The Opening Acts - Sirens CD Release Party

This post is devoted to the two incredible opening acts for Jason Isbell's Sirens of the Ditch CD release party on 7/7/07, Lauderdale and Sons of Roswell.

Here's a link to yesterday's post with the mini-review and pics of Jason and his unit.

Almost forgot the answer to trivia question "What does the Sirens of the Ditch CD release party and the band Styx have in common?"

Answer: Sirens CD release party was 7/7/07. Styx released their album Grand Illusion on 7/7/77.

Yup. Umm-hmm

Props to my sister for that one. She's a huge Styx fan and took me to my very first arena concert in 1983 for Styx's Kilroy was Here tour.

So, anyway, the openers for Sirens release show....

Lauderdale

Lauderdale was first up and they played an inspired set mostly from their new, self titled album, Lauderdale.

They closed with a new song about the Grant Hotel which was a whore house in the Shoals back in the day. As Niles stated from the stage... and I paraphrase... "If you decided to write a song about a local whore house, don't expect too many people to remember much about it when you're doing your research". This song will be on their next record and it a goodie.

You can purchase Lauderdale's very fine debut album here.

Word has it that their set on Saturday night might just have stirred some helpful interest. Go show some support by buying the record and leaving a note on their MySpace page.

Here's my previous post on Lauderdale and below is a snippet from that post:

From the early nineties rock inspired Wasted Life, to the partly Dave Matthewsesque 14 Seasons (one of my favs) to the remarkable up tempo ballad Breathless P.M. (also one of my favs) this ain't no garage sounding throw together. This is a solid rock album with well written songs and excellent musicality. Damn fine job, boys!

I got to hang out and chat with Niles, Patrick and Corey and they's damn fine people, y'all.

Check 'em out Rocking in full on jpeg:

Corey Hannah on bass and Patrick Mcdonald on drums



Niles Lee on lead guitar and vocals. He's also the songwriter of the group.

Sons of Roswell

You ever hear a band for the first time and on their opening riff your face gets all like Eddie Murphy's did when he saw a fine woman in either Delirious or Raw... can't remember which the bit is in.... face all scrunched up in the middle.... and you admit an audible GODDAMN! from your gapping maw......

That's Sons of Roswell. I freakin' love this band. They've taken the lead in my current 3 disc rotation.

You. Must. Buy. this album. Self titled.

I am not shitting you. If you love the Rock, this album needs to be in your possession. I promise you you will love it and want to have its baby. Check out their MySpace and leave a comment tellin' 'em Alabama Ass Whuppin sent ya... also, get on their mailing list here.

Also check out their e-press kit for a song that's not on their MySpace page.

Here's what people what are more knowledgeable and important than me have to say about these boys.

"Sons of Roswell rock with echoes of the past and bright originality. Great songs with memorable hooks. I love this band!"
-Jimmy Nutt, Studio Engineer (Drive-By Truckers, Jimmy Buffet, John Paul White and more)

"Sons of Roswell delivers a sound both comfortably classic, yet refreshingly distinct. Simply put...These Guys Rock!"
-Chad Green, ASCAP Nashville Membership Representative

"Sons of Roswell, a quartet that takes the Black Crowes' blues-rock formula and spikes it with hillbilly moonshine."
-www.macon.com

"The Sons of Roswell know how to make songs sound contemporary without delving into the 70’s rock pastiche that so many artists imitate. It’s pretty apparent that living in the shadows of Muscle Shoals recording legends didn’t intimidate the four members of The Sons, and perhaps some of that Southern magic rubbed off on the band while in the recording studio. With a fantastic debut album and some terrific, visceral tracks, it won’t take long for The Sons to get noticed by record executives."
-Andrei Bulawka, www.cdreviews.com

Got to introduce myself and chat for a moment with lead singer and guitarist Kevin Keenum. Again, damn fine peoples.

I really do love this record, y'all.

Sons of Roswell are:

Kevin Keenum - Guitar/vocals
Jay Burgess - Guitar
Chris James - Bass
J.D. McCorkle - Drums

Check 'em out in action

The ladies seem to love this band too....









Rock and Roll really is a religion, isn't it....

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Sirens of the Ditch CD Release Show - 7/7/07

As I clear the cobwebs from a transcontinental flight that put me in my bed around 2 a.m. this morning, I'm struggling to write a coherent review of last Saturday night's Sirens of the Ditch CD release show in Sheffield, Alabama.

All bands involved kicked much ass, but the night belonged to Jason Isbell and his 400 unit.

Today will be for JI400 pics and comments and later this week I'll include some pictures from the two stellar opening bands Lauderdale and Sons of Roswell (both bands put on kick ass shows and I highly recommend gettin' their records in your 8 track player).

One thing that struck me is that Jason could have put together a band that consisted of solid players that were wall flowers. Folks that play good music but don't have much stage presence thus ensuring the spot light stayed completely focused on the front man. Jason could have done this but he didn't. Not only is the 400 Unit comprised of stellar musicians... and I mean stellar... each one of these guys can rock the fuck out... but they also have great stage presence and personality. Its a damn fun group of folks to watch on stage.

Browan and Jimbo rip it up on guitar and bass fo' sho' but Mr. Tillery on the drums is a show unto himself. This guys is a throw back drummer and he'll amaze you with the way he plays the skins. Watch him.

I only caught the first set as a very long week caught up to me around midnight and I had to turn in for the evening. Also, there ain't no drinking and driving in the Shoals no more... unless yer young and fearless.... I'm not so young and very fearful, so I limited my alcohol in take until the music made me want to start doing shots of Jack.... that's when it was time to go.... I did so with the full knowledge that I get to see the band in 3 weeks in SF where I never have to worry about driving drunk.

I got to introduce myself to Jimbo Hart before the show started but I missed getting to shake Jason's hand which was a bummer. I'll corner his ass in San Francisco, though. You can run but you can't hide, Isbell!

They launched into the first set with Chicago Prom which seems to me to be what's being pushed as the single. Excellent choice. Jason started at the keys and finished on guitar. Mighty fine.

Jason took a moment to praise the DBT and his time in the band before playing a couple of his DBT tunes. Never gonna change was INCREDIBLE. The arrangement was a tiny bit different by the power behind the song seems to have increased. I was in full rock salute during this one.

Jason also played 'Assassins', a Patterson tune, that rocked hard. After the song Jason said it was a fun one to play.

All of the Sirens tunes were fantastic. The band is primed for the road and should be putting on some serious rocks shows over the next few months. Get out there and see 'em.

Other notes from the evening: Gary Nichols was in attendance as was Dick Cooper, Rob Malone, Rodney Hall of FAME studios and several other North Alabama music legends and soon to be legends. It was great to see such a thing in Sheffield. Rodney Hall and I spoke for a while about the resurgence of the music scene in North Alabama. Lots going on with a ton of great musicians. Everybody has their fingers crossed that this thing will blow up.

Here are a couple of videos of Jason and the band performing. Check 'me out:

Jason has a great quote during the Inside Fox Morning Program. When asked about the difference between DBT and his band the comment that it has gone from a democracy to a dictatorship was made then Jason says on a FOX channel no less....

'I'm the Rupert Murdoch of the band...."

Instant classic, Jason.

MyFox Atlanta | Inside Fox Morning Program

and....

stereogum: New Jason Isbell Live Video - "The Magician":

"click the little triangle button below for a live take on 'The Magician,' a brushed-up country-folk cut from the new LP.

Here are some pictures from Jason's first set. I'll have Lauderdale and Sons up later this week.

I'm going back to bed....

Ryan Tillery is one of the most entertaining drummers I've seen. Be sure to pay attention to him during this tour. He's a lot of damn fun and a hell of a drummer to boot.

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Sirens of the Ditch

The long awaited and much anticipated Jason Isbell album, Sirens of the Ditch, is coming out tomorrow. Its gonna be a big day for Jason as I predict some pretty hefty album sales right out of the gate.

The blog name has been changed in honor of Jason and the album. I wish him all the success in the word. He deserves it.

If you haven't pre-ordered a copy of Sirens go on over to Amazon and do so today so those initial numbers will pop some eyeballs over at the record company. His pre-order sales rank is #294.

Also and 'as always' pick up a copy of the record from your locally owned and operated indie music store.

I was lucky enough to get my first copy at the CD release show held in beautiful downtown Sheffield, Alabama last Saturday. The show was an unofficial part of Al Gore's Live Earth show on 7-7-07 (according to me). Jason's CD release show also created a future trivia questions:

What does Jason Isbell's Sirens release show on 7-7-07 have in common with the band Styx. (answer comes in tomorrow's post but if you want to take a shot in the comments, have at it)

Jason had 2 stellar bands open up for him last Saturday.

First up was Lauderdale:

Next was Sons of Roswell:

Then Jason and the 400 Unit took to the stage.

What a great night of music.

Today is a travel across the continent day for me today, but I'll have many more pictures up in tomorrow's post. (I'll be back on the West coast and I plan on sleeping in so look for it in the afternoon).

Go buy this record!

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Last Night.....

... I heard the Siren's song......

Coming soon.....

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Songs about the Southland

Hey y'all.

This is been the longest I've ever gone with out blogging... about 4 days now. I'm achin' to get back to it, but, internet access in the Shoals is a bit of a bitch.

I appreciate all the kind words, comments, emails, etc regarding my grandpa. He was a good one and he'll be missed.

Yet, life goes on and with the bad comes some good.

I'll be in town for Jason Isbell's Siren's release show and I'm pretty stoked for that. I'll get to see Miss Jenn B. and I'm REALLY stoked about that. This earth taketh away but it always giveth back.

Next week, expect some tales and pictures and again thanks for all the kind words.

From today's Timesdaily.com

....also, check out the sweet the ECard.

Isbell's solo career gets attention with release of CD

FLORENCE -- Jason Isbell didn't want every song on his debut album to sound the same.

Instead, he chose to explore a variety of blues, rock, country and soul -- music he grew up listening to and was exposed to as a young musician in the Shoals.

"I think I would have gotten a bit bored doing a record sounding too similar from one song to the next," Isbell said. "I subconsciously wanted to explore all angles of music from around here."
.....

"My solo record sounds a lot different than the Truckers' records," Isbell said. "I'm not saying I won't ever play with those guys again."

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