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EC was just backed by The Odds for a 60 second snippet of the hockey rink staple “Pump It Up” to kick off the Canucks and Preds game. Hopefully the Preds are inspired- can’t have the ‘Nucks go up by two.

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My review of Sierra Hull’s second album of bluegrass for the Rounder label has been posted at http://lonesomeroadreview.com/2011/04/30/daybreak-by-sierra-hull/. I’ve been listening to the album for seven or eight weeks and it has stood up to innumerable listens in various situations. It is a gooder. Thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee- feel free to leave a comment if you have an opinion on something I’ve written. Donald

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In 2010, Preservation was released. A collection of songs to benefit New Orleans’ Preservation Hall made with a wide-range of artists, the compilation was an almost-universally undisputed success.

Amongst the treasures revealed by that set was a single track featuring Del McCoury; “After You’ve Gone” was a swinging performance that allowed McCoury to explore his voice in a manner not previously imagined. The fact that it worked so effectively led to the conceptualization of American Legacies.

My review of this outstanding album has been posted at http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4671.

I wouldn’t want all my Del music to sound like this, but I sure enjoyed this album.

Thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee. Donald

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I don’t normally cut & paste press releases at Fervor Coulee. I try to post only when I have something semi-coherent to share (Like, the new Tommy Shaw album absolutely rocks), but will make an exception- Gurf brings Blaze to Red Deer in June: you read it here first…if you didn’t see it somewhere else already.

Gurf Morlix Blazes Across Alberta with Music… PLUS…

The Movie Documentary “Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah”

***Links to tickets & information at: www.gotoagig.com***

 Tuesday June 7            Monarch Theatre – Medicine Hat (Co-Presented by The Medicine Hat Folk Club)

Wednesday June 8       Geomatic Attic – Lethbridge

Thursday June 9          Coleman – Blackbird Coffee House

Friday June 10             Canmore – Communitea Cafe

Saturday June 11         Haven Social Club – Edmonton

Sunday June 12           The Hideout – Red Deer

Monday June 13           Ironwood Stage & Grill – Calgary

 

• Gurf Morlix is VERY well known to Alberta audiences, and for some time now he has showcased the talents of his old friend Blaze Foley via storytelling and song. Gurf released his own “tribute” to Blaze called “Blaze Foley’s 113^th Wet Dream”, named for one of Blaze’s songs that Gurf covers there.

 

• Blaze, a colorful, but flawed character, was murdered in 1989 at the age of 39. Recording an album of Blaze’s music is something Gurf’s been wanting to do since Blaze died. Now is the time. Gurf knows that Blaze’s honest, heartfelt words will resonate with today’s audience.

Blaze is finally having the career he wanted, but unfortunately it has only been since his death that the likes of Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, John Prine and others have shone spotlights on songs such as “If I Could Only Fly”, “Clay Pigeons” and “Election Day”.

• Blaze was also an inspiration for other songwriters; Townes Van Zandt’s “Blaze’s Blues” and Lucinda Williams’ “Drunken Angel” were both lovingly written about Blaze Foley.

Gurf wrote a while back: “Blaze Foley – soulful, passionate singer songwriter. Champion of the downtrodden. Friend of the working Girl. Truth seeker. Atmospheric disturbance. Tender caring person with a big ol’ bag of deep-rooted troubles stuffed down into one of his pockets. Blaze could cut right through the bullshit, or he could be the cause of it. The funniest person I ever met, and also the most tragic”……and Gurf Morlix is better equipped than most to tell the tales and sing the songs of Blaze Foley.

• Don’t miss your chance to see and hear him do just that during a unique evening that also includes a visual history of Blaze, the documentary “Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah.

 

 

• Kevin Triplett is a Filmmaker who has the grit and determination of a dog on a bone, as well as the patience of Job. After twelve years in the making, Kevin finally got to officially release his “labor-of-love” documentary movie about Blaze, “Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah” in February this year, right around the release date of Gurf’s CD.

 

• The documentary has been getting rave reviews, and gives a wonderful insight into the troubled talent that was Blaze Foley by people who knew and loved him. Tall tales and truisms will make you laugh and cry along the way.

Sharing the common bond of Blaze, Kevin & Gurf have been “gigging” together since February, with Kevin screening the documentary followed by a Q&A session, and afterwards there’s a whole set of Blaze songs performed by Gurf. Bring your own popcorn!

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The more I explore Kasey Anderson’s site, the more I love his attitude: http://kaseyanderson.tumblr.com/post/2982798392/a-pretty-typical-email-exchange-lately

His music isn’t bad either.

Donald

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I’ve received email messages from near and far as we share our grief over Hazel’s passing, and our loss of our beloved Misty this week. Those of you on the BGRASS-L has already heard that (perhaps too quickly, but necessarily to help comfort our Mocha kitty) we’ve adopted a tortoise shell cat and have named her Hazel. The Bluegrass Blog has posted remembrances of Hazel from Tim Stafford at http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/tim-stafford-remembers-hazel-dickens/

A nice piece. Imagine my surprise when I did a Google search for Hazel images and my picture from Hardly Strictly popped up.

Thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee. Donald

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While in the big city today, I almost bought Kasey Anderson’s latest album. Having not heard of it prior, it would have been a completely spontaneous purchase- often the best kind. I ended up not getting it, can’t remember why but I did purchase a few others.

Now, I’m glad I didn’t because, visiting Anderson’s website tonight I find out that the iTunes version of the album comes with 3 exclusive bonus tracks. http://www.kaseyanderson.com/news/heart-of-a-dog-2 

I understand and embrace bonus tracks. What I don’t understand, what I can’t wrap my wee simple brain around, is why artists (and their related companies) insist on short-changing those of us who actually travel to brick and mortar stores to buy the physical product- the one that has artwork, liner notes, and all that claptrap.

My diatribe against Rosanne Cash having done this with The List more than a year ago is here:

http://fervorcoulee.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/im-grumpy-with-rosanne-cash-tonight/

More recently, Alison Krauss and Union Station did something similar with a Target exclusive edition that has 6 bonus tracks. I’ve held off on purchasing Paper Airplane simply because I haven’t decided if I’m going to tray to order this version from the States. (We don’t have Target’s in Alberta. Yet.)

Can someone explain why my dollars, spent in a store, should be worth less than the (usually much less) dollars I spend electronically for a digital edition of an album?

I suppose I’m just grumpy tonight. Again.

Excuse me while I go download Heart of a Dog. BTW, Kasey maintains a very good and frequently funny and cutting site at http://kaseyanderson.tumblr.com/. Today’s picture soothes my aching heart tonight. Sometimes I think cats are too good for our world.

Thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee. Donald

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Frick. I was away all day and just read that Hazel Dickens has passed.

I have nothing. A horrible end to what has been a rough week here at Fervor Coulee.

http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/hazel-dickens-%e2%80%93-an-appreciation/

I wrote all I had to say about Hazel Dickens here a year ago: http://fervorcoulee.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/hazel-dickens-ibma-hall-of-fame-2010/

I felt like I knew her. Now that she’s gone, maybe the IBMA Hall of Fame will open their doors to her.

Damn.

Donald

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In my Roots Music column today, I advance the local roots shows and review the new album from Dr. Ralph Stanley A Mother’s Prayer now available on Rebel Records. It is a massive gooder- don’t believe anyone who tells you that Ralph no longer has ‘it.’ If his is the last voice I hear in this life, I’ll leave a happy man. http://tinyurl.com/3u9adre will get you to the column and review.

Originally published in my Roots Music column in the Red Deer Advocate, April 22, 2011

Ralph Stanley A Mother’s Prayer Rebel Records

At 84, Ralph Stanley’s voice recalls a previous time, a time that many of us- despite our reading, research, and listening- cannot imagine.

Stanley is as mountain as rock and his faith is as steadfast; he never sounds more natural as when searching for life’s truths in songs of worship.

Celebrating 40 years recording for Rebel, with his latest recording the patriarch of contemporary Appalachian music goes to the true roots of his music to explore sacred songs and unadorned ballads.

Some of songs may have been brought to North America by settlers. These ancient tunes- “Prince of Peace” and “Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb”- are the spine of the album, supporting the wonderful music surrounding them.

Ballads tell stories of fateful fires (“Come All Ye Tenderhearted”) and errant sons (“A Mother’s Prayer”), and these compelling tales- with faith at their core- are sure to appeal to all bluegrass fans. Stanley has the rare ability- like Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard- to make such stories sound as though they were pulled from his own experiences.

Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys, as they always do, support and complement their legendary leader. Select tracks have fire in their instrumentation (“He Suffered for My Reward,” “Let Him Into Your Heart,” and especially “That Home Far Away”) where elsewhere (“Life Him Up,” “That’s All”) the framing provided is subtle enough to almost be missed.

For those who can think of nothing finer than a cappella Stanley, a trio of such numbers is included including “John the Revelator” and “That Wonderful Place.” A few of the songs, including “What Kind of Man,” have previously been recorded by Stanley with a couple new songs presented here for the first time.

What sounds sweeter than bluegrass gospel? In the hands and voice of Ralph Stanley, bluegrass gospel seldom sounds more sincere and enjoyable.

As always, thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee. Support live music. Buy an album. Donald

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A nice little interview with Allen Mills and article advancing the Lost & Found’s Red Deer concert May 1 at the Elks Hall. More info at www.waskasoobluegrass.com

http://tinyurl.com/423vo55 will get you to the article from the Red Deer Advocate.

Thank you for visiting Fervor Coulee. Donald