I was wondering, as I walked into this show, what exactly was I gonna write about? I’ve seen LSS more times than I have fingers to count. I was worried that I was just gonna end up writing (or worse, copy/pasting) the same review into a new subject and moving on. There are parts of the last LSS show where a copy/paste is relevant, if not necessary:

The scene was familiar. Newbies to LSS standing up front. Veterans of Shaker shows standing out of range of snot rockets and the occasional pubic hair tossing, but with their hand covering the top of their cups just in case they underestimated J.D.’s snot launching and pube tossing prowess. The bean pole that is J.D. Wilkes preaching to the crowd with a fire and brimstone to rival any Pentecostal preacher, sometimes using old-fashioned microphones or a harmonica, all with a frenzy that surprising everyone, rookie and vets alike. All being backed by his choir, featuring the ever popular David Lee (guitarist), Mark Robertson (bass) and the new guy on drums banging out a gothic-rockabilly-polka version of southern rock/punk.

However, let’s talk about that drummer for a spell. I have no idea who he is, but he has really added a new element to the Shackshaker’s live show. Either they have really turned the volume up on the drums or this dude beats those things liked they fucked his girl last night. I am gonna vote the latter. Somehow, those bigger drums and the addition of a double bass has given the band an infusion of energy (I didn’t think it was possible, either). The end result was the best performance I have seen by the band since the Halloween show of 2005 at Skippers…and that was probably the best show I saw that year.

So, November gave me the best Shack*Shaker album in a few years, coupled with the best Shack*Shaker show in a few years. Coincidence? Who cares, it kicks ass!

The Legendary Shack*Shakers - Blood on the Bluegrass
The Legendary Shack*Shakers - Where’s the Devil When You Need Him
The Legendary Shack*Shakers - No Such Thing
The Legendary Shack*Shakers - Old Spur Line

Note: I took pictures but being the idiot I am I forgot to upload them last night. I’ll put them up when I get home tonight and post the link here.

Going off on the Outkast tangent the other day has resulted in my starting to look into some other artists that have seemingly been too quiet for too long…..artists such as Ms. Erykah Badu. Having gone into hiding after the birth of her daughter in 2004 it seems as though Erykah is prepared to take the music world by storm over the next 2 years or so.Serving as a warning shot Erykah reissued her 1997 debut cd, Baduizm, earlier this year with an added remix disc. Then, earlier this month, Honey, the lead single from her upcoming cd, The Kabah, leaked to the internet. The Kabah is scheduled to be released on February 28, 2008 with two more albums rumored to follow it in 6 month intervals. More Badu is a good thing as far as I’m concerned.

Erykah Badu - Honey (new single)

from Baduizm reissue:

Erykah Badu - Appletree (Live @ The Jazz Cafè)
Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime (Linslee Remix)
Erykah Badu - A Child With The Blues (Feat. Terence Blanchard)

Outkast - Humble Mumble (featuring Erykah Badu)

Normally, unless I specifically went to a show to see the opening act, I do not write about them. Normally, seeing an opener that I’ve never even heard of doesn’t leave much of an impression. However, judging from the undivided attention the crowd at theOrpheum was giving them, I think I speak for most of the venue when I say the Pine Hill Haints aren’t your normal band.I missed the beginning of the Pine Hill Haints show due to the wife feeling ill and walked in in the middle of a stirring rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”. The first thing I noticed was the contraption that serves as a Bass; a washtub with a nylon rope coming out of the center that is attached to a broomstick. It looks odd, but it was more than adequate. The drummer’s kit is a single snare which he was playing with steel brushes. The bassist and drummer were rounded out by a guitar-playing singer and a girl who played everything from Mandolin to washboard, and even a handsaw at one point. The band plays a self-described style called Appalachian Ghost Music, a style whose name comes from the fact that they are playing a brand of music that they feel is dead in the modern world. As their set unraveled, the crowd stood motionless as if they were indeed staring at ghosts.

I’ve never seen an O’Death show, but I imagine the Pine Hill Haints pull of a similar vibe. For all the talk of ghost and haunting I’ve done, I don’t want you to get the impression that this was some ethereal belly-button lint picking show. For such a minimal stage setup, these guys beat the hell out of it. Jumpin’, hollerin’, and singin ‘, while a crowd who had never heard them before danced and nodded in approval. Matter of fact, the crowd liked them so much that it requested, and was granted, an encore. Everyone I spoke to after the show was utterly impressed.

If these guys come to your neck of the woods, you should go check it out, it’s a damned good time. Then, as so many others did, buy a copy of their debut disc, Ghost Dance. Taking it’s name from the Native American dance of the same name, the band does lose a little of it’s awe-factor in translation from the live show, but it’s still a wonderful effort nonetheless.

The Pine Hill Haints - Catfish Angels
The Pine Hill Haints - Spirit of 1812
The Pine Hill Haints - When You Fall

The Pine Hill Haints on myspace, Buy Ghost Dance

I have no idea why this show flew so far under the radar and I have no idea what (or really where) the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa is but I do know this:

This Friday night (as in 2 days away) Sara Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo, grandaughter of Woodie) and Johnny Irion are playing there. Doors are at 8:00 and the ticket price is $15.00 at the door.I about swallowed my tongue when I saw this listing pop up on TampaShows.net today and can saw I am genuinely excited about this one. Hope to see some of y’all there…

Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion - Cease Fire
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion - Dr. King
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion - Gervais

When I started ninebullets.net I had these naive fantasies of sprinkling local Florida bands into my daily musical ramblings, and thus giving them an even larger audience outside of the local area. After a few months of working on the site, I started sending out emails. I quickly learned that, by and large, the Tampa/St. Pete based bands are arrogant and lazy. There are a few exceptions, but as a rule it was like beating your head against a wall. They bitch about the scene not supporting them, but then can’t even be bothered to reply to a few emails. Ultimately, I just gave up and began ignoring them like the rest of the area. Oddly enough, however, the Florida bands outside of our little Tampa Bay area have been far more receptive to my inquiries, which has resulted in some pieces on ninebullets, and me getting to hear some really awesome bands that I probably never would have heard otherwise.

The Nine Volts have applied an amazing amount of effort into getting me a cd. When I originally contacted them, they were in the process of recording their new EP and asked if I would mind waiting. I told them I had nothing but time and whiskey bottles. Over the coming months they even managed to email me from time to time just to let me know they had not forgotten and were still working on the cd. This was all way above the call of duty in my opinion but it was nice to see a band act in an organized manner and apply a little effort.

The Nine Volts are James Mitchell and Conrad Wilson. They come from the Space Coast area that is Cape Canaveral, Florida. After playing in numerous successful local indie (author: ick) acts, the two decided to build on their common love of the Americana/roots rock sound and formed The Nine Volts. After honing their act on stage, they entered the studio to record an eponymous five song EP. IMO, the standout track on the EP is “B. Jolene”. Sounding like The Drive-By Truckers, stuck right between the Southern Rock Opera sound and the Decoration Day song writing. “All From Here” features an acoustic guitar and a banjo taking the top of the mix, with a spoken word delivery laid beneath that, for some reason, reminds me of being 16 again. The opening track “Broken Chains” immediately makes me think Roger Hoover (or whatever they are calling themselves these days) could have done it.

Seeing as how this thing is a mere 5 songs I am only gonna post two. The entire EP is available at Nine Volts shows and on iTunes. Check it out. Support the little guys.

The Nine Volts - B. Jolene
The Nine Volts - River

The Nine Volts Official Site, The Nine Volts on MySpace, Buy their debut EP

Doing the piece on Cunninlynguists got me to thinking about Goodie Mob and Outkast. I’ve heard rumors (confirmed via Wikipedia so much as Wiki can confirm anything) of Goodie Mob reuniting with Cee-lo for a new cd but what became of Outkast. IMO, they lost their mojo after Stankonia continued to fade with Speakerboxxx/Love Below and became utterly forgettable after Idlewild. Last I had heard, 10 the Hard Way, was supposed to have came out this year which would have satisfied their contractual obligations and I assumed Outkast would then die a much needed death until the eventual reunion tour/album. So what happened? I set out to ask Google and found my answers via 2 site (here and here):

One album remains on Outkast’s LaFace contract. It was originally planned as a ten-track release called 10 The Hard Way; shortly after Idlewild dropped, the duo confirmed the album is still in the works, though both have begun new projects without releasing any new information on the album. In a recent interview with the L.A. Times, OutKast confirmed that “10 The Hard Way” was still going to come out, but said they would keep it ‘under wraps’ until the album’s release, still possibly two years away.

and

While you’re waiting for info, here’s something new from the duo courtesy of Spine Magazine. “Da Art of Storytellin’ Part 4” feature’s Floetry’s Marsha Ambrosius and will appear on DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz: The Album, out next week.

DJ Drama (feat. Outkast and Marsha Ambrosius) - Da Art of Storytellin’ Part 4
Outkast (with Goodie Mob) - Git Up Git Out

It was around this time last year that I first mentioned Cunninlynguists here on ninebullets, awarding them my “Best Hip Hop of 2006″ award. Today they will release their fourth album, quite possibly the best hiphop cd of 2007, Dirty Acres. Ditching the concept album approach of A Piece of Strange, Kno, Deacon and Natti have made an album that takes this particular listener back to Goodie Mob, circa Still Standing. The throwback feel of this cd may be a stumbling block for some people, but I am not one of them. I don’t subscribe to the theory that a release must push the boundaries of its particular genre to have merit. There is nothing wrong with just making a great album with strong tracks from beginning to end, and that is exactly what Dirty Acres is, 13 tracks (2 interludes) of Southern-infused hip hop. Unlike most hip hop you hear on the radio, this album really doesn’t feel like it was created for the club. Eschewing hooks and chants for lazy beats and thoughtful lyrics, this cd is far better suited for afternoon drives with no destination than getting crunk. Perhaps, with the current state of hip hop, making an album that will stand the test of time, instead of an album that sells the newest vodka, is innovation in and of itself.

Cunninlynguists - Valley of Death
Cunninlynguists - K.K.K.Y.
Cunninlynguists - Mexico

Cunninlynguists Official Site, Buy Dirty Acres

I went down to our local Saturday market this morning to pick up some vegetables for dinner. There was a classic bluegrass string band providing the entertainment, so I decided to grab me and the dog a hot dog and watch them for a little while. On the walk back home, I decided it was time to sit down and type something up about the Hackensaw Boys.

The Hackensaw Boys are a string band from Charlottesville, North Carolina Virginia. They started polishing their chops on the streets, much like that string band I saw this morning. After six years of playing and touring on their own, they signed with Nettwerk Records and released the album, Love What You Do. While loved by critics and newcomers, some old time fans found their debut to be too tame and polished for their liking, and it seems that the band took those observations to heart when they sat down to record their newest album, aptly titled Look Out.

The current Hackensaw lineup is Jesse Fiske on bass, accordion, harmonica and guitar; Jimmy Stelling on banjo and fiddle; Robert Bullington on mandolin and guitar; Ferd Moyse on fiddle and bass; Ward Harrison on guitar and Justin Neuhardt on charismo, spoon and saw; and former Hackensaw Boy/current Modest Mouse Tom Peloso also contributing to two songs. With Look Out, they have established themselves as a Bluegrass/Sting band to rival label mates Old Crow Medicine Show. Bringing a sound that could be described as Old Crow meets the Avett Brothers, The Hackensaw Boys are making old-time music with a rock and roll attitude. It was really difficult for me to choose only three songs for this posting, the album is just that good. Essential Listening to be sure, but Look Out could also be called essential buying. Furthermore, by all web accounts, they are not a band to be missed should they come to your neck of the woods.

Check it out.

The Hackensaw Boys - Oh, Girl
The Hackensaw Boys - Radio
The Hackensaw Boys - Sally Ann

You can also check out It Burns When I Pee Episode #5 which features an interview with Ward and also features some Hackensaw Boys songs.

The Hackensaw Boys Official Site, The Hackensaw Boys on myspace, Buy Look Out

Just dropping a few lines real quick before I get in my car….January 22, mark it down. If you are a fan of this here blog then you’ll be a fan of this date. We get the following releases:

Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
Drag the River - You Can’t Live This Way
North Mississippi Allstars - Hernando

Oh yeah! I’ll be locked up in my living room that week with a couple bottles of whiskey and headphones affixed to my head.

Track from the upcoming Drag the River album: Br00tal

This months Lucero message board compilation has hit the internets! Coming in at 44 tracks this is a virtual music feast but what the heck, November is the month of gluttony….may as well toe the line. I advise you to sit back with a ridiculously large and strong whiskey beverage or two while giving this a spin. Pay attention to those Joshua Black Wilkins tracks. I just placed an order for his latest two albums…posts to follow. You can head over to the Lucero Message board to see who submitted each track and a brief description of why they chose that specific track. You can download it here for the next 2 weeks or so. If you enjoy it, sign up for the message board and contribute in the December comp.

Tracklisting:

• Death & Taxes - Tattooed Hearts & Broken Promises
• Jawbreaker - Accident Prone
• Patrick Fitzgerald - Safety Pin Stuck In My Heart
• Ryan Adams - Summer of ‘69
• The Notwist - Pick Up the Phone
• The Bottle Rockets - Radar Gun
• Joshua Black Wilkins - She Don’t Drink Whiskey
• The Good Life - Album of the Year
• Drive-By Truckers - Daddy Needs a Drink
• Split Lip Rayfield - Devil
• Gram Parsons - November Nights
• Lucinda Williams - Ventura
• Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Mansion On The Hill (single)
• Roky Erickson - You Don’t Love Me Yet
• Black Francis - Threshold Apprehension
• Rose Tattoo - Remedy
• The Pleasure Barons - Take A Letter Maria
• Brock Zeman and Dan Walsh - Blood On the Hardwood Floor
• Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings - 100 Days 100 Nights
• Joshua Black Wilkins - Make Sure I’m Dead
• Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings - Humble Me
• Moxie Motive - Samurai
• Hamell On Trial - Choochtown
• Andrew Bird - Sovay (live)
• Joshua Black Wilkins - She Don’t Drink Whiskey
• Rival Schools - Grunge Model
• Jamie T - A New England
• The Record Low - The Bottom
• Iron Horse - Hero of the Day
• Justin Townes Earle - Ghost Of Virginia
• Soul Coughing - Janine (live)
• Jackpot - Windshield Wipers
• Otis Redding - Cigarettes and Coffee
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Trampled Rose
• Terry Callier - You Miss Your Candyman
• Scott Reynold’s & the Steaming Beast - Jello
• Jay Farrar - Dent County
• Chris Bathgate - Serpentine
• Chuck Berry - Memphis Tennessee
• the NILS - Fountains
• John Prine - In Spite Of Ourselves
• Steve Earle - Billy Austin
• Slim Dunlop - Hate This Town
• Sack - HEADBANGER
• Sol.illaquists of Sound - Mark It Place

That’s it for me for the week folks. I get my Thanksgivings on. See y’all on Monday.