I Just heard a great songwriter round at The Pour House in Nashville featuring SaraBeth Geoghegan and Randy Reed. I love these guys. They are both excellent performers and songwriters that I have been aware of for awhile.
It was a little hard to hear them in this bar/restaurant atmosphere at first but the sound got better and the people's attention was grabbed once Randy and SaraBeth hit their stride. Both performers are great songwriters who deserve more attentive audiences and I've seen them kill it with full bands at other venues. But there was something special about hearing them perform stripped down too. Both artists write poignant songs with a nice touch of humor.
SaraBeth has a certain quirkiness to her songwriting and performance style that really speaks to the person who...as she says is "good at being in bad relationships."
Randy Reed, who is very hip and now and puts on a show that appeals to young rock and roll hipsters, can also write a straight up tune that could be covered by an artist that might have a mainstream hit with it and fund his other aspirations for a long time.
If you get a chance to check out either of these artists do it!

I Just heard a great songwriter round at The Pour House in Nashville featuring SaraBeth Geoghegan and Randy Reed. I love these guys. They are both excellent performers and songwriters that I have been aware of for awhile.
It was a little hard to hear them in this bar/restaurant atmosphere at first but the sound got better and the people's attention was grabbed once Randy and SaraBeth hit their stride. Both performers are great songwriters who deserve more attentive audiences and I've seen them kill it with full bands at other venues. But there was something special about hearing them perform stripped down too. Both artists write poignant songs with a nice touch of humor.
SaraBeth has a certain quirkiness to her songwriting and performance style that really speaks to the person who...as she says is "good at being in bad relationships."
Randy Reed, who is very hip and now and puts on a show that appeals to young rock and roll hipsters, can also write a straight up tune that could be covered by an artist that might have a mainstream hit with it and fund his other aspirations for a long time.
If you get a chance to check out either of these artists do it!

Tonight Odd Records recording artist and Spider Poets collaborator Sonny Joe Slim made his debut with new Nashville blues band Crosscut Saw at Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar in Printer's Ally in downtown Nashville.
The band killed it on two sets of blues classics with Sonny Joe on harmonica and totally nailing the vocal on Howlin' Wolf's Whose Been Talkin'?
Expect a lot more good times with this hot new band that finds Sonny Joe in his element.
More details on the rest of the band forthcoming.
Let's boogie!

It was packed to the rafters and people were swinging from them once Ty Segall and band hit the stage Monday night at The End in Nashville.
The prolific west coast rocker says it is probably the last time he will be playing in Nashville for awhile. Segall has gained a high profile with three releases in 2012 and another already in early 2013. Tonight's set was heavy on songs from Slaughterhouse, and it was special. Once the Ty Segall Band hits the stage the air is filled with a whole other kind of electricity and you remember why you love rock and roll. His high energy live shows and extremely interesting, variety filled albums hits me much in the same way Guided By Voices did twenty years ago...and I'm still buying everything Robert Pollard puts out. Time to catch up on more Ty Segall.

All right folks, here's my pick of favorite albums and songs from 2012. This is extremely hard for me as I am a huge music fan and have my built in predjudices and favorites, but... I listen to a wide range of established artists and new, young artists, international to local and I'm loyal to the bands and solo artists I love. This is just one music fans opinion. Please share your favorites. That is how we all discover great new music. Tell your friends!
   

 

Well, after all these years I guess I still like my rock and roll pretty wild and experimental, and this was a great year for that kind of music, from veterans like Robert Pollard and Guided By Voices massive output of quality albums to Jack White's solo debut to newer bands like Ty Segall Band, Parquet Courts and Tame Impala. There was a lot of great music from roots and americana artists like Alabama Shakes and Todd Snider as well as classics from seasoned singer/songwriters Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen.
   
      The highlight of the year for me has got to be the trilogy of killer new Guided By Voices albums that were released plus two solo albums from Robert Pollard! I don't know how he does it but none of it is throw away crap either. I would have taken a sixth release from Mr. Pollard. Favorite 2012 GBV song? It's got to be The Unsinkable Fats Domino.
     For a top notch album of 3 to 4 minute killer rock tunes, crisp lyrics and pure bombastic emotion it's hard to beat Jack White's solo debut Blunderbuss, but for me two of Guided By Voices three albums did, and that's no mean feat. For pure emotion, production and songcraft, the old master Bob Dylan is right at the top. But the album that resonated with me the most lyrically and sonically was Todd Snider's Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables. Not only is it just great music but it is extremely timely and relevent to the life I know. Todd is pissed but he knows that humor can go a long way when it comes to finding a little relief from the violent, greedy world that surrounds us. Todd's album affected me the way everyone was saying Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball album was supposed to. I don't have that one yet. The songs I've heard are cool but... you know, you can't fall in love with everything. Anyway, Todd Snyder's album was playing on repeat in my player more than any other album this year. 
     When it comes to the power of a single song there were a lot of great ones, but what can you say about the Alabama Shakes song Hold On except "wow"? It's rockin' and timeless and the guitar riff sticks, but the vocal is in a category of it's own. The only single that came close for me was the brand new song Doom And Gloom from the 50 year old Rolling Stones. Bob Dylan's entire album Tempest was amazing but his song for old friend  John Lennon, Roll On, was truly special. Jack White turned on americana and country fans as well as rock fans with his slippery, sly tune Love Interrupted. And Patti Smith stood tall as Rock Poet and Priestess with Banga. Another killer album and hot, funky track of the same name was Dr. John's Locked Down. The good doctor came to Nashville to play and create new grooves with The Black Keys Dan Auerbach producing and some of Music City's finest playing. Dan Auerbach also helped Nashville underground favorites Jeff the Brotherhood rise above ground with their first major label release Hypnotic Nights and my favorite cut Dark Energy.
 

Ok, here are my top album and song lists from what I've heard that came out this year. The order is how I feel tonight but it could change tomorrow depending on my mood, but this is my favorite music of 2012. Please share your faves with us in the comments.
Thanks, Happy New Year!


Favorite Albums Of 2012

1. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables - Todd Snider
2. The Bears For Lunch - Guided by Voices
3. Tempest - Bob Dylan
4. Let's Go Eat the Factory - Guided By Voices
5. Blunderbuss - Jack White
6. Locked Down - Dr. John
7. Psychedelic Pill - Neil Young And Crazy Horse
8. Old Ideas - Leonard Cohen
9. Hypnotic Nights - Jeff The Brotherhood
10. Slaughterhouse - Ty Segall Band
11. Mouseman Cloud - Robert Pollard
12. When I'm President - Ian Hunter
13. Banga - Patti Smith
14. New Multitudes - Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames
15. Class Clown Spots A UFO - Guided By Voices
16. Ghost On The Canvas - Glen Campbell
17. I Bet On Sky - Dinosaur Jr.
18. Americana - Neil Young And Crazy Horse
19. Jack Sells The Cow - Robert Pollard
20. Transendental Youth - The Mountain Goats
21. Mr. M - Lambchop


Favorite Songs Of 2012

1. Hold On - Alabama Shakes
2. Doom And Gloom - The Rolling Stones
3. Roll On John - Bob Dylan
4. New York Banker - Todd Snider
5. Love Interrupeted - Jack White
6. Walk Like A Giant - Neil Young And Crazy Horse 
7. Banga - Patti Smith
8. Stoned And Starving - Parquet Courts 
9. The Unsinkable Fats Domino - Guided by Voices
10. Cherokee - Cat Power
11. Sixteen Saltines - Jack White
12. Narrow Way - Bob Dylan
13. I Bought My Eyes - Ty Segall Band
14. Twisted Road - Neil Young And Crazy Horse
15. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards - Tame Impala
16. My Children, My Angels - Dr. John
17. Dark Energy - Jeff The Brotherhood 
18. Waving At Airplanes - Guided By Voices
19. Pay In Blood - Bob Dylan
19. Locked Down - Dr. John
20. Vampire Girl - Buddy And Jim
21. Who's Running My Ranch? - Robert Pollard 
22. Everything Is Miles From Everywhere - Guided By Voices
23. (If I Had My Way) I'd Tear This Building Down - Elizabeth Cook
24. Fiction - The XX
25. When I'm President - Ian Hunter
26. Transendental Youth - The Mountain Goats 
27. In Between Jobs - Todd Snider 

Related articles

Robert Pollard: Jack Sells the Cow (Review)

Ranking Guided By Voices' 2012 Albums, From Best to Best

The Top 5 Albums of 2012 As Chosen By JP Fallavollita

Top Indie & New Music Albums of 2012

Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2012

Hey Late Night Music Blog readers,

I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas.

I've been enjoying some of this Christmas Day evening by listening to some of my favorite current indie rock from 2012 and thinking about what will make my year end list of favorite albums and songs by next week. There is a lot of great music that came out this year and a lot that has recently been released, and some that has been out for awhile but I've just discovered. 

I'm just going to share a few favorite songs, artists and links throughout the week and then post my year end list on New Years. Be sure to share your 2012 favorites in the comment section! I always discover great new music from your feedback.

This year was filled with great music from indie, local and mainstream artists in a wide variety of genres that I loved. Let's start with some current indie rock that has been turning me on. 

One of the really fun bands that makes me remember why I love rock and roll enough not to grow up is the band Parquet Courts and their album "Light Up Gold." A fresh band that makes me feel like I did when I first heard bands like Television, The Velvet Underground, The Clash and The Minutemen. It's cool garage rock that is everything you want to hear when you're in that particular mood. Once a punk always a punk. Here's a link to the first Parquet Courts song I ever heard and made me an immediate fan. I hope you dig it as much as I do. Dig the groove and have a chuckle.Let me know what you think.

Stoned And Starving



 

There is a certain music with a certain sound that comforts and entices me. It is a sound that I am always chasing after. It's a sound that I want to hear and create. It's a sound that just a handful of artists capture me with. It's an aching timeless sound that comes through in artists like Hank, Dylan, Cash, Hendrix, Miles and sometimes lesser known artists.
One of those artists is Richard Buckner. I first read about him in the pages of the alt country magazine No Depression back around 2000. Shortly after that I bought his album Since, and it put a spell on me.
Tonight Richard played a solo acoustic show at one of Nashville's coolest new venues, The Stone Fox. Buckner played a beguiling set that included selections from stellar albums like Dents and Shells, Meadow and Our Blood.
It was great to have Richard Buckner back in Nashville. Not only is he a great singer/songwriter and performer but he's also a really down to earth guy who is happy to chat with fans.

Dance Of The Blood Orange Moon

Please enjoy the latest spontaneous composition from The Birdwatcher Experiment. This was recorded on my iphone shortly after midnight in front of the fire after coming in from a brisk autumn evening under an orange moon.

An ongoing series of these spontaneously improvised instrumental compositions have been being released in various places. Several have been on Reverbnation, some exclusively to fans on the email list, several on Soundcloud and a few through the Odd Records page at jerryoliver.com. Watch for a compilation cd of the best of these in the coming months as well as some Birdwatcher Experiment collaboration with The Real Gone Poets project set for a mid 2013 release.

If you enjoy these instrumental projects please join the fan list at www.reverbnation.com/thebirdwatcherexperiment and be sure to find and like The Birdwatcher Experiment on Facebook too.

You can check out all of Jerry's blogs at The Blog Hub page at www.jerryoliver.com  

 

I'm here to check out the first show at Nashville's newest venue The Stone Fox. Tonight's show features Chicago/Brazilian rockers São Paulo Underground but I admit I am mainly here for opener, local singer/songwriter Courtney Tidwell. It looks like this will be a nice opening event for The Stone Fox as I watch Nashville movers and shakers file in. I notice members of Nashville collective Lambchop, Bobby Bare Jr. and Dave Clouds Gospel Of Power as well as some Third Man Records and Grimeys folk and a Raconteur.
Courtney is doing a cool blend of electro, folk punk emo that really strikes you with its emotional swell. Something about her new stuff hits me a little like Bjork. The dynamic intensity is pretty cool. The musicians accompanying her on a few tunes add a needed dimension. Her guitarist's angular lines and subtle distortion were one of my favorite elements of the performance.
Now it's into the São Paulo Underground set and it is really cool. More free jazz than electronica this trio really gives this new venue a vibe that is really exciting yet chill. Love it. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of special musical moments at The Stone Fox. It's great to have a hip music venue on the west side of town.

 
Are you home chilling out tonight? Did you opt for a quiet night and some creative time to yourself? If so maybe I can help with your soundtrack for the evening. The Birdwatcher Experiment is my outlet for the ambient instrumental music I create. The people who are into it the most say they like to listen to it when they are studying, painting, or reading. It seems to work well in that kind of setting and I hope it inspires ideas, inspiration, peace of mind or revolution. Whatever you need it to do for you tonight. I invite you to give this soundcloud compilation a listen. Feel free to download the whole set to your favorite device or stream it right here.
     These six songs are part of The Birdwatcher Experiment's ongoing series of spontaneous compositions. each song is made up and recorded on the spot. The first three tracks are solo classical guitar with some birds joining in on track three. The last three tracks include two or more guitar parts but each part was improvised in one take. It's fun to see how these turn out. I hope you enjoy them. Please let us know your favorite in the comment section. Be sure to "like" The Birdwatcher Experiment and Jer's Late Night Music Blog on Facebook! Thanks for giving it a listen.