Call for suggestions: Music in New York City

I know I have a few regular readers in and around the New York City area. I'm coming your way next week; I'll be in town from this coming Friday, the 16th through the 24th. I'm looking for any advice about where I might want to go to hear some nice alt-country or roots-oriented music. I'm staying in Alphabet City, and I'm hoping to catch the Doc Marshalls' show at Banjo Jim's. I'm also contemplating some of the shows at the Rodeo Bar. Are any of the band there next week recommended? Any hints or suggestions about other worthy shows this week would be appreciated.

Thanks.

7 Shot Screamers at SXSW

One of these years I'm going to make it to South by Southwest. Not this year, though. Perusing the highlights lists, like the ones posted by Twangville, I've noticed a whole lot of great roots and alt-country that I'm going to be missing. One band that hasn't been pointed out is the 7 Shot Screamers. SXSW has them listed under the punk genre, which may be why they haven't been noticed by roots music fans. This is a prime example of the limitations of the one-and-one-only genre classification scheme the SXSW index uses.

The 7 Shot Screamers' blend of punk and rockabilly should appeal to a wide variety of punk and roots-oriented tastes. I've written about their first album. Their most recent album came out last fall on St. Louis-based garage rock label Big Muddy. They've also been touring with Exene Cervenka, formerly of X and the Knitters, as the current incarnation of her Original Sinners.

They're playing 8:00, Saturday at the Dirty Dog Bar in Austin.

Listen:
7 Shot Screamers - Love Always, Charlie
7 Shot Screamers - War Song

Buy:
From CD Universe

Kirk Rundstrom

I didn't know Kirk Rundstrom personally. I wish I had. He had a real presence over the Lawrence music community.



This was my first favorite song of theirs years ago.

Listen:
Split Lip Rayfield - The Day the Train Jumped the Tracks

Support:
The Kirk Rundstrom Cancer Fund

Loomer - Songs of the Wild West Island

Canadian indie-rock/alt-country band Loomer released their sophomore album last fall. I've been listening to it in my car for a while and I've been quite taken by the way they combine the often disparate sub-genres of country music. Instead of focusing on cross-generic synthesis like some indie-roots bands (the proliferation of country/soul around these days, for example), Loomer creates an intra-generic synthesis of Americana, honky-tonk, Uncle Tupelo-style alt-country, and old time. Featuring sweet pedal steel, baritone guitar, banjo, and a combination of sweet harmonies and rough vocals, this album highlights the best sounds from these often separated strands of country music.

Listen:
Loomer - Endless Holiday
Loomer - Anastasia (Live BBC Session)

Buy:
From Miles of Music
From Amazon

The Highway Sound - What Henry Ford Forgot

The Highway Sound is a project of Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Jay Zasa. The focus of the album is Zasa's songwriting, which is foregrounded by his distinctive, slightly off pitch but endearing voice that is reminiscent of Michael Stipe of REM. Jay is backed up by an ensemble playing what he calls "big Brooklyn Americana." While they never reach the ethereality of Brooklyn neighbors Hem, preferring a lower-fi aesthetic, the family resemblance is apparent. Listen for the fiddle of Mat Kane (of the Doc Marshalls) and the piano of Andy Bienen (co-screenwriter of Boys Don't Cry).


Listen:
The Highway Sound - Railroad Bill's Return

Buy:
From CD Baby

Top 10 of 2006, Part 3

Today we finish up the sample songs off my favorite albums of the year. My top two are perhaps the least well-known releases on this list, but don't think that I upped their placement just to have an unconventional top pick. I actually feel that these two albums are the best I've heard this year, surpassing the better-known and more-respected musicians who are below them on the list or not present at all.

3. Kris Kristofferson - This Old Road

Listen:
Kris Kristofferson - Pilgrim's Progress

Buy:
From Amazon

2. Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies - Blood to Dust

Listen:
Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies - 27 Years

Buy:
From Bob Wayne

1. Scott H. Biram - Graveyard Shift

Listen:
Scott H. Biram - Been Down Too Long

Buy:
From Bloodshot
From Amazon

Top 10 of 2006, Part 2

Today we continue the sampling of my top 10 of 2006. Follow the link for more detailed commentary.

7. Old Crow Medicine Show - Big Iron World

Listen:
Old Crow Medicine Show - I Hear Them All

Buy:
From Amazon

6. Solomon Burke - Nashville

Listen:
Solomon Burke - Valley of Tears

Buy:
From Amazon

4. Hank Williams III - Straight to Hell

Listen:
Hank Williams III - D. Ray White

Buy:
From Amazon