February, 2015 | That Much Further West Podcast

TMFWP_hillwilliams_christopher_sohler_web_1

The Hillwilliams in The Helm (left to right): Bernardo Gomez, Matt Franzen, Rich Landar and David Gerow. Photos by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #43 w/ The Hillwilliams

For Episode 43, we answer the burning question, “Are you ever gonna have some kick-ass bluegrass on this show?” Our answer: “Hill yeah!” Portland’s hottest new bluegrass act, The Hillwilliams, invaded The Helm for an interview and performance promoting their brand-new CD, titled Hill Yeah!

TMFW_hillwilliams_christopher_sohler_2_web

The Hillwilliams: No turntables, one microphone.

With mandolin player and singer Rich Landar leading the interview, we learn how The Hillwilliams formed, toured and honed their bluegrass chops to get ready for recording their debut album, which consists mostly of original material. The band also includes singer/banjo player Matt Franzen, David Gerow on fiddle and Bernardo Gomez, all much-accomplished musicians and veterans of our local music scene.

Sandwiched between a pair of cuts from the new disc, The Hillwilliams show off their live chops on a couple others: Landar’s “Ants In The Kitchen” and a cover of “Saving Grace,” a tune penned by late-great local legend Scotland Barr. Both performances earned rousing applause from an enthusiastic group of friends gathered in The Helm. Local listeners will want to check out this band during one of their upcoming Portland performances.

This episode also features a playlist featuring tons of new music picked by our co-hosts.

Phil Favorite talks up the Seattle band Evening Bell and shares a cut from their new single called “Restless Angel,” and also a tune from Jenny Don’t & The Spurs called “Trouble With The Law.” Mike Lee’s selections — songs from Ryan Bingham, American Aquarium, Murder By Dealth, Tim Barry and Justin Townes Earle — are all from recently released records. So are the songs at the end of the show, one from Steve Earle and another Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires. And co-host Eric Kotila picked a handful of tunes that fit the “bluegrassy” vibe of the show, choices inspired by the visit from The HIlliwilliams.

Yes, lots to chew on here. So dial it up, kick back and press play! Here’s the playlist:

Restless Angel, Evening Bell
Trouble With The Law, Jenny Don’t & The Spurs
Man I’m Supposed To Be, American Aquarium
Burn My Body, The Hillwilliams
Ants In The Kitchen (Live in The Helm), The Hillwilliams
Saving Grace (Live in The Helm), The Hillwilliams
Ratty Old Hat, The Hillwilliams
Adventures of You and Me, Ryan Bingham
Send Me Home, Murder By Death
No News From North, Tim Barry
Call Ya Momma, Justin Townes Earle
Bound To Ride, Jayke Orvis and the Broken Band
Evil Motherfucker From Tennessee, Joe Buck Yourself
The Devil Gets His Due, The Dirt Daubers
Old West Side, The Tillers
Codeine, Trampled By Turtles
Go Go Boots Are Back, Steve Earle
Mutineer, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

TMFWP_earnest_lovers_2_christopher_sohler_web

The Earnest Lovers: Leslie Beia and Pete Krebs in The Helm. Photos by Christopher Sohler

Episode #42 with Earnest Lovers

We’ve always thought That Much Further West Podcast was for lovers, and on this episode we try to prove it. Not only is the word “lover” in the title of every song submitted to our playlist, but we have one of Portland’s hottest new country bands — The Earnest Lovers — in The Helm for an interview and performance.

Led by local performing veterans Pete Krebs and Leslie Beia, The Earnest Lovers are hitting stages all over the Pacific Northwest with big plans for 2015. Mr. Krebs is well-known for his early rock-and-roll work with the local Sub Pop band Hazel and later as a member of numerous Americana and traditional bands such as Golden Delicious, The Kung Pao Chickens and most recently the Western swing band The Portland Playboys. Ms. Beia has had a huge impact on the local country scene as half of the red-hot duo Copper & Coal, a band whose debut CD is often featured on our show.

TMFWP_earnest_lovers_christopher_sohler_web

Leslie Beia and Pete Krebs of The Earnest Lovers, barside at The Helm.

Krebs and Beia teamed up in late 2014 to form The Earnest Lovers and are in the process of recording and producing their debut EP. An ongoing Kickstarter campaign (see the video and link below) is already 100 percent funded, leaving the duo in position to move forward with confidence. In the interview, we learn how they came together in a love of classic country music in the tradition of the 1950s and 60s; their plans to record the EP with producer Jon Neufeld (Black Prairie, Jackstraw, Dolorean) at Portland’s Type Foundry studio; and how Pete’s love of punk rock eventually led to an appreciation of traditional country.

They also share a pair of wonderful original songs they’ve co-written for the upcoming EP. The songs fit beautifully in the mix of lovers tunes, presented here just in time for Valentine’s Day. Local Portlanders can catch Pete and Leslie this coming Saturday at The Secret Society for “Hearts On Fire” showcase, where several of our favorite singers are partnering for performances of classic country duets originally done by artists such as Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and June Carter, Buck Owens and Rose Maddox and Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. Pete and Leslie with being performing the songs of George Jones and Melba Montgomery.

We also share “lover” tunes on the show from some of the podcast’s favorite artists, including American Aquarium, Hearts of Oak, Lydia Loveless, Rachel Brooke and Steve Earle. So if you’re ready for some lovin’, just press play.

Here’s the playlist for Episode #42:

Lover Too Late, American Aquarium
My Lover Adorned, Cahalen Morrison & Eli West
If I Could Be Your Lover, Delbert McClinton
San Andreas Fault (Live In The Helm), The Earnest Lovers
I’m Still Missing You (Live In The Helm), The Earnest Lovers
Mary Wants A Lover, Foghorn Stringband
Lovers Ain’t Easy, Hearts of Oak
Oh, My Lover, Kory Quinn
Lover’s Spat, Lydia Loveless
Late Night Lover, Rachel Brooke
My First Lover, Sassparilla
Poison Lover (with Siobhan Kennedy), Steve Earle
Stone Hearted Lover, The Sumner Brothers
When Your Dream Lovers Die, Townes Van Zandt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3AxHhGaigc

Click here to donate to The Earnest Lovers’ Kickstarter campaign.

That Much Further West Podcast

Sharing our favorite Americana, Alt-country and Roots Rock music from the Pacific Northwest

Monthly Archives: February 2015

Episode #43 featuring The Hillwilliams

Episode #42 featuring The Earnest Lovers