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

 

TMFWP Special: Five Questions with Aaron Lee Tasjan

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Aaron Lee Tasjan

Is he a hot-shot electric guitar-playing gun-for-hire, or is he really just a folkie trapped in a shredder’s body?

Aaron Lee Tasjan’s still young and precocious enough to be whatever he wants to be. The 20-something Ohio native has made a name for himself playing guitar as a member of numerous well-known rock bands, including Alberta Cross, Everest, the New York Dolls and Drivin’ N Cryin’. He’s also a noted songwriter — his songs have been picked up by the likes of Jack White and country star Pat Green.

And if you search the internet for Tasjan, you’ll find pictures of him hanging out and playing with a dizzying array of New York City rock and folk legends, people like Blondie drummer Clem Burke and Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye. The list goes on and on.

But folks on the East Coast also know Tasjan for his solo act, where he combines his ample talents for guitar playing and clever songwriting. It’s all on display on his debut solo EP, “Crooked River Burning,” a terrific five-song release that came out earlier this year.

Listen to “Don’t Walk Away” from Crooked River Burning:

“Don’t Walk Away” by Aaron Lee Tasjan

He recently completed a co-headlining tour with rising alt-country star Caleb Caudle and will be holding down a week-long residency at Al’s Den in Portland, starting Sunday, July 20. That Much Further West Podcast producer and co-host Phil Favorite caught up with Tasjan for a conversation as he prepared for his trip to Portland.

TMFWP: You’re fairly well known in the rock community as an electric guitar-playing sideman, but you are also a guy who embraces his folkier side. What can we expect to hear and see at the residency?

ALT: Funny enough, that’s exactly what you will hear — rock and roll guitar over top of folk songs. I actually started in folk music, though. My first gig ever was opening for Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary). Doesn’t get more folk than that!

TMFWP: Well, since you mentioned Peter Yarrow, we have to ask about all the legends who you’ve played with both publicly and privately. As a guy so young, do you ever have to pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming?

ALT: Yes, I constantly have to pinch myself. Earlier this year in Mexico I was playing guitar with my favorite band Drivin’ N Cryin’. On our last song John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin) walked on stage and played mandolin and sang with us. We also had rock and roll dynamo Chuck Prophet on stage for that one, too. One of the highlights of my life.

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TMFWP: The new EP allows listeners to hear your voice and learn more about your songwriting. Does it feel good to share your own songs instead of playing everybody else’s?

ALT: Yeah, most people don’t know it but I was always making up songs. My songs have been recorded by Pat Green, BP Fallon and Jack White and have been on TV shows like “The Voice” and a couple movies, too. Most recently “The Way Way Back” starring Steve Carell. I’ve been playing and singing my songs for people for 10 years. The guitar-playing thing is just a side note to what I really do.

Listen to “Junk Food and Drugs” from Crooked River Burning:

“Junk Food and Drugs” by Aaron Lee Tasjan

TMFWP: How’s the response been to the EP since its release in March?

ALT: Very proud of the EP. I’ve gotten a great response. I can’t believe that it continues to reach people. I credit the musicians who played on it with me like Anton Fier, who also produced it, and Chris Morrissey, Tony Scherr, Rich Hinman, Grey McMurray and Erik Deutsch. They’re the real heroes.

TMFWP: Have you ever toured the West Coast or been to Portland? What are looking forward to most about the residency and/or tour?

ALT: I have toured through there before opening for both Everest and Alberta Cross. I love Portland. I look forward to accidentally guesting on Portlandia, starting my own microbrewery and fashioning a canoe out of a tree to ride to the gig each day.

Aaron Lee Tasjan plays Al’s Den at the Crystal Hotel in downtown Portland July 20-26. Shows start at 7 p.m. and all are free. Guests include local acts Casey Neill, Kris Stuart of Root Jack, Kathryn Claire and Jake Ray. For more information, visit the Al’s Den website.

 

 

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

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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

Episode #26 — Dolly & Friends

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Dolly Parton, the chart-topping queen of country music

http://yourstorywelltold.com/tmfwpodcastnet/audio/tmfwpodcast26.mp3

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

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 #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