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

Wildwood ’18 Podcast Picks # 2

Photo courtesy of The Resolectrics

The Resolectrics (l to r): John Becher, Bob Dunham and Tate Peterson. Photo © Tim LaBarge 2018

Stream or download Wildwood ’18 Podcast Picks #2: Wildwood ’18 Picks #2

Welcome back for our second installment of podcast picks, aimed at getting your ears ready for the 2018 Wildwood MusicFest & Campout, set for July 20-22 at Roshambo Art Farm in the beautiful Willamina/Sheridan area of Oregon.

With the festival just days away, we thought we’d kick off this session with The Resolectrics, Portland’s powerhouse R&B-tinged rock trio with a set scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the festival. This will be the band’s second performance at Wildwood, and this year’s set comes with the promise of a new album due in the fall.

Knowing the rollicking fun this band inspires, they’re an easy “must see” pick for our podcast team. Based in the classic rock and soul of the 60s and 70s, The Resolectrics take it to new heights by mixing in some psychedelic guitar and killer harmonies for a sound that’s all their own.

And they’re just one reason why this year’s festival is a can’t-miss for lovers of music from all over the spectrum. Check out the live performance of “Easier To Go” from the group Five Letter Word (video below), the classic country of “Weight of The World” by Western Centuries, and the wonderful, exploring horns on “Aynotche Terebu” by Tezeta Band. High quality stuff in a variety of styles — that’s what Wildwood is all about.

So give this latest set of picks a listen and put a check next to your “can’t miss” picks for the festival. We’ll see you down there.

Here’s the playist. Enjoy!

Up On The Hill, The Resolectrics
Easier To Go (Live), Five Letter Word
City Girls, Jeff Crosby & The Refugees
The Skinner, Alder Street
Locks, Cedar Teeth
Nights & Weekends, The Singer and the Songwriter
Weight Of The World, Western Centuries
The Newest St. Louis Toodle-oo, High Step Society
Southwest Texas, The Lostines
Wishing Well, Jaime Wyatt
Capitol Hill Country Blues, Gravel Road
Talkin’ Bout Teamwork, Mo Phillips
Kinder Than Most, MAITA
The Night,
Liz Cooper & The Stampede
Aynotche Terabu, Tezeta Band
Build Myself A Woman, The John Dough Boys
Could Be Better, The Get Ahead
The Government Is The Mafia, Ezra Bell
Keep The Home Fires Burning, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Wanderin’ Again, The Turkey Buzzards
Nebraska 2, Bart Budwig