Album Review: Hackensaw Boys - Charismo

The last two days I've listened to an advanced copy of the Hackensaw Boys upcoming album Charismo. It is produced by Larry Campbell who was the ringleader of Levon Helm's band it's last few years. The album will drop on Tax Day by Free Dirt Records and I recommend using your refund to procure this release. The band has evolved over the years with the current iteration a trio consisting of founder David Sickmenn, who returned after a long hiatus in 2012, festival favorite Ferd Moyse, and Brian Gorby, who inherited the album's namesake - the Charismo - from Justin Neuhardt. 

The songs on Charismo are all original written by Sickmen and Moyse and a good ear can distinguish them. There's more sophistication and maybe more seriousness to the songs, and not the jamming thrillers we loved at festivals. But the harmonies are still killer. The opening track "Don't Bet Against Me" is in my opinion the best track with "Happy For Us in the Down" and "Flora" two more favorites. Festival goers will want to listen to "Limousin Lady". As much as I'd like to pair this album with Veritas Winery, where the band plays often, but Starr Hill Brewery seems a better option. Cheers.

Levon Helm - The memories will always continue

We learned this week that Levon Helm's daughter Amy and wife Sandy posted a note announcing that Helm "is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey."

What a tragic turn. Conquered throat cancer, then won three Grammies, and now the end.

*Dirt Farmer - Best Traditional Folk Album 2007
*Electric Dirt - Best Americana Album 2009
*Ramble At the Ryman - Best Americana Album 2011


Here's two videos showing my favorite memory of Helm with John Hiatt performing with the Levon Helm Band at Wolf Trap on Nov 7, 2010.

The Weight


The Slackers - I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan)


Update: Here's the Rolling Stones with the sad news.

FloydFest9 Day2 - Saturday

We woke early Saturday to the sound of portables being cleaned and shook off the drowsiness to examine the day's schedule. Like all festivals, there were many difficult choices to make on who to see. Like most Floydfest mornings, the day started with Kat Mills in the Beer Garden. No beers served yet, just nice acoustic music to allow us to collect our thoughts and literally charge our batteries. We decided to plan our afternoon around seeing Hackensaw Boys again and Joe Pug with our evenings revolving around the Main Stage: JJ Grey & Mofro, Old Crow Medicine Show, and the Levon Helm Band. What a core lineup, right?

From 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, we basically criss-crossed back and forth across the festival grounds listening to parts of many artist's sets: Mitch Barrett, William Walter & Co., Rocknoceros, Blue Mule, Rising Appalachia, Hackensaw Boys, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and the Ralph Roddenberry Band. Except for the first and last, we had seen these acts before, all incredibly entertaining. Yes, we could have slowed down and stayed at the same stage - but then you end up missing so much good music. The biggest surprise among these was the Ralph Roddenberry Band - this year's festival theme appeared to be more roots rock and less bluegrass.

The afternoon ended with the main event - finally being able to see a live performance from Joe Pug. We've followed this artists since receiving a two song demo containing Nation of Heat and Hymn #101. We worked instantly hooked; the songs are full of powerful vocals and lyrics. Pug continued this craft with Messenger - just an awesome CD. And today we finally heard live sets to these songs. I don't want to come over as too dramatic, but his performance was chilling - spectacular. We missed his Front Porch performance that day, but we heard Jon Lohman sing his praises for Hymn #101. Watch out for this guy - he is going places.

In order to catch our breath, we headed to the beer garden to hear Possum Jenkins before returning to the Hill Holler stage and Mountain Heart. Foothills Brewing had also recommended Possum Jenkins and since Big Daddy Love was a hit, we figured why not. Plus we were able to try the brewery's awesome Sexual Chocolate stout. We enjoyed that brief interlude - good music and good beer - but returned to meet Echo Propp from WAMU Bluegrass Country. Echo has posted her travelogue of the festival that we recommend reading. Plus she had highly recommended that we see Mountain Heart - a very good "choose". The band is basically a bluegrass band that "crosses over" to other styles. How else to explain their rendition of Whipping Post. This band has the entire package - instrumentals, harmonies, Jake Stargel, humor; you name it. Definitely planning to see them Sunday at the Front Porch.

Besides Joe Pug, the other artist that was a must see was JJ Grey & Mofro. Since our first exposure at ACL in 1994, we watched and listened to Grey mature from a raw blackwater blues artist to a funky, soul, R&B, blues sensation. And now he's touring with a full band - not just Grey and Daryl Hance - but a full band: horns, keyboards, a third guitar. And he did not disappoint - from playing Lochloosa to Everything Good Is Bad to The Sun Is Shining Down to Orange Blossoms. Not convinced that Grey compares to the greatest soul singers of our generation - listen to A Woman. Hats off to the promoters for scheduling JJ Grey - that was the highlight of the day.

While the main stage was being cleared we decided to get a beverage from Starr Hill Brewing, The River Company Restaurant and Brewery, or Foothills Brewing, and see who was playing. The first band turned out to be Tennessee Boltsmokers, a bluegrass band out of Memphis. They had a nice Americana vibe to them as did the next act - Dangermuffin. Our friends, Steve and Jo from Blacksnake Meadery, had recommended this band so we pushed back our return to OCMS to see about the fuss, which is, the trio gets more sound out of an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, and a drum kt than most five or six piece bands. Let's head to the beach.

Instead we headed to the main stage and the rest of the Old Crow Medicine Show. This band has been playing for a decade now, hard to believe, since their breakout CD Old Crow Medicine Show. They are worthy of all accolades, but sometimes I wonder why the Hackensaw Boys haven't reached the same level. Maybe the absence of a hit song? And whereas the crowd exploded when Wagon Wheel started, I prefer their more bluesy roots tunes: Tell It To Me or James River Blues. In any case OCMS puts on a good show and they definitely set the stage for the Levon Helm Band.

This was the second time in four nights that we got to see the old master perform - following their Wolf Trap performance. Even though the set list was practically identical it was still a thrill watching Helm interact with the crowd and the band. And what a band: his daughter Amy Helm, bassist Byron Isaacs, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, keyboardist Brian Mitchell, Jim Weider, and the entire rhythm section. I could listen to Amy Helm sing all night and Williams vocals on Long Black Veil were still chilling. Then there's Campbell, Williams, and Weider; who all masters of their craft. But the crowd was ready to hear Levon and he mustered all the energy that his frail body can exert and electrified the audience. And the photographers; the paparazzi was out in full force. But the crowd loved him - and we could barely hear the stage when they played The Weight. Another great performance.

After a quick refresher at the VIP Tent it was back to the beer garden and the second set from
American Aquarium. And they didn't disappoint. These guys can rock - their set from yesterday was more alt-country - tonight was pure jamin'. The crowd was all in and demanded a second encore. Good for them. This second encore forced us to drink a few more Starr Hill beers waiting for Rose's Pawn Shop - alt country from the west coast. These guys can also play and were quite impressive with a now standard lineup: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, fiddle, upright bass, and drum kit. That works for me.

Thanks again to the promoters and all the wonderful volunteers for making this another amazing day. And once again more photos are available at the MyJoog Gallery.

Levon Helm Grammy Nomination

Our friends at LevonHelm.com sent us a message reminding us that the legendary performer has received his second consecutive Grammy nomination, this time for Electric Dirt. Obviously Levon Helm is thriving despite recovering from recent throat cancer. He has followed Dirt Farmer, which won a 2008 Grammy for "Best Contemporary Folk Album" with another successful CD - this time nominated in the "Best Americana Album" category. Congratulations.

Route 29 Revue

The promoters at Merriweather Post Pavilion organized a great day of music through their inaugural Route 29 Revue, bringing several high profile acts to Columbia Maryland. We are talking about The Felice Brothers, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Iron & Wine, Levon Helm, and
Old Crow Medicine Show. What a lineup.

The day started with Justin Jones & The Driving Rain, a regional band that we have heard of, but never heard live. They really set the tome for the day - providing a nice sound and great vocals. I particularly liked "California". We plan to catch a set next weekend at IOTA Club.

The Felice Brothers followed and how can anyone not like this band. From the lyrics ("I put some whiskey into my whiskey") to crazy stage antics, they are just a fun band to watch. It makes you realize that New York State is much more than New York City - there is a strong farming - rural presence in the state where a blend of bluegrass, zydeco, and alt-country flourishes. And here, to see it in one family. Today they played a few songs from their self titled The Felice Brothers and their latest, Yonder Is The Clock. "Run Chicken Run" continues their line of chicken songs - if you count "Chicken Wire". Onstage, this band is a train wreck - jumping on speakers, bass drum, playing symbols with a washboard. Increasing the commotion, members of Old Crow Medicine Show joined in, what a sight. Go see this band.

The energy continued, albeit at a reduce rate, when Grace Potter & The Nocturnals appeared next. Although the play original music - they bring back memories of late 1960s-1970s classic rock - not only the music but appearance. But they can play and Grace Potter can sing - what a voice. I was extremely impressed with the band - guitarists Scott Tournet and Benny Yurco, drummer Matt Burr, and new bassist Catherine Popper. No wonder This Is Somewhere is such a great CD. They finished their set with an incredibly long encore performance - including a solo by Potter and White Rabbit.

We felt sorry for any act that had to follow Grace Potter, but the one man acoustic set by Iron & Wine was the perfect continuation of the day. Sam Beam just strolled onstage and started playing. This was the first we've heard him, but the pavilion filled quickly for this set, so Beam definitely has a strong fan base. We were most impressed with his guitar picking - his fingers fly. I don't know how we could have missed not hearing one of his half dozen CDs.

After about 5 hours of music, it was time for the band we most wanted to hear to take stage: The Levon Helm Band. We had been looking forward to hearing songs from Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt, but quickly learned that would not happen. For Helm was instructed by his doctor to take a few weeks off singing since he had overtaxed his voice earlier in the summer. Considering he survived throat cancer - we had no objections. Instead of singing, Helm jammed on the drums or the mandolin and allowed his others to front the band. This included his daughter Amy Helm, who along with bassist Byron Isaacs, took a break from Ollabelle to perform today. Famed guitarist, producer, you name it, Larry Campbell fronted for most of the evening, along with his wife Teresa Williams, and keyboardist Brian Mitchell. The lineup even included a horn section which really enhanced the New Orleans style of Mitchell's songs - part Allen Toussaint, part Dr. John, and part brass band. Needless to say, this band covered an array of musical styles, from early songs from the Band, to the Dead, to alt-country, to New Orleans style jazz and blues. Their version of Long Black Veil was awesome - with the entire pavilion singing along. Even without singing, Levon Helm is the man - the crowd adored him. If ever in upstate New York - a trend developing - travel to the Levon Helm Studios and catch The Midnight Ramble.

The Old Crow Medicine Show was the final act of the day - and played before a packed pavilion. Throughout the day we wondered if anyone else would care to come - but it appeared that many chose to arrive for the last two acts. This band provided the most bluegrass feel for the day - particularly when they took a page from Tony Trischka and played with two banjos. No wonder Doc Watson invited them to Merlefest. However, they are not your traditional new grass band - they blended gospel, roots, blues, surf, and even some punk into the few songs we heard. We will have to revisit their CD collection....

Unfortunately the long day and an hour drive home forced us to leave before their set ended - and we missed reciprocal appearances from members of the Felice Brothers. But what a day of music - I hope the Route 29 Revue becomes an annual event - we won't miss it. Additional photos are available at the MyJoog Gallery.