Too bad. Maybe you need to tweet or e-mail the piece to critics folks like Will Hermes, Jon Caramanica, Ann Powers(now writing for NPR music as well as LA Times) and to NPR music head Bob Boilen and a Pitchfork editor even if they might find that annoying.
Ann wrote something for NPR's site about how she worries when she goes to SxSW whether she is following the important music. I think your article could alert her to something she's missing.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 21 March 2011 16:24 (thirteen years ago) link
We need to get these other critics on board
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 13:57 (thirteen years ago) link
Eh, other critics never believe me anyhow.
Anyway. Another reason I really wish I'd been able to go to Bobby Rush's SXSW show, from this morning's Statesman:
Legendary piano player Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins , who gave Austin a walking, talking monument to the blues when he moved here in 2003, died from cardiac arrest Monday at his home in North Austin....Even in failing health, Perkins went to Antone's nightclub three or four times a week to sell CDs and DVDs and chat with fans. He was often called onstage to jam, including Saturday at South by Southwest, when he played piano for fellow Mississippi native Bobby Rush.
― xhuxk, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 18:25 (thirteen years ago) link
That would have been nice to see. I think I will add that to the Perkins RIP thread
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 19:07 (thirteen years ago) link
http://spinningsoul.com/2011/04/breaking-malaco-destroyed-by-tornado/
Malaco Records facilities got destroyed by a tornado. Thankfully noone in the buildings got killed or hurt.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 16 April 2011 21:03 (thirteen years ago) link
Sounds like they lost some historic master tapes
― curmudgeon, Monday, 18 April 2011 13:58 (thirteen years ago) link
None of the tv news stories I watched on the tornados even mentioned this.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 April 2011 14:02 (thirteen years ago) link
Maybe they didn't lose tapes:
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110419/NEWS/110419001/Malaco-Records-rebuild-bigger-better-after-tornado?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome
And Malaco's thousands of precious master tapes weathered the storm in a vault-type building made of concrete blocks and supported by reinforced steel. "A few of them got wet," Couch said, "but they're all OK."
The recording studio was dark and dank Monday. A grand piano and a Hammond B3 organ were barely visible, buried in debris. The sound of music was replaced by the flapping of a blue tarp, serving as a temporary roof. Pieces of the wood tile floor - upon which music legends have walked - were scattered about. Amplifiers and microphones looked soulless and lonely.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 April 2011 14:06 (thirteen years ago) link
I have plenty of catching up to do in this genre
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 18:59 (thirteen years ago) link
Pretty great Shaila Dewan article from the NY Times travel section a few days ago, about zydeco trail rides in Southern Louisiana -- obviously only tangentially related to Southern Soul, except that my favorite Southern Soul song so far this year (not a single I don't think) is "Trail Ride" by Carl Sims, and I'd been meaning for a couple weeks to google "trail ride" to find out what it meant. So now I wonder whether there are also Southern Soul trail rides, or Carl just likes zydeco too. (There's no zydeco I can detect in his new CD's music, though I would suspect that -- in Southern Louisiana at least -- Southern Soul and zydeco audiences might overlap a bit):
http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/travel/24zydeco.html
― xhuxk, Wednesday, 27 April 2011 15:53 (thirteen years ago) link
As a longtime Boozoo Chavis fan, follower of zydeco since the '80s, and listener to a W. DC radio show hosted by transplanted Afro-Creole Texan, Texas Fred the Zydeco Cowboy, I had a pretty good idea of what trail rides were about, but that article nicely spells it out in detail. Yep, there's a crossover between Southern soul and zydeco down in that region of the country.
I should post that article on the rarely used zydeco thread I started here.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 28 April 2011 17:06 (thirteen years ago) link
A commenter at Amazon says the following about Carl Sims (who I know little about). "Trail Ride" is on his new album
Once upon a time Carl Sims was on the verge of mainstream stardom when his debut LP "House Of Love", (featuring "17 Days Of Loving" & "I'm Trapped") became a worldwide hit in Soul circles. An amazingly Soulful, smoky-voiced Soulman was born. Unfortunately, his sophomore LP didn't measure up in terms of sales and quality so Sims found himself stuck in the "chittlin circuit" and he's has been there ever since. But this new LP, "Hell On My Hands", is going to force everybody to take a second look (listen) to Carl Sims. The title track is a stone classic- a dramatic, midpaced ballad that will sound great on radio. Other top notch ballads like "Go On", "Just One Night" & "Still The One" are mixed with funky dancers ("Trail Ride", "Sugar Daddy) and a fgew choice covers, including a Willie Mitchell/Al Green/Hi Records-inspired take on Tony Toni Tone's "Thinkin' Of You" (renamed "Thinkin' About You" here
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 April 2011 16:53 (thirteen years ago) link
Mainstream stardom, huh. Interesting.
I'm liking another song from Richmond Virginia's Big G: "Two-step in the Name of Love"
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 April 2011 16:54 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, "mainstream stardom" sounds like a bit of a stretch. Anyway, I've been meaning to say that Sims's new one is a good album, but the only absolutely killer tracks I'm hearing are "Trail Ride" and the super paranoid cheating-husband single "Hell On My Hands" (the title/opening cut). Was not aware that "Thinkin' About You" was a Tony Toni Tone remake, but he also covers Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.'s "You Don't Have To Be A Star" (as a duet with one Debra Benson) -- probably my third favorite track on the CD, actually. (Technically, it's my favorite 2011 Southern Soul album so far, though I'm way more likely to list Carl Marshall's late 2010 Love Who You Wanna Love on a 2011 best-albums ballot, since I didn't actually hear it until this year.)
― xhuxk, Saturday, 7 May 2011 19:34 (thirteen years ago) link
I wanna hear Donnie Ray's newest on Ecko. Although I gotta get on their mailing list--their cds are pretty pricey
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 8 May 2011 16:22 (thirteen years ago) link
http://www.basement-group.co.uk/
In the Basement UK old-school soul magazine (there's a Marvin Sease obit too)
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 21 May 2011 15:12 (thirteen years ago) link
I need to just buy some recent Southern soul releases, then review them and then try to get on mailing lists...
― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 May 2011 16:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Theotis Ealey (who I mentioned in the subheading for this thread many years back) is touring with some blues-rockers on a bill entitled "The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue" . The Washington DC area gig includes:
The Tommy Castro Band, Deanna Bogart, Rick Estrin and Theodis Ealey
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 June 2011 21:14 (twelve years ago) link
I thought the Wilbe* comment was right on.
x-post back to March 21st comments from Daddy Nice re Xchuck overview of southern soul -Maybe he does not mean Wilco and means William Bell, Stax soul singer who has a label and a website called "Wilbe"
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 July 2011 15:56 (twelve years ago) link
Daddy B. Nice below talking about Sir Jonathan Burton's song. Burton was at Lamont's in Pomonkey, MD July 2nd, while I watching Swamp Dogg in nearby DC
A recent press release from CDS Records proclaims "Too Much Booty Shakin'"'s dominance of Southern Soul radio as follows:
#1 Soul And Blues Report #1 Southern Soul Top 20 #1 Blues Critic Radio #1 American Blues Network
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 July 2011 16:03 (twelve years ago) link
while I was watching
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 July 2011 16:05 (twelve years ago) link
I like the Jonathan Burton song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIUOzX6wP0g
― curmudgeon, Friday, 8 July 2011 12:12 (twelve years ago) link
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the 2011 Jus` Blues Music Awards, August 3rd - 5th on Beale Street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The Jus` Blues Music Awards is a unique entertainment event that attracts Blues & Soul music artists, industry professionals and fans from across the globe. It is credited with being one of the most important Award Shows in Blues & Southern Soul music for African-American performers. Proceeds from the events benefit the “Blues Got A Soul” program.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 8 July 2011 16:15 (twelve years ago) link
Another chart
http://www.soulbluesmusic.com/southernsoulbluescharts.htm
― curmudgeon, Friday, 8 July 2011 16:27 (twelve years ago) link
There's a book review in yesterday's Washington Post of a book re the beginning of the Chitlin Circuit. The review says some wrongheaded things in the piece. Will link to it later.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 11 July 2011 16:11 (twelve years ago) link
Here it is: a mediocre, flawed review of Preston Lauterbach's "The Chitlin Circuit"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-chitlin-circuit-by-preston-lauterbach-about-pre-rock-black-music/2011/06/27/gIQAyjy73H_story.html
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 July 2011 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
I still have lots of catch-up listening to do. Daddy Nice seems to find most of the 2011 releases flawed in some way.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 18 July 2011 14:36 (twelve years ago) link
I posted that Jonathan Burton song on the Summer Jams 2011 thread but noone commented on it. Oh well. It's better than most of that Euro club stuff on the list.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 18 July 2011 14:37 (twelve years ago) link
Also better is Sheba Potts-Wright's tribute to the late Marvin Sease entitled "Mr. Jody You Did Your Job". Can't find it on Youtube
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 July 2011 17:08 (twelve years ago) link
Just heard Bobby Blue Bland's "Members Only" for the first time in ages. Wow, what a stirring number.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 July 2011 17:09 (twelve years ago) link
Curmudgeon! I love "Too Much Booty Shakin' Up In Here".
― Tim F, Saturday, 30 July 2011 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
Great. I have long been convinced a proper mixtape of danceable southern soul could win over folks into contemporary funky stuff.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 30 July 2011 18:00 (twelve years ago) link
That Carl Sims album is a bit formulaic but he sure does that formula well.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 4 August 2011 13:43 (twelve years ago) link
Latimore's "Mr. Right Now" starts off slow but then the hook nicely kicks in. Curious about the album
― curmudgeon, Monday, 15 August 2011 21:27 (twelve years ago) link
I now have a new level of appreciation for "Too Much Booty Shakin":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NCfb_S4OMA&feature=related
― Tim F, Tuesday, 16 August 2011 11:03 (twelve years ago) link
Ah.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 August 2011 19:32 (twelve years ago) link
line dancing is most certainly a big thing with folks into this style
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 27 August 2011 15:03 (twelve years ago) link
I missed the recent Washington DC appearance of soulful bluesman Johnny Rawls who also has a recent album out. He appeared at a tiny suburban Virginia club on a weeknight with no publicity. He's not exactly southern soul but close enough to deserve mention on this thread. I want to check out his album as I have heard good things about him from folks I respect.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 August 2011 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
I need to look at later the photos of the Rawls gig that I believe In a Blue Mood blogger Ron W posted on flickr.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 14:03 (twelve years ago) link
Gonna be out of town this weekend and will miss (again!) Lee Fields at Lamont's in Pomonkey, MD. The gig has gotten little to no press attention
― curmudgeon, Friday, 23 September 2011 13:29 (twelve years ago) link
He's gonna be in Chicago September 30th at the Bottom Lounge
After his rediscovery in the mid 90s, his faithful have featured him on a slew on singles, a full-length on Desco Records entitled “Let’s Get It On’, a full-length on Soul Fire entitled “Problems”, and on Sharon Jones’s critically acclaimed album, “Naturally”. Most recently, he has featured on a number of tracks by French house producer, Martin Solveig. Suprisingly, many of of those songs have become top ten hits for Solveig and have turned Lee Fields into a bonafide celebrity in France and other parts of Europe. Yet, outside of a rabid cult following, his story remained untold in America.
http://bottomlounge.com/shows/lee-fields-and-expressions-windy-city-soul-club-djs
― curmudgeon, Friday, 23 September 2011 15:22 (twelve years ago) link
I am guessing there are no reviews or tweets or anything online re the Lee Fields gig that just happened. That upcoming Chicago gig has at least gotten some attention
― curmudgeon, Monday, 26 September 2011 12:43 (twelve years ago) link
« Mogwai postpone US shows again, NYC & ATP included | Jim Campilongo back in residency @ Living Room, the Little Willies scheduled shows too »
Posted in music | tour dates on September 25, 2011 Lee Fields playing a benefit @ Brooklyn Bowl, Budos Band & special guests playing NYE @ Music Hall (and other dates) The Budos Band in Prospect Park (more by David Andrako)
Lee Fields & The Expressions are headlining a benefit show at Brooklyn Bowl on Monday night (9/26). Tickets can be had for as low as $15 and as much as $100. Proceeds support NYC's non-religious suicide hotline run by Samaritans of NY. Corey Glover (Living Colour), Danielia Cotton, and The Smyrk are also on the bill. It's one of only three upcoming shows right now for Lee. The other two are in Chicago and Michigan and are listed below.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 26 September 2011 12:45 (twelve years ago) link
oops. Well, it shows that Lee Fields is as relevant as those indie-rock cats
― curmudgeon, Monday, 26 September 2011 12:46 (twelve years ago) link
Newsflash: Latimore Plays Keyboard on the New Joss Stone Release
Woo Hoo!!! Southern soul going mainstream
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:48 (twelve years ago) link
So Lamont's in Pomonkey, MD does not have a website, but within the past year they added a Facebook page (and owner Lamont Savoy has one). But alas, they do not update it in advance so their October schedule is not up yet. Maybe tomorrow. Jeez, how do they stay open?
― curmudgeon, Friday, 30 September 2011 13:37 (twelve years ago) link
A dedicated older clientele that does not need the internets I guess.
Been doing my research on my longtime MD suburban DC fave the Hardway Connection (whom I wrote a feature about back in '99. They're now playing weekly on Thursdays in Upper Marlboro, every other Sunday at Lamont's in Pomonkey and on some Saturdays they're back at the Clinton Inn (where I saw them in '99--my City Paper article about them is still online)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 October 2011 14:02 (twelve years ago) link
didn't joss use some of the old tk disco crew for her first album as well ? (timmie thomas for one .. )
― mark e, Friday, 7 October 2011 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
Sounds right. I see that on her 2nd album, Mind, Body & Soul, she had an impressive lineup with her:
Personnel: Joss Stone (vocals); Nile Rodgers, A.J. Niilo (guitar); Tom "Bones" Malone (flugelhorn); Timmy Thomas, Benny Latimore (piano); Nir Zidkiyahu (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Angelo Morris, Angie Stone (Fender Rhodes piano); Raymond Angry (Clavinet, Hammond b-3 organ, Moog synthesizer); Jack Daley (bass guitar); Cindy Blackman, ?uestlove (drums); Mike Mangini (programming); Betty Wright (background vocals).
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 October 2011 14:31 (twelve years ago) link