Episode #36 featuring Nick Foltz of Lowlight

Nick Foltz. Photo by Christopher Sohler

Nick Foltz of Lowlight                                                                                                  Photo courtesy of  Christopher Sohler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode #36 — Featuring Nick Foltz of Lowlight

We’re back! And oh how we’ve missed you. After a month in the throes of an early fall storm of local music shows, our fearless hosts returned to The Helm to put together Episode #36 of That Much Further West Podcast. Especially sweet on this episode is the jovial presence of Nick Foltz, singer-songwriter-leader of the one of Portland’s hottest new bands, Lowlight.

Listeners may be familiar with Nick from his days playing bass and singing backups with Truckstop Darlin’, a band he left about a two years ago to pursue his own music. Right on schedule, Nick and his new band recently celebrated the release of their debut CD “After Sundown” and gave locals a glimpse of how it all works with a batch of recent shows.

On this episode, Nick shares a few stories about the making of the record, how he found a home among the music scene in Portland and how the release of the new record has spurred a fresh batch of new songwriting, illustrated best by a live performance of a new tune called “The Fire Outside.”

If you live in Portland, be sure to catch Lowlight performing around town through the rest of the year, and pick up a copy of “After Sundown” at your favorite music store outlet or download the songs at the band’s website, lowlightmusic.com.

This episode also features many of the talented artists who have performed recently in Portland or have a show coming up, such as Austin Lucas, Deadstring Brothers and The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit. We also share the b-side of a new single from Drunken Prayer, due out soon on Deer Lodge Records, and also a song from the new record from M. Lockwood Porter, one of the best we’ve heard this fall.

So let’s fire it up, folks. Here’s the playlist:

Small Town Heart, Austin Lucas
Chris Bell, M. Lockwood Porter
Austin (Ain’t Got No) City Limits, Emily Herring
Stella Lovely, Arliss Nancy
Through Eternity, The Ganges River Band
I Love A Gambler, Copper & Coal
Modern Flood, Lowlight
The Fire Outside (Live In The Helm), Nick Foltz
Peaceful Release (Live In The Helm), Nick Foltz
Sing Me Away, Lowlight
Satin Sheets, Drunken Prayer
Smile, Deadstring Brothers
The Very Best, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit
Life Of Sin, Sturgill Simpson
Bluegrass State, Truckstop Darlin’

Episode #35 — Lazy Late Summer Daze

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Episode #35 — Lazy Late Summer Daze

Labor Day has come and gone, the kids are back in school, football is in full swing and we’re gearing up for a big, big fall season full of awesome music here in our home base of Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

This week we revisit some of the best music of the year so far and also preview a few of September’s upcoming highlights, including this coming weekend’s Fluff & Gravy Festival at Music On The Mounds in Little Rock, Washington, and our own That Much Further West Fest coming up Sept. 19 at The Barn in Portland.

Word on the street is there are just a handful of tickets available for the Fluff & Gravy Festival, so act fast if you want to be a part of that all-day-and-into-Sunday event. Also this coming weekend, we’ll have boots on the ground at the Chinook Music Festival in Naches, Washington, where Root Jack will be featured, and also at the North Twin reunion show in Seattle. Busy times, good times.

So let’s start psyching up for another fantastic week of tunes and bask in the last lazy days of summer. Here’s the playlist for Episode #35:

I’ll Be Here In The Morning, Don Williams
Rise Again, Root Jack
Drunk & Single (for George Jones), Joe Fletcher
Runaways & Strays (featuring Chris Robley), Mike Coykendall
Deadman’s Blues, Matt Woods
Every Night About This Time, Rachel Brooke
The Lord Will Come, Hillfolk Noir
Hurtin’ Albertan, Corb Lund
Somewhere Else, Lydia Loveless
Chemical Plant, Robert Ellis
Nothing Like You, Mario Matteoli
Early Morning Shakes, Whiskey Myers
Pretty Pictures, Country Lips
End Of The Line, Hurray For The Riff Raff
Cocaine, Sassparilla
Santa Fe Line, Hillstomp
Hartwood Train, The Shivering Denizens
I’ve Been Down A Might Long Time, Drunken Prayer
My Best Girl, Lucero

Episode #34 featuring Rich West Blatt

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Rich West Blatt on stage at Dante’s in Portland.

Episode #34 with Rich West Blatt

Big thanks to our pal Rich West Blatt for stopping by The Helm for an interview and to play some songs from his terrific new CD, Just Like A Fool. Rich and his band The Once In A While Sky are celebrating the release of the new disc with a show at Portland’s Secret Society on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Just Like A Fool is a follow up to Rich’s debut EP and represents a big step forward. On Episode #34, we learn about the making of the new record, Rich’s musical influences while growing up in New Jersey and how his new song “Annie” is basically a Dear John letter to his former home base of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Rich’s new release comes ashore with a tidal wave of new music from some of our favorite Americana artists, and we play a ton of fresh tunes on this episode. Brand-new songs from Cory Branan, Otis Gibbs, Cahalen Morrison & Country Hammer, Shovels and Rope, Quiet Life and Jeffrey Martin are all on the show this week.

And co-host Eric Kotila shares some excellent memories from his visit to the super cool and recently held Deep Blues NW festival. So settle in for a fun ride, folks. Here’s the playlist:

All The Rivers In Colorado, Cory Branan
The Darker Side of Me, Otis Gibbs
Cascabel Valley, Cahalen Morrison & Country Hammer
Annie, Rich West Blatt & The Once In A While Sky
Just Like A Fool (Live In The Helm), Rich West Blatt
One Last Chance, Rich West Blatt & The Once In A While Sky
Helping Hands, The Lonesomes
Bloody Gloves, The Swearengens
The Devil Is All Around, Shovels and Rope
Housebroken Man, Quiet Life
Coal Fire, Jeffrey Martin
Wichita Ain’t So Far Away, The Delines
Last Ride, C.W. Ayon
The Beat, Northcote
Me, I Am Anger, Bryan McPherson
D. Boon, Uncle Tupelo
Ain’t Going To The Bar Tonight, American Aquarium

Episode #33 featuring Hearts of Oak

Nate Wallace of Hearts Of Oak

Episode #33 featuring Hearts of Oak

It was our distinct pleasure to have the men of Hearts of Oak — singer/guitarist Nate Wallace, drummer J. Lever and guitarist/producer Ezra Meredith — in The Helm for an interview and performance for Episode #33. The lads are promoting the Aug. 19 release of the band’s third album, “New England,” and their show this coming Friday night at the Doug Fir in Portland.

The record represents a bit of a departure for Hearts of Oak. Nate’s terrific folksy songwriting and nasally vocal remain, but the record features an extra dose of fuzzed-out guitars (standard six-string electric and pedal steel) courtesy of Ezra and his brother Joel, who served as producers on the project. On this episode, we share a couple of tracks from the record and enjoy a couple of fine performances by the band. Always a great time hanging out with these dudes.

We also share some great new music from Billy Joe Shaver, The Gaslight Anthem, Big Shoals and the Portland band Denver. And if you stay tuned, you’ll hear a few details about the upcoming “Further West Fest” to be hosted by the podcast crew in September.

So crank it up! Here’s the playlist:

Hard To Be An Outlaw (featuring Willie Nelson), Billy Joe Shaver
Drag, Caleb Caudle
Good Man, Nikki Lane
Goldmine, Hearts of Oak
Used To It Now (Live in The Helm), Hearts of Oak
Easy By The Gun (Live in The Helm), Hearts of Oak
New England, Hearts of Oak
Rollin’ And Tumblin’, The Gaslight Anthem
Skipping Stones, Big Shoals
Rowdy Love, Denver
Denver Rock City, Bud Bronson
Crater, Gord Downie, The Sadies, And The Conquering Sun
I Saw It with My Own Two Eyes Again, Drunken Prayer
Rise In The River, Lincoln Durham
Non-Addictive Marijuana, Supersuckers
The Other Side of OK, Drag The River
Blessing And A Curse, Have Gun, Will Travel

Episode #32: Wildwood Memories 2014

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Episode #32 — Wildwood Memories 2014

Another Wildwood Music Fest & Campout is in the books, but the hangover continues. Our podcast hosts convened in their private clubhouse, The Helm, to relive the event and tell stories alongside our pal and guest Kris Stuart from Root Jack, one of the many great performers from the festival.

Co-hosts Eric Kotila and Mike Lee and Kris share tales from the weekend — some of the best revolve around the performers like Willy Tea Taylor, Brothers Of The Last Watch and Saturday night headliner Larry And His Flask. Alas, third amigo and co-host Phil Favorite missed the festival while on vacation with his family, but he still manages to share a few tales from the road, including his interaction and interview with hot young musician Aaron Lee Tasjan that published here at the TMFWP website while he was gone.

Speaking of Mr. Tasjan, Kris tells us about playing as part of ALT’s recent week-long residency here in Portland and also tells the story about Root Jack’s eventful set at Wildwood, when the lights went out and a horse-headed dancer appeared. Then Kris shares a song from one of his cool side projects, The John Brown Band, and recaps his Sunday morning performance with the Wildwood All-Star Review doing a tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

With Wildwood 2014 behind us, we’re lining up guests to finish off the summer podcast season in style. You’ll also be hearing in coming weeks about the That Much Further West Podcast live showcase called “Further West Fest” scheduled for September 19 at Dante’s here in Portland.

But for now, crank up our Wildwood recap episode. Here’s the playlist. Enjoy.

Frank T. James, Brothers Of The Last Watch
Big Jim’s Guitar, Willy Tea Taylor
Stopping By, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Don’t Walk Away, Aaron Lee Tasjan
Stingray, Jim Lauderdale
Beyond The Moon, Old Man Markley
Fine Foods Market, Tim Barry
Tell My Mother I Miss Her So, Ryan Bingham
The Mill Whistle (Live In The Helm), Kris Stuart
Wichita Skyline, Drag The River
Truckdrivin’ Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat), Beck
As Long As There Is Whskey In The World, Murder By Death
Country Boy, Johnny Cash
Nobody Gives A Damn About Songs Anymore, John Moreland

 

Episode #31 — 2014 Wildwood Music Fest preview

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Sunshine and canopies . . . it’s the Wildwood Music Fest & Campout in beautiful Willamina, OR . . . photo courtesy of our pal Chad Lanning.

Episode #31 — Wildwood preview 2014

It’s finally here . . . our favorite week of the year. If you’ve been listening to the podcast, you’ve heard our hosts going on at length about the Wildwood Music Fest & Campout, the best little music festival on the West Coast. This coming weekend, the lads are making the short trip from our home base in Portland to beautiful Willamina, OR, for the third annual Wildwood Fest, which opens this coming Friday.

This year’s event is bigger and better than ever . . . but again, not too big. The intimacy of the event is what makes Wildwood a special weekend for all involved: a great team of organizers and volunteers, the wonderful cast of talented performers and the good folks who buy the tickets, set up camp and take in the great sounds and sunshine.

Our That Much Further West Podcast hosts will serve as MCs for the event and also will be gathering interviews and private performances throughout the weekend to share with you on later podcasts. As usual, this year’s musical lineup includes not only some of our best friends and favorite local artists, but a bevy of great new national acts that we’re looking forward to seeing and learning more about. And the guys can’t wait to see you there!

For the record, sources confirm there are still a handful of tickets available for the festival. You can buy them and also get all the important information about the festival at www.wildwoodmusicfest.com.

If you’re heading to this year’s festival, Episode #31 is a chance to familiarize yourself with a great number of the acts that will be performing. If you can’t make it, well, you have our sympathies but at least you can dig into this podcast to hear what you’ll be missing.

So have at it folks. Here’s the playlist for our Wildwood Music Fest 2014 preview.

Keep On Crowin’, The Resolectrics
The Wind, Brothers Of The Last Watch
The Illness Song, Right On John
Angelyne, Fernando
Make Me Wanna, C.W. Ayon
Victory Dance, Lone Madrone
Sara Jean, Jonathan Warren and The Billy Goats
Roll My Head Around, Otis Heat
Wall Flower, The Grizzled Mighty
15 White Horses, Hillstomp
The Travelin’ Kind, Tom VandenAvond
Midnight On A Monday, Anna Tivel
Let Me Drink Alone Tonight, Graham Lindsey
Mojave, Hymn For Her
Don’t Take My Baby Away, The Haunted Windchimes
Life Is Beautiful, Willy Tea Taylor
Westbound Rattler, Charlie Parr
Dead Man’s Hand, Root Jack
Tired Oak, Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas
Closed Doors, Larry And His Flask

 

Episode #30 — Some favorites from 2014 so far

Scott H. Biram

Scott H. Biram

Episode #30 — 2014 Favorites So Far

Well folks, we’ve hit the halfway point of 2014 like a runaway train. It’s been full speed ahead since we launched That Much Further West Podcast, and hard to believe we’re 30 episodes into the new incarnation.

This week we tap the brakes a bit for a quick review of tunes from some of our favorite releases of the year so far — co-hosts Mike Lee, Eric Kotila and Phil Favorite picked a handful of songs that offer a taste of what the show’s been featuring in 2014. Some are recent finds, others are podcast hits we’ve been wearing out most of the year. So if you’re new to the show, this episode is a great way to get caught up on the action as we head into the second half of 2014.

We kick things off with a tune from Scott H. Biram and his excellent album “Nothin’ But Blood,” released earlier this year by Bloodshot Records. Mike wrote a review of the record which you can read here.

Another Bloodshot release is featured on this episode, Lydia Loveless’ “Somewhere Else.” Phil reviewed it when it came out in April; you can read his review here.

We also have a healthy batch of tunes from artists from our hometown of Portland, OR, USA, including songs from Root Jack, The Low Bones, The Delines, Spirit Lake and Jake Ray. There are also tunes from Fluff & Gravy Records artists Hillstomp, Anna Tivel and Sassparilla, all local to us here in P-town and all with excellent records out this year.

The guys made sure to include many of the alt-country’s most popular acts who are out with kickass stuff this year (Old 97s, Hellbound Glory, Drive-By Truckers, Dave and Phil Alvin, etc.), and some of the newer artists who are “arrow up” in the national scene right now (Nikki Lane, John Fullbright, Lee Bains III). And no list of goodies from this year would be complete without tunes from Sturgill Simpson and Matt Woods, two leading lights of alt-country who have been in heavy rotation on the podcast all of 2014.

So here’s the playlist . . . some of our favorites from 2014 so far. We hope you enjoy, and thanks for listening.

Slow & Easy, Scott H. Biram
Right Time, Nikki Lane
Trade All The Lights (featuring Lydia Loveless), Caleb Caudle
Dead Man’s Hand, Root Jack
Edgar Cayce, Adam Faucett
Head, Lydia Loveless
The Weeds Downtown, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires
Voices, Sturgill Simpson
Stateline, The Delines
Santa Ana Winds, Spirit Lake
Must Be Rain, Jake Ray
Five Dollar Bill, Anna Tivel
Primer Coat, Drive-By Truckers
A Memory Now (featuring Hayes Carll and Evan Felker), Jason Eady
Longer Than You’ve Been Alive, Old 97’s
Cocaine, Sassparilla
Suicide Sal, Karen Jonas
Streets of Aberdeen, Hellbound Glory
Shakedown, Left Lane Cruiser
Meet Me At The Bottom, Hillstomp
The One That Lives Too Far, John Fullbright
No Place To Be, The Low Bones
You’ve Changed, Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin
Lucero Song, Matt Woods

Episode #29 — Summertime Sassparilla

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Kevin Blackwell of Sassparilla

Episode #29 — Summertime Sassparilla

We kick off this week’s episode with a song from local Portland favorites Sassparilla, and really, what could be more refreshing on a hot summer day? “Peaches” is a sneaky, fun rocker from the grungy bluegrass band’s excellent new double album, “Pasajero/Hullabaloo,” which arrived from Fluff & Gravy Records just in time to kick start your summer in style.

And there’s plenty more new music in this week’s episode, including first listens from Shovels & Rope, Denver and Hook & Anchor as well as excellent new releases from John Fullbright, Dave and Phil Alvin and Willie Nelson.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be gearing up for our favorite annual event, the Wildwood MusicFest & Campout, set for July 18-20 in beautiful Willamina, Oregon. In the meantime, we’ll be hitting the shows and listening to the records that matter most to you, dear reader and listener.

So for now, dig in to the new episode. Here’s the playlist:

Peaches, Sassparilla
High Road, John Fullbright
Sweet But Bitter Life, Possessed By Paul James
Southern Flood Blues, Dave and Phil Alvin
Band of Brothers, Willie Nelson
My Great Gasby, Two Cow Garage
I Never Learn, Karen Jonas
Troubadour, Arliss Nancy
Way To Kansas, Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy
Blessing and A Curse, Have Gun, Will Travel
No Place To Be, The Low Bones
Orange Dress, Kate Mann
The Devil Is All Around, Shovels & Rope
Carry On, Denver
Concerning Spectral Pinching, Hook & Anchor
Knights Ferry, Tom VandenAvond
Winner’s Casino, Richmond Fontaine

Episode #28 featuring The Delines

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The Delines (left to right): Amy Boone, Sean Oldham, Jenny Conlee, Tucker Jackson, Freddy Trujillo and Willy Vlautin

Episode #28 featuring The Delines

We’re not sure if “supergroup” is the best way to describe The Delines, despite the fact that various members have achieved a respectable level of fame with other bands and in other platforms. But with the release of their debut album, an instant country-soul classic called Colfax, The Delines certainly are making their mark. A current string of sold out shows in Ireland and the UK is proof of that.

We were thrilled that our guy Phil Favorite was able to catch up with Willy Vlautin and Amy Boone of The Delines before their final “dress rehearsal” ahead of the tour, a live performance at a jam-packed World Famous Kenton Club in Portland just a few short hours ahead of boarding their flight for Europe. Phil’s been trying (“and failing”) to wear out the new Delines record and has shared a few of the cuts on previous episodes of the podcast. Here, along with the interview, we play a few more as well as a sort of precursor, Richmond Fontaine’s “Post To Wire,” which features Amy’s sister Deborah Kelly on vocals.

Big thanks for Willy and Amy for making time for the interview and sharing their stories from previous road trips, when they met as members of Richmond Fontaine and The Damnations TX, respectively. The two have an obvious chemistry that works beautifully on the new record, and you can sense that when you listen to the interview.

We start this week’s show with a sort of recap of some awesome shows that our hosts Mike, Eric and Phil had a chance to witness last week. The three amigos were all in attendance for the Two Cow Garage show at Dante’s that also had I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House and Root Jack on the bill. Days later, the boys hit a private party featuring Phil’s band, The Lonesomes along with Seattle’s The Swearengens and Portland’s fast-rising, ramshackle country powerhouse Denver. Mercy, what a weekend!

This week’s podcast also has some classic songs from Billy Joe Shaver and Texas Tornados, tunes from new discoveries Adam Faucett and Those Crosstown Rivals, and other kickass stuff from the likes of The Resolectrics, Sturgill Simpson, The Whipsaws and Frank Turner.

So let’s get it on! Here’s this week’s playlist:

Shallow Grave, Root Jack
I Give Up (The Puppy Song), I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House
Annie, Get Your Guns, Two Cow Garage
Cooke City, The Lonesomes
Don’t You Care, The Swearengens
Toledo, Denver
Black Rose, Billy Joe Shaver
Post To Wire, Richmond Fontaine
The Oil Rigs At Night, The Delines
Interview with Willy Vlautin and Amy Boone of The Delines
Wichita Ain’t So Far Away, The Delines
Freddy Fender, Trujillo
Your Man, The Resolectrics
Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone, Texas Tornados
It Ain’t All Flowers, Sturgill Simpson
Whiskey Farmer, The James Low Western Front
Become What We Are Now!, Adam Faucett
Ichabod, The Legendary Shackshakers
Fire And Brimstone, James Leg
Mind Of Its Own, Miller & Sasser
Little Drunk Fists, Slobberbone
The War, The Whipsaws
No Friend Of Mine, Those Crosstown Rivals
Glory Hallelujah, Frank Turner
Well Lit Highway, Hearts Of Oak
Tonight Ain’t Gonna Be Good, Lucero

Episode #27 — Nonstop From Denver to Seattle

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Champ Bailey (left) stiff-armed by Champion Wilson.

Episode #27 Nonstop from Denver to Seattle

It started innocently enough with a smoking hot new tune from Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires which brought the first reference to Seattle in an episode full of them. Then followed the promise of stories about Colfax Avenue in Denver, and the next thing you know we find ourselves coming back to Denver again and again.

There’s a song by Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, a band which originally formed in Denver more than 20 years ago. There’s the song “Colfax Ave.” by The Delines, which allows co-host Mike Lee to tell us of his days prowling the City of Denver’s notorious strip. There’s even a song by Portland’s ramshackle alt-country powerhouse Denver. Hey, that’s just “The Way It Is.”

Soon enough, we take a turn toward Seattle to recount co-host Eric Kotila’s recent visit to the Northwest Folklife festival. Eric shares a handful of songs from some of the great bands and friends he saw over that long weekend, including The Ganges River Band, Copper & Coal, Jackrabbit and The Swearengens.

And for good measure, there’s a song called “St. Paul” by The Weight, a song called “Nashville” by Old 97s, and song called “New England” by Hearts Of Oak and a reference to “Indianapolis” by way of the Bottle Rockets. Alas, no tunes by the bands Boston or Chicago.

So without further adieu, let’s jump in with both feet. Here’s the playlist for Episode #27.

The Company Man, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires
Turn For The Worse, The Bottle Rockets
St. Paul, The Weight
Old Number Seven, The Devil Makes Three
Port Authority Band, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
You’re Still Standin’ There, Steve Earle (with Lucinda Williams)
Colfax Ave., The Delines
New England, Hearts Of Oak
The Rolling Stones Were Right, Alexander Hudjohn
Sleep With A Stranger, Nikki Lane
The Way It Is, Denver
Nashville, Old 97s
Through Eternity, The Ganges River Band
The Whole Damn Bottle, Copper & Coal
Oh Catherine, My Catherine, Widower
Fathers and Sons, Jackrabbit
Tonight, You’ll Be Breaking My Heart, The Swearengens