Peter Case "Look Out!"

A Peter Case release is always a welcome affair, and this time especially so as he is back to his roots-rocking roots after having emergency open heart surgery last year. One double bypass, accompanied by five days in the hospital and a six-figure medical bill. Case's friends and fans organized to raise the money for the cost of his care. Benefit shows were held in Austin, Houston, and Nashville, along with a three-nighter at McCabe's in Santa Monica, CA. As Peter was recovering and taking time off, he prepped the reissues of two classic albums by his early outfits The Nerves and The Plimsouls, it brought a rekindling of excitement to get a new project underway. “I had to do the mastering and spent quite a bit of time listening to the old records. It really got me going, hearing those guitars," he says.

Case's CD WIG! hits the store this Tuesday, bringing an earthquaking, earthshaking vibe as Peter grunges out, with help from legendary X drummer DJ Bonebrake and guitarist and songwriter Ron Franklin. They entered the studio on a Tuesday, and by the end of Wednesday, it was pretty much laid down. Electric, bluesy, raw; recorded live and direct to analog tape, as it should be. And hallelujah, there is a tour underway, too!

Peter is one of the first artists to be announced to play the Americana Music Festival and Conference, September 8th through the 11th at the Downtown Nashville Sheraton Hotel. Early bird rates have been extended until the end of June, so if you are thinking about attending, now would be a great time to sign up for a conference registration or a wristband. That is true whether you are an industry member or maybe a fan who wants to immerse yourself in the amazing aggregation of talent that is going to be assembled for this event. Between the Honors and Awards Show at The Ryman, and the evenings in the clubs, it quite frankly rocks. And what a great way to help Nashville recover from the flooding, by bringing some tourism dollars into town.

While you are pondering all that, click the play button below to preview a track from the new Peter Case project Wig! called, "Look Out!"

- Jessie Scott

 

Austin Collins & The Rainbirds "Worn"

He is shaggy shorn, lanky and rangy, with a mischievous glint ever present in his eyes. Austin Collins is a Houston native, who made the journey to the music Mecca of Austin about ten years ago for UT, and as he says, he was lucky to get to stay. He is born to the Texas troubadour tradition, and brings warm vocals and confessional lyrics to his music. After two CD releases, 2005's Something Better, and Roses Are Black in 2008, he was named a 2009 AirPlay Direct All Things Americana winner. Just a couple of months ago, he put out his third CD, Wrong Control.

Last week, he was asked to sit in on Austin's PBS outlet KRLU to play live in between segments for the airing of American Masters: Neil Young. You can see the video on his website. I found a cool blog and glowing review of a recent excursion to Mississippi undertaken by Josh Grider, Matt Skinner and Austin at the usually snarky Farce The Music. Let us add to the growing video collection of Austin Collins with one off his latest album, as he is accompanied by The Rainbirds, Dylan McDougall and Craig Bagby, who wrote this song, "Worn."

- Jessie Scott

Stone River Boys "Bluebonnet Blue"

Summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the street. Cut to the Stone River Boys, as they tear around the States bringing their 'Country Funk' mix of R&B, trad country, and 60's bar band, that sounds about perfect. When we last wrote about them, they were still holed up in Austin, doing a happy hour residency at The Continental Club. They return there for a date on July 7th, but in the meantime they are out west, and we encourage you to spend a night out with them if you can.

The Stone River Boys new CD Love on the Dial is climbing the Americana Chart. It features 10 original songs written or co-written by Dave Gonzalez and Mike Barfield, and four other tunes, including one by Stephen Bruton. Stephen passed just over a year ago, and I am proud to say he was a friend of mine. There is an eerie feeling that Stephen still has a hand in things on this mortal coil. Grown men of otherwise even keel are telling me about visitations. And on stages all over town, when people play a Bruton tune, the tears still pour down the musicians' faces, but there is also an experience of the divine about it too. The whole story of Stephen Bruton's kindness, focus, generosity, and talent has not been written to my satisfaction yet. It comes out in bits and pieces, but suffice it to say, there was never a finer human being. The Stone River Boys chose to cover a Bruton tune, here is "Bluebonnet Blue" from Threadgill's back in March.

- Jessie Scott