I’ll tell y’all what, when you do a monthly podcast you really begin to appreciate how short a month is. It’s like you just finished the last podcast when you realize you only have 5 days left before the next one is due. This is also the first podcast I ever made without the use of any beer or whiskey. Outside of there being no slurring by the end of it, I don’t really notice much of a difference. Lemme know if you do.

This month’s show features a pretty good balance between ninebullets regulars such as Biram, The Truckers, Austin Lucas and Mat D and relative newcomers you may not have heard of if you don’t read ninebullets such as Back Row Baptists, Reverend Deadeye and The Maldives. In between all of those we dropped some artists that have yet to be featured at all in 9b (though they will in the coming month’s) like Root Jack, The Sadies and Tin Horn Prayer. All in all, I think the whole set turned out really fantastic and I bet an hour from now you’ll agree with me.

If you enjoy this month’s please tell your Facebook and Twitter followers about it, I’ll greatly appreciate it.

~ Autopsy IV (twitter/facebook)

Track Listing:

1. John Mellencamp – Rain On The Scarecrow [00.00.00]
2. Drive-By Truckers – Sink Hole [00.03.16]
3. Scott H. Biram – Blood, Sweat & Murder [00.06.37]
4. Autopsy IV Commentary * [00.09.30]
5. Dan Bern – Most American Men [00.11.18]
6. Root Jack – 30 Days [00.15.45]
7. Back Row Baptists – Wood and Steel [00.19.22]
8. Mat D – Ford Marriage [00.22.07]
9. Tin Horn Prayer – Fighting Sleep [00.25.31]
10. Autopsy IV Commentary * [00.28.57]
11. Reverend Deadeye – Her Heart Belongs To The Wind [00.30.46]
12. Austin Lucas – Sleep Well (demo) [00.34.58]
13. The Only Sons – Highway Patrolman [00.39.37]
14. Cam Penner – Thirteen [00.44.42]
15. Autopsy IV Commentary * [00.48.18]
16. The Sadies – Another Year Again [00.49.31]
17. The Maldives – Goodbye [00.52.45]
18. Autopsy IV Commentary * [00.56.43]
19. Hellsongs – Youth Gone Wild [00.57.42]

* All music heard in background during commentary, courtesy of Bill Benson.

Download this episode (right click and save)

I’ve written about the good Rev. Deadeye a few times, but I talked more about his shows than his albums, so I’m here to say, “My what a difference a little production makes.” Deadeye’s earlier works were best described as a “frantic explosion of slide-guitar blues meets tent-revival preaching”, which is a polite way of calling them “muddy”, a result of them having been self-recorded with his travelling recording studio. On Trials and Tribulations he went into a studio in Europe and laid down an album in a day, and the blistering pace and frantic energy that must have been present in the studio that day comes through beautifully in the recordings.

The album is 10 tracks long and, make no doubt, has all the Deadeye signatures: revival preacher on a bender vocals, homemade guitar slide work, washtub kick-drum, and slide-finger cymbal bashing ever present throughout the album. Yet, it’s the album’s quietest moments that really shine a light on Deadeye’s abilities. With the clarity of production and tracks like “Coldest Heart” and (my favorite track) “Her Heart Belongs To The Wind”, you realize just how close Deadeye is to being mentioned in the same conversations as Scott H. Biram, all he needs is the same breaks. I’m gonna have to say the new Reverend Deadeye is Essential Listening, especially if you’re a fan of the aforementioned Scott H. Biram, or the One-Man Band scene in general, as he’s easily in the Top 10….press or not.

Reverend Deadeye – Her Heart Belongs To The Wind
Reverend Deadeye – Can’t Take It With You
Reverend Deadeye – Jesus On The Mainline

Reverend Deadeye on myspace, Buy Trials And Tribulations

Death shows up in various ways. Death of dreams. Death of innocence. Death of relationships. Death of friends and loved ones. Last week my computer started making this horrific noise that has me believing that “death of work computer” is on my immediate horizon. Thus, this weeks Top 5. Hopefully, RSV will be back for next weeks. Anyhow, here are mine:

Marshall Tucker Band – Fire On The Mountain
This is a double dipper covering both the death of dreams and the death of a spouse.

Two Cow Garage – Burn In Hell
What’s that? You thought this was a song born from the death of a relationship? So did I. Turn’s out it was inspired by an amplifiers glorious death by self-immolation.

Drive-By Truckers – When The Pen Hits The Shell
Inspired by the suicide of a band friend Cooley puts his emotions about it on paper. Incidentally, this is a DBT Top 5 for me as well.

Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound
Love em or Hate em. I don’t care. This is a great song. I often wonder if it’s based on a true story.

Hank III – Atlantic City
This is a Springsteen song but as is the case with most of Bruce’s songs, I like it better when someone else is singing it. This song, again, is about the death of dreams and goals. One of my favorite things about this song is how the tone of the song gets darker and darker as the story’s main character’s failure deepens.

Okay, Let’s hear yours….

Coming from the anti-folk scene of the ’90’s, Dan Bern has been crafting acoustic (mostly) folk music, with lyrics that shine a light on his dry wit and biting social commentary, for over 10 years now. Over those 10+ years, Bernstein has managed to prove that this lyric off his debut cd, Dog Boy Van, “and if you’re gonna put me in a box, make sure it’s a big box, with lots of windows and a door for me to walk through” was more a mission statement than a mere lyric.

Having spent the last few years doing children’s albums, Dan has finally put out something for the big kids in the form of his first ever live album. While I normally scoff at live recordings as a quick way to make a buck, let’s be real, music ain’t ever really made Dan a buck, and I don’t suspect it’ll start with Live In Los Angeles, which is a shame, ‘cause it offers some really interesting takes on some Dan Bern staples.

Many years ago I tried to introduce the 9B readership to Dan Bern with the following, “Dan Bern sounds a lot like Bob Dylan. There, I said it…it is done…now let’s move on. I imagine Dan Bern feels the same way. One of my favorite Dan Bern quotes comes from him being asked about the similarity between him and Dylan he replied, “I guess Bob Dylan was sort of the Dan Bern of the ’60’s“….” In hindsight, I should have just waited for Live In Los Angeles to come out, as Dan has provided a much better intro to himself than I ever could have provided. Covering tracks from his entire discography, yet omitting some of his biggest “hits”, Dan has left you plenty more to discover should you start digging into his extensive back catalogue. Something I would suggest you do and you can start with Live In Los Angeles. At $9.00 for 18 tracks, it’s hardly like you’re taking a huge risk.

Dan Bern – Most American Men
Dan Bern – Tiger Woods
Dan Bern – Wasteland

Dan Bern’s Official Site, Dan Bern on myspace, Buy Live In Los Angeles

and by cover I mean, “fucking killed it.”

nothing I can say justifies you waiting one more moment to watch this:

I need help making a show flyer. The person who usually makes the for me is having computer problems and I am about as artistic as a dyslexic monkey in the middle of a month long meth binge. Basically I need a poster that I can print on 11×17. If any of you more artistic types are feeling generous send me an email. I can’t offer much in the form of payment. Some free stickers and a free shirt if I have one in your size.

Anyhow, anyone interested email me and I’ll send you the details of the show.

EDIT: I think I got someone on it already. But thanks for all the offers!

Mathew Deriso has been a fixture here on ninebullets about as long as this site has been around. Really, judging from Plank Road Drag, one could say we’ve grown up together, had ninebullets continued to get better over the years. 9B’s shortcomings aside, Plank Road Drag is Mat D’s coming out party. Mat’s past records, be it solo or with his band, The Profane Saints, have all been fine records with plenty of tracks that still live on my iPods, but Plank Road Drag is the first album that gets an unadulterated rip into my inner digital network.

Plank Road Drag consists of 10 tracks largely featuring Mat and an acoustic guitar up front and center with a minimalist set of backing instrumentation. Honestly, I think Mat is best found in his element with this setup. He has a great voice and his lyrics are solid, both of which can get clouded out when he’s putting out material with The Profane Saints. Mat says that his songwriting approach changed while the band was working on recording The Profane Saints’ last album, Dirt Town City Limits, and if that’s the case I think he needs to stick on the path he started down, ‘cause Plank Road Drag was a 2 story step above anything he’s released to date. Odds on fave for my top 10 of the year, easily Essential Listening today.

Mat D – Ford Marriage
Mat D – Ribbon of Dirt

Mat D’s Official Site, Mat D on myspace, Buy Plank Road Drag

I am so damned embarrassed about this! I’ve had these tapes going on months now and I completely forgot about them (probably because I can not play a cassette tape at all in my life). Anyhow, I told y’all about this back in May but to refresh your memory I’ll go over it again:

“They’re currently selling a Double Cassette (I know, I know, the print media really is behind the times) compilation to cover the costs of the next issue’s printing costs (at least they aren’t just begging for money like some magazines). The compilation has 23 tracks, featuring artists such as Jon Snodgrass, Joey Cape, Red Clay River, Chad Rex, Shane Sweeney of Two Cow Garage, and The Takers. If, like me, you have no way to play a cassette tape, each purchase comes with an mp3 download code. So head over to Fast Geek Press and order a compilation, then pat yourself on the back, knowing that you’re helping out another outlet for the bands we love to keep doing their thing.”

While you can still buy the compilation here, I have two comps to give away to the ninebullets.net faithful. So, if you have the ability to listen to cassette’s and the ability to email me then be one of the first two to email me and you’ll get this collection for free (as well as a couple of ninebullets stickers).

Track Listing:

Side A – 21:36 minutes

1 – The Takers – When My Shades Were Drawn
2 – Shane Sweeney of Two Cow Garage – Hallelujah
3 – Paige Anderson of the Anderson Family Bluegrass Band – Flying Rocks
4 – Charly “the city mouse” Fasano – Portland
5 – Possessed by Paul James – Take Off Your Mask
6 – Kevin Seconds – Oh American Girl
7 – Jon Gaunt – Every Drink Every Song

Side B – 20:34 minutes

8 – Micah & John Schnabel – Billy James
9 – The Enablers – Whatever You Like
10 – Red Clay River – Ain’t No Blues
11 – Michael Dean Damron – Dolls
12 – The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit – Bones
13 – Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves – Everybody Knows

Side C – 21:05 minutes

14 – The Anchor – Hot Dogs & Vodka
15 – Joey Cape – Good-Bye
16 – Careless Hearts – Joselina
17 – Andy Thomas – Spring Softly
18 – The Redemption Family – The Power A Secret Holds
19 – Larry & His Flask – Land of the F(r)ee
20 – Brian Polk – Let’s Get Stoned and Over Analyze NomeansNo Records

Side D – 22:50 minutes

21 – Jon Snodgrass – Song For Gibson
22 – In the Red – Overworked
23 – Chad Rex – Awhile
24 – Digger Barnes – Waiting for the Snakes
25 – Tom VandenAvond – El Paso
26 – Magic Cyclops – Teen Pregnancy
27 – woMANgione – Saggy

Full compilation stream:

Stop and think about your favorite band for a minute. Folks ’round these parts probably actually know them and have had them crash on their couch as likely as not so this one should be easy. It’s always fun to see where your favorite music got its start. So here are my picks.

Lucero – Influences:

The Replacements – If Only You Were Lonely
I almost went with Unsatisfied for this one but since Ben’s favorite ‘mats cover is rare to begin with I just went with it.

Jawbreaker – Kiss The Bottle
It’s almost a cop out but it’s an awesome track to begin with so I had to toss it in

Cory Branan – Influences:

The Misfits – Where Eagles Dare
If you haven’t had the chance to do a sing along with Cory on this one you haven’t freakin’ lived. It’s a strange one to be sure but him playing it live acoustic is amazing.

Jackson Taylor – Influences:

Social Distortion – Ball and Chain
Love this track and the first time I saw Jackson he was opening for Jason Boland. He walked out on stage wearing a Social D t-shirt and opened with a Honky Tonk cover of this one.

Jason Boland – Influences:

Prince – Purple Rain
I have a bootleg version of Jason covering this one that will blow your mind. I would have never guessed Prince as an influence but I guess that short bastard made his mark on all sorts of artists.

AUTOPSY IV’S ANSWERS:

Since mostof our bands are gonna be the same I chose to go with only two bands:

Who: Drive-By Truckers
Influence: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Example: Poison Whiskey

Who: Two Cow Garage
Influence: I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House
Example: Gone