Author Archives: philfavorite@gmail.com

Episode #26 — Dolly & Friends

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Dolly Parton, the chart-topping queen of country music

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This week we give a quick but well-deserved nod to Dolly Parton, who topped the Billboard Country charts last week with the debut of her new album, Blue Smoke. At 68 years young, the incomparable Ms. Parton remains a vital artist and performer who still packs a wallop. We share her great new song “Home” in this week’s playlist.

Our hosts Eric, Mike and Phil had a great time getting together in The Helm in North Portland, drinking whiskey and rye and sharing tales of life in the Rose City. You’ll hear about the “Dark Elf,” a local character who leaped on the hood of a stranger’s stopped BMW and attacked it with a bamboo spear in broad daylight. Once tackled, subdued and hospitalized in a psych ward, the Elf stated his desire to slay the dragon (and no, that’s not a euphemism, at least not in this case).

Then there’s the story about Eric and his friends getting kicked out of a gluten-free brewery for wearing pretzels around their necks. Ah, life in Portland. It really can be like an episode of Portlandia, or a Red Fang video.

An even better part of life in Portland is the thriving live music scene we enjoy, and listeners will hear a lot about upcoming shows on this episode. May be a good idea to have your calendars out while listening — you almost need a scorecard to keep up with all the great shows coming our way.

In the end, it’s about the music and this week’s playlist is a doozy. You’ll hear great stuff from Tim Barry, Lydia Loveless, Possessed By Paul James, Sturgill Simpson and of course, Dolly. So have it and, as host Mike Lee would say, “Enjoy.”

Dog Bumped (Live), Tim Barry
Bleeding Blue, The Swearengens
Verlaine Shot Rimbaud, Lydia Loveless
Hurricane, Possessed By Paul James
Stockholm, Jason Isbell
Home, Dolly Parton
Think To Much, Root Jack
Nobody Gives A Damn About Songs Anymore, John Moreland
Voices, Sturgill Simpson
Good For You, Truckstop Darlin’
I Was Cruel, Caitlin Rose
Faithless Street, Whiskeytown
Our Hope, Ole Tinder
Another Bender Might Break Me, Hellbound Glory
We Are All Alone In This Together, Graham Lindsey
No Lonesome Tune, Townes Van Zandt

TMFWP Special: Catching Up With Matt Woods

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The indomitable Matt Woods

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“Don’t pick up that guitar, boy. It’ll only steer you wrong.” Words of wisdom in a letter from Brushy Mountain State Prison, a notorious little slice of hell in Tennessee that serves as ground zero for With Love From Brushy Mountain, the fantastic new album by singer-songwriter Matt Woods.

We’re thankful Matt didn’t heed such advice, but instead chose to grab his guitar, hit the road and share his terrific songs of love, longing, liquor and lies with an ever-growing audience of believers. As he sings on one of Brushy’s standout tracks, “It ain’t no living, it’s my life.”

Matt’s travels brought him through the Pacific Northwest in recent weeks, and our podcast hosts Mike Lee and Phil Favorite caught up with him and drummer Larry Fulford for a Monday night show at Dante’s in Portland. It was truly Matt Woods at his best. His burly, emotional vocal stylings and impressive acoustic guitar work combined with Fulford’s tasteful and booming rhythms for a unforgettably powerful performance.

After the show, the lads gathered for an interview where Matt talks about the anticipation that’s been building for the release of the new record, especially in light of the buzz created by the album’s advance single, “Deadman’s Blues.”

“Deadman’s Blues” was released last fall and, among other accolades, earned 2013 Song of The Year honors by the respected genre-watch blog Saving Country Music. Now it sits at the center of an 11-song LP that more than delivers on the promise of “Deadman’s” and is garnering universal praise as one of the year’s best records so far.

With the album release, Matt and Larry are streaking across the country with shows scheduled right through June. You can see the tour dates at Matt’s website, and while you’re there, order a copy of With Love From Brushy Mountain. You’ll be glad you did.

In the meantime, enjoy this podcast featuring a handful of tracks from the new record, a couple of rough live cuts from the Dante’s show and some select bits from Mike and Phil’s conversation with Matt and Larry.

Here’s the playlist:

With Love From Brush Mountain
Company Town (Live at Dante’s 5-12-14)
Interview, Part 1
Deadman’s Blues
Interview, Part 2
Ain’t No Living
Port St. Lucie (Live at Dante’s 5-12-14)
Interview, Part 3
Real Hard Times
Interview, Part 4
Lucero Song
Liberty Bell

Episode #25 featuring Ron Rogers

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Ron Rogers and Deborah Giles, rendered in oils?

Episode #25 featuring Ron Rogers

We kick off this week’s podcast with an interview with a local treasure, the great singer/songwriter/guitarist Ron Rogers. Ron and his lovely bride Deborah Giles stopped by The Helm to give us an interview and play a few tunes from Ron’s impressive catalog.

Ron is the leader of one of Portland’s finest Americana bands, The Wailing Wind, who lay down some of the most consistently gooey grooves in town. Ron’s also a terrific storyteller, and during the interview he tells how his upbringing in Texas influenced his writing, and how his years working in the music business in Los Angeles helped frame his experience playing in the Portland music scene. He also talks about the concept behind the television show he’s developing featuring some of Portland’s best musicians.

He wrapped things up by grabbing an acoustic guitar and teaming with Deborah on a couple of a very nice original tunes, showing off the excellent wordplay that is a hallmark of his songwriting. Great stuff!

Ron and Deborah stuck around The Helm for a bit after the interview as our hosts took us through another awesome playlist of great tunes, including new music from Matt Woods, Sturgill Simpson and Old 97’s, and a batch of songs from bands on the Farmageddon Records roster.

So kick back, relax and enjoy. Here’s the playlist:

Alabama Chrome, Ron Rogers and the Wailing Wind
Interview with Ron Rogers
Hang Tough live in The Helm, Ron Rogers & Deborah Giles
Slave Boy live in The Helm, Ron Rogers & Deborah Giles
Oregon Girl, Michael Dean Damron
Selfish Man, Highlonesome
Up On Blocks, 44 Long
Fall Down Easy, Uncle Tupelo
Pitchfork, My Graveyard Jaw
Wolves (Live), American Aquarium
Wichita Skyline, Drag The River
Illinois, Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats
Drinking To Forget, Matt Woods
One Of Them Days, Jake Ray
Life Of Sin, Sturgill Simpson
North, S.S. Web
Nashville, Old 97’s
Thistle-N-Thorns, The Hangdog Hearts
Friends in Bottles, The Takers

Episode #24 — ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

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Episode #24 — ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo, folks! The lads gathered in The Helm for another fun-filled episode of wise-cracks, inappropriate language and great music, and to make it extra special, the team was joined by our “fun buddy” Kip, who added a touch of SoCal cool to the proceedings.

This week’s episode includes, among other things, Mike’s loving tribute to the late Adam Yauch, aka MCA of Beastie Boys. Turns out the Beasties were a big influence on Mike in his younger, better years, and he drops some knowledge about the Beasties and how their music impacted him during their rise to hip hop glory.

The crew also shares some info regarding a house show at The Barn here in Portland that Mike has put together featuring Possessed By Paul James and Tom VandenAvond. And speaking of house shows, if you’re reading this on Cinco de Mayo and live in Portland, the Deer Lodge is hosting a show tonight featuring the Sumner Brothers, who close out this episode with their song “Going Out West.”

We also have a Trio Bravo submitted by super listener Michelle Evans, who just happens to be celebrating her birthday today. Fans of our Facebook page might recognize Michelle from her alter-ego, “DearBen Nichols,” her ongoing tribute to the Lucero frontman. Happy Birthday, Michelle, and thanks for the great selections! Awesome stuff!

The episode also features new music from Matt Woods, Old 97’s and one of our favorite local acts, Jake Ray. So, without further adieu, “Let’s Get Drunk and Get It On.”

Here’s the playlist:

Let’s Get Drunk & Get It On, The Old 97’s
Pawned All My Freedom, Tom VandenAvond
Heaven Has No Vacancy, Lindi Ortega
Sabotage, Beastie Boys
Walls Of Our Home, C.W. Ayon
Like A California Wildfire, Deadstring Brothers
Four Wheels, Austin Lucas
Avoiding Catatonic Surrender, Tim Barry

Trio Bravo, three songs from listener Michelle Evans
Tiny Anchors, Matt Woods
Shake The Frost, Tyler Childers
Only Boy, Only Girl, Devon Stuart

Burnt Letters, Jake Ray
Gutter Queen, Soda Gardocki
Rasputin & Me, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Going Out West, The Sumner Brothers

 

Episode #23 — Go Blazers!

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Episode #23 — Go Blazers!

NBA playoff fever has swept through our hometown of Portland, OR, USA, aka Rip City, where our Trail Blazers have grabbed a 3-1 first-round lead over the Houston Rockets. During the latest taping in The Helm, the podcast lads were monitoring the scoreboard while putting together Episode #23, dubbed by co-host Mike as “The Michael Jordan Episode.”

Well, since Michael is sort of a four-letter word in these parts (the Blazers famously passed on His Airness in the 1984 draft in favor of the infamous, injury-riddled and sadly cursed Sam Bowie), we managed to spin the topic away from the Bulls famous #23 and to the excitement swirling here in the City of Roses.

It’s not just the playoffs that have the gang kinda giddy this week. Around the time of the taping, word had just broke that Mike had booked a summer house concert for Possessed By Paul James here in Portland. Warning: The PPJ show date quoted here on the podcast has changed, but if you follow us at Facebook, it won’t be hard to track in the weeks ahead.

Mike also shares a few stories from behind the scenes of his rock and roll past, including the birth of the Gothic Americana scene in Denver, a cool one about Chuck Ragan’s boots, and another about George Clinton, smoking crack and stealing cars. We also get a tip on a cool bar in North Portland and a Scotch-tasting lesson from Eric, and a nose-clearing lesson from Phil.

More importantly we’ve got some great music to share, including new stuff from Left Lane Cruiser, Cutbank and Matt Woods as well as classics from Lucero, The Handsome Family and The Highwaymen.

So let’s tip it off, shall we? Here’s this week’s playlist:

Losing Days, Frank Turner
Slingshot, Left Lane Cruiser
You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast, Buddy & Julie Miller
The Mountain, Lucero
Can’t Be Satisfied, Hillstomp
Hold Back The Water, Cutbank
Bones, Willy Tea Taylor
Used To The Truth, The Hooten Hallers
Scarlet Town, Gillian Welch
Shoulda Known Better, Possessed By Paul James
Dead Man’s Blues, Matt Woods
When That Helicopter Comes, The Handsome Family
I Want My Mojo Back, Scott H. Biram
Disarray, The Ghostwriter
The Last Cowboy Song, The Highwaymen

 

Episode #22 — Remembering Levon Helm (1940-2012)

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Levon Helm

Episode #22 — Remembering Levon

The second anniversary of Levon Helm’s death gave us a chance to pay tribute to the great man, and also to do it from our home base, The Helm. So we did just that for Episode #22, which features a block of favorites from Levon and The Band.

The boys managed to tape this week’s show while Eric was on baby patrol. Thankfully his daughter Ruby is a great sleeper — she snoozed right through the show so the crew could bring together their usual shenanigans uninterrupted. This trial run went so well, it could be the precedent for future shows from The Helm.

This time around, we kept it pretty brief, but we also have a new music from Hillstomp and Sturgill Simpson and a block of other goodies for you to enjoy, so just press play. Here’s this week’s songlist:

Santa Fe Line, Hillstomp
Gone, Gone, Gone, Nikki Lane
Turtles All The Way Down, Sturgill Simpson
Rattlesnake, American Aquarium
Reno, Denver
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, The Band
Poor Old Dirt Farmer, Levon Helm
Anna Lee, Levon Helm
When I Paint My Masterpiece, The Band
The Weight, The Band
Meanest Jukebox In Town, Whitey Morgan & The 78s
American Charm, Hip Hatchet
Whip-Poor-Will, Magnolia Electric Company
It Could Happen To You, Blue Rodeo
Here’s Looking At You, Kid, The Gaslight Anthem

Episode #21 Greetings from Portland, Oregon, U.S.A

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Episode #21 Greetings From Portland

Let’s start this post with a note of thanks to all of you who have been listening to the podcast and visiting our Facebook page. Last week we saw an enormous increase in podcast-related traffic and we’re super grateful to all of you for staying with us through the trials and tribulations of pulling together 20 episodes in the new incarnation of the show. Thank you!

This week’s podcast is an “all music” show delivered with the help of many of the musical acts we’ve featured through the first 20 episodes: the legends of country, the pioneers or alt-country, the current standard bearers of Americana and a bunch of fantastic artists from the Pacific Northwest and specifically right here in beautiful Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

We’re deeply indebted to the friends who have helped us since the launch of the podcast last fall, especially the talented musical folks who have given their time to perform or be interviewed (or both) for the show. Several — such as Sarah Gwen, Freddy Trujillo, Joel Roth of the Low Bones and Miller & Sasser — are featured on this week’s podcast, which includes lots of “tags” from said folks and also contains the world’s shortest interview.

The sun is shining today in beautiful Portland, and we think we have your perfect soundtrack for the day. So let’s get to it. Here’s the playlist for Episode #21.

Newspaper, The Resolectrics
Cooke City, The Lonesomes
Wild American Runners, Arliss Nancy
Suicide Sal, Karen Jonas
What Is Truth, Johnny Cash
Bluegrass State, Truckstop Darlin’
Bye Bye Baby, Miller & Sasser
Arianne, The V-Roys
Border Radio, Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison
The Race Is On, George Jones
I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool (with George Jones), Barbara Mandrell
Keep Your Promises, Matthew Lindley
90 Miles (The Tennessee Song), The Honeycutters
Sister Sinead, Kris Kristofferson
The Old Black Hen, Songs: Ohia
We’ll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning, Gram Parsons
If You Come Around Here, The Swearengens
Loaded, North Twin
Something May Catch Fire, Chuck Ragan
Tom 33, The Low Bones
Woods, Sarah Gwen
Assimilation Blues, Trujillo
Winter Bloom, Celilo
This Land Is Your Land, Tim Barry
A Good Day To Be A Husband, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House
Christ For President, Billy Bragg & Wilco
Too Lazy To Work, Too Nervous To Steal, BR5-49
Another Place Another Time, Jerry Lee Lewis
Bartender Blues, Countryside Ride

 

Review of Somewhere Else by Lydia Loveless

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Lydia Loveless, Somewhere Else (2014, Bloodshot)

She was all dressed up and ready to be crowned alt-country’s queen-in-waiting, but a funny thing happened on the way home from the prom. Lydia Loveless rolled down the window, tossed the tiara, took a left turn and hit the throttle.

On her third full-length record, the 23-year-old Loveless says goodbye to the raging banjos and cowpunk shuffles that made it so easy to box her in as the future of alt-country. Somewhere Else is something very different — a radio-ready rock album that aligns the singer less with country blues songstress Lucinda Williams and more with a fellow Ohioan, rocker Chrissie Hynde.

Sure, many of those good ol’ country music themes (drinking, cheating, etc.) remain at the heart of Loveless’ songwriting, and she’s not afraid to cast herself in a bad light. On Somewhere Else, the singer is a drunk, a home-wrecker, an obsessive helplessly bent on self-destruction and destined to wind up alone. But she also knows her way around a song, with lyrics so direct and sexually frank it’s hard to miss the point — or not get caught up in the naughty fun.

Listen to “Really Want To See You” “Really Wanna See You” by Lydia Loveless

The album’s first track, “Really Want To See You,” announces not just its obsessive lyrical tone but also its direction as a straight-ahead rock record. The listener is greeted with screaming guitars, heavy drums and not a hint of the twang that was a hallmark of Loveless’ previous work.

On the poppier “Wine Lips,” Loveless shows off her talent for terrific word play. Early in the song when she sings, “Ain’t there somewhere where you and me can be alone/Honey, this isn’t a party if it’s chaperoned,” you already have a good idea of who you’re dealing with. This is an artist who isn’t afraid to say what she wants, and seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

Listen to “Wine Lips” “Wine Lips” by Lydia Loveless

Eventually, steel guitar winds it’s way into the mix as the songs start to sink from the heart to the gut and, eventually, the crotch. On the slow-burner “Hurts So Bad,” Loveless sings, “I swore I’d go to bed, but I must have it bad/’Cause I got up and I pushed every button your elevator had.” On the not-so-subtle “Head,” she sings, “The sooner I go to sleep, the sooner I can dream/Well, maybe if I get lucky tonight you’ll be there waiting, ready for me.”

Listen to “Head” “Head” by Lydia Loveless

As things slow down on the back half of the record, Loveless offers a glimpse at her more gentle side. But obsession, longing and desire for love remain constant themes throughout Somewhere Else, a record so well executed, straightforward and fun that it’s bound to elevate Ms. Loveless’ profile as an indie-rock comer and destined to be included on many lists of the 2014’s best.

— PHIL FAVORITE
That Much Further West Podcast

Lydia Loveless and her band will be performing live in Portland at Doug Fir Lounge on Wednesday, April 2. The Stubborn Lovers open the show. Visit www.dougfirlounge.com for more information.

 

 

Episode #20 featuring Miller & Sasser

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Chris Miller (left) and James Sasser

Episode #20 Miller & Sasser

We invited the A-team into The Helm for our latest episode, and boy oh boy did they ever deliver.

First up was our pal Kip from Secret Aardvark Trading Company, who arrived for the start of the show with a hankerin’ thirst and a re-up of habanero sauce, the gift we share with our musical guests. As Eric says early in the show, Kip is family and it sure was a blast having him as an audience of one for this week’s show. Not only is he great company, but he shares a cool story about how he met the great country singer Emily Herring and came to play in her band, providing a terrific intro for her song “Your Mistake.”

Things just kept getting better with the arrival of Chris Miller and James Sasser, the dynamite local country duo who stopped by for an interview and live performance. Miller & Sasser came straight from their weekly happy hour gig at The Landmark Saloon here in Portland and shared some stories from their recent travels to California and Texas, as well as some history of how they met and how our own Mike Lee played an integral role in launching their partnership.

These fellas a first-rate gentlemen and performers, and one listen to their original song “Step By Step” will give you a good idea of just how good these guys are. When it comes to country singers in Portland, it just doesn’t get any better than James Sasser. And for guitar pickers, Chris Miller’s track record speaks for itself. He’s been playing for years as a sideman with some of the bigger names in alt-country (most notably with Dave Alvin) and is a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. We feel super blessed to have these fine gents in The Helm and are pleased as all get out to share this special interview and performance.

Episode #20 also features some fine music from more of our favorites, including Neko Case, John Moreland, local boys Riviera and the red-hot Lydia Loveless. We also have a fantastic Trio Bravo from super listener Will Ginsler, who’s been one of the podcast’s top advocates. Thanks, Will, for the great support and also for the kick-ass three-song collection you selected.

Lots to chew on this week, so let’s get started, shall we? Here’s the playlist for Episode #20.

Stars & Gutters, Two Cow Garage
Shit Shots Count, Drive-By Truckers
Tennessee, Johnny Cash
All My Friends Are Crazy, 500 Miles To Memphis
Things That Scare Me, Neko Case
Break My Heart Sweetly, John Moreland
Hurricane, Possessed By Paul James
Trio Bravo by Will Ginsler
Satan And St. Paul, John Fulbright
For The Turnstiles, Neil Young
Cocaine and Ashes, Son Volt
Your Mistake, Emily Herring
Honky Tonkers Don’t Cry, Dale Watson
Interview with Miller & Sasser
Step By Step (Live In The Helm), Miller & Sasser
Tell It To The Jukebox (Live In The Helm), Miller & Sasser
When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) (Live In The Helm), Miller & Sasser
Cavalier, Shovels & Rope
Little Ways, Dwight Yoakam
Hopeless, Riviera
I Hope He Breaks Your Heart, American Aquarium
Let’s Just Be Friends For Tonight, Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers
The Very Best, The Harmed Brothers
The Very Best, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit
Cigarettes & Truckstops, Lindi Ortega
Kit Kat Clock, Bottle Rockets
Head, Lydia Loveless
Bar Lights, Root Jack

TMFWP Special: Willy Vlautin Live at Landmark Saloon

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Willy Vlautin of Richmond Fontaine

When Kelly Blair Bauman invited his friend Willy Vlautin to play a set of music for Bauman’s weekly “Unhappy Hour” at the Landmark Saloon, Vlautin had never been to Portland’s “Best Little Honky Tonk.” In fact, since moving with his girlfriend to the outskirts of town, Vlautin has been mostly staying out of bars and concentrating on his burgeoning fiction-writing career, which has taken off like a rocket since the publication of his first novel, “The Motel Life,” in 2007.

So without much fanfare, Vlautin came to the tiny Landmark on Sunday, Aug. 4 of last year for a late-afternoon performance of songs new and old, many familiar to folks who been following his band, Richmond Fontaine, during its 15-year run as Portland preeminent alt-country band. This was before the release of “The Motel Life” movie — which hit theaters last fall — and before the release this year of his fourth novel, “The Free,” which has been making headlines around the globe.

Vlautin played three short sets that summer day in Southeast Portland, swapping stage time with Bauman as both played to a nearly empty room. A few of Vlautin’s friends were on hand, a few other regulars, and a couple of tables worth of chatty patrons who clearly had no interest in the music nor any clue as to what they were hearing or who was playing.

Undaunted, the easy-going Vlautin played through the clanking glassware and jibber-jabber, letting his well-worn voice and left-handed Martin acoustic tell his true-to-life tales of society’s down and out. During the first set — which Vlautin asked us not to share due to the unfinished nature of the songs — Vlautin sat with a notebook of fresh ideas at his feet and could barely get a reaction from the small crowd while strumming and singing a batch of brand-new songs.

The small crowd proved a bit more responsive during the second and third sets, which we share here. Afterwards, podcast host Phil Favorite caught up with Vlautin outside the Landmark for an interview that was featured in Episode #2. As longtime fans of both Vlautin’s fiction and the great music of Richmond Fontaine, we’re thrilled to be able to share these couple of sets in all their ragged glory. Big thanks to both Willy and Kelly for helping us make it happen.

Listen to Willy Vlautin Live at Landmark Pt. 1 Willy Vlautin at Landmark Pt. 1

Two Alone
$87 And A Guilt Conscience That Gets Worst The Longer I Go
Lost In The Trees
Unknown Song

Listen to Willy Vlautin Live at Landmark Pt. 2 Willy Vlautin at Landmark Pt. 2

Moving Back Home #1
Moving Back Home #2
Santiam
“Tapped Out In Tulsa (?)”
The Boyfriends

Willy Vlautin will be promoting “The Free” with readings in the Los Angeles area on March 26 and 27, and at St. Johns Booksellers in Portland on April 10. He will also be performing at Wesley Stace’s Cabinet of Wonders at the Aladdin Theater in Portland on April 4. Learn more about Willy Vlautin’s fiction writing and music career at willyvlautin.com.