Tag Archives: Hearts of Oak

Record Review: Radio Receiver

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Nate Wallace of Radio Receiver joins our guy Phil Favorite for a video chat about his new project and its self-titled album.

Stream or download our interview with Nate Wallace and songs from Radio Receiver: Radio Receiver Feb ’21

Songs included on the podcast:
Soldier’s Boy
One Way To Slice A Pie
Lonesome As No Other Part
Dreamers Need Believers

Radio Receiver, Self-titled
(2020, Deer Lodge Records)

By Phil Favorite
That Much Further West Podcast

Some of the best storytellers are those third-wheel types. That quiet guy at the end of the bar with the rabbit ears and a knack for being invited into conversation. That super-sharp gal with a keen eye for detail and razor tongue riding shotgun with her friends, keeping them laughing with non-stop colorful commentary.

Songwriter Nate Wallace tells his stories like a guy standing at a gas station who just overheard two men plotting a crime. When his story starts, you immediately know you’re in for it, and you can bet you’re gonna get some juicy details along the way.

On the new self-titled record by Radio Receiver, Wallace steps away from his role as leader of the Portland-based country psych rock band Hearts of Oak to deliver a fresh batch of song cut from the same mold but left a little more open and spare.

There’s a sweetness to Wallace’s voice that adds a vulnerability and authenticity to these storyteller songs, and it shines especially bright when complemented by the backing and harmony vocals on Radio Receiver.

With Mark Folkrod on drums, Jason Willmon on bass and Anna Verlet on violin, the band plays it close to the vest, allowing Wallace’s acoustic guitar and voice to remain at the fore and leaving space for ace producer Ezra Meredith to sprinkle bits of sonic color all over the record.

Radio Receiver has a cinematic feel to it with swells of action and dramatic pauses that allow you to catch your breath during an overall thrilling ride. It’s a fine collection of tunes by a terrific songwriter who clearly works at his craft and who always has a great story to tell.

RIYL: Songs: Ohia, Silver Jews, Hiss Golden Messenger

2018 Year End Podcast Picks

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Texas Road Crew: Mike and the Moonpies knocked us out with their fabulous 2018 album “Steak Night At The Prairie Rose”

Stream or download 2018 Year End Podcast Picks: 2018 Year End Podcast Picks

So much great music, and right in our wheelhouse . . . 2018 will be remembered not for one, two or even 10 great albums but a whole slew of game-changing efforts by a wide-ranging list of Americana artists. Whether it was the outlaw country of Whitey Morgan, the timeless folk of John Prine, the disarming, gritty alt-country of Sarah Shook or the multi-pronged Americana of Western Centuries, 2018 delivered an immeasurable amount of fabulous Roots music, all fitting nicely under the That Much Further West Podcast umbrella.

All of the artists included on this list of year-end picks found their way on to our Portland-based podcast this year, either as a monthly or seasonal pick, the subject of a review, or as a featured guest interviewed by our three co-hosts, Mike Lee, Eric Kotila and Phil Favorite. The lads put their heads together for this year-end feature, finding it difficult not only to single out this handful of fantastic performers but even to choose songs from albums loaded with potential entries. With just 25 songs on the list, it’s easy to see how this list could have been twice as long if not longer— all you have to do is look at the countless year-end “best of” lists already published in the preceding weeks.

With so many great acts to choose from, including many (see: Brent Cobb, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Courtney Marie Andrews, American Aquarium) drawing universal praise for the fantastic records they put out this year, we decided to feature a band that we hadn’t paid quite enough attention to on the podcast this year. Over the better part of the last decade, Texas-bred stalwarts Mike and the Moonpies have been bringing their world-class country to the people, building a reputation as one of America’s finest representatives of the white-hot Red Dirt movement.

Following in the footsteps of some of our favorites, like Chris Knight, Reckless Kelly and Turnpike Troubadours, Mike and the Moonpies hit a home run with their 2018 record Steak Night At The Prairie Rose, a must listen for every fan of country music. We kick off our year-end picks with their song “Beaches of Biloxi,” a potent cocktail of temptation, addiction and regret befitting a truly great country song.

Let it serve as a launching point, not just for this playlist but for our pursuit of more fantastic music to share with you as the calendar turns to another year. Be on the lookout for Mike and the Moonpies (see video below) and all the great artists and music we share here and throughout the coming year.

Here’s our humble list of Year End Podcast Picks. Thank you for listening. Enjoy.

Beaches of Biloxi, Mike and the Moonpies
Elevator Blues, The Resolectrics
NYC In The Rain, Caleb Caudle
Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Ballad For The Trees, I See Hawks In L.A.
Heart Slows Down, Aaron Lee Tasjan
Cadillac Man, Wes Youssi & The County Champs
Bad Time To Be An Outlaw, The Bottle Rockets
Every Time I Hear That Song, Brandi Carlile
A Hole In My Grave, Chuck Westmoreland
Lonesome Friends Of Science, John Prine
The World Is On Fire, American Aquarium
Girl Going Nowhere, Ashley McBryde
Everything Has Changed, Lucero
Set Em Up (I’m Afraid To Go Home), Countryside Ride
Cowboys And Canyon Queens, John Calvin Abney
Border, Courtney Marie Andrews
Wild You Run, Western Centuries
King Of Alabama, Brent Cobb
What Am I Supposed To Do, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s
My Sweet Arsonist, Karen Jonas
Plain To See Plainsman, Colter Wall
Ain’t Gotta Worry Child, Charley Crockett
The Being Gone, Jamie Lin Wilson
Kick The Lights Out, Hearts Of Oak

Episode #90 featuring Nate Wallace of Hearts of Oak

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Nate Wallace returns to That Much Further West Podcast with a new Hearts of Oak record and a maturing writing style. Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media (www.localheromedia.com)

Stream or download Episode #90: Episode 90 w/ Nate Wallace

It’s true. We’re all a little more grey since the last time Nate Wallace of Hearts of Oak joined us for an episode of That Much Further West Podcast.

But like fine wine, we like to think we’re getting better with age, and listening to “Moves,” the fabulous new record by Hearts of Oak, we think the same of Mr. Wallace and his fabulous band. That’s why we were thrilled Nate could join us for podcast Episode #90, recorded live at Landmark Saloon on a rainy October night in Portland, OR, U.S.A.

On this episode, Nate talks about how the evolution of the band led to a more cohesive sound on the new record. Recorded at The Deer Lodge in Portland with bandmate Ezra Meredith at the engineering controls, “Moves” sounds like a band hitting its stride, with older and newer members of the band having found their place in the music and contributing to every song.

Nate Wallace of Hearts of Oak, performing live at Landmark Saloon for Episode #90 of That Much Further West Podcast. Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media.

He also talks about his songwriting process, which also has evolved over time, and how he finds inspiration in continually listening to new music — he says he just picked up a record by Colter Wall that hits close to home in terms of style and substance. After talking about his influences, we felt compelled to share a song by the late Jason Molina from his days with Songs: Ohia.

Nate also shares a few live solo performances, including a song from the new record, an newer unreleased song and a cover song from one of his Deer Lodge Records labelmates.

There’s an intimate, cinematic vibe to Nate’s songwriting that not only draws the listener in, but makes you want to get behind the fabulous, adventurous soundscape that surrounds everything Hearts of Oak does live and in the studio.

So settle in for a fun listen — it’s Episode # 90 of That Much Further West Podcast.

Here’s the playlist:

Outlaws, Hearts of Oak
Worthless Currency (Live at Landmark Saloon), Nate Wallace
Hoary Man (Live at Landmark Saloon), Nate Wallace
Just Be Simple, Songs: Ohia
I Hope He Breaks Your Heart (Live at Landmark Saloon), Nate Wallace
Kick The Lights Out, Hearts of Oak

TMFWP Special: Fifth Anniversary Podcast Picks

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An idea comes to life: Eric Kotila (left) and Mike Lee launched That Much Further West Podcast five years ago as a live internet radio show, broadcast from the Hawthorne Theater Lounge in Portland.

Stream or download Fifth Anniversary Podcast Picks: 5th Anniversary Podcast Picks

It began as a simple idea: a couple of burly, bearded buddies sharing their love of rock, punk and country music with friends and other folks far and wide. What Eric Kotila and Mike Lee launched five years ago as a live internet radio show has evolved into what we today call That Much Further West Podcast.

Much has changed over that time. The show is no longer broadcast live from a public place — instead, it has been taped for the last three-plus years in the comfy confines of The Helm, our subterranean lair in North Portland. We also have a dedicated website
(where you are right now) that serves as a hub for episodes, playlists, specials and reviews. And the team has added Phil Favorite as a co-host and producer and Anne Marie as photographer to help bolster our efforts to produce quality, original content.

The boys, live from The Helm (left to right): Mike Lee, Eric Kotila and Phil Favorite. Photo by Anne Marie for Local Hero Media (www.localheromedia.com)

Despite the many changes, mostly for the better, the spirit of the show remains the same. We’re here to turn you on to the music that we love and also the music of the amazingly talented guests we’ve had on the show for the last five years.

To celebrate, we’ve compiled a collection of tunes that represents the tip of the iceberg of what we’ve been listening to and sharing with you over the past five years, and hope to continue to share going forward.

We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the many artists who have volunteered their time and energy to be guests on the show. By one count we’ve had as many as six members of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame visit and perform in The Helm, and that’s just scratching the surface. Rising national stars such as John Moreland and Aaron Lee Tasjan also have stopped by as we’ve compiled more than 80 episodes live from The Helm.

We’re also indebted to the many friends whose interest, enthusiasm and support have fueled our efforts. Special props to Christopher Sohler for his rock-solid stint as our contributing photographer, and to Mary Atwood for her behind-the-scenes, “hostess with the mostest” contributions.

We also can’t thank enough our sponsors — Secret Aardvark Trading Co. and Cloud City Gardens — for their above-and-beyond generosity in making each podcast taping a special treat for our guests.

And last but far from least, a special thank you to Jean Kotila and Ruby Kotila for welcoming us into their home on podcast nights and putting up with our shenanigans. We greatly appreciate it.

So there you have it. A big thank you to you all. And if you’re still wondering what all this is about, just push the play button above. You’ll hear the following:

30 Days, Root Jack
1964, Hearts Of Oak
Tears Don’t Matter Much, Lucero
Right Time, Nikki Lane
Life Is Beautiful, Willy Tea Taylor
Humble Narrator, Two Cow Garage
Dog Bumped, Tim Barry
Midwestern Guys, Lydia Loveless
With Love From Brushy Mountain, Matt Woods
Captain And Tennille, Drunken Prayer
Anchor’s The Way, The Calamity Cubes
Shoulda Known Better, Possessed By Paul James
Whole Damn Bottle, Copper & Coal
The Travelin’ Kind, Tom VandenAvond
Beautiful, Fernando
Ain’t Going To The Bar Tonight, American Aquarium
Deep Red Bells, Neko Case
Better Days, The Harmed Brothers
Somebody Loves You, Austin Lucas
Fire Away, Chris Stapleton
Hurtin’ On The Bottle, Margo Price
Keep It Between The Lines, Sturgill Simpson
Always On The Ride, Richmond Fontaine
Elephant, Jason Isbell

Right at home: Goon squad and co-hosts, protecting the booze at The Helm.

May Podcast Picks

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Austin_Lucas_Biographgy

Austin Lucas, coming to a town near you soon.

Stream or download Podcast Picks: May Podcast Picks

Austin Lucas has one of those pure country voices that makes your ears stand at attention. Apply the voice to the terrific songs he writes and it’s no surprise Austin has long been a favorite of That Much Further West Podcast, where we’ve been sharing his songs from the start.

Now, with a fantastic new album out called “Between The Moon & The Midwest,” the hardworking Mr. Lucas is ready once again to take his show on the road. He’ll be launching a tour later this month with Adam Faucett and Portland’s Fernando that will sweep through Texas and the Southwest before covering California and the Pacific Northwest. They’ll be at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on June 8.

One of the cuts from the new album, titled “Wrong Side Of The Dream,” features the inimitable Lydia Loveless and kicks off our Podcast Picks for May. It’s a bittersweet song about being stuck on the road and away too long from the one you love, written from both sides of the sad story. Washed in steel guitar, the song is a perfect way to launch into this month’s podcast picks, which feature more tales of bad-boy brothers, wild sailors, weekend hell raisers and troubadours ready to hit the road.

We’re especially stoked to share a song from our Australian friend Matthew Colin, who recently hit us with a stunning set of new demos. Hearing “Coyote,” you’ll quickly understand why we’re big fans of Matthew and his music.

We also have songs from the hot new albums by Sturgill Simpson, Richmond Fontaine and Margo Price along with a few of our local favorites such as Drunken Prayer, Hearts of Oak and Quiet Life. And we wrap things up first with a birthday salute to Mr. Willie Nelson and a tune from the band Denver sung by Birger Olsen, whose solo debut album is due in June. We’re hoping to bring Birger into The Helm for a formal podcast episode in advance of the new record, but until then, enjoy some great music as selected by our podcast team.

Here’s the playlist for May Podcast Picks:

Wrong Side Of The Dream, Austin Lucas (featuring Lydia Loveless)
Sea Stories, Sturgill Simpson
Three Brothers Roll Into Town, Richmond Fontaine
Low Down Soul, The Deslondes
Weekender, Margo Price
Hellraiser, Drunken Prayer
Used To It, Hearts Of Oak
Time Until, Quiet Life
Coyote, Matthew Colin
Keweenaw Flower, The Lowest Pair
My Leavin’, Luther Dickinson
On The Road Again, Willie Nelson
Sammyville, Denver

Episode #33 featuring Hearts of Oak

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Nate Wallace of Hearts Of Oak

Episode #33 featuring Hearts of Oak

It was our distinct pleasure to have the men of Hearts of Oak — singer/guitarist Nate Wallace, drummer J. Lever and guitarist/producer Ezra Meredith — in The Helm for an interview and performance for Episode #33. The lads are promoting the Aug. 19 release of the band’s third album, “New England,” and their show this coming Friday night at the Doug Fir in Portland.

The record represents a bit of a departure for Hearts of Oak. Nate’s terrific folksy songwriting and nasally vocal remain, but the record features an extra dose of fuzzed-out guitars (standard six-string electric and pedal steel) courtesy of Ezra and his brother Joel, who served as producers on the project. On this episode, we share a couple of tracks from the record and enjoy a couple of fine performances by the band. Always a great time hanging out with these dudes.

We also share some great new music from Billy Joe Shaver, The Gaslight Anthem, Big Shoals and the Portland band Denver. And if you stay tuned, you’ll hear a few details about the upcoming “Further West Fest” to be hosted by the podcast crew in September.

So crank it up! Here’s the playlist:

Hard To Be An Outlaw (featuring Willie Nelson), Billy Joe Shaver
Drag, Caleb Caudle
Good Man, Nikki Lane
Goldmine, Hearts of Oak
Used To It Now (Live in The Helm), Hearts of Oak
Easy By The Gun (Live in The Helm), Hearts of Oak
New England, Hearts of Oak
Rollin’ And Tumblin’, The Gaslight Anthem
Skipping Stones, Big Shoals
Rowdy Love, Denver
Denver Rock City, Bud Bronson
Crater, Gord Downie, The Sadies, And The Conquering Sun
I Saw It with My Own Two Eyes Again, Drunken Prayer
Rise In The River, Lincoln Durham
Non-Addictive Marijuana, Supersuckers
The Other Side of OK, Drag The River
Blessing And A Curse, Have Gun, Will Travel