Bits: Greg fucking Dulli, Alan Lomax Archive, Grinderman, Futurebirds, Bonnie “Prince” Billy & Cheyenne Mize

  • The big freaking news for me personally this week is Greg fucking Dulli’s (in my world, this is his actual, legal name) first solo tour. “An Evening with Greg Dulli” will be making the rounds in the U.S. and Europe in October and November. Afghan Whigs songs are promised, as are brand new Twilight Singers tunes.
  • The Alan Lomax Archive now has a YouTube Channel with footage of R.L. Burnside, Sam Chatmon and more.
  • Our friends at Buddyhead have a new Grinderman song for you, “Heathen Child”, along with the scary and possibly not-safe-for-work cover art.
  • The charming Futurebirds release Hampton Lullaby today, and you can take a listen at Spinner.
  • Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Cheyenne Mize have released a sweet and mellow EP of covers called Among the Gold. You can listen here and download here.

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Don’t Say I Never Gave You Anything: Cowboy Junkies, Futurebirds, Young Mammals

Here, people, have some music.

First up, a humid, languid tune called “Cicadas” from the upcoming Cowboy Junkies’ album Renmin Park. Renmin Park will be the first album in a four-album series called The Nomad Series, and the following album in the series, Demons, will be made up of covers of songs from the late, great Vic Chesnutt.

Cowboy Junkies – Cicadas

Cowboy Junkies Official Website

Even though I gave them a lukewarm concert review here last week, I still like the guys in Futurebirds. Damn those Southern charmers. Their debut album, Hampton’s Lullaby, will be dropping on July 27, and here’s a track from the album called “Johnny Utah”.

Futurebirds – Johnny Utah

Futurebirds MySpace

Finally, an energetic ditty with a seasick rhythm called “Confetti” from Houston band Young Mammals. They will be releasing their album Carrots on June 22 and playing at the Happy Dog in Cleveland on July 2.

Young Mammals – Confetti

Young Mammals MySpace

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Futurebirds & Jessica Lea Mayfield at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, OH, 5.19.10

Futurebirds

With six members playing pedal steel guitar, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin and drums – switching off instruments and vocals throughout the set – Futurebirds have a hell of a lot of strings, but you wouldn’t mistake them for a string band. You might mistake them for a really big bar band, though. I’ll just be honest and say that their music didn’t do much for me, but their sense of humor did. A band who can play to a nearly-empty hall and still enjoy the hell out of themselves is okay in my book. The crowd was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, and they were rewarded when the band kicked in three great songs at the end of their set, one led by drummer Payton Bradford who came out from behind his kit to strap on a Fender and go.

(One song was dedicated to LeBron James. “This one’s for LeBron. Maybe he’ll stay,” they said, perhaps in a bid to further endear themselves to the crowd. “He won’t,” came … Continue reading