Music for 2010
Lewi Longmire Band
Relaxed roots rock and roll (with some desert sensibilities) from a stalwart bunch of Pacific Northwest musicians.
"Lewi plays affable and kick-ass side man for tons of people but kicks ass on his own, like a southern rock JJ Cale in deranged americana bell bottoms."
- Dan Jones, Leisure King recording artist & idiot savant rocker
Sassparilla
The sound here is so vintage you're surprised when you realize that all but two of these songs are originals. Sassparilla evoke the blues of the 20's and 30's so well you'd believe that these compositions had to be period, it's a damned neat trick. Their modern vintage sound is well brewed and aged just enough. While the band's dedication to recreating a period sound is more akin to Leon Redbone their topics of whiskey, murder, and spankings put's them closer to Tom Wait's territory (I think you can hear Tom's spirit on the track "White Shoes").
Mood Area 52
Michael Roderick founded Mood Area 52 in 1998 as a Piazzola inspired neo-tango ensemble. Since then the group has incorporated Golden Age Tango material, lounge, electronica, Eastern European influences, Brechtian cabaret tunes, folk, and original compositions about love, loss, genetic mutations, daring women in petticoats, and the ill-hatched crimes of ambitious charlatans.
Merle Jagger
"Perhaps this L.A. based trio of sessionaires called their exuberant electric hillbilly experiment "Merle Jagger" because "Mick Haggard" didn't have the right ring to it, but the hybrid idea is clear and brilliant—fusing bluegrass, hard country rock and jazz into an instrumental cauldron that is unlike anything any of those individual genres has heard before. Driven by Mark Christian's blazing, lightning fast electric guitar, banjo and mandolin, Patrick Flores' bubbling bass and Brandon Goldstein's explosive drumming, this disc is a s***kicker's dream, a near hour of fast paced, raucous party music that flies in the face of much of today's ultra slick pop country. Think Johnny Cash on speed..." - Jonathan Widran, ALL MUSIC GUIDE
The Huckleberrys
Larry Barkemeyer, the lead singer and songwriter is the inspiration and musical source-code of the Huckleberry Band. With old friends Jeff Boyle (bass), Tom Ellis (drums) and Colleen Ellis (vocals & guitar) the band was formed to play original & old time music in an acoustic format.
Bad Mitten Orchestra
Often described as "Lyrical Folk Cabaret", featuring a blend of Americana and Gypsy roots combined with an energy all its own, created by the collective personalities of the band's members. Conjuring vivid images of smoky bars, storybook characters, and angelic intervention, they illustrate themes of mystery, fate, and the beauty of the ephemeral.
The Blair Street Mugwumps
"Remember sitting on your front porch, chewin’ Grandpa’s tobaccy, sipping on a tall glass of turnip juice while you scraped up a storm on your ma’s favorite washboard? Those were simpler times—until the Dust Bowl, obviously. The Blair St. Mugwumps want to take you back to when a man could find himself a decent hair jelly in any local store, and mustaches were worn with pride. These Dixie-loving musicians come equipped with an array of zany song-making devices, including layers of banjos, kazoos, harmonicas, washboards, bicycle bells and jug-a-phones—anything that’ll tap your toe while you wet your whistle. Heck, you won’t have more fun at a possum shoot, I promise you that. Seriously, though, bells and whistles aside, these buckshot boys and girls will treat you to a night of Southern comforts and won’t stop playing till the church bells are a-ringin’. Wow." Derek Nielsen- Sacramento News and Review
Grace Mitchell
"She's only 12? WOW!" That's usually the phrase uttered through the crowd after every one of the young singer/songwriter, Grace Mitchell's performances. Grace is only 12 years old but she packs a punch with her soulful voice and passionate performances. Grace's unique sound and style has established her reputation as a singer/songwriter people want to pay attention to.