JD McPHERSON – SIGNS AND SIGNIFIERS

Feb 252011
 


I love the people who read ninebullets. I get some of the coolest suggestions from you guys. Such is the case with this little rockabilly band out of Oklahoma.

Now, when I say rockabilly I’m sure you’re thinking about the Horton Heats and whatnot of the world. but JD McPherson is far more authentic than any of those guys. Signs and Signifiers sounds like it came straight out of the pre-British Invasion rock and roll scene. Even the production has been kept at a minimum so that the songs maintain a raw and authentic sound and feel.

It’s damned near impossible to listen to this album and not smile. It’s not an attempt to be old school for old school’s sake, it feels honest. Personally, I’d take this over the Reverend Horton Heat any day of the week.

So, thank you ninebullets readers for your musical suggestions, and thank you JD McPherson for an album that’s Essential Listening.

JD McPherson – North Side Gal
JD McPherson – Fire Bug
JD McPherson – B.G.M.O.S.R.N.R.

JD McPherson on Reverbnation, JD McPherson on Facebook, Buy Signs and Signifiers

TOP 5: DUDE, WHAT’S THE FUCKING DEAL WITH YOUR FANS?

Jul 142010
 


I was given this idea via the 9B readership and I thought it would be a fun one to do. This weeks Top 5 goes out to all those with a following so obnoxious/weird/what have you that there’s nothing you can do but avoid them. Yes, your Top 5: Dude, what’s the fucking deal with your fans. Have fun with it and don’t take it seriously enough to get offended by it! For my list, I am gonna color outside of the musical line that largely defines the site. So here goes (in an order):

5) Reverend Horton Heat: Now, I can only speak about the RHH fanbase that attends shows here in the Tampa Bay area but I have to say…they’re the fucking worst. Seriously. I’ve posted about it before and I’ll quote myself now; “Fuck you Tampa/St. Pete Reverend Horton Heat fans. As a collective, y’all suck. It’s like a fucking amateur night at the Apollo with y’all…”  There. I said it. I pretty much refuse to go to Reverend shows now cause the crowd is such a collection of can’t hold their liquor dipshits and it’s a real shame cause he brings some fantastic openers to town.

4) Juggalos: I was recently made aware of the fact that the whole “juggalo thing” wasn’t just an Insane Clown Posse thing but that there is an entire genre of music centered around Juggaloism. Also, it simply could be me showing my age that they’re included on my list but seriously…..what. the. fuck. Clowns? Fago? I dunno man. I try to be open minded but there is some shit I just can’t get….Juggalo’s you’re one of them.

3) Mac fanatic: Okay, 5 years ago this could have been Linux fanatic, when they were trying to put Linux on anything with a fucking pcb board. “Dude, check out my new electric toothbrush….I managed to get an old version of Debian to boot on it”….Now, it’s the fucking Mac jackoffs. Any mention of a computer problem on the internet brings down a chorus of “get a Mac” comments. Fuck you. Apple isn’t flawless, I have a god damned iPhone, I know. And for the record, my laptop running windows 7 has never crashed. Not once. So eat a dick. You want a closed box sold by a company that treats you like the enemy? Good for you but it’s not something you should be so smug about.

2) Texas: Okay. I’m sure Mr. Romeo is already penning a reply but hear me out. I’ve been to Texas. It’s a browner (the land, not the people) version of Florida w/Mexican food instead of Cuban food and trust me…that’s a step or two down. Your “Don’t Mess With Texas” slogan came from an anti-littering campaign and ultimately The Alamo was fought because the American’s in the Mexican owned territory believed it was their God given right to own slaves in spite of it being against Mexican law. I guess what I am saying is, its cool to be proud of where you’re from. Hell, I get it that, but you fuckers take it to a whole other level so stand down. No more, “that’s right, you’re not from Texas” until the Texans or the Cowboys win an important game.

1) Florida Gator Football: AHHHHHHH Gator fan. Fuck you. Anyone who has ever had to sit in a sports bar with Gator fan in shaking their head yes right now. There may be a more annoying football fan on earth, Philadelphia Eagle fan immediately springs to mind, but you’d be hard pressed to find one worse. These fuckers all went out and bought Denver Bronco Tim Tebow jerseys. I mean, really, what more needs to be said. They went and bought up his jersey despite not being Broncos fans so he’d have the best selling jersey. They’re ridiculous. Steve Spurrier ultimately left because of them. Even in the 90’s when FSU went 7-4-1 (and let’s be real, the and 1 was essentially a win for FSU) Florida fan was unwilling to even acknowledge that there was a team up in Tallahassee. Florida fan is a twat who can usually be spotted in Jean shorts and crocs…enjoy getting beaten by FSU and Alabama this year fuckos.

There you go. That’s my Top 5. Honerable mentions that I couldn’t include: “I can’t believe they’re remaking ________ movie from my childhood” guy, Soccer guy, Obscure music scene snob guy and Ed Hardy/Affliction/Tap Out Guy. So, let’s hear yours…

This song is included for a few reasons; (a) It allows the mp3 aggregators to pick up the post. (b) It’s freaking hilarious & (c) Tiger Woods and all his drama. It comes from Dan’s new album, Live In Los Angeles. There will be a complete write up coming in the next few weeks.

Dan Bern – Tiger Woods

THE PINE HILL HAINTS – TO WIN OR LOSE

Dec 022009
 


Hailing from Auburn, Alabama and named after the cemetery where they used to practice The Pine Hill Haints has been turning out what they call Alabama Ghost Music since 2000. AIV covered them here on 9B when he discovered them by accident as an opening act back in 2007. I have to admit I hadn’t read that piece until I searched today to see if they had been mentioned here. I discovered them by accident this week but through different circumstances. These folks didn’t seem like the usual 9B fare on first listen but the second time through the album I began to understand that they were more then a single listen could contain. While not the gothabilly vibe that AIV like they are dark in their own way and their self-defined Alabama Ghost Music is more than fitting.

Fronted by Jamie Barrier and his lovely wife (on washboard) Katie “Kat” Barrier along with Matt Bakula on washtub bass and tenor banjo, and Ben on snare drum it is apparently not uncommon for former members to show up and join the Haints on stage during shows. From traditional bluegrass sounds to tracks that seem like someone tossed some little swimmers from The Reverend Horton Heat, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Niick Cave into a test tube, grabbed a turkey baster, and impregnated Lucinda Williams they manage to not turn their ghost songs and murder ballads into shtick. To Win Or Lose has a decidedly southern flavored offering with lyrics flow through topics like figuring out how much drink it will take to rid oneself of memories of an evil lover mingling with the happy go lucky sounds of the banjo and squeeze-box leaving a body oddly upbeat after the dark poetry. It’s honestly one of the stranger albums I have come to enjoy recently. The lyrics, if you read them while listening to the music, wouldn’t seem to fit but once you slap on some headphones and give it a good listen you realize that there’s some magic there. Aside from their original work on this album they also toss in a cover of Woody Guthrie’s The Ranger’s Command rounding out and already damn fine album. But don’t take my word for it check out the tracks below.

The Pine Hill Haints – Never Gonna Die
The Pine Hill Haints – Scar
The Pine Hill Haints – How Much Poison Does It Take

After listening to this album I really want to see these guys live. I’m just sayin’…

The Pine Hill Haints on MySpace
Razorcake interview with Jamie Barrier