SMM # 73: August 28, 2024

Back with the latest batch of new releases, a Rock ‘n’ Roll playlist, and a report on my recent trip to Calgary, Canada!

New Releases

JACK WHITE - No Name… used to be a big fan of White and saw him live several times including an epic show in 2012 at the now closed NYC venue, Roseland Ballroom, where he was backed by two different bands, one all-female and one all-male… I haven’t been on board with his last couple albums but this one, which he dropped with no previous notice, is a return to the kind of rock n’ roll he used to do… insistent, hard-driving rock with some blues mixed in (opening tune, “Old Scratch Blues”), all spiced with White’s trademark quirkiness and unique guitar work… 

ALASTAIR GREENE - Standing Out Loud… California native Greene is a veteran blues-rock guitarist who has released a series of solid albums over the years on various labels… this one is on German blues label Ruf Records and was recorded in Greene’s current hometown, Austin TX, and in Nashville with co-producer JD Simo (currently teaming up with one of my favorites, Luther Dickinson of the NoMiss All-Stars on an upcoming album and tour)… the first song “You Can't Fool Me” comes busting out of the gate with a great ZZ Top-style riff and the rest of the album, while including a couple of slow blues numbers, mostly rocks hard anchored by Greene’s great versatile guitar playing… the songs are all originals except one and a cut above the usual blues-rock fare… the one cover is “Bullfrog Blues”, a song made famous by Canned Heat and my man, Rory Gallagher, back in the late 60s/early 70s… 

NATHAN BOWLES TRIO - Are Possible… for the past 20 years, Bowles has been a major figure in the Virginia/N. Carolina folk and experimental music scene… although he plays other instruments, he’s primarily known for his banjo playing and has released a series of acclaimed solo and duo albums… Bowles has expanded to a trio of banjo, drums, and double bass for this release and while his past albums have been folk-based they also included drone, psychedelia, and other avant-garde styles…  the six instrumental tracks on Are Possible though are very approachable and melodic and a great listen… AllMusic Guide says, “It's a lovely record with a lot of personality and passion that showcases a rarely heard instrumental combo”...

DICKEY BETTS BAND - Live from the Lone Star Roadhouse NYC 1988… Dickey rolled into New York during January 1988 for this rousing show at the legendary Lone Star Roadhouse with a stellar band featuring Warren Haynes on guitar - who would join the Allman Brothers Band the following year and later found jam scene mainstays, Gov’t Mule… future Mule drummer Matt Abts is also in the band… the set list includes Betts-written ABB classics, “Blue Sky”, "Jessica" and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed"... there are also several fine cuts from Betts ‘88 solo album, Pattern Disruptive… the last few tracks feature all-star guests including Rick Derringer on "Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo", Jack Bruce on "Spoonful" and Mick Taylor on "Southbound"... Dickey’s reputation took a hit when Gregg Allman fired him from the Allman Bros in 2000 but if you want to know what made him one of the all-time greats, listen to this outstanding live album! 

Joe Ely - Driven to Drive… Ely has been an integral member of the Texas country-rock scene since the late 70s… in recent years he has added to his catalog by drawing on his home recording archives… he is known for his versatile style ranging from “acoustic balladry to high-energy blues, rockabilly, and honky tonk swing” (AllMusic Guide)... this album’s theme is life on the road with songs about trucks, motorcycles, and driving and he even got Bruce Springsteen to provide guest vocals on “Odds of the Blues”... Ely’s back catalog features some great albums that are definitely worth checking out like his 1980 classic Live Shots, recorded on a European tour opening for The Clash, and the 1981 studio album, Musta Notta Gotta Lotta…

Playlist: Scattered Nuggets - Rock and Roll, Vol. 18

Back to ROCK ‘N’ ROLL with this issue’s playlist…

We kick off with two tracks from 1979… one from Ian Hunter’s great second post-Mott the Hoople solo album, followed by one of my favorite songs from The Cars… back to the 60s for three slices of garage-style RnR… NYC’s The Third Bardo from 1967, UK artist Shel Naylor from 1964 with Led Zep’s Jimmy Page on guitar and The Birds, future Rolling Stones/Faces guitarist Ron Wood’s first band with their 1964 debut single… moving into the 70s, we have back-to-back jams with the New Riders of the Purple Sage tackling an often-covered Johnny Otis classic, followed by one of the most obscure artists I have ever dug up, Australia’s John J. Francis… this relentless jam comes off the soundtrack album for a classic 1971 Australian surfing movie, Morning of the Earth and it is the only Francis recording available on Spotify… he recorded four albums between 1972 and 1974 and then quit the music business permanently…                       

Next up is Austin artist Jackie Venson with a rockin’ modern take on a 60s Aretha Franklin classic… guitarist Andy Fairweather Low has been a frequent Eric Clapton collaborator thru the years and also does his own thing… Michigan’s Myron Elkins’ looks like an up and comer on the Midwest rock scene…this driving rocker is from his 2023 debut album… veteran Bay Area singer/songwriter Jackie Greene is also a talented guitarist… he shows his chops on both acoustic and electric guitar solos on this great tune… Scottish rocker Frankie Miller put out some fine albums in the 70s… vocals are reminiscent of Bob Seger and Seger covered his song, “Ain't Got No Money”... Blue Oyster Cult's platinum-selling album, Agents of Fortune, was famous for the hit “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” but the opening track, “This Ain't the Summer of Love" was pretty great too… the playlist closes with a rare Duane Allman solo composition where he channels Chuck Berry and The Youngbloods performing a rockin’ reworking of Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues” - a tune later made famous by Duane and The Allman Brothers on their seminal live album, At Fillmore East…

Rock ‘n’ Roll Traveler: Calgary, Canada

From left to right: interior of The Palomino, me at Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake.

I have not been to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland but I can now say I have been to the 🇨🇦Canadian Music Hall of Fame🎸 in Calgary, Alberta! 

We recently went on a great trip I would have likely never thought of taking until our nephew, James, and his (now) wife Jessica (both SMM subscribers!!) invited us to their wedding in Calgary earlier in August… Jessica is a native of Calgary and James moved there a few years ago… we had a great time at their wedding & welcome party, meeting their family and friends (including Uncle Cliff, another SMM subscriber 😁) and checking out some of the restaurants, bars and parks in Calgary… we also took a guided tour to Banff National Park (~2 hour drive from Calgary) which has to have some of the most spectacular scenery on earth! The combination of the lakes amidst the Rocky Mountain backdrop is truly awe-inspiring…

Pics from the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

One of the attractions in Calgary James & Jessica recommended visiting was the Studio Bell National Music Centre which, among other things, contains the Canadian Music Hall of Fame… I always try to work in something music related on every vacation and since there wasn’t going to be time to explore the live music scene, this was perfect… since its inception in 1978, over 50 Canadian individuals and groups have been inducted and, I would say the #1 thing that strikes you as you make your way through the exhibits and displays is: “I didn’t know *he/she/band* is Canadian!”... the inductee list is impressive and includes Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, The Band, Gordon Lightfoot, The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive (both featuring guitarist Randy Bachman), Rush, Shania Twain, Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morissette, Paul Anka, and Bryan Adams… there was also an interesting special exhibit dedicated to The Beatles 1964 tour of Canada which only consisted of three shows - Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal - and was an offshoot of a much larger U.S. tour… the general consensus of original newspaper articles and reviews on display was NOT favorable… I bet a lot of those people wish they saved their tickets! There are also exhibits on Indigenous artists, country artists, and the current local music scene which appears to be thriving (see link below to blues-rocker Bebe Buckskin’s recent album) … if you’re a music fan and ever in Calgary it’s definitely worth a visit… 

While I didn’t witness any live music, I did go to a BBQ spot called The Palomino that regularly hosts live music… great “dive bar” atmosphere, solid BBQ and good assortment of local brews… there were posters on the wall of past shows with some recognizable names and the outside wall of the building had “BBQ BANDS BEER” written in big letters… a great combo! Speaking of beer, whenever I travel, I always try to drink 100% local beers and based on this trip, Calgary has an excellent regional beer scene… had no problem finding good to great beers everywhere I went… in particular, the Cabin Brewing “Luminosity” German Pils a bunch of us drank at the wedding was a real winner… great beer! — SL