Author Archives: philfavorite@gmail.com

TMFWP Special — A conversation with Jesse Dayton

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Jesse-Dayton

Renaissance Man: Texas-born singer, guitarist and filmmaker Jesse Dayton

Stream or download A Conversation with Jesse Dayton: Jesse Dayton

Jesse Dayton was baptized in the tradition of outlaw country and oozes Texas when he talks, plays and sings. But he’s always had his sights on the horizon and has developed a broader worldview on music and the arts.

Our own Mike Lee, co-host of That Much Further West Podcast, caught up for a chat with Jesse after a performance last year in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. The affable lads talked about the music they grew up with and how it shaped the wider variety of music they listen to and the artists they most admire today.

jesse-dayton

Natural born outlaw country singer Jesse Dayton

On this special episode, Jesse tells us about growing up in Texas, traveling the world, building a career in music and watching the Americana genre expand well beyond the country singer-songwriter realm from where he comes. He also talks about fighting to get Corey Feldman a part in Zombex, the 2013 film he wrote and directed that also features Lew Temple, Malcom McDowell and musical legends Kinky Friedman and John Doe.

Interspersed throughout the interview we share a batch of great music from Jesse, including a terrific take on the Townes Van Zandt classic “Loretta.” Be sure to follow Jesse’s whirlwind career at jessedayton.com and check him out as he embarks on a Western States tour with Supersuckers and Scott H. Biram in the coming weeks. He’ll be at Dante’s in Portland with Biram on Wednesday, April 27.

Here’s the playist for this podcast special:

Carmelita (Show Me How To Dance)
Think I’ll Go Out Tonight
Loretta
We Lost It
One Of Them Days
Hey Nashvegas!
Wild Man From Borneo

 

Episode #66 featuring Kory Quinn

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Kory Quinn, at home in the wilds of Eastern Oregon.

Stream or download Episode #66: Episode 66 w/ Kory Quinn

Not all that long ago, Kory Quinn was standing on the corner of Chicago and Western avenues in the Ukranian Village neighborhood in his native Chicago when he realized he was at a crossroads. Though tethered to life in the big city, the West was calling his name.

Fast forward through some bumps along the road and you’ll find Kory settled in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., where the talented singer-songwriter has established himself as one of the strongest voices on the local folk rock scene. Backed by some of Portland’s finest Americana players, young Mr. Quinn is building a following of fans who have come to love his boisterous performances and fun-loving, entertaining style.

Kory fits into the tradition of America’s greatest folk storytellers — names like Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark come to mind immediately when listening to his music. He weaves his tales of outlaws, misery and corruption with a knowing eye for detail, and he can share a talking-blues with the best of them.

Kory Quinn-3

Kory Quinn (right) the quintessential David Lipkind performing in The Helm. Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media

On this episode of That Much Further West Podcast, Kory tells stories from his musical influences and his upbringing in Chicago, where his parents’ love of music and performance took hold of the boy at a very young age. He also speaks of his adoption into the folk circles of Eastern Oregon, where he found a kinship with the people who travel the great, open spaces to seek out entertainers who truly have something to say.

And accompanied here by his pal, harmonica “super natural” David Lipkind, Kory shares a number of songs that show off his terrific talent for vocal performance and word play. One listen to “Back To Oregon” and you’ll get a feel for the power and authenticity that Kory brings to the music.

We also share a couple of new songs that will be available when Kory releases his next digital album, appropriately titled “Chicago/Western.” To pre-order the digital release, visit Kory’s bandcamp site. And local folks should watch for Kory’s upcoming seven-day residency at Al’s Den in downtown Portland, kicking off on Sunday, April 24.

In the meantime, enjoy this latest podcast episode. Big thanks from us to Kory and Dave for bringing the musical goodness to The Helm.

Springtime Podcast Picks

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East Nashville’s Margo Price, leading the new pack of country traditionalists.

Stream or download Podcast Picks: Podcast Picks 3-28-16

The momentum’s been building for the first part of 2016, with appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the Conan O’Brien Show. Finally, with the release last week of her debut solo album, “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter,” Margo Price takes the spotlight as country’s next big thing.

We kickoff our latest playlist with the epic “Hands Of Time,” a six-minute sample of the kind of traditional country that has helped Price stand above the noisy din of cookie-cutter country that dominates radio playlists across the dial. Expect to hear plenty more from Ms. Price the rest of the year — she’s recently made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry and we’re sure she’ll be making headlines through the summer concert season.

With Price setting the stage, we attempt to shatter the mold with this playlist by featuring some of the best new voices in roots and country, including Parker Milsap, Caleb Caudle, Brent Cobb, Australian Emma Swift and our hometown favorite sons, Portland’s Richmond Fontaine. We also feature a brand-new song from Mudcrutch, the Tom Petty side project that will be releasing its first album in 10 years in May, and a terrific song from 2015 podcast guests Indianhead. You may remember them debuting “Angelina” live in The Helm on Episode #57 of That Much Further West Podcast.

We round out the playlist with songs from several of our well-established favorites, including a tune from veteran bad-ass Paul Thorn and cuts from Drunken Prayer, Two Cow Garage, Austin Lucas (new album soon!), Cory Branan, Steve Earle, Valerie June and Sturgill Simpson. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to honor a lost brother, Phife Dawg, the five-foot assassin of A Tribe Called Quest. R.I.P. Phife Dawg . . . thanks for the rhymes and inspiration. You’ll be missed!

Here’s the songlist. Enjoy!

Hands Of Time, Margo Price
Wherever You Are, Parker Milsap
Wasted Thursday, Caleb Caudle
Love Looks Like A Master, Drunken Prayer
Trailer, Mudcrutch
Diggin’ Holes, Brent Cobb
Angelina, Indianhead
What The Hell Is Goin’ On?, Paul Thorn
Let’s Hit One More Place, Richmond Fontaine
My Great Gatsby, Two Cow Garage
Let Me In, Austin Lucas
All The Rivers In Colorado, Cory Branan
Buggin’ Out, A Tribe Called Quest
Seasons, Emma Swift
You’re The Best Lover That I Ever Had, Steve Earle
Trials, Troubles, Tribulations, Valerie June
Brace For Impact (Live A Little), Sturgill Simpson

Episode #65 featuring Willy Vlautin of Richmond Fontaine

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Willy Vlautin of Richmond Fontaine making himself at home in The Helm. Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media.

Stream or download Episode #65: Episode 65 w/ Willy Vlautin

For 20 years, Richmond Fontaine has been the vanguard for Portland’s alt-country scene, earning worldwide acclaim for their dramatic, steel-infused Western soundscapes and the one-of-kind storytelling of singer Willy Vlautin. That’s why we are thrilled to share this interview and performance by Mr. Vlautin, recorded at our home base, The Helm.

Now entering the last chapter of their fantastic run, RF has just released their final album, “You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To,” available now on Fluff & Gravy Records. On this episode of That Much Further West Podcast, Willy shares a few solo performances of songs from the new record as well as some thoughts on the end of the Richmond run and the impact the band has made over the years.

Willy takes us back to his roots growing up in Reno, Nevada, and how he came to find great music from the Los Angeles underground during his teenage years. Asked to pick a few tunes that were influential during that period, he selected songs by Los Lobos, Tom Waits and The Pogues (this episode was taped on St. Patrick’s Day).

Willy Vlautin-4

Willy the lefty sharing a few of the instant classics from the new Richmond Fontaine record, “You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To.”

He also talks about the evolution of his songwriting, introducing different storytelling techniques and voices and shifting points of view to advance his richly detailed lyrical ideas. As author of four critically acclaimed novels, Willy talks about how many of his longer literary stories start as song ideas — indeed, many of the characters from his great books first show up in songs by Richmond Fontaine. Listen closely as Willy reveals the title of his next novel.

We wrap up the episode with the handful of RF classics from the body of their 10 great albums — a quick primer for what is unquestionably one of the greatest bands in Portland history (see the playlist below). Also, check out the video for one of the band’s awesome instrumentals, “El Tiradito,” from the album “Thirteen Cities,” captured at WaveLab Recording Studios in 2007.

The band will be heading to Europe this spring to promote the new record and will do some touring over the rest of the year in what appears to be Richmond Fontaine’s swan song, so be sure to pick up a copy of the new record and keep an eye out for when they roll into your town. You want to miss one last chance to see this legendary band.

Here’s the playlist from Episode #65 featuring Willy Vlautin of Richmond Fontaine:

$87 And A Guilty Conscience That Gets Worse The Longer I Go, Richmond Fontaine
Wake Up Ray (Live In The Helm), Willy Vlautin
Three Brothers Roll Into Town (Live In The Helm), Willy Vlautin
Will The Wolf Survive, Los Lobos
Shore Leave, Tom Waits
A Rainy Night In Soho, The Pogues
Don’t Skip Out On Me (Live In The Helm), Willy Vlautin
Lost In The Trees, Richmond Fontaine
The Warehouse Life, Richmond Fontaine
Give Me Time, Richmond Fontaine
Always On The Ride, Richmond Fontaine
Winner’s Casino, Richmond Fontaine
The Kid From Belmont Street, Richmond Fontaine
Through, Richmond Fontaine

 

Review of You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To by Richmond Fontaine

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You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To
by Richmond Fontaine
(2016, Fluff & Gravy Records)

One listen, 100 words
By MIKE LEE
For That Much Further West Podcast

No one weaves misery like Richmond Fontaine. The loom has no room for bold emoesque, overtly melancholic fibers but yields itself to a more intricate pattern of a working-class, every-man misery. The letdown that follows when your numbers don’t hit or that horse fails to place. The thread-worn jeans or duct-taped boots you still wear because new school clothes for the kids or perhaps that bottle of Old Crow and half-rack of Rainier cans were more important this time. In any case this is a blanket we can’t give to Goodwill no matter how many times it must be patched.

Mixtape Trio Bravo: “Wake Up Ray” / “Three Brothers Roll Into Town” / “A Night In The City”

Listen to “Wake Up Ray”: Wake Up Ray

Listen to “Three Brothers Roll Into Town”: Three Brothers Roll Into Town

Listen to “A Night In The City” : A Night In The City

March Podcast Picks

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possessedbypauljames

Konrad Wert, aka Possessed By Paul James

Stream or download Podcast Picks: Podcast Picks 3-14-16

Ah, the modern troubadours — we love them here at That Much Further West Podcast. Last week we had handful of our favorite road-dogs roll through our hometown of Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., and we celebrate some of them here with this latest batch of podcast picks.

Kicking things off is Possessed By Paul James, who was in town for a show at The White Eagle with support from The Harmed Brothers (also featured here). Look for Possessed By Paul James all this week at the South By Southwest music conference in Austin, TX, where he has a handful of shows playing alongside some of the greats of Americana, including Lydia Loveless and Hayes Carll (he, too, featured here). PPJ is a force of nature — a one-man folk wrecking crew. Check him out live. You won’t be disappointed.

This month’s picks also include new songs from Sturgill Simpson, the Cactus Blossoms and an exclusive track from Meridian, a Portland band led by Darrin Craig, best known for his work with local bluegrass stalwarts Jack Straw. And speaking of local bluegrass, we share a song from the new album by Left Coast Country, a band we discovered busking out front of Mississippi Studios before a Sturgill show in late 2014. Since then, the lads of LCC since have established themselves as a local bluegrass powerhouse.

The troubadours keep passing through this month’s playlist with songs from Bryan McPherson, Tim Barry and the godfather of all living folkies, Guy Clark. And to wrap things up, we offer a song by Morgane Stapleton from the album “Southern Family,” a new project curated by red-hot Nashville producer Dave Cobb. On “You Are My Sunshine,” Mrs. Stapleton takes center stage while her celebrated husband Chris Stapleton plays a support role with backing vocals and guitar. It’s one of several excellent tunes on a record full of artists we love here at the podcast, including Jason Isbell, John Paul White and Holly Williams.

So dig in, download or give it a stream. It’s this month’s podcast picks! Here’s the playlist:

Heavy, Possessed By Paul James
Tuscaloosa, Caleb Caudle
Lucky To Be A Sad Man, Huck Notari
Under The Axe, The Harmed Brothers
Brace For Impact (Live A Little), Sturgill Simpson
Stoplight Kisses, The Cactus Blossoms
The Magic Kid, Hayes Carll
Go On Lovin’, Dori Freeman
Fought The Blues And Won, The Deslondes
Mason Dixon Waltz, Left Coast Country
The Guitar, Guy Clark
Hearts In Boxcars, Bryan McPherson
Church Of Level Track, Tim Barry
The Flame In The Flood, Chuck Ragan
Ohio, Meridian
You Are My Sunshine, Morgane Stapleton (with Chris Stapleton)

 

Episode #64 featuring John Moreland

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Impressive beard, super impressive talent: John Moreland in The Helm. Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media.

Stream or download Episode #64: Episode 64 w/ John Moreland

We were still reeling from his stunning performance the night before at The Doug Fir Lounge in Portland when John Moreland dropped by The Helm for a visit and interview with That Much Further West Podcast. With just an acoustic guitar, a rich, low voice and an arsenal of songs aimed straight for the heart, Mr. Moreland reduced the usually chatty crowd at Doug Fir to a hushed, reverent flock of believers. Call it Sunday School.

John Moreland is an artist’s artist. His name always seems to come up when some of the best songwriters in alt-country and Americana talk about the peers they most admire. And on the strength of his massively acclaimed 2015 record “High On Tulsa Heat,” he’s been riding a huge wave of career momentum.

He started the year opening for double Grammy-winner Jason Isbell in the U.K. and Europe, then returned stateside for his first national TV appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He’s currently wrapping up a swing through the Western States and will be appearing at the South By Southwest music festival in Texas later this month before hitting the road with Lucero in April.

John Moreland-3

A legend in the making: John Moreland stops by The Helm for a chat with the podcast team. Photo by Anne Marie

For this podcast episode, John sits down with the podcast team to talk about riding the publicity wave, the challenges of songwriting and his little tricks for quieting a live, boisterous crowd when the chatter threatens to ruin the mood. He also talks up some of his most-admired peers and his recent discovery of Canadian bands and artists who have come onto his radar, including Doug Paisley.

To complete the episode, we share a set of songs that highlight the  power, depth and greatness of John’s songs as well as the breadth of his talent. This is nothing new — his songs are among the most played on That Much Further West Podcast and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Simply, we’re big, big fans of John Moreland.

Be sure to follow John’s exploits via his website and be on the lookout for when his road show pulls into your town. He’s a stunning live performer who always is well worth the price of admission.

We couldn’t be more grateful to John for sharing this interview in The Helm or more proud to share this episode with you. Enjoy.

Review of Carolina Ghost by Caleb Caudle

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carolinaghost

Carolina Ghost by Caleb Caudle (2016, This Is American Music)

By MIKE LEE
For That Much Further West Podcast

I first became aware of Caleb Caudle when someone I was acquainted with on Facebook posted a link to the video for his 2014 song “Trade All the Lights.” I became somewhat obsessed with the song and video and it led me to discover other offerings from Caleb.

When Caleb started posting on social media about his upcoming album I was pretty excited to get my hands on a copy and soak it in. I now have been living with this album for the past six weeks and I keep going back to it over and over.

The songs are new and fresh yet instantly familiar and comfortable. I always have been drawn to a song that feels like it belongs to me. I don’t claim to write the lyrics or play the music, but when a song has a tangible quality and feels like I have always known the words or hummed the melody, those are ones you can live with and carry with you through life.

Carolina Ghost hits all the marks with top-notch songwriting and great musicianship. Songs about love, friendship, addiction and the never-ending changes in the carousel of life are the hallmarks of a great country album, one that relies on the strength of the storytelling and music to stay above the fray of mass-produced crap.

The new and rising vanguard of country artists (Isbell, Stapleton, Simpson, etc.) definitely has a new comrade in Caleb Caudle. I look forward to the future of real country music with these sluggers at the top. Now if we could just get Caleb to tour the west coast!!!!

Mix tape Trio Bravo: “Carolina Ghost” / “Tuscaloosa” / “Borrowed Smiles”

Listen to “Carolina Ghost” Carolina Ghost

Listen to “Tuscaloosa” Tuscaloosa

Listen to “Borrowed Smiles” Podcast Picks 2-1-16

February Podcast Picks

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RichmondFontaine

The new record by Portland alt-country legends Richmond Fontaine, due in March, will be the band’s swan song, according to frontman Willy Vlautin.

Stream or download Podcast Picks: Podcast Picks 2-1-16

Word got out last week that Richmond Fontaine’s new album You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To, due out March 18 in the U.S. on Fluff & Gravy Records, will be the band’s final release. According to frontman and founding member Willy Vlautin, band members will be concentrating on other things, including their soulful country side project The Delines as well as Vlautin’s burgeoning career as a novelist.

The folks at Fluff & Gravy were kind enough to pass along a tune for us to lead off this fresh batch of podcast picks, “Wake Up Ray.” They also shared a new song by Dan Stuart, the former Green On Red frontman who has a new record due out soon on the Portland imprint. Stuart is backed by Mexico City country psych rockers The Twin Tones on Marlowe’s Revenge, the followup to his comeback record from 2012. “Elena” sounds as cool and sweet as “fresas con crema.”

And speaking of fresh music, our playlist includes brand-new music from Lucinda Williams, Caleb Caudle, Seattle’s Evening Bell and Nashville’s Buddy Miller, who teams up with podcast favorite Nikki Lane on the classic country tune “Just Someone I Used To Know.”

Twenty-something Sierra Hull’s been making waves on the bluegrass scene since she was in her mid-teens. Her haunting song “Black River,” paired with Tom VandenAvond’s “Chef’s House,” adds a soothing vibe to this mix, but only after we get a little rowdy with Texas’ Randy Rogers Band.

We also have a couple of songs by two of the emerging female voices from left-of-center Nashville. Aubrie Sellers shows off her brand of garage country on “Light of Day” from her new album New City Blues, while “About To Find Out” provides a perfect example of why Margo Price is positioned to become alt-country’s it-artist of the first half of 2016. She has an album due out soon on Jack White’s Third Man Records.

“Win Her Love” by the Freak Mountain Ramblers is our tribute to a great, great band that lost one their own recently, guitarist and singer Jimmy Boyer (RIP). And we wrap things up with “Peaceful Release” by Lowlight, whose frontman Nick Foltz will be our guest in The Helm this week for Episode #64 of That Much Further West Podcast.

So give it a spin, folks — a fine dose to kick off your February in style. Here’s the playlist:

Wake Up Ray, Richmond Fontaine
If My Love Could Kill, Lucinda Williams
Steel & Stone, Caleb Caudle
Strange Mamma, Evening Bell
Elena, Dan Stuart
Hangin’ Out In Bars, Randy Rogers Band
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell
Black River, Sierra Hull
Chef’s House, Tom VandenAvond
Just Someone I Used To Know (with Nikki Lane), Buddy Miller
Light Of Day, Aubrie Sellers
About To Find Out, Margo Price
Win Her Love, Freak Mountain Ramblers
Peaceful Release, Lowlight

Episode #63 featuring Mamma Coal

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Partners in crime: Paul Brainard and Carra Barratt Stasney, aka Mamma Coal. Photo by Anne Marie

Stream or download Episode #63: Episode 63 w/ Mamma Coal

She’s tall, she’s tough and she’s talented. Mamma Coal can do it all. That’s why we were thrilled to have Carra Barratt Stasney on board for the taping of Episode #63 at The Helm.

Carra is well known in Pacific Northwest country music circles for her terrific singing and songwriting as the dark-haired half of the female duo Copper & Coal. Taking the name Mamma Coal, she’s out promoting her latest musical project, “Raven Haired Vixen,” a musical reimagining of Willie Nelson’s legendary 1975 country album “Red Headed Stranger.” She just launched a Kickstarter Campaign to help fund the project (see the video below).

She’s also curating a fantastic, two-night, two-city Valentine’s weekend performance of classic country duets called “Hearts On Fire,” which will play in Seattle at Conor Byrne Pub on Feb. 13 and in Portland at Star Theater on Feb. 14. Carra will be among an all-star lineup of great singers sharing the songs of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, and many more!

On this episode, Mamma Coal tells us about her musical upbringing, her love of classic rock hits and what brought her to the world of country music. She also shares the story about finding a musical kinship with local players from our podcast inner circle, The Hoot Family, and how becoming a mother inspired “Raven Haired Vixen,” a musical story set in the old west of a mother tracking down the baby son who was taken from her.

Mamma Coal-1

Paul Brainard adding some tasty steel to the wonderful stylings of Mamma Coal in The Helm. Photo by Anne Marie

And to share a few live versions of songs from the new project, Carra invited ace guitarist and steel player Paul Brainard to ride shotgun on the live performance. Paul is playing a big role in helping Carra bring “Raven Haired Vixen” to fruition, lending his musical guidance and tasty playing to the mix.

We also share a few recorded songs from Carra’s earlier days, including a tune from Copper & Coal, a song from Carra’s first band, American Cosmos, and also a fine number from her self-titled solo record from a few years back.

For more information on the Kickstarter campaign or for tickets to the Seattle and Portland “Hearts On Fire” shows, check out the links above. And for everything Mamma Coal, visit her website.

Thanks for tuning in!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carrastasney/mamma-coal-reimagining-willie-nelsons-outlaw-conce