On June 6th, we participated in an amazing show. Radio Personality Scott Cox is known for occasional outrageous behavior and good tequila. He’s put both of those skills to work for a very good cause founding ScottStock. This yearly show in Bakersfield raises money for Operation Interdependence, a charity that sends care packages to our troops overseas
ScottStock Founder Scott Cox
Shawna and Andrew at Fishlips hosted the event. A number of great musicians had signed guitars being auctioned off. (GE Smith and Willie Nelson, for example) Scott also auctioned off shots of a wonderful tequila he found while wondering around Mexico.
Scott also lost some crazy bet so that he ended up dressed in a kids medium t-shirt.
It’s a Northern Cali Weekend with shows in Fairfax, Point Reyes and San Francisco. If you live in the area, we’d love to see you at one of these fine country music shows.
One of the digs on Los Angeles is that it is a city without a center. This criticism is odd in some respects…it’s almost like saying, “You have too many cool and distinctive city sections to pick one true city home plate.” But it is true that in the past downtown Los Angeles has been an underdeveloped place - dead empty at night. No entertainment. Very little livable space.
Over the last 5 years much of that has changed. The Staple Center and the Lakers moved downtown. Builders started putting up cool spaces to live, and refurbishing old factories. Some nice restaurants have moved in…but in terms of Live Music things have remained a little sad.
Recently, some great stuff has come together downtown.
The Redwood Bar and Grill - The Sunday Brunch Americana Show that started at Safari Sam’s a couple of years ago moved downtown when SS closed last fall. We just played Sunday…and this place is very cool. Great Acoustics, Good food, and a welcoming vibe. They have shows during the week nights as well, and most of the LA Country guys are on the scene.
Saloon Monday at Bordello - This show is run by LA Band, Killing Cassanova and without a doubt the Bordello space is one of the coolest in town. Lots of red velvet, and artwork reminiscent of it’s history as a brothel.
And finally, when you try your hand downtown don’t miss out on this new restaurant - Wurstkuche. They call themselves a purveyor of exotic grilled sausages, and they ain’t kidding. Larry and I went down after the show sunday. I had the Duck and Bacon sausage. Larry had the Rattlesnake and Rabbit - Look OUT! It’s all sausage…Belgian fries, and the best Belgian and German beer you’ve ever had. Let me know if you want to go! I’ll meet you there!
Grant Langston with Dale Watson, Drummer Tony Horkins as well
So, we played a show last night, opening for Texas Honky Tonker Dale Watson - and it was a barn-burner of an evening.
We’ve opened for Dale in the past, but last night was different. Maybe it was the weather. It was, without a doubt, the nicest weather I’ve ever seen in Bakersfield. 72, gentle breeze, perfect.
The show started at 8pm…and the place was packed before we even took the stage. We did our bit, and the crowd was warm and fun. But the REAL fun started once we were done playing.
When I was a teenage someone told me, “Learn to play an instrument and you’ll never buy another drink.” - and so it isn’t uncommon to have kind fans buy you a drink. It seems rude to me to turn away such a gift, but if you’re not careful 5 enthusiastic fans can mean 5 Jagermeister shots, on top of the 3 beers you had during the set. the road to ruin, for sure.
But, what the hell!, right? You’re done for the night. Folks want to share their good wishes. It’s time to kick back and enjoy yourself. Last night was one of those nights. We were done by 9:30, and by 10:30 I had accepted several shots of Patron Tequlia from the kind-hearted fans at Fishlips. I remember looking at my blurry watch at 10:45 and thinking, “Man, I’m glad I don’t have to sing anymore tonight.”
Which is why it is fairly terrifying to hear Dale say from the stage, “Grant, come on up here and let’s sing something.”
Tony took the stage to sit in on drums, and as I stumbled towards the stage I heard Dale say, “Looks like Grant is drunk already.” and he was RIGHT.
I can spare you the details…i made an ass out of myself. He asked me if I knew any Merle, or Wille, or Hank, and I couldn’t remember my name. We did Silver Wings, I couldn’t remember the words and just mumbled through the song, like a jerk. I then suggested, Misery and Gin, which offered me a bit of redemption. We sang some harmony and I did remember some of those words, but lordy, I’ve never wanted to get off a stage so bad.
I’ve done it. I’ve discovered the worst music ever recorded. I don’t mean the worst music ever made. That honor probably goes to some bar band in Phoenix. I don’t mean the worst single album ever recorded, because every year about 70% of released music is complete crap.
I’m talking about the worst genre of music ever recorded.
And I was pretty surprised by the outcome of my search.
First off, I’m a music fiend. I can see the art, the joy, the power in so many different kinds of music. The bassist in my band likens jazz to listening to a fax machine. I have 15 Miles Davis records. My mother says that modern classical music sounds like cats fighting. I love Cage, Stravinsky, and Ligetti. Most of my Americana cohorts hate electronica, and with its endless repletion it is a tough child to love – but it has a certain cold-hearted charm – and I own quite a bit of that stuff. I love Motorhead. Black Flag. The Florida Boys and the Happy Goodmans.
On and on…blues, gospel, prog rock, metal, country – all of it has something to latch on to and admire. When I go to a club and a band is playing I can usually find some element to love. “That drummer has a great foot.”
However, throughout my life I have had a kind of music that I labeled as “the only style of music I hate”. It was doo-wop. The falsetto sung by a guy that’s supposed to be a tough “street” kid from, say, Philly. The silly dance moves of the 4 backing singers. You’ve got to be kidding me. “Weee-ooo the lion sleeps tonight”. Tough guys like this music?
But as a musician that loves harmony…and that has recorded quite a bit of harmony, it’s hard for me to hate doo-wop. Sure, its fake, and girlie, but that stuff isn’t easy to sing. Hell some of those bands were prepubescent, and once the voice changed the career was over. It takes focus and talent, and with the primitive studio arrangements of the day these acts had to have the goods.
And there is one overriding reason why none of these styles of music can win the “worst music ever recorded” award. Because to this day they all have fans who love and consume the music. You can get in a bar fight in a 50’s café by talking smack on Doo-Wop. Some 65 year old with a Corvette and a silk windbreaker will punch your lights out for talking trash about Frankie Lymon.
No friends, the worst music ever recorded doesn’t have a strict genre name but here is my best description. It was American Adult-Pop recorded from 1973 to 1981. 70’s pop-shlock. Examples?
Barbra Streisand Streisand Superman
Crosby Stills and Nash CSN
Kenny Rogers Kenny
What’s a matter with this stuff, you ask?
1. No one loves it, or misses it.
Most important styles of music have fans or adherents. A guy in Toronto will cut you for bagging on Rush. A fellow in Austin will knock your block off for slamming Willie Nelson. Hell, people even love Dave Matthews. But this 70’s pop-schlock was so inane and soulless that no one ever bonded with it. No one fell in love to it, or sat in their room smoking a joint and fell in love with it.
Almost every kind of music has a champion. Not this stuff. Seriously…when is the last time you heard someone talking about Kenny Rogers? Or playing his stuff on the radio. Not the older country stuff…the pop stuff. The answer is never. Because no one cares if Kenny Rogers’ music is ever played again.
It was celebrated at the time. These are big stars, of course. But even still when someone reaches for a Babs record…they aren’t pulling Streisand Superman. Because it doesn’t represent anything but slick semi-hip 70’s pop.
It’s cocktail background music, at best. Music people talk over, and never ever really listen to.
2. The style is completely contrived.
You may be wondering. If I were to play this music, Grant, what would I hear? Could it really be that bad? If you could, you would hear a music that is totally based on triangulation. “Hey, the disco records have this kind of guitar. Let’s put that on our songs, it will make them sound hip.” “Hey, the disco kids like this strings, let’s put them on.” Like maybe Bill Clinton is producing. It is just one long lesson in stealing what you think it cool and jamming it all together to create a smelly soup that is neither fish nor fowl.
You can hear some of it. Right Here.
This is never more apparent than in the “crossover” records of Kenny Rogers. You might think that just recording a great song…and muting the pedal steel and fiddles might qualify a track to cross over to the pop charts. But apparently that’s not what the record business wise-men of the day thought. Yes, you must mute the country instruments and then add congos, wah-wah- guitar, black chick back-up singers, and a disco beat. It sounds like a producer who is cutting a record with a gun to his head, “Make this thing sound like Donna Summer or I’ll blow yer brains out!”
3. It is soulless and lazy.
Perhaps this is the most infuriating point. The people involved in these projects are VERY TALENTED. Some of the most talented people alive. Barbra Streisand is talented. Crosby, Stills, Nash? Even Kenny Rogers. And because of their stature in the business they worked with the BEST.
Moderately talented people making marginal music is no crime. But this stuff is intentionally silly and vapid. Bab’s does a version of New York State of Mind . I was thrilled to hear it, and in the liner notes she damns Billy Joel with faint praise, “he is not only a fine writer, but has a wonderful voice.” Barbra IS the quintessential New York singer and she should slay this tune. Instead it lays there like a possum. Holding out notes as if she’s doing a crossword puzzle. I’ve always be put off by the term “too white”, but good lord she has no soul. If she cut a James Brown song it would sound like a toothpaste jingle. (and she would probably write that he has a “wonderful voice”.)
Here are the links to my appearance on the Music Evolution Revolution show with host Kelly McGrath.
Larry Marciano sits in with me, on guitar. One note…I brought in a couple of unreleased tunes from the new record to play on the show - Burt Reynolds Movie Brawl and 30 Days. These are hot off the presses and not mastered. (the final process in recording that “cures” the track and balances out the mix)
Now that I’ve listened to the tracks on the radio I can tell that there are some problems with the stereo mix because they aren’t mastered. Sorry. That’s what I get for trying to jump the gun!
We also perform a live version of Drunken Prince Charming.
I got an email from someone asking me what kinds of stuff I’m listening to….here’s the list with some links to check it out.
Rhett Miller - Our Love
The lead singer for the Old 97’s has put out a couple of solo albums that failed to really take root. But they are stellar. This one was producer by Jon Brion, and I love this tune. There’s a 30 second intro to wait through.
Rilo Kiley - It’s a Hit
Yes, the put out a big album last year, which was very Fleetwood Mac. But the one before that was….put indi-rock gold. My favorite tune from that is “It’s a Hit”. Here’s a performance from The Avalon in Boston.
Wayne “The Train” Hancock - Johnny Law We opened up for Wayne and he is the real deal. Austin boy who plays it like it used to be played. Records all his records “live” in the studio, and writes unbelievable songs. Here’s a live show up in Michigan, with a feature of his bassazz guitarist.
Strummin’ With The Devil - Dance the Night Away
These guys do country versions of Van Halen Hits. Beautiful
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Killing the Blues
Well hell, everybody is listening to this and I might as well admit that I’m listening as well. This isn’t a great recording…but I wanted to show that they are pulling this off live. hypnotic music.
Lyle Lovett - All Downhill
My hero. Keeps getting better.
The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations
Call it Nerd Rock - But holy SHIT this band rocks. Half Bruce Springsteen. Half The Smithereens.
Grand Drive - Firefly
Not sure if you’ve heard Grand Drive. They a British band…rootsy. The singer, Danny’s, voice is tender and wry and the songs are great.
So pleased to announce that between watching Taylor Swift and Def Leppard videos we’ve added our humble Grant Langston Americana Music blog to the Technorati Directory. If you’re into Technorati, you’ll know this is the coolest thing in the world. If not…you won’t care one bit.
If you ARE into Technorati please click the button below and make our blog one of your favorites.
I could kill an afternoon shifting through old youtube clips of country legends. I found this one of The Hag in 1981 playing one of my favorites, Misery and Gin - which was in the Clint Eastwood movie, Bronco Billy.
It’s always a bit of a shock to look at these live concert clips. This one was at Anaheim Stadium. They just put up a stage, set up the band, and played the songs. no fireworks. no lights. no production. and still I love it.
Americana and country music is about storytelling, and since we’re wrapping up the new record. I thought I’d share some of the stories behind the storytelling. In no particular order…
Call Your Bluff - Have you ever been that guy who “works” for his girlfriend? Always running with a list of honey-dos. Always promising yourself that someday you’re going to give this lady her walking papers. I’ve been that guy.
Incidentally, bassist Josh Fleeger has an alternative lyric for the chorus of this song. I’ll let you guess what rhyme with “Bluff.” He’s good at alternative lyrics that are disgusting…and usually when I bring a song into rehearsal by the time we’ve learned it, he has a different version that he sings loudly on stage while we’re performing.
Not Another Song About California - Most Saturday night I go down to the Los Angeles Farmer’s Market. It’s a great place to people watch, and the big outdoor bar there is the headquarters for a great country music show. This one particular night there were three acts, and each one did a song about California. I think 2 of the 3 were called California. Now, I love California, but my first reaction to this was, “Geez, not another song about California.” I thought about that while I nursed my beer and puffed on a Montecristo. It only took a few minutes to piece together a story line, but it took about a week to put together a CCR kinda vibe for the music.
There is a line in this tune about the Pittsburgh Steelers and Iron City Beer. Of course, this was written in the fall and I had no idea those guys were going to win the superbowl. And it could be any team…the song is constructed so that if we want to do a version for Green Bay Wisconsin and use Old Milwaukee Beer and the Green Bay Packers it should all work nicely. ARE YOU LISTENING NFL?
Shiner Bock and Vicodin - I’ve had the title Shiner Bock and Vicodin in my notebook for about 3 years. I had a writing session with Sarah Stanley and when it came time to talk about what we might work on, I pulled out that title. I think that first session all we did was talk about the story. I didn’t even touch the guitar. It’s about a guy, and a high school sweetheart, and a wedding, and beer and pills. It was really a puzzle. Does he kiss the girl? Why is he drinking beer and taking pills? Where does he live? How far does he have to drive while high on the pills and beer. How is this different from Garth Brooks, I’ve Got Friends in Low Places? It took a couple months, and several writing sessions to hammer out the details. At first it was very fast - but once drunken night i started playing and singing it slowly…and it just stayed that way.
