Post by mikarlo on Aug 6, 2010 11:50:13 GMT -5
Chapter One
The Favorites
1. The Allman Brothers Band - Home Page: www.allmanbrothersband.com/
My first love in music...and I don't mean the radio crap you always hear...I'm talkin' songs like 'Blue Sky', 'Dreams', 'Memory of Liz Reed', 'Mountain Jam', and 'Seven Turns' to just name a handful of great songs in their huge catalogue.
2. Gov't Mule - Home Page: www.mule.net/home.php
A "Family Band" of the Allman Bros., lead singer/songwriter & guitarist Warren Haynes is my "Guitar God". I have seen the Brothers and Mule more than any other artist live in concert...even getting the chance to meet Warren Haynes on his tour bus once! (A story in itself & quite possibly the greatest moment of my life!) All songs...you can't go wrong, though the album "High & Mighty" was probably their weakest (even though the Reggae re-make "Mighty High" is great!)
3. Gram Parsons (R.I.P.) - [Search: Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels; The Flying Burrito Brothers; The International Submarine Band; and "The Byrds" album 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo'. Any and all of his collaborations and inventions of himself are beautiful. His hard life...like Townes Van Zandt...shows in his lyrics. Always a little sad...
4. Townes Van Zandt; Guy Clark; Bob Dylan; Justin Townes Earl (Steve Earl's son); William Elliot Whitmore; Billy Bragg; Woody Guthrie; Tom Waits; Chuck Regan; Mike West...and probably 50 other singer/songwriter types I'm forgetting. All great in their own respect.
5. Split Lip Rayfield (R.I.P. Kirk Rundstrum) - www.splitliprayfield.com/
[Think: acid-punk-bluegrass and that is their sound] When I was living in Lawrence, KS...these guys were local and I got to know Kirk (throat cancer) fairly well over a bonfire north of Topeka at a bluegrass festival. I once saw him break 9 guitar strings in one show and never miss a beat! God I miss him. The band has carried on w/o him, which I'm glad of...though I admittedly don't know any of their new stuff.
6. Drag the River - www.dragtheriver.com/
[Think: Shit-kicking, "hard" country] Another band I originally met in Lawrence through a neighbor of mine. These guys used to play punk/heavy metal and now they play country...well, kinda...
A decent start I think. I'll be back with more of my life-long obsession with music, musicians, and live shows for more recommendations!