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Kris Stuart (L) of Root Jack with our own Mike Lee

Episode #10 new Root Jack!

By PHIL FAVORITE

Merry Christmas everybody! Thanks for dialing into That Much Further West Podcast. We’re very pleased to be able to share some of our favorite tunes from this past year on this latest episode, and also a brand-new cut from Root Jack’s upcoming full-length release.

Rise Again, a smoldering riff-riddled rocker, is presented here as Exhibit A for why we think Root Jack’s new album, “Oasis Motel,” will be one of 2014’s best listens and most talked about records. Our pal Kris Stuart, Root Jack’s leader, was kind enough to share the final mixes with us so we could share them with you! And that is what we plan to do in the coming weeks ahead of the record’s release. So stay tuned for more new killer tracks from Root Jack.

From the playlist, you’ll see we tried to balance some of this year’s more notable releases from the Americana sphere along with a number of cuts local to our scene here in our homebase of Portland, Ore. Many of the tunes were simply favorites from the past few years that we really dig and thought you’d enjoy.

Here’s the playlist . . . hope you like the show! Happy Holidays, y’all.

That Much Further West (show theme), Lucero
Rise Again, Root Jack
Caroline Williams, Band of Heathens
Fox In The Hen House, Rachel Brooke
Bartender’s Blues, Countryside Ride
Parted Ways, Heartless Bastards
Some Days, Sturgill Simpson
Tin Star, Lindi Ortega
Kiss The Bottle, Lucero
Good Time Gal, Copper & Coal
Penny, The Honeycutters
Up On The Hill, The Resolectrics
Kristin & Billy, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
Hail Hail, Shovels & Rope
No One Alive, Wilkinson Blades
Sweet Roseanne, Kristin Hirsch
Can’t Be Satisfied, Hillstomp
Antique Hearts, American Aquarium
Barricades, Son Volt
Hot Denver #1, Denver
Ruby, The Black Lillies
No Honky Tonks, The Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash
I Can See You Are Always So Sad, Drunken Prayer
Stockholm, Jason Isbell
Sweet But Bitter Life, Possessed By Paul James

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Episode #9 Deer Lodge George Jones tribute

By PHIL FAVORITE

Welcome back to the blog everyone. Super stoked to share this week’s episode featuring songs from the great new tribute to country legend George Jones compiled by producers Ezra Meredith and Bert Sperling of the Deer Lodge. The project, which features 30 songs on two CDs — more than 20 of which were recorded at the Deer Lodge studio in Portland — is due to be released locally in Portland toward the end of December, and we at That Much Further West Podcast are beyond thrilled to be able to share so many of the tunes in this week’s episode.

We invited Ezra and Deer Lodge recording artist Nate Wallace of Hearts of Oak (who has a track on the tribute) to join us in The Helm for the recording of the episode, and Mike, Eric and I had a great time hanging with these two fine gentlemen. Both are super talented dudes: Nate’s an awesome songwriter who I greatly admire as both an artist and a friend, and Ezra’s an extremely musical engineer with an tremendously deft touch in the studio and phenomenal taste in music. Big thanks, dudes, for taking some time for us. Good whiskey, good times.

So, how to describe the Deer Lodge? Well, it’s both a record label and physical plant. From the outside, the place looks like your typical unassuming single-family suburban home. But beyond that streetscape lies a three-pronged musical monster: the basement of the home serves as the recording studio space; the garage is a clubhouse complete with a bar with running taps and is decorated as a tribute to great music and culture from the 60s and 70s; and the backyard features a covered stage and a performance space for shows hosted during the summer months.

Over the past several years, I’ve become a quite of fan of the music coming out of the studio, with records from Drunken Prayer, Hearts of Oak and the Meredith Brothers in steady rotation. But I’m simply blown away that Ezra and Bert managed to bring this compilation from conception to fruition in just six months.

The project features a number of personal friends and many of local Portland acts that I’ve come to admire over the last few years. It also has several artists and bands I’d never heard before, which makes it a rewarding listen in multiple ways. So cool.

I’m sure you’ll agree once you give the new episode a spin, so without further adieu . . . After the show theme (Lucero’s That Much Further West), here’s this week’s playlist:

Songs from Deer Lodge, A Tribute To George Jones

White Lightning, Sassparilla

Still Doing Time, Lewi Longmire with the Portland Country Underground

The Race Is On, Water Tower

When The Grass Grows Over Me, Tyler Stenson

Walk Through This World With Me, Copper & Coal

The Grand Tour, Keeter & Ali

Seasons Of My Heart, The Tumblers

He Stopped Loving Her Today, Stephanie Lynn

Tennessee Whiskey, Brush Prairie

The Ghost Of Another Man, Shawn Smith

Wings Of A Dove, Fernando

We’re Gonna Hold On, Hook & Anchor

The Battle, Meredith Brothers

If You Couldn’t Get The Picture, Bert Sperling

Must’ve Been Drunk, Hearts Of Oak

Golden Ring, Neon Renaissance

The Door, Owen Grace

I Just Don’t Give a Damn, Gabe Rozell

Selfishness In Man, Drunken Prayer

Man, what a great collection of music. Be sure to look these artists up to learn more about their music and when they’re playing out live near you. And Portlanders, look for me at the George Jones Tribute record release celebration at The Landmark Saloon on Dec. 20. Stay tuned for more news about the worldwide distribution of the double disc and for more music from the tribute in coming episodes.

Thanks again for tuning in! Enjoy the Episode.

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AP Dugas

Episode #8 with AP Dugas

By PHIL FAVORITE

What a great couple of sets Saturday night at Landmark Saloon in Portland by The Ganges River Band. Killer mix of original tunes from the band’s self-titled debut album and classic country covers. They even delivered a cool version of No Expectations by the Rolling Stones . . . one of my all-time favorite tunes.

Big thanks to AP Dugas for taking a little time out after the show to tell the band’s story — there’s a lot classic rock, southern rock and punk in his background. Interesting how a rocker from the heat and humidity of Houston, Texas, winds up a rising country star in the rainy Pacific Northwest.

With last week’s holiday pushing us all to the brink with work and family, Mike, Eric and I decided to do another all-music episode this week. We compiled a rib-stickin’ mix of rock and country to tide you over until we hit The Helm again this week for more vulgar merriment and holiday fun.

Big shows coming up with Drunken Prayer’s CD release at Dante’s here in Portland this coming Saturday night, and our Podcast showcase at Alberta Street Pub with Wilkinson Blades and Spirit Lake on Dec. 12. Locals can check out the Live PDX page here at the website for more show listings

But in the meantime, we hope you enjoy this week’s show. Here’s the playlist.

That Much Further West (show theme), Lucero

Van Gough, Two Cow Garage

Dead Man’s Blues, Matt Woods

Mayberry, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House

Arizona Death Song, Jackrabbit

Western Town, The Lonesomes

Driver Pull, Tim Barry

The Crease, Arliss Nancy

The Dalles, Bad Assets

Turn Up The Bottle, Whitey Morgan and the 78s

I Still Believe, Frank Turner

Six Bottles Of Wine, The Ganges River Band

Interview with AP Dugas of The Ganges River Band

I Am Your Man, The Ganges River Band

Tennessee, American Aquarium

Somebody Loves You, Austin Lucas

The Closer You Get, Lucero

Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound, Hank Williams Jr.

One Steals The Load, Emily Herring

Am I That Lonely Tonight, Justin Townes Earle

32 Mouths Gone Dry, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club

Tickin’ Bomb, Shovels & Rope

Missouri Boy, The Hooten Hollers

Women Without Whiskey, Drive-By Truckers

• A few thoughts about this Episode . . . maybe a one long stream of consciousness rant? . . . Have you heard a better song than Dead Man’s Blues by Matt Woods this year? What a powerhouse that young man is . . . Arizona Death Song by Jackrabbit never fails to hit that hole in the heart left by the loss of anyone you’ve loved. Powerful stuff . . . This episode marks the first time on the podcast that we’ve played a song from my band, The Lonesomes. Eric was nice enough to suggest and Mike to pick Western Town, a song I’m extremely proud of because it was co-written with my dear friend and guitar partner Mark Dybvig. If you’ve never seen the band, we’ll be playing the “second Thursday” Podcast showcase in January at Alberta Street Pub with the very cool Sarah Gwen. . . . Which brings me to a thought that’s kind of been bugging me about the show . . .

• There’s a bit of a hubbub these days regarding the lack of female voices on mainstream country radio, which got me thinking, “Hey, the podcast isn’t doing much better.” We have a few of our favorites that we’ve shared, like our friends Carra Stasney and Leslie Beia from Copper & Coal; Lydia Loveless, who has a kickass new CD out; and this week our old pal Emily Herring, whose greatness transcends all stereotypes and boundaries. A few more as well (Kate Mann, Shovels & Rope, Neko Case); so many great female voices out there. But one only has to look at this week’s songlist to see it might be time for a more concerted effort to get the ladies in our musical lives a little better representation. Let’s see if I can back that up in the coming weeks.

OK, keeping it kind of short this week. We have tons of great stuff brewing in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned! Thanks for coming along for the ride. Always a good time. Cheers!

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Willy Tea Taylor

Episode #7 with Willy Tea Taylor

Ah, yes, it’s great to be back and excited to share Episode 7 with all of you. Here to bring healthy dose of bonus information to go with the latest show, which features an interview Eric did about a month back with the great Willy Tea Taylor.

Willy T. and his world-class beard were in Portland in October to play a show with the Harmed Brothers and he came by The Helm to sit down for a chat with Eric and strum a few tunes. We also have a Trio Bravo from our favorite bartender, Matt Doran from the Hawthorne Theater Lounge (or as we like to call it, the bar that no one will name). Always great to see and hear from Matt, who’s just about the nicest guy in town.

So let’s get started, shall we? Here’s the playlist for Episode 7.

That Much Further West (show theme), Lucero

All I Need, Root Jack

When You See Me, The Harmed Brothers

Mountain, The Deep Dark Woods

All I Know, Lydia Loveless

Wichita Skyline, Drag The River

Frenchy, Drunken Prayer

Get The Wheels A Rollin’, J.B. Beverley

The Trial, The Sadies

Songs We Used To Sing, Possessed By Paul James

Blue Eyes, Riviera

Trio Bravo from Matt Doran

I Hope He Breaks Your Heart, American Aquarium

Birmingham, Shovels & Rope

Life Is Beautiful, Willy Tea Taylor

Inteview with Willy Tea Taylor

Open Range, The Drew Landry Band

Words, The James Low Western Front