I Am Opening For Johnny Cash's Original Backing Band - The Tennesee Three!!!

I [Brownbird Rudy Relic] will ever-so humbly, thankfully and excitedly opening for Johnny Cash's Original Tennessee Three, [now believe you me this is by no means a tribute band! This is the real deal - have a listen!] on June 22nd at Frankie's Inner-City in Toledo, Ohio.

Now,while I am not above gushing in a bulletin [I am,after all ecstatic!] for no other reason than to swim in some euphoria. [After all, I am as much a fan of Roots music as I am] I'm posting here because I'm looking for some help for a Saturday June 23rd Show that falls into my travel path.

As always, I will [and have] play it all, from punk rock shows in living rooms to Amphitheatres and everything and all and in between. So. Yes. This bird is looking for any [donation-based] show in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey etc. [Saturday June 23rd!]

If you have a line, a hook-up, know someone, want me to juke it out in your living room or some variation that and thereof. You let me know and I'll be there!!!

Oh. And. If you're in the Toledo area, you [yes you! ] must check out this show. [Tickets go on sale after May 5th - get them here] It's gonna burn. Oh. And look for me at Frankie's on August 4th as well!!!

Keep Flying Brownbird! Stay on the jump!

Your Friend and Fellow Roots Music Lover,
Brownbird Rudy Relic

Rootscene and You!

I will be out of the Rootscene Offices today.
Rootscene will undergo a bit of change in the next few days as I am reworking the format and re-thinking my initial plan and the actual execution.

Thanks for the feedback, well wishes, death-threats, put downs.
I'm am pleased to proclaim that readership has grown exponentially.
So. Thanks.

If you have any suggestions, ideas or vegan recipes please feel free to contact me at brownbirdrudyrelic(a)gmail.com
or
via my Myspace page.

Friends, this is only the beginning...

I Make A Phone Call My Homies Coming Like The Gotti Boys

- More than likely if you're like me, you do your day job as a means to support whatever creativity that moves you. So. Chances are even if you wished upon a star or got the last golden ticket from the wonka bar you wouldn't be able to make the 2oth Annual Merlefest even if you could. Turn that frown upside down! Word around the campfire is that you can stream it here.

- When you're a fucking musical genius like Charley Patton, chances are you run around with a bunch of other blues giants. See for yourself.

- While this movie didn't necessarily change my life [this one did] it did introduce me to country blues giant at an early age and set the stage for whatever it is that you calll this that I do musically. I found this recent review. I find it quite odd that this movie has come up quite a bit as of late, my gal even digs the movie. Can you say Ralphalution!

- Help me count the ways! Is this the reason I like country music or is this the reason? So many choices. So little time. Actually, I think it might be because of this.

- Loved by many, hated by others, Folk Punk purveyor, indie label impresario Mr. Erik Peterson [Mishief Brew] is an intergal part of the movement. He's constantly on the move, tearing things up and keeping extremely busy. If you're in the area you Philly you should definately have a gander at this.

- This bluegrass tune came straight outta Compton. You are now about to witness the strength of Appalachian knowledge.

Roots Music? Country Blues? Brooklyn Country? Folk Punk? Bluegrass? Lionel Ritchie?
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I've Been In The Lab With A Pen and A Pad

- Bound Brook, New Jersey is home to Nasty Ned's twice a week American Roots Live Showcase where Roots-based musicians gather and burn a little of the here's and theres. Bound Brook is about an hour drive from my house [I google mapped it]. If anyone wants to grab their weapon of choice and shag on down to this shindig, then, let me know and we can cruise the brownbird mobile there in style and show them how New York Roots cats do it.

- 20 years later, MerleFest is still going strong. "MerleFest is one of the world’s largest Americana music festivals, but the use of the term “Americana” to describe American roots music didn’t exist at that first festival" 3 Days to go!

- In a bitter aside [but relevant nonetheless] the promoter of this festival, San Diego's Folk Music Darling, Lou Curtis refused to give me an audition to the festival 5 years ago stating that "...I was too young to play this type of music" and that there was no way I could truly "get it". I've given up my grudge, but it's always been my dream to play here after all these years. C'mon Lou! Give me a chance buddy! Ugh.

- Can a musician truly be truly authentic? Hmm. I don't know about that, hmmmm, can they? Uhm. You tell me.

- Un-peel your eyes folks, if you have yourself a head swivel and a gander you'll see that's there's still a bunch of old school roots based musicians still doing what they do best. Ray Price is one of them, he's last of a breed of country troubadours that's still kicking; still keeping it alive. But not all of them are well known, some, do it because they have to.

- O'Death. Kicking Ass. Taking Names. Always On Tour stints. Recently Signed. Getting Good Press. They're everywhere. Including here. I love those guys.

- Talk about a fucking triple threat Midwest tour! Brooklyn's finest Whackabilly jumpers The Defibulators, vaudeville vexers The Two-Gentlemen Band [true gentlemen indeed] and Dirty Country Howlers Andy Friedman and the Other Failures start their Midwest Tour this Wednesday with a Pittsburgh show at Howler's Coyote Cafe! If you know some cat's and kittens who might be in the area then let them know that NYC is coming to get them Barbara!

Roots? Blues? Country? Folk-Punk? Bluegrass? Folk? Holler Blues?
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Girl You Looking Good Won't You Back That Thang Up?

A REPOST. A REMINDER. THEN FLY!

- In Brownbird News. I will be on a 4 day show stint of sorts starting Thursday April 19th, so the blogging may or may not be hindered by this turn of events. Thursday will find me in Cambridge, MA opening for the Spooky Rootsy Blues powerhouse [that gal can sing, wooo!] Scotch Hollow. Friday I will be playing the School of International Training in Brattleboro Vermont of all places [I know weird] followed by a show in New London Connecticut [playing what may be the Liz Larsons final show] and finally ending up in State College, Pennsylvania on Sunday. I'm looking forward to Sunday with a great deal of excitement. I've been invited to Play and Sing on the forthcoming Wilcox Hotel Record. This will be our first reunion since our Mexico Tour, somebody call Oprah! You should check out Wilcox's Jason De Leon's blog whenever you get a chance, it's super funny and cheers me up when I'm having a bad day.

So. Ladies. Gents. Ballers. I will see you all on Monday! Don't forget to head on down to the Rodeo Bar tonight to catch Rootscene's favorite crooked country crooner Alex Battles & His Whiskey Rebellion. The show starts jumping at 10pm. I myself would totally be there, but, alas my gal and I, will be stuck behind the wheel of the brownbird mobile somewhere in Massachusetts.

Wanna Talk?
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I Was Strapped With Gats When You Were Cuddling A Cabbage Patch

- I like lists. I compile them in my head daily. It is fun. I am a robot. Though Mississppi John Hurt is long gone, he's still a force to be reckoned with.

- You take a legend, a musical genius, a blues founding father [in this case, Mr. "St Louis Blues" himself WC Handy] and you honor him by naming a prestigious blue award after him. Then you take it away from him for no viable reason.

- Flip through any blues publication and aside from the usual fare and scare served up you will more than likely find quite a rabble and rouse about this man. Watermelon Slim and The Workers, have a new album out and they're tearing things up with Magic Slim.

- I love the DIY [Do it Yourself] mentality is something that I cherish, endorse and practice [especially when it comes to music]. Check out this article about such independence in country music.

- If you're looking for a bit of Hot Damn Tonight, then might i suggest Bombastic Brooklyn Juggernauts themselves The Jug Addicts. They will be more than likely blowing a hole in the Rodeo Bar tonight and you should be there to get your share of Yes Siree!

CDs? Shows? Roots Tips? Frosted Tips? Vegan Cupcakes?

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Things Just Ain't The Same For Ganstas

- The staff here at Rootscene [being namely, uh, me] would like to thank the Hillybilly Savant Blog for giving our review of the stupendous Creech Holler record With Signs Following a link and repost. Okay, enough self congratulatory back patting, we now return to your regularly scheduled blogging.

- Old school Country Music Hall Famer Charlie Louvin is 79 years old, still touring like a madman a third his age, still releasing records and still full of insight and spunk. He's playing tonight in Tuscon at the Nimbus Brewing Company. Check out this quote "I would shoot a man that put Pro Tools on me. I can sing on pitch with the instruments, and I don’t need a Pro Tools." Can I get a what-what!

- As a general rule, the music industry and it's various awards shows rarely, if ever, recogognize genuine music or it's various movements; it's a nature of the beast. Ladies and gentlmen this is no exception and this is sure as hell no exception.

- In Brownbird News. I will be on a 4 day show stint of sorts starting Thursday April 19th, so the blogging may or may not be hindered by this turn of events. Thurday will find me in Cambridge, MA opening for the Spooky Rootsy Blues powerhouse [that gal can sing, wooo!] Scotch Hollow. Friday I will be playing the School of International Training in Brattleboro Vermont of all places [I know wierd] followed by a show in New London Conneticut [playing what may be the Liz Larsons final show] and finally ending up in State College, Pennsylvania on Sunday. I'm looking forward to Sunday with a great deal of excitment. I've been invited to Play and Sing on the forthcoming Wilcox Hotel Record. This will be our first reunion since our Mexico Tour, somebody call Oprah! You should check out Wilcox's Jason De Leon's blog whenever you get a chance, it's super funny and cheers me up when I'm having a bad day.

- Want to Guest Blog when I'm tour? Want to Contribute to the blog in some sort or fashion? Do you like breakdancing? Do you like long walks on the beach? Then hit me up homie!

Shows? Roots Tips? Ideas? Want to do the Cabbage Patch?

Email me @ brownbirdrudyrelic(a)gmail.com

or

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Two Trailer Park Girls Go Round The Outside

- 1540 Brewster Avenue in Cincinatti was home to one of the most underated vintage labels Rhythm and Blues [No not R. has ever known. Now the King [Records] may get it's due. Man, that Hank Ballard Stuff is tip top notch!

- Pack your bags brownbird, you gotta get here!

- When it comes to [original] pre-war blues, I'm easy to please. So when I see things like this I get a little wet. Yeah. I start to cry a bit. Get your mind out of the gutter...

- You know Real Country Music is in a bad place when you find things like this on the internet. Maybe Kleenex should sponsor this blog because when shit like this is more important than the art of music it's time to get a paddle because I'm crying a river.

- A case of the Mondays? Then I suggest you get on down to Union Pool tonight to catch Brooklyns finest Whackabilly band do what it is that they do best; tear shit up and make you want to dance until your heels hurt. Yes, ladies and Gentlemen: The Defibulators. Check out this piece I wrote about them at my old "started-out-a-roots-blog-ended-up-a-depression-blog" aptly entitled: Tangled in the Roots.

Tips? Shows? CDs? Hugs?

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Regulators, Mount Up!

I'm As Tight As The Night That I Had To Wipe Activator Off The Mic In 1985

- If you dig, take a walk with the original Steady Rollin Man, Robert "JR" Lockwood and check out this cat's blog; he wrote up a nice little piece on the blues giant.

- As a general rule, vegan straight-edge bluesmen such as myself do not smoke cigars. But as an addendum to this rule we will [what do I mean 'we', hell, I'm the only one ese!] play us some cigar box guitar!

- Laura Minor is a brooklyn gal who exhibits a knack for her own brand of melacholic indie-country, she's shuffling around the city and had a mention here.

- Is it just me, or is every member of the Seeger family a talanted folk artist in their own right? Take, Peggy Seeger for example, she's got it down pat. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

- The Riot Folk Collective is a motely bunch of folk fire bearers! Not only do they live and breath the music they play but they have given themselves over to the cause of making folk a threat again! They'll be in Chi-Town this Saturday. On hand will be the usual suspects of subversive folk punkers. [ Ryan Harvey, Tom Frampton and Evan Greer]

- This blog is about our Appalachia - the real one, not the Hollywood-stereotype nor the third-world nation-esque stereotype being sold by do-gooders, or even the neo-Romantic sylvan stereotype that Rousseau would probably buy into. Enough Said.

- Look at this line-up of Country Music what-the-hells? at this weekend's airing of the CMT Awards hosted by none other than the esteemed Mr. Jeff Foxworthless and you'll know exactly why REAL country music is on life support.

- Saturday April 14th is Definately ONE BIG NIGHT if you ask this brownbird. Not only will the M. Shanghai String Band be tearing things up at Union Pool as apart of their CD Release Party [with ukele viruoso Ms. Kelli Rae Powell opening with her own brand of Bad Girl Lullabies] but Mr. Rench of Rench Audio will be hosting the first ever Fat Back Spo De O De Freakout as well! Which will include a bevy of Brooklyn musical talent ripping things up, taking names and bringing forth the destruction!

- Talking Folk Originator and Author Extroidinare Adam Gnade will be playing a last minute show in Brooklyn this sunday at the Lucky Cat in Williamsburg as apart of his US Tour. This guy will be there too. If you're not too hung over from certain Saturday Night Activities you should be there too. It starts at 8pm.

Shows? CDs? Roots Mayhem? Puppie Dogs and Soy Ice Cream?

Message Me @ brownbirdrudyrelic(a)gmail.com

or
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Ready To Make An Entrance So Back On Up

- When the interests of corporations and multimillion dollar companies trump real music; when clubs have no other motive than to suck it's performers dry like a horde of vampires, what's left to do? Take the show to the living room and juke it out. D. I. Fucking. Y.

- Esteemed blues troubadour and legend Honey Boy Edwards gets his due. It's about time they start naming parks after blues legends instead of crooked public officials. Check this out everybody, Honeyboy gets a park! I couldn't agree more.

- While I have never, ever advocated violence in anyway on this blog, I must say that these spankers are alright with this brownbird! These cats have grind and are just about everywhere!

- We consider the "primitive" music of blues singers such as Leadbelly to be more authentic than that of the Monkees. But all pop musicians are fakes. Check out this article if you have a chance.

- City Girl, Country Girl wants to remind you that tonight is Manhattan's CasHank Hootenanny is tonight and that Rootscene's favorite country crooked gentleman Mr. Alex Battles [& his Whisky Rebellion] is tearing it up at Rodeo Bar on April 19th. The show is free and I will most certainly be there, you should too! Ah yes, living vicariously through other bloggers!

- The New Face of Country Music should be ripped off in Horror Movie fashion. Hmmm. No. Wait. Should I get blonde highlights?

- Charlie Louvin is a country troubadour from the old school [Originally from the Lovin Brothers] and this firecracker is still kicking. Check this piece about this maestro and learn a few things about about a couple of country books.

Tips? Shows? New CDs? Rad Roots?
Email Me @ brownbirdrudyrelic(a)gmail.com
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Mister Buster Where You At?

- To a cat like me there's nothing hotter than a big girl, yes siree indeed. Obviously, Chitlin Circuit soul blues extrordinaire Bigg Joe and I think alike. Check out the press release for his new CD.

- Nominees and Winners of Blue's Foundation Annual Blues Music Awards makes it seem as though there's little more than a round robin of the same artists winning the same awards every year. If that's your coffee cup then they're airing on BET J in April & May. If you ask me, it's time for the new cats to take over.

- Wow! Anybody can now be a bluesman with these easy steps!

- Orb Mellon is one bad blues blaster. Check out his review in Blues in Britain Magazine if you don't believe me. Or this review that I wrote back before I turned a perfectly good roots music blog into an exercise in depression.

- Bee Gee Barry Gibb purchases Johnny Cash's home only to burn it to the ground. Okay. Okay. So that's not entirely true.

- Loquacious & Limber: Brooklyn's Banjo Rabble Rouser Al Duvall will be strutting his stuff and shaking things down at the Parkside Lounge tonight! I suggest you catch this man and his four piece orchestra!

Shows? Tips? Reviews?

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The Evil That Men Do

CREECH HOLLER
With Signs Following

This is the music of funeral processions and dirge-filled bereavements. Of sin. Of salvation. Of old termite infested boards standing stoically side-by-side for impromptu juke houses in the way back of hazy mountain hills, brimming with fresh shine. But be weary of mistakes because while this music embraces you lovingly with a cupped drone it also hits with a barrage of reckless abandon and whup ass; Hill Country Stomping Hell Fire and Blues for those who like there heaven with a bit of hell.

Many of the songs here are of traditional origin and the fact that they are here at all illustrate that the boys from Creech Holler know their shit – but rather than bow silently to whatever expectations may creep, they punch and jab at the songs with an audacious fervor and wear them like well worn string ties.

This is good. Real good.

So. From here forth, let it be known, there’s a trio of hell-raisers in Roots Music right now and they’re taking up serpents, their name? Creech Holler.

creechholler@yahoo.com

Never Trust A Big Butt And A Smile

- The Tarbox Ramblers play a rollicking roll and rhythm of juking music that some have described as alt-blues. These cats have and are playing all over and chances are coming to your town tommorrow they'll be in Buffalo and be sprinting over to Union Hall in Brooklyn on April 2oth.

- Well. Since we're on the topic of Buffalo NY, it should be broadcast that they have quite a scene and a dandy review site/zine called Buffalo Roots, you should have a gander when you have a chance.

- Gosh. Some kids will do anything for attention including devoting their lives to the blues. Ugh. The kids these days and their Howlin' Wolf records!

- David Honeyboy Edwards is one of the last surviving practioners and links to Robert Johnson; but the man is more than that, he's an amazing musician without such labels. He's due.

- Many have called Mississippi, the birth place of American Music; some big names will be on hand to celebrate just that. [Including the Killer Jerry Lee Lewis!]

- Friend, gentleman and bluegrass fiddle virtuoso, Thomas Bailey will be bustin' loose tonight along with the Forge Mountain Diggers at Superfine in Brooklyn tonight as well as burning things up at the New York City Barn Dance [a worthwhile event if i've ever seen one] on Thursday April 12th.

Rebecca Winters takes amazing photos. Case in point: O'Death and This Guy.

Roots Tips? CDs to Review? Notable Shows? Etc.?

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The Black Sheep

Call a cat like me misguided, but I will take soulful veracity over technical astuteness any day. I’m more inclined to listen to a cruddy old Son House recording than the sterile bravado of this week’s blues guitar hero; I’m more Ralph Machio’s Lightning Boy than Steve Vai’s Jack Butler – but that’s just me.

To listen to Chattanooga, Tennessee’s street busker Boots Roots CD, The Black Sheep of the Family is like listening to soulful singing over an out of tune train sloppily careening off the track, and believe you me this is a good thing. Regardless of the lack of guitar virtuosity or the slight scratchy timbre in his voice, the blues comes through like hot knifes in soy butter and the songs themselves get better with each listen.

A backing band tries to [somewhat unsuccessfully] reign in the wild nature of Mr. Montgomery [Boots Roots himself] but this man’s blues is untamed and best left alone. It’s an acquired taste for sure, but if your ear buds can savor the flavor then you my friends will have a hearty meal.

The Muddle

- For all the self-absorbed self-righteous blues rhetoric that I ramble about to myself in front of the mirror away from civilivilation about 'blues tourism' and the like. Oh. What I wouldn't do to be here on April 14th.

- Country Outlaw Troubadour Billie Joe Shaver: One bad som-bitch.

- Indie folk-punk songster Paleo has spent the last year on the road with a mission. Write and record a song every day for a year. Any good? You be the judge.

- In the hurried frantic scurry that is blogging this article may be a bit late but good nonetheless. Find out why Conneticut's Blues Blaster Orb Mellon is tip-top notch and Eric Clapton sucks! I play with this cat often [he's helping me learn to tune a guitar with only one working ear...] - Hell, you know you've made the big time when you get listed at places like this. [check out 5/9].

- If you've played with some of the rowdy bluegrass jukers that I've played with then you know that while the players themselves may not be too honest, the music ethos always is.

- Oh. And big ups to my pal Meesh [from Freeze Peach Cafe] for shouting out a fellow Astorian and neighbor.

Any tips?
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You'd Rather See Me In The Pen Than Me And Lorenzo Rollin' In A Benzo

- Just exactly who are those Avett Brothers you may or not have been hearing about? Well open your ears Kentucky friends because their strolling through your neck of the woods.

- Last wednesday while walking through Washington Square Park I saw Mr. Don Flemmings [from the Carolina Chocolate Drops] playing with Roots and Ruckus wild man Feral Foster they were rocking out an old Ragtime Texas song. Here's a nice write up on the drops.

- Tell Automatic Slim and Razor Toting Jim that this Minx can ball it out! Check out Ms. Thang herself, Queen of the blues Koko Taylor, who is always on the grind and coming to your town [yeah! New York tonight!].

- Mr. Burnside meet the art of blogging.

- Is Country Music dead? Uh, you tell me CMT you're the cats with the hammer and nails.

- If I had a hundred bucks, a bunch of time I'd be celebrating Mr. Ralph Stanley's birthday in style. But I don't and I don't and chances are they won't cater to us vegans, so I can't.

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O'Death Bed

There are subtle moments when the paint of molded walls become undone and the quiet waves of sweet sweet music, make sense of lifes’ nonsensical shenanigans. If there were a soundtrack to such trying times and if it were played to wasted and wanted ears on old dusty tape and set upon creaky boards for those with the gusto to punch at the impending feelings; O’Death would be the only thing on the jukebox in such a lonely honky-tonk.

From my old blog that had more to do with my depression than with Roots music..

O’death embodies exactly what this new roots musical movement [for lack of a better term] is all about: indefinable, often indescribable – not preserving or recreating but exemplifying the ethos of a long lost music, while simultaneously unwilling to pander to any of the preservationist dictum. It pushes the music forward instead of relegating it to an antique convention and treated like some glorified artifact – it’s new but old, fresh and relevant and above of all things real.

This is traditional styled music that was created by punky/arty/nerdy guys who may or may not have spent their formidable years listening to Black Flag rather than Bill Monroe [hell, I know I did.] This is not a perpetuation of recycled riffs and representations, this is innovation in wolf’s clothing – a new body for an old suit.

Knifes around the table say that their Bowery Ballroom show tonight with Dr. Dog is completely sold out, with good reason too. You should do your damnest to catch these Apocalyptic Appalachian hell revelers where ever and whenever their around.

Oh. And be sure and bring your water buckets because these cats are on fire!

They will be at NYU on April 19th & Glasslands Gallery on May 12th...

In The Thick

In the world of blogging Roots music may or may not be of interest (uh, maybe). Thanks for the shout out Phlubding!

At this rate ladies and gentlemen, O’death will have their very own Behind the Music in no time flat!

Whether you like it or not folk-punk is a viable DIY roots based music kicking around and kicking ass these days. This cat talks about a bit a Misheif Brew [Erik Peterson] show in Philly and expounds on just why the kids will be alright!

Outlaw country troubadour Billy Joe Shaver shows the world just exactly why he shouldn’t be fucked with.

When introducing a story on a Jazz School at Lincoln Center be sure and things like: Sadly, my options for meeting jazz and blues aficionados these days are bleak. It's doubtful that I will find myself suddenly conversing about the American roots of music at a trendy Manhattan bar that offers a steady stream of digestible dance hits, eliciting squeals of recognition from cosmo-grasping gals – Because frankly, it’s damn true!

Mr. Clarksdale, the King Bee, that Mean Red Spider himself Mr Muddy Waters had a birthday yesterday; I ate a whole vegan cake and listened to "Nineteen Years Old" on repeat til I passed out from a sugar rush to celebrate. Truly though, this man means the world to me! Viva Chess Records!

Roots Music Tips, News, Releases, Noteworthy Shows Etc ?
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Where The Roots and Ruckus Roam

Each Wednesday in the heart of the village in NYC, a small Thai Restaurant with bad food and a dumpy scummy bar opens it doors to a bevy of Roots musicians and their ilk. The show is unorganized, haphazard, a bit jumbled and erratic, but one hell of a good time nonetheless. Aptly titled: Roots and Ruckus.

INFORMATION HERE

The Wrangle

- Contrary to whatever this article implies, Muddy Water's corpse will NOT be playing in Fairfield Conneticut; but some other notable Water's sidemen will be in attendance to celebrate the Hoochie Coochie man's music - Pinetop Perkins and Willie 'Big Eyes' Foster are the big names on this bill.

- New Jersey's boogie blues hell-raiser himself: Darren Deicide has spent the last three years touring non-stop; bringing his own brand of hell-fire and brimstone Roots to the masses. He's decided to put some muscle behind the hustle and start his own Roots based zine.

- If you've never heard Honne Wells, than you should. This man is a force to be reckoned with - His voice is a raspy I-just-gargled-drano howl, his guitar a sliding delta dawn and his music: pure voodoo channeling. Word is he and Greg Jamie [of O'Death] brought the fire at Tonic.

- Well, since we're on the subject of O'death, then it only stands to reason that we mention [although this is somewhat old news] that they just signed to Brooklyn's Ernest Jennings Record Company. Not only has this band swimming in good press as of late, word around the campfire is they tore it up it and down at SXSW this year turning ears, heads and more. As far as this cat is concerned they deserve it all and more.

- Ah, yet another example of economics killing art - the money machine rolls on and tramples bluegrass in the process! Bill Monroe could probably kick all their asses in a rumble!

Roots Music Tips, News, Releases, Noteworthy Shows Etc ?
EMAIL ME: brownbirdrudyrelic (a) gmail.com

The Tangle

- Though no where near the "crossroads", the Delta Blues Museum is a great place to sell your soul to blues tourism and get a commemorative shirt in the process! Word is they just received a 1.5 million dollar grant for expansion.

- A new HBO movie is in the works on the life of Robert Johnson entitled Love in Vain, and the obvious choice has been cast to play the delta blues master: Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs! Where's Suge Knight when you need em?

- NYU's hard hitting journalists at the Washington Square News recently did a piece on "The City Slickers of Country Music" and gave the CashHank Jamboree a decent write up and some press for the hardest working man [and damn fine gentleman] in NYC country Alex Battles.

- Koko Taylor is probably the toughest woman in blues and I would put my money on her to whup anybody's ass in contemporary blues in bit of fisticuffs anyday. Only slightly related: these blueswomen weigh in on the life of a blueswoman.

- Ever wanted to hear a bluegrass tribute album of Valen Halen, Green Day, Linkin Park or The OffSpring? Well, uh, now you can!

Roots Music Tips, News, Releases, Noteworthy Shows Etc ?
EMAIL ME: brownbirdrudyrelic (a) gmail.com

Gardening Tips for the Seasoned Horticulturist

I’d be spitting in your eye and pouring sugar in your tank Hank if I perched here and told you that I had the foggiest idea just exactly how to define roots music. I’d just as soon leave it ambiguous and call it day if I wasn’t sitting here attempting to Blog about the motherfucker.

Most of what is out there is just splatter for the matter and chances are, if we cobbled up everybody’s two cents I’d be covered in Abe heads from here to eternity.

Wikipedia’s has themselves a decent description, this is pretty good too, here’s a bit of debate on the subject from some musicologists. Hell, some people have decided to drop the term all together and start a new musical movement.

Either way, if you’re here, I would presume you have a pretty good idea already. So. Strap yourself in and have a gander from time to time, we’ll be updating daily with a puddle of roots muddle.

EMAIL ME: brownbirdrudyrelic (a) gmail.com

It Begins Now or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Scribble Down Some Sort Of Manifesto

Sooner or later, the music world will shift to a tilt: a hurried scurry of an earthquake - a toppling of towers on their sides; exposing the guts of all that music is and should not be: at least not in my estimation.

Yeah. So. Word was. Word is.

You can’t ask a cat with no legs to stand, so don’t ask us peg-legged preachers to sit down. Hell, that’s all we’ve been doing during the sentenced spells. Sitting. Rotting. We’ve been hearing the same zig-zags for far too long now.

Tell you what champ. We need some change.

I’m not talking a handful of browns and silvers and lint and thread: I’m talking a turn around. An upside-down and inside-out. A revamp for vamps. A pair of walking shoes for all those jacks and jills who have been sitting with the pail like they’ve got broken legs for miles and minutes.

I’m not waiting for the seconds. We need the firsts. And we need it now.

So. What is this? Ain’t you heard, cat, kitten?

This is a Blog.

If you’re sitting, standing or demanding; Eyes peeled - reading. Then you know what it is. I don’t need to thump at you with explanations and/or spit at you with the perceptions of a mouthful of hopeful saliva.

Yeah, a fucking blog, because, when we get to the downs, I’m really just a fan so caught up in the catches of all this, I thought I put some words to imaginary paper and plunk my fingers down on the keyboard like a catatonic piano player.

So. This?

This is about that thing out and about in this crazy kooky world that spins me like a disheveled pile of laundry doing hot loops and Laundromat summersaults. So. Yes. Well. All to the alls and up on the walls, I suppose this is really about the music that I love.

I mean, this is THE music as far as I’m keeping count and concern. It keeps me ticking like a clock with tourettes, leaves me a jut and jam on the constant, it’s the jump in my jumper cables, hell, it’s the turbinado sugar in my morning cup of Joseph.

Truth be the tolds and the tells – This is me – Brownbird Rudy Relic, and you know what? I’ve got hope for this music, I’ve got a big bad vat void of a cavern deep within my heart for Blues, Roots and the periphery. I breathe it because an asthmatic like me needs this type of special delivery envelope for my lungs – it keeps me panting and swimming in the inhales and exhales.

This Blog is about Roots Music.
Core.
Periphery.

Idealistic you say? Yes, just a tad chad. But that’s where I live – In the creases. You’ll know it’s me, because I’ve got my heart on my sleeve. So. Yes. It begins now. Look for updates daily.

Up the Blues.
Up the Roots.
Fuck Shit Up.

EMAIL ME:
brownbirdrudyrelic(A)gmail.com