm-up shows in Portland before they headed across the Atlantic to promote their brand new album, The Imperial, which is pulling rave reviews around the globe. We share the title cut here.

And while you’re cranking this latest playlist, be sure to stick around for a song from the Portland trio Five Letter Word. We first saw these talented ladies at last year’s Wildwood MusicFest & Campout, and they blew us away with their amazing harmonies and stellar musicianship. Their debut record, Siren, dropped earlier in January, but we expect to be hearing a whole lot of great things from them throughout 2019 and beyond.

We also share new music from Son Volt, Joshua Ray Walker, Ryan Bingham, Vandoliers, Bob Sumner and a song by Ryan Adams with a title that pretty much sums up our feeling about the winter weather in the Pacific Northwest. Not that we’re complaining. Sending out good wishes to our friends in the Midwest (we’re looking at you, Bloodshot Records crew) who are suffering through a record-shattering Arctic blast that arrived in the Great Lakes region overnight.

Since you folks are pretty much stuck inside for a bit, crank up our January Podcast Picks!

Here’s the playlist:

The Great Divide, Stars of Cascadia
The Imperial, The Delines
Burn It, Joshua Ray Walker
Jingle And Go, Ryan Bingham
Mountain Girl, Shane Smith
5 Acres Of Turnips, Pistol Annies
Saturday Satan Sunday Saint, Charley Crockett
Me And Hayes, Mike and the Moonpies
Jesus And Elvis, Hayes Carll
Troublemaker, Vandoliers
The Way She Looked At You, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers
Bourbon And Blood, The Comacheros
Southern Accents, The Steel Woods
Go Home, Garrett T. Capps
Riverbed, Bob Sumner
Easier To Go, Five Letter Word
Living Free, Jack Waters and the Unemployed
F*ck The Rain, Ryan Adams

TMFWP Special: Catching up with Caleb Caudle

Cool breeze from Carolina: Caleb Caudle captivated the Mission Theater crowd opening for Corb Lund in Portland on January 13. Photo courtesy of Greg Homolka

It’s been a been a steady, six-year rise for alt-country singer-songwriter Caleb Caudle. Through regular touring and a rock-solid catalog of terrific records, Caudle has emerged as one of Americana’s best acts, whether fronting a band or performing solo.

We caught up with Caleb during a recent west-coast swing opening for Canadian country singer Corb Lund. Over a quick conversation in his dressing room at the Mission Theater in Portland (with Lund’s band sound checking for that evening’s show in the background), Caudle shares some thoughts on his career so far and the many exciting happenings ahead for 2019.

During the interview, you’ll hear about his first trip to perform in U.K., a move he’s planning from his home near Winston-Salem, N.C. to Nashville, and the amazing project he’s undertaking for the making of his next album (and the A-list all-star band he’s put together for the recording).

We also mix in a couple of our favorite songs from Caleb’s career so far (listed below). Visit Caleb’s website for more information about his music, upcoming show dates and how you can contribute to the making of his upcoming record. And expect more great stuff from this talented young man in the coming years.

Piedmont Sky
Empty Arms
Love That’s Wild
Trade All The Lights (featuring Lydia Loveless)

Caleb Caudle