Giant Sand / Howe Gelb P0X

Although xgau's latest new Expert Witness column at or in Vice's Noisey incl. more pos take on Heartbreak Pass than mine, should listen more, anyway. Meanwhile:

howe gelb ‏@howegelb_ 42s43 seconds ago

backstage before the 3 hour set at the Århus Festuge in Denmark
https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/640362546495664128/pu/img/5e3au3sfN6Kv1qiB.jpg

Original of that is a vine, or a gif, or something else that moves a little

stumbled onto this great performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN6h3zT2NRY

Oops forgot to post these comments on Gelb's 2017 releases (from my Nashville Scene ballot comments):

Howe Gelb's Open Road is "a collection of sketches from several different projects over the last five years," but not too sketchy, no start-stop or mumbling in the background, but the pleasure of finding that good note right now, in several related styles overall, and seemingly fully-produced, if not quite what he's looking for yet, and always a thoughtful, intimate approach, even on an Arizona Highways roadside lounge Spaghetti Western trip. Makes me think he's got, not only a tape recorder next to the Gideon Bible in the motel nightstand, but an array of instruments and musos standing by at all times.
Oh yeah, and not all the words may be quite worked out--haven't caught 'em all--but some lines to jump/slip out into memory, like the one about those who don't fall in love are "in love with the safety zone"---not entirely fair/true, but some truth in my case.
http://music.howegelb.com/album/the-open-road

Gelb’s Further Standards is somewhat Country Related if you justify that tag re the amount of the more downhome jazzy lounge-roadhose sounds of this set by the Howe Gelb Piano Trio (with Lonna Kelly in duet and sometimes upfront vocals; guitar octaves occasionally appear). Kind of a speaking-again-of Mose Allison thing, minus the zings and bop excursions--there is MA-worthy wordplay, re word meanings and sounds and ideas, bits of storyline sliding around, but this is not Allison's attitude, it's pretty much all Gelb, writing on cocktail napkins and wondering when it's cool or acceptable or saleable or desirable, for that matter---and like what's the point or is it about a point---be "Presumptuous" or "Irresponsible" or an "Impossible Thing"----no matter how experienced and observant of self and others you are, it's provisional, swirling around in that glass, my my. In a discreet or furtive way, he's got the Country Related romantic preoccupations alright.
(Also re Willie and Leon doing "One More For The Road", sometimes on YouTube, also several of Willie's standards collections and Dylan's also Mose-related "If Dogs Run Free" and some of his Sinatra-related covers, especially on Shadows In The Night, are also from this neck of the woods.)
https://howegelbmusic.bandcamp.com/album/further-standards
"Irresponsible Lovers," that is, the couple from Heaven and/or Hell, ask their bartender.

But this is what I meant to post:
alley of Rain was Tucson’s Giant Sand’s debut album recorded in 1983, and eventually released by 1985. It included Howe Gelb on vocals, guitar and Winston Watson on drums for most of it, Tommy Larkins on drums for some of it and Scott Garber on fretless bass for all of it.

Now some 30 years later, This new re-recording of that first album will be toured by the band this summer, playing only those Valley of Rain songs. GIANT SAND RETURNS TO VALLEY OF RAIN.
Live Dates

04 May: Mercado Block Party Concert @MSA Annex, Tucson, AZ, United States
24 May: Tower Musikclub, Bremen, HB, Germany
25 May: Batschkapp, Frankfurt On Main, Germany
26 May: Rätschenmühle e.V. Geislingen, Geislingen An Der Steige, Germany
27 May: Dachstock, Berne, Switzerland
28 May: Feierwerk / Hansa 39, Munich, Germany
29 May: Kulturladen Konstanz, Constance, Germany
30 May: Druckluft, Oberhausen, Germany
31 May: Musik & Frieden, Berlin, Germany
02 Jun: Vega (Small Hall), Copenhagen, DK
04 Jun: Parkteateret, Oslo, NO
05 Jun: Under the Bridge, London, UK
06 Jun: Concorde 2, Brighton, UK
07 Jun: The Fleece, Bristol, UK
09 Jun: Whelans, Dublin, IE
10 Jun: The Oran Mor Glasgow, UK
11 Jun: The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, UK
02 Oct: Roots On The Rails, Chicago, IL, United States
(Sorry, would have posted sooner if I'd thought to check for it.)

releases October 8, 2018

Only one track streaming on this Bandcamp page so far, but whole thing's already on Spotify.

xp Giant Sand Returns To Valley of Rain is indeed the title.

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1318240966_10.jpg

Newly remastered double LP* beautifully repackaged gatefold sleeve with new artwork and expanded liner notes.
* Second disc includes Mad Dog Studio sessions from 1991

A firm fan favorite, Giant Sand’s essential 1991 album ‘Ramp’ was the second of three revered albums the band released in the early 90s. Now set for a remastered special indie store exclusive, the new edition released on 17th July comes beautifully repackaged in a gatefold sleeve with new artwork and expanded liner notes from MOJO’s Dave Henderson.

‘Ramp’ is a magical trip with a host of guests including Victoria Williams, Rainer and Pappy Allen. Featuring piano lounge music for an off-world colony interrupted by an onslaught of guitar when needed. Reverb on, fuzz friendly. Up to 11, it’s light and dark and the better for it, a musical journey on a road less travelled. All sounds are welcome; banjo, dobro, pedal steel, plaintive harmonica, whistling all wrap themselves around the flow of consciousness; those truly memorable words.
With Gelb’s lyrical invention to the fore: “His thoughts unfold in long, rolling sentences that don't always follow conventional rules of grammar or syntax.” (The Quietus).

The Tucson sound at its very best. *Also on CD, digital, and/or stream it all here:
https://giantsandmusic.bandcamp.com/album/ramp-2 (several other GS albs there as well, and of course https://howegelbmusic.bandcamp.com/)

his only 2020 solo release so far (older ones here too)--haven't listened yet, but as described, it's not an unfamiliar kind of thing from him:
Cocoon
A meander of instantaneous aural sketches of improvised ponder.

: .
It should be duly noted that no one is depressed or exhibiting any residual effects of the lyrical involvement herein. These are momentary possessions that passed by like glimpses of passengers on fleeting trains amongst the tracks in the evening here with soft glowing windows offering a blurred snippet.
.: .
The piano was cocked & loaded at all times for the possible capture of any compelling notion and / or melody that should erupt per any hour to reel in this 90s TEAC CD recorder sheerly for the sake of its own slipstream banter that might make sense weeks later .. . if ever.
:.:
These doodles were never built to be played again, and some that were left off here, were never even meant to be played at all.
:
So.
Enjoy at will this isolationist soundtrack for a time when time didn't matter.
.
Your pal,
Howe
credits
released May 7, 2020 https://music.howegelb.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byP8iwbg_V0

Cool, thanks!
So fine: "Welcome To My World," feat. Pappy Dailey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLXo2B4g0E4

Nice. Pappy Allen?

(though Pappy Daily would be cool)

Yeah, Pappy Allen, sorry!
https://pioneertownsun.com/pappy-allens-legacy-a-master-human-being/

op8 — "cracklin water" (1997)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqDy1WfIrsI

Here on earth
With the bends and the rust
You hide from the rain and the winds you mistrust
Here on earth
It's all dust to dust