2019

DADDY LONG LEGS LOWDOWN WAYS Yep Roc Records **** A fine fusion of Americana, country and blues  A band with fine prestige, DADDY LONG LEGS (yep, capitals are on purpose) have just released their latest offering in ‘Lowdown Ways’ and it’s everything you’d expect from them. Harmonica aplenty, gritty guitars and with a fast paced rhythm, time flies by when listening to this album, but the quality remains a constant throughout. Tracks like Winner’s Circle, Ding Dong Dangand Back Door Foolshowcase how versatile the band are, with all three songs incorporating different strands of country, Americana and blues – merging all three together in superb fashion. All in all, this is a great listen. The band have just wrapped up a tour in the UK and are in the final stages of their European dates, but those who were in attendance would have been in for a treat going by the nature of these tracks. Rob Ramsey www.officialdaddylonglegs.com  

Felix Hatfield BOUNDARIES Self-released **** Unadorned love songs delivered with the roots showing Recorded in a basement in Portland, Oregon, ‘Boundaries’ features Felix Hatfield and an acoustic guitar on a set of deceptively simple songs about unrequited love. Hatfield, originally from Vermont, kind of tumbled his way to Portland some years ago believing that in a past life he was an Oregon outlaw and that he could now make amends living in what he calls, “The mossy side.” Calling himself a creative enthusiast and a romantic humorist, he paints and sculpts in addition to being a songwriter and on the evidence here he is excels in at least one of these fields. There’s evidence here of his admiration for old folk blues artists such as Gus Cannon and Uncle Dave Macon in the playing and arrangements but there’s also a wonderfully absurdist sense of humour and pathos in the lyrics, all capped by Hatfield’s fine hangdog voice. Casting around for a comparison the best bet is to consider Hatfield as existing in a universe not a million miles away from that supreme exponent of cartoonish weird folk, Michael Hurley. The Hurley comparison is apt as a song such as Roll On sounds like a lost Hurley song down to the guitar playing which just about apes Hurley’s style. The lyrics also recall Hurley but it takes real talent to write like that and Hatfield manages this without ever breaking sweat. There’s joy to be had in just surrendering to the sound of these plaintive laments but the words deserve attention throughout. All of the songs here relate to a woman, a muse who has Hatfield variously reminiscing, apologising, pleading and debasing himself. Boundaries, the opening song, set to piedmont blues picking, sets the scene as Hatfield lays out his romantic conflicts, his boundless love for a woman who only quite likes him along with a host of others. It’s a lengthy song, almost seven minutes, but it encapsulates his dilemma which he goes on to examine in the following songs. I Love You Blues is a good old fashioned folk blues country song (with Hatfield adding harmonica to the mix) which is miserable in the best Hank Williams way while The Day I Cried In Your Car is a tremendous and tremulous account of an encounter with his gal at a gig (and which wittily references the previous song). Once again this results in an impasse, his yearning, her indifference, all packed away into Hatfield’s memories as he sings, “Like every day with you, that day was a painting by Renoir/more wonderful artwork to hang in my dreams, the day I cried in your car.” While this romance might not be going anywhere Hatfield can recall and fantasise with the closing songs intimate and sensual. Take Care Of That Ass Darlin’ finds him reminiscing of their intimate moments and hoping for a rematch although the song is suffused with ennui. Lioncasts him as an alpha male who just wants to, “Sink my teeth in like I used to do. It don’t have to be love for it to be true,” but the closing Sex Addiction finds him as confused as ever. Here he pines so much he’s forgetting daily chores but he’s also wary of getting back together fearing that he’s just another notch on her stick. ‘Boundaries’ is an almost perfect collection of ruminations set to magnificently spare arrangements and is highly recommended. Paul Kerr http://www.felixhatfield.com/  

Chase Rice will be returning to the UK and Europe in January 2020 for his ‘The Pint of Anything’ tour, which includes a date at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London. Tickets are available from May 31 here. Rice was a Main Stage act at C2C 2019 and will be gearing up for his first full band headline shows in the UK and Europe, where he will be performing gigs in core touring cities such as London, Manchester and Glasgow, before venturing into Germany and the Netherlands to do some acoustic shows. Speaking about the tour, Rice said that he is really looking forward to being back in Europe – where he believes he and his band have been treated really well –  and fully admires how passionate the residents are when it comes to their music. “European fans are so passionate about music and they’ve been really good to us over the years,” Rice said. “I can’t wait to head back across the pond for this tour and even get to visit our fans in some new places. It’s gonna be a party!” Rice’s single Eyes on You has recently been generating a lot of buzz, with the single topping the US Country Airplay charts for the past two consecutive weeks. Chase Rice will be playing: Jan 11 – St Luke’s, Glasgow, Scotland Jan 12 – Empire Music Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland Jan 14 – O2 Academy 2, Newcastle, England Jan 15 – Gorilla, Manchester, England Jan 18 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, England Jan 19 – Thekla, Bristol, England Jan 22 – Luxor, Cologne, Germany Jan 23 – Hansa 39, Munich, Germany Jan 24 – Bi Nuu, Berlin, Germany Jan 25 – Mojo, Hamburg, Germany Jan 27 – TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands

Upcoming US singer/songwriter Olivia Lane has revealed that her EP ‘The One’ will be released on August 9, while also sharing a new single in So Good It Hurts. You can listen to the single here. The popular artist has been causing waves in the UK recently as well as in her home country, with Bob Harris featuring her on his BBC Radio 2 show on numerous occasions. Both Hey 3AM and You Got Me will appear on the EP, which can be pre-ordered here. Initially, Lane’s EP was pencilled in for the spring of this year, but this was shelved and after some fine tuning, we will now have the EP available to us ahead of the autumn period. Speaking about So Good It Hurts, Lane explained that the track is about being in a really good relationship and highlighting the key characteristics of the male in question, while also detailing how the EP will be about her self love journey. “This song is about being in a fantastic relationship for the last few years,” Lane said. “Nobody cheated or didn’t text back, it’s simply about glorifying a great man and some good love. I want to be a person and artist who always celebrates love, especially self love. My upcoming EP explores my self love journey and the man that I fell in love with along the way.”

Musical Mischief Our Tools of the Trade and Nashville correspondent Eric Dahl takes a look at four new products that can benefit musicians in a number of different ways     iRig Micro Amp IK Multimedia’s new iRig Micro Amp is a tiny powerhouse packing 15 watts of power. This battery-powered mini-combo amp has built in 4” speaker with three unique analog channels: Lead, Clean and Drive. I tested it driving a 1×12” cabinet with the external speaker out jack and it sounded incredible. Standard amp features include three band EQ and gain adjustments and it over-delivers with all iOS connectivity and its 24-bit 96 kHZ sound. It’s also bundled with AmpliTube 4 software, providing 10 effects and nine amps. The iRig Micro Amp interfaces with other music apps too, making it an ideal practice amp for beefy tones at bedroom volumes – and for portability! www.ikmultimedia.com Agony Series Gig Bags by Coffin Cases The new Agony Series of gig bags by Coffin Cases won’t make your bank account bleed, but it will keep your instrument secure and safe! Available in electric guitar, bass guitar and extreme (fits Flying V shape) models, it is lightweight but constructed with 20mm of padding and 600D exterior. The interior features Coffin’s trademark blood red diamond pattern trucker padding, while the side handle is sturdy and has padded backpack straps. My favorite feature was the extra-large external pocket for music, iPads, cables and capos. Your friends will be dying to have one once they see your cool new Agony gig bag from Coffin. www.coffingear.com PRS Go Kit If you’re a Paul Reed Smith guitar fan, you’ll want the new Go Kit. Designed for the musician on the go, it includes a PRS branded string winder that can be detached and applied to a power drill for speedier re-stringing, while there is also a premium leather key-chain pick pouch and Vibe ear-filters that include a security string to keep them around your neck when needed. The box has a classy PRS style to it, which would be ideal for a gift or to grab one for yourself. The PRS Go Kit is a fun bundle of useful products. www.prsguitarseurope.com Lee Oskar new products  Lee Oskar, world renown harmonica player (previously with the hit band War) and he is the President and Founder of Lee Oskar Harmonicas. Unsatisfied with other harmonicas Lee started a family owned company to create harmonicas to his high standards. This year Oskar is released three new Major Diatonic harmonicas in the keys of Low F#, Low E and Low D.  For review Maverick tested the Low E and the tone and craftsmanship were far superior!  Lee Oskar new chromatic pitch pipes provide pure pitch and are available in the Key of A or E and include a protective care case!  Lee Oskar products by Tombo are built for professionals. www.leeoskar.com

Pretty Archie HANGING ON Curve Music **** Rousing fourth album from Cape Breton-based quintet Pretty Archie somewhat recall the likes of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Old Crow Medicine Show in their multi-instrumentalism (three members play guitar and two play mandolin while banjo and harmonica also feature prominently), in their irrepressibility and energy and in the sense they communicate of being an organic unit, of being a bunch of friends revelling in creating music together. Their music blends country with folk and other elements and notwithstanding the sense of fun and exuberance evident on the album their self-written songs (all credited to the band as a whole) actually deal with serious, resonant themes. You Better Run, for example, is a gritty narrative about domestic abuse, with the victim finally exacting murderous revenge, This Whole Town, apparently inspired by Sydney, Nova Scotia where the band members grew up, is about wanting to escape one’s home town but then learning to appreciate it and No One To Blameis about losing a loved one. Perhaps best of all is Ain’t No Saving Me, which humorously recounts a meeting with a preacher and which incorporates gospel harmonies but which is actually, as the title suggests, something of an anti-gospel song. Trevor Hodgett

UK Americana sextuplet Morganway have released the third single from their upcoming debut album in the shape of Let Me Go. You can listen to the track here. The self-titled  debut album from the six-piece will be available from August 2 and Let Me Go represents the third track to be released from that as a single, following Frozen In Our Time and Hurricane. Speaking about the track, Callum Morgan – bassist and vocalist for the group – explained that the song came about in a somewhat off the cuff way, in that the way it was recorded was completely different to what the band had envisaged for it. “Day one of tracking came and our producer said we should record it first,” Morgan explains. “A little baffled, we suggested something we were more familiar with, before ignoring our doubts and just blasting through it. Hearing back through those big studio monitors, we realised we’d captured something pretty special. It wasn’t comfortable, instead it was urgent and that feel was exactly what the song needed. “Sometimes you play a song live and then when it comes to recording, something is lost. For this one, we found the opposite.” Morganway will be playing a number of gigs and festivals over the summer months and their schedule is: May 23 – The 229, London, England May 26 – Leestock – Melford Hall, Suffolk, England June 2 – Country in the Afternoon – The Half Moon, London, England June 8 – Alresford Music Festival, Alresford, England June 15– Foxton Locks, Leicester, England June 21 – Black Deer Festival – Eridge Park, Tonbridge, England July 5 – Folk in a Field Festival, King’s Lynn, England August 4 – The Waterfront Sessions Americana Takeover – The Waterfront, Norwich, England August 10 – Lakefest – Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire, England

Chase Rice is continuing to make headway in the US, with his single Eyes On You topping the US Country Charts for the second consecutive week. The song, which appears on Rice’s recent album ‘Lambs & Lions’, marks the artist’s first ever No. 1 and further highlights how he is on a hot streak of momentum at this moment in time and in March, Rice appeared on the Main Stage at C2C 2019, proving that his international impact is increasing as well. Speaking about the track itself, Rice claims that he knew the song would be something out the ordinary as soon as it was conceived and was also immensely grateful to the fans who have supported the track. “From the moment we wrote Eyes On You, we felt how special it was, and then that was confirmed when we saw how strongly the fans reacted to it right away,” Chase Rice said. “My career has certainly had its ups and downs, but we knew we were putting the work in to set ourselves up for something even bigger. “To have it all pay off in this way makes me so grateful that I get to make music I’m proud of every day and makes me hungry to keep pushing for more. Thank you to every single person from the fans at our shows to the people playing our music on the radio for making this crazy dream of mine come true.”

‘Introducing Nashville’ – the international artist-focussed tour from the Country Music Association (CMA) – will be hitting the UK in October, with five dates announced. Danielle Bradbery, Travis Denning, Chris Lane and Rachel Wammack are the artists pencilled in to play the mini-tour, with the ‘Introducing Nashville’ moniker growing from strength to strength since its formation in March. The main purpose of ‘Introducing Nashville’ is to get artists from around the world taking the stage together in an acoustic line-up to share the stories behind their songs with international audiences. “We are thrilled to be introducing this line-up of incredibly talented artists to international audiences and to revisit cities that we have toured before,” says Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “These artists are a great representation of what is current in Nashville right now – and a perfect way to showcase to new audiences how broad a genre Country is.” The ‘Introducing Nashville’ tour is as follows: 16 Oct – RNCM Theatre, Manchester, England 17 Oct – Sage 2, Gateshead, England 18 Oct – St Luke’s, Glasgow, Scotland 20 Oct – The Old Market, Brighton, England 21 Oct – Cadogan Hall, London, England* *part of Country Music Week 2019 Tickets are available here.

Lady Antebellum have announced their return to country music airwaves with the release of their new single, What If I Never Got Over You. You can listen to the track here. The song – produced by Dan Huff – is built around despair over an ending relationship, with Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott duetting while Dave Haywood holds everything together from an instrumental aspect. Speaking about the track, the band members explained that the song represents Lady A going back to their roots in a number of ways and that they really appreciate being able to get the big questions represented within their songs. “I feel like What If I Never Get Over You is a turn back to our beginning, both in the sound and the core of who we are,” said Haywood. “We love being able to put out those big questions about lost love, like ‘What if time doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do?’ or ‘What if I never move on from this relationship?” “We hit this place of wanting to go back to where we came from,” explained Scott. “This single is a great example of that. We’ve got 13 years of life together, of work together, of ups and downs in our personal lives. All of that kind of encompasses one same feeling: ‘We’re here, we’re loving it, and we’re turning over a new leaf — one that feels really familiar and authentic to ourselves as a band.’” “It’s been several years since we’ve had a chance to release a duet like this as a single,” added Kelley. “When we played it for our team their excitement reassured us this song was the one to lead with out of the gate. It’s been a bit of our magic from day one. Our very first song in 2006, All We’d Ever Need‘ was just written for Hillary, but she said, “Charles, you should sing a verse too” and that’s how we started the co-lead singer thing.”