The RGM Inbox - April 2022
Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox for another of our occasional dives into the darkest reaches of the office laptop. There’s gold in them, there files. From a legendary band with millions of road miles in the rearview, and many more to come, to a jazz/blues guitarist with four decades of playing under his belt via a pair of acts rejuvenated by circumstances beyond their control. So please join us as we delve into jazz/blues and Americana.
Photo Credit: Brantley Guitierrez
Drive-By Truckers are back with their fourteenth album, ‘Welcome 2 Club XIII’ on June 3rd via ATO Records. Unsurprisingly, DBT will be living up to their well-deserved reputation as road dogs with a world tour already underway that includes UK dates in June 2022. The title track from the album is out now. It's guaranteed to strike a chord with those of us who’ve been in far too many dodgy venues over the years. You know the ones, black painted walls and sticky floors. The guys even throw in a nod to Jim Carroll, which is always cool.
Produced by longtime Drive-By Truckers collaborator David Barbe and mainly recorded at his studio in Athens, GA, 'Welcome 2 Club XIII' took shape over the course of three frenetic days in summer 2021 – a doubly extraordinary feat considering that the band had no prior intentions of making a new album. Featuring background vocals from the likes of Margo Price, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, and Mississippi-bred singer/songwriter Schaefer Llana, 'Welcome 2 Club XIII' was recorded live with most songs cut in one or two takes, fully harnessing Drive-By Truckers’ freewheeling energy
For more info on upcoming shows:
“There were no cool bars in town and Club XIII was the best we had,” says Hood, referring to the two vocalist/guitarists’ former band, Adam’s House Cat, “but it wasn’t all that good, and our band wasn’t particularly liked there. From time to time the owner would throw us a Wednesday night or let us open for a hair-metal band we were a terrible fit for, and everyone would hang out outside until we were done playing. It wasn’t very funny at the time, but it’s funny to us now”
Nashville-based, Birmingham, AL-born quintet Banditos first burst on the scene with their acclaimed self-titled Bloodshot Records debut in 2015 and followed up with ‘Visionland’ in 2017. Things were looking good, and work began on their third album. Unfortunately, lineup changes, a record label in a state of flux and a pandemic stunted their progress. These issues will be water under the bridge when ‘Right On’ is released via Egghunt Records on May 20th.
‘Right On’ is a significant turning point in Banditos’ evolution as a band. The group collectively made Mary Beth Richardson its lead singer, putting her remarkable voice at the front, as opposed to having two additional male lead vocalists in the past. Banditos also feature Stephen Pierce (who took up the bass guitar alongside his banjo playing duties) with Corey Parsons (guitar), Randy Wade (drums) and Jeffery Salter (guitar) completing the lineup. Check out ‘Waves’ from the upcoming record which ebbs and flows in keeping with the title and does a fine job of showcasing Banditos in 2022.
Originally a coalition of blues players from Belgium and the Netherlands Travellin’ Blue Kings rejigged their lineup when it became apparent that border crossing regulations in Europe made it impossible for the band members to get together during the pandemic. For album number two, the Kings are now all based in Belgium and ‘Bending The Rules’ is the result. A soulful old school take on the blues with plenty of blazing guitar licks, parping sax and Hammond Organ playing of which Steve Winwood would be proud. ‘Bending The Rules’ will be released on April 22nd on the Naked label.
The band features; Jb Biesmans: vocals, saxophone, harp, Jimmy Hontelé: guitar, Patrick Cuyvers: Hammond organ, backing vocals, Winne Penninckx: bass and Marc Gijbels: drums
Speaking of the blues, Stew Cutler has shared stages and recording studios with luminaries Z.Z. Hill (Cutler was only 19 at the time), Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Fontella Bass, Earl King, Jimmy Castor, David Sanborn, Bill Frisell, Meat Loaf, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Sweet Georgia Brown, and many more. The guitarist will release his seventh album; 'The Blues From Another Angle' on April 22nd, bringing four decades of experience into play on a terrifically varied record. From jazzy workouts such as ‘Blews’, featuring ace jazz guitarist Mike Stern, to soulful blues in the Robert Cray vein ‘Baby Can I Change My Mind’ featuring Bobby Harden on vocals, jazz and blues fans will find much to enjoy here. Check out the video below for a taste of Stew Cutler.
One of the positive aspects of running Red Guitar Music is that you encounter all manner of different musical genres that you wouldn’t necessarily find on your own. The RGM Inbox is positively overflowing with the good, the bad and, yes, the ugly (although something we find unlistenable is probably the best thing in the world to someone). One example that falls squarely in the good category of pleasant surprises is The Happy Couple, discovered on a recent visit to London’s Green Note, where the duo opened for Dimple Discs labelmate Kelsey Michael.