Summertime and the Living is Easy

It has been a long school year.  In New York and across the country teachers are being blamed for all of the economic and social woes of our country.  That's right it is us...not the investment bankers or the oil companies or the...

Well enough of that.  It is summer and summer is the time for rest and relaxation.  Time to re-charge the batteries and renew spirits before September rolls around.  So this my wish that all of my teacher colleagues, known and unknown, have an enjoyable summer before we return to teach a new batch of children in the fall because no matter what the newspapers and our neighbors say that is why we do this job in the first place.

R.I.P. Clarence "Big Man" Clemons

I never met Clarence Clemons.  I have been a fan for almost 35 years, I own everything that Bruce & the boys have ever released.  I have all the bootlegs, videos, etc. but I never met any of them.  That's OK.  The mythology of the band is my point of familiarity.  I feel like I have known them my whole life.  In fact, these records have provided the soundtrack for most of my life since high school.  A part of that soundtrack is now gone from my future, but never from my past.

Clarence was a monster sax player. You just need to be there one time when he steps up to do the solo in Jungleland to understand that.  But he was so much more than that to the band.  He was the foil for Bruce.  The King to his Boss.  He was the soul to go with Bruce's heart.

I can't thank you enough Clarence for all the music, all the joy you gave me.  If you don't understand you had to be there one October night in 2007 at MSG.  Bruce introduces the next song for Peter Boyle who had just passed and the band launched into Meeting Across the River which of course moved into Jungleland.  Pure Magic.  People who were complete strangers were all hugging and singing along.  Truly magical.  That was one moment for me and there were many more.

As my musical heroes get older they are beginning to pass to their next gig.  We all are getting up there and I miss so many that are gone.  Clarence you were the shocker...a big part of my soundtrack is gone.  Rest in Peace and God Bless Big Man.

I Like It

The SteelDrivers

I am starting to get a little amped up for Grey Fox in July and was listening to the new SteelDrivers CD Reckless.  I was a little concerned that there would be a let down in the future without the vocals of the amazing Chris Stapleton.  Those fears were unfounded if Gary Nichols continues to sound like he does in this video.  Good stuff indeed.

The Black Lillies - 100 Miles of Wreckage

Cruz Contreras (formerly of Robinella and the CCstringband) formed the Black Lillies along with Tom Pryor (pedal steel), Jamie Cook (drums), Robert Richards (bass) and Trisha Gene Brady (vocals) back in 2008 and they released their debut album, Whiskey Angel, in 2009.  In April they released their sophomore effort 100 Miles of Wreckage.  The new album is everything that their fine debut was and more.  There is no doubt that this one gets the Oldrockr1 Seal of Approval for 2011 and I expect it to be on my best of at the end of the year.

Americana is a big tent for music in 2011 and the Black Lillies most definitely belong there.  Touches of country and bluegrass abound.  There is also some very fine pedal steel playing courtesy of Mr. Pryor.  I love the mournful sound it gives The Arrow.  There is a bit of a melancholy feeling to the record which was recorded by Sparklehorse drummer Scott Minor that may be the result of the suicide of Sparklehorse founder Mark Linkous during the recording.  The record is not, I repeat not, a downer; rather there is a sense of loss that pervades the album.

Styles merge and flow throughout the disc.  One surprise for me was the track Tall Trees which  starts out as a lovely acoustic track and it turns slowly into a country jam track with some good old fashioned gospel along the way.  That's at least how I would describe it.  Doesn't much matter what it is, what matters is how good it sounds.

2011 is shaping up to be another excellent year for music from off the beaten path.  The Black Lillies have released a standout for this or any other year.