Hello, dear readers. I hope you had a nice 4th of July, and can forgive the lapse in posts. I’d taken a bit of a break to enjoy the festivities that surround a southern Independence Day (which included swimming in my first Nashville pool, watching fireworks and consuming multiple burgers, beers, and other unhealthy products). But I’ve also been at work – on my book, which has been suffering the same sad fate as my plants and grass lately (lack of water/lifeforce, browning, withering, drying, turning to straw), on some bios for a few musicians (one of my favorite writing activities – you get to explore deeply into the lives and motivations of talented artists, no sarcasm required or invited) and just on general assignments of the journalistic bent. I’d show you photos of my pseudo week off, but few exist. I just enjoyed things, put my phone down, missed calls, spun lots of records, ignored unimportant emails. It’s amazing what that can do.
Today, it’s raining. Maybe it will breathe a little more life into everything.
And now, back to what we’re supposed to be doing here: music news. Pardon some catching up.
– Langhorne Slim & The Law filmed an OurVinyl session right here in Nashville (rumored to be Slim’s potential next home). Watch him play “Salvation,” “Someday,” “Bad Luck” and “Say Yes” right here.
– Old Crow Medicine show is back with a stellar new album (stream it here), and a series of videos, one showing them busking on the streets of Nashville, just like the early days of the band back in Appalachia. Check it out after the jump. You can also catch OCMS at Grimey’s on Monday night at midnight – entrance is included with the pre-order of their new record. Speaking of Grimey’s, Lucky magazine gave them a shout out, and WSMV did a great segment on them.
– Live on the Green has announced their pretty stellar lineup, including The Apache Relay, Alabama Shakes, Delta Spirit, Moon Taxi and Dr. John. Who do you think the TBD headliners are??
– Good grief, Ty Segall, will you ever stop making albums? Not that we’re complaining, it’s just that we’re concerned for your health. The prolific art-punker is out with yet another, Twins, 10.9 on Drag City. Catch him in town on 9.20 at the Zombie Shop with Thee Oh Sees.
– Other exciting concert announcements: Nick Lowe at Mercy on 9.22.
– Madi Diaz is back in Nashville making new tunes.
– A pretty new magazine, Native, just launched officially last Friday, with a party that included a performance by Evan P. Donohue. The magazine has the lovely Tristen on its cover.
– Scott Lucas (of Local H) and the Married Men, is a new band with a new record – Blood Half Moon is out now on The End Records, and they are playing The End on 7.24. They’re also on the road with Deer Tick.
– Win tickets to the Forecastle Fest this weekend, via Lightning 100.
– Stream JEFF The Brotherhood‘s Hypnotic Nights in its entirety over at NPR.
– Third Man Records is releasing the first-ever live White Stripes show.
– Tonight at the 5 Spot’s $2 Tuesdays: Mystery Twins, Adrian Krygowski, Joshua Black Wilkins (check out his Nashville Five), and Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes (and theirs) hosted by Derek Hoke (and his!).
Watch Old Crow Medicine Show buskin’ on the streets of Nashville:
Lockeland Springsteen 