Saturday, June 1, PB and Fats Kaplin will perform a brief set to introduce Pokey LaFarge's record release show at Third Man Records in Nashville, TN. We've been fans of Pokey for a long time and we're honored to help toast his new album, out in early June. Visit our friends at Third Man for further details.
Look for news soon on David Olney's new album, Predicting the Past, produced by Paul Burch and featuring Olney's longtime compadre Sergio Webb along with Ballclub members Fats Kaplin, Dennis Crouch, and Jen Gunderman. The album was recorded at Pan American Sound live to tape. We look forward to previewing this beautiful album soon. And congrats to David whose terrific song, "Postcard from Mexico," was featured for the second time on ABC's Nashville.
Those in the know are familiar with WPA Ballclub cornerstone Fats Kaplin, who is a true American music treasure. Over the last two years, he's contributed mightily to the WPAB as well as records by Buddy Miller, Jason Ringenberg, David Olney, Beck, Seasick Steve, Karen Elson, Kaplin & Bershenko, and Jack White's Blunderbuss. Fats is also a recording artist and he's just re-issued his last two albums, The Fatman Cometh and Fats Kaplin's World of Wonder, together as a single volume. Every music collection needs two--one to listen to and one to give away. Stay tuned for details.
Thanks to Bob Delevante, one of our favorite photographers and designers, for the beautiful new pics. Bob is a hammer-strong songwriter and performer on his own and rumour has it that he might be headed to Pan American Sound studios very soon with longtime producer and E-Street Band bassist Gary Tallent. Look for Bob's photos in our Snaps section and stay tuned for further pics, films, and clues to the new WPA Ballclub album soon.
PB & WPA Ballclub will perform for the Bristol Border Bash June 7 as part of a rev-up for the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival in September. Go here to buy your tickets for the fall festival Sept 20-22 with Lucinda Williams, Iris Dement, J.D. McPhereson, and our pal Pokey LaFarge. The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival honors publisher and producer Ralph Peer's historic sessions in 1927 for RCA Victor, held at a hat factory on State Street. Ernest Stoneman, Jimmie Rodgers, and the Carter Family were among Peer's artists that day.
RECENT HAPPENINGS....
Check out Chrissie Dickinson's recent feature in the Chicago Tribune on the good Dr. Ralph Stanley which features an interview with PB about recording "Little Glass of Wine" with Ralph at Studio B in Nashville. You'll also find Ralph's terrific sense of humor is intact especially when he describes touring in the early days of the Stanley Brothers. "It was harder then," said Ralph. "We have a lot better roads now. Back then we had sheep paths."
American Songwriter chose PB's "Flight to Spain" as #26 in their Best Songs of 2012. Hear "Flight to Spain" on PB's fab album with The Waco Brothers, Great Chicago Fire, on Bloodshot Records. Great Chicago Fire features songs by Jon and Dean and PB and were all arranged quickly, recorded fast, and mixed loud. Trouble your neighbors, disturb the peace, make yourself heard amongst the 99% with The Great Chicago Fire.
PB and the Waco Brothers's Great Chicago Fire is a classic slow-burn album. It started with a big spark (and was hailed by the Chicago Tribune-"If the Rolling Stones were still making great records, they would sound like this.") and has since become one of those albums that will not go quietly into that good night. Fans who caught the quintet hammering out their 3-day tour of the midwest last fall can attest to the healing powers of PBWACO rock and roll. Missed it? Fear not. The fire's not out. The kind folks at KDHX in St.Louis recorded the boys during a Sunday breakfast (3pm) show. As you might expect, it's the music equivalent to the assault on Bastogne. Hear the onslaught at the KDHX website.
Dig The Tennessean's new podcast with PB over a wide range of subjects including the Waco Brothers, Tootsie's, Lambchop, the WPA Ballclub, and what Nashville can learn from Taylor Swift.
