Monthly Archives: July 2018

Live Review: Sarah Shook & The Disarmers at Mississippi Studios

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Sarah Shook & The Disarmers returned to Mississippi Studios in Portland and proved good as gold.

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Live at Mississippi Studios
Porltand, OR, USA
7-24-18

By Mike Lee

Followers of That Much Further West Podcast are probably already well aware that we (and I in particular) are big fans of the music of Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. We’ve included several songs from the band’s two albums on our podcast playlists, promoted the band’s video releases, and I even wrote a glowing review for their latest album, Years.

Last September, I went to see Sarah Shook & The Disarmers at their first show in Portland at Mississippi Studios with much anticipation after several spins of their excellent debut record, Sidelong. I left the show, well let’s say, disappointed. The band was great and they played the songs with precision and very true to the album versions, but the problem was a lack of energy. The show was flat, and for an old punk rocker like me, I need to get something, anything, from the band to be able to reciprocate, or else all that whiskey I consumed would go to waste (sort of). I still bought the vinyl and a trucker hat and went about my night.

Fast forward to July 2018, and again I find myself anticipating (with some reservations) another performance by Sarah Shook, this time at last weekend’s Wildwood MusicFest. Again the band was great, but this time the energy was on point and solidified in my mind the need to go see the band three days later at our original rendezvous point, Mississippi Studios.

My how things have changed. The crowd was eager and enthusiastic and easily three times the size of the show way back in September, and on a Tuesday night no less. The band’s lineup was the same except for a drummer who had been replaced by Kevin McClain (ex-American Aquarium), and they were ready to go when Shook took the stage, strapped on her guitar and walked to the microphone.

With her long hair hanging in front of her face, Sarah shared some playful banter with the crowd before they launched into the first song off of Years, “Good As Gold.” The band played two more songs, and then it happened again — Sarah took to the mic and engaged the crowd! She was funny, charming and exuded all the swagger her music projects. I was hooked. The crowd was dancing and singing along and it all felt so good.

With the energy flowing from the stage to the crowd and back, the band was tight and continued to set the songs up to showcase Sarah’s lyrics and vocals, the real star of the show. Over the next 90 minutes or so, Sarah joked with the band and guided the crowd through 21 songs and punctuated the encore with “The Nail,” a great song from the debut album. The crowd was cheering, hooting and hollering for more as the band slipped behind the closing curtain for the night.

Set List:
Good As Gold
Heal Me
Parting Words
Fuck Up
No Name
Over You
Road That Leads To You
Nothin’ Feels Right But Doin’ Wrong
Make It Up To Mama
Lesson
Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t
Heartache In Hell
Keep The Home Fires Burning
Sidelong
The Bottle Lets Me Down
Misery Without Company
New Ways To Fail
Years
What It Takes
Encore:
Dwight Yoakam
The Nail

Wildwood ’18 Podcast Picks #3

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GravelRoad: These cats from Seattle are ready to rock your world Friday night at Wildwood.

Stream or download Wildwood ’18 Podcast Picks #3: Wildwood ’18 Picks #3

Are you ready to party? I know we are.

That’s why we’ve put together this third installment of Podcast Picks to help you get ready for this weekend’s 7th Annual Wildwood MusicFest & Campout in beautiful Sheridan, OR, USA. And to kick things off, we fire away with three of the acts that will take you higher on the festival’s opening night: GravelRoad, Liz Cooper & The Stampede, and Jeff Crosby & The Refugees.

Liz Cooper and her band The Stampede with cast a spell with their rock and soul on Friday night at Wildwood.

Friday night should be special with these excellent acts performing, and with the night wrapping around the campfire with The Turkey Buzzards. Then it’s on to Saturday’s lineup, featuring bands with some of the most acclaimed and anticipated indie albums of the year, including The Resolectrics, Western Centuries and Sarah Shook & The Disarmers.

Don’t forget to stick around Sunday when The Wildwood All Star Review finishes the festival with its usual surprise party of killer country rock. It all adds up to what should be an unforgettable weekend of fun, friends, food, family and MUSIC!

Look for our Podcast hosts Eric Kotila and Mike Lee — they’ll be serving as MCs from the stage, sharing important announcements and introducing the bands. And be sure to thank your festival hosts Katie Kendall and Kim Hamblin if you cross paths — these ladies are the engine that drives the festival to new heights each year.

We’ll see you down there Friday! Here’s the third and final primer for your festival pre-funk. Enjoy!

Left Me Twice, GravelRoad
Hey Man, Liz Cooper & The Stampede
Hallways Of My Heart, Jeff Crosby & The Refugees
Good As Gold, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Misery And Gin, Jaime Wyatt
The Rumble (Liberty Chaps Mix), High Step Society
Stella, The Get Ahead
The Captain And The Dreamer, Bart Budwig
Wild Birds, Western Centuries
Your Man, The Resolectrics
Alegntaye, Tezeta Band
Geography, MAITA
Bottom Shelf Man, The Turkey Buzzards
Show Me The Mountain, The Singer and The Songwriter
Cold Night In Chicago, Alder Street
Insert Words, Hear, Cedar Teeth
No Mama Blues, The Lostines
Dirty Looks From Children, Ezra Bell
Wagon, The John Dough Boys
Moonboots, Mo Phillips

Episode #88 featuring Chuck Westmoreland

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Chuck Westmoreland, back in Portland after a Southeast/Midwest tour supporting his killer new album, “Long Winter Rodeo.” Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media

Stream or download Episode #88: Episode 87 w/ Chuck Westmoreland

Over the past few years, Chuck Westmoreland has emerged from Portland’s crowded indie rock scene as one of the West’s leading voices in Americana and country. His amazing new record, Long Winter Rodeo, and the incredible reviews that followed have all but cemented Westmoreland’s position as a top-notch, must-see, must-hear singer-songwriter.

Chuck Westmoreland, live at Landmark Saloon for Episode #88 of That Much Further West Podcast. Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media

That’s why we were so psyched have him as a guest for Episode #88 of That Much Further West Podcast. Recorded live at Landmark Saloon, Chuck goes deep with our hosts as he discusses the making of the new record, his re-emergence after an eight-year hiatus as a singer and performer, and how revisiting his roots in East Texas inspired much of the vivid imagery captured in the songs on Long Winter Rodeo.

He also shares a handful of live performances to the delight of our team and the folks in attendance. One listen and it’s easy to understand — with this voice and these songs, Mr. Westmoreland has the chops to match the hype.

Chuck has a big show with is band coming up Thursday, July 26 at The Fixin’ To in Portland, and you can follow his exploits (reviews, show dates, updates) at his website.

For now, enjoy this latest podcast, Episode #88. Here’s the playlist; all songs by Chuck Westmoreland:

Hole In My Grave
Prisoners (Live at Landmark Saloon)
Long Winter Rodeo
Mama Be Eternal (Live at Landmark Saloon)
Slaughtered (Live at Landmark Saloon)
Denim Tears

Wildwood ’18 Podcast Picks # 2

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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

 

Wildwood ’18 Podcast Picks #1

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Stream or download Wildwood ’18 Podcast Picks #1: Wildwood ’18 Picks #1

It’s our favorite time of the year, when the summer season of music festivals hits its peak, and the gang from That Much Further West Podcast couldn’t be more stoked to be attending the 7th Annual Wildwood MusicFest & Campout, July 20-22 at Roshambo Art Farm in beautiful Sheridan, Oregon, USA.

The podcast team has been onsite every year, and our show hosts Mike Lee and Eric Kotila have served as festival Masters of Ceremonies from the start. We’re thrilled to be invited back by the two wonderful local businesswomen who make the festival happen, Katie Kendall and Kim Hamblin.

Sarah Shook and her band, The Disarmers, will rock your world at the 7th Annual Wildwood MusicFest & Campout.

Lovers of music and their local Willamina/Sheridan community, these two women — with the help of a fabulous team of volunteers — have captained a completely home grown festival with absolutely zero corporate sponsorship. Katie and Kim have put together some stellar line-ups over the years and kept that family-friendly atmosphere alive and well.

They also work hard to showcase local businesses as vendors and give back to the community. The festival has grown over the years but the founders seek to keep it from growing too big. A big shout out to Kim, Katie, their families, Dina Sayers and her team at Great Northwest Productions, and the scores of volunteers who make things run smoothly.

In the run up to this year’s festival, That Much Further West Podcast has put together a batch of preview playlists to give y’all a primer for the music to be featured at the 7th Annual Wildwood MusicFest $ Campout. There will be talent from all over the country and all over and the musical spectrum. Give it a listen and tell us who you are looking forward to hearing/seeing at Wildwood!

Here’s the playlist for our first set of Podcast Picks for Wildwood 2018:

New Ways To Fail, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Full Moon On Sunset, Jeff Crosby & The Refugees
Drownin’ In A Gallon Of Beer, The John Doe Boys
Own Private Honky Tonk, Western Centuries
Wild Heart, The Singer and The Songrwriter
Bonnie And Clyde, Bart Budwig
A Jug In The Road, Ezra Bell
Cloud Skateboard, Mo Phillips
Is You Is (Cockney Nutjob Mix), High Step Society
Wasco, Jaime Wyatt
Burger Shack, Alder Street
Coward In Georgia, The Turkey Buzzards
Mountain Man, Liz Cooper and The Stampede
Aynotche Terabu, Tezeta Band
Cancer, Cedar Teeth
Japanese Waitress, Maita
Roll Me Like A Stone, Gravel Road
Mind Is A Mountain, The Get Ahead