Come on now, you knew I was gonna write about a new Legendary Shack Shakers release eventually, right? I am, admittedly, late getting to this, the Shack Shakers’ 5th studio effort (and first of the post-David Lee era), but please don’t take that as a sign that Agridustrial is a bad album. ‘Cause it’s exactly the opposite.

The Shack Shakers closed out their Tentshow Trilogy, as well as their relationship with Yep Roc, back in 2007 with what I thought was their best effort to date, Swampblood. The band seemed to quiet down a little and let the finer points of their music stand out from the chug and grind we fans have grown so used to. If the title of this effort didn’t clue you in, Agridustrial ain’t that. To quote J.D., “Agridustrial is the statement of an American band fighting back against a society gone mad with greed and the usurpation of basic human dignities…the sound of Agridustrial is a direct response to the present day recession in foreshadowing the looming collapse that awaits to return us back to self-sufficiency…” The “dustrial” part of the album comes from the use of the sounds of hammers, anvils, tongs, cranks and chains that the band recorded at a local blacksmith shop and which are being used in the percussion tracks of the album. All of this comes together to easily create one of the heaviest and loudest Shack Shaker albums to date, and I can’t get enough of it. Agridustrial isn’t just essential listening, it’s essential studying. On their surface, LSS are a large, loud, Southern gothic band with a snot launching, pube tossing, harmonica playing leprechaun for a frontman, but even a half-assed effort into figuring out the message of Agridustrial (and most other LSS albums) will prove the JD Wilkes and Co. are preaching a message of a dying way of life to anyone willing to listen. I think this message is especially poignant right now as Big Oil ruins the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Coast, taking with it peoples’ way of life 5 or 6 generations deep, all the while putting as much (if not more) effort into controlling information leaks as they are the oil leak…..but I digress, so let’s just get back to the music:

The Legendary Shack Shakers – Hoboes are My Heroes
The Legendary Shack Shakers – Dixie Iron Fist
The Legendary Shack Shakers – Nightride

The Legendary Shack Shakers’ Official Site, The Legendary Shack Shakers on myspace, Buy Agridustrial

Legendary bad-asses, Those Legendary Shackshakers came to town last month to drop some snot, pubes and rock and roll on their loyal following.

I hadn’t written about the show yet cause, really, there’s nothing new to write about. I’ve seen so many LSS shows and I’ve written about so many LSS shows here on 9b that it’s starting to feel like I’m just writing the same review over and over. This show was like the others (awesome), if anything, it was a little tamer than shows past.

Then my friend, James Zambon, posted his pictures of the show and I knew I had to share them with y’all. I’ve been dragging him to quite a few shows with me as of late and he’s taken some fine pictures that I’ve shared with y’all but these might be his best effort yet.

Go check them out.

Those Legendary Shackshakers – Blood On The Bluegrass
Those Legendary Shackshakers – Piss and Vinegar
Those Legendary Shackshakers – Old Spur Line

P.S.: By popular demand I must say, like all others, I think John Rich is a gigantic douche.

P.P.S.: There will be no post on Tuesday cause I am on the road all day.

Thursday @ New World: The Woodsboss

There is no shortage of people who’ve danced a shit-ton of nights away @ New World to the live blessings of The Weary Boys. Those were the kinds of nights that stories are made of. A band without a label relentlessly touring enough to build huge followings, in enough towns they could play packed houses in every state of the union. Then reality came crawling and The Weary Boys disbanded.

Wha? Why? What’s gonna? WTFingF?
Shock, rage, sadness.
Enter The Woodsboss. Which, fyi, is basically The Weary Boys minus Darren and add Brian’s wife.

So, all you Weary Boy fans needs to get your asses up off the couch and get out to New World Thursday night and we’ll dance again to the fine fine sounds of Mario, The Woodsboss and a few Weary Boys faves.

Mario Matteoli – Hard Luck Hittin’
Mario Matteoli – Sun Keeps On Beating Down

The Weary Boys – Another Song, Another Drink
The Weary Boys – Cruel Corrina
The Weary Boys – Freight Train Blues

Friday @ The Garage: Tailgunner Joe, Nervous Turkey and Those Legendary Shackshakers

Tampa/St. Pete is in an interesting time because we have an utterly ridiculous level of awesomeness in our local scene, and two of the upper crest of that scene are coming together to open for the the stupidly awesome Legendary Shackshakers.

Really, Tampa. I know you’re lazy. Fuck, I get it. We live in Florida. People who don’t live here don’t get it, but I know that the notion of a “local” band in this state is like screaming “Oral herpes at the kissing booth! Three dollars”, so let me tell you something right now: Tailgunner Joe and Nervous Turkey are each worthy of a night out on their own. Put them together and it almost becomes necessary for you fuckers (that was a ‘you fuckers’ that includes me) need to come out. Now, WTF? You include them both with Those Legendary Shackshakers and I can not think of any reason what you can’t spend 12 dollars to see guaranteed awesome from beginning to end.

Tailgunner Joe & The Earls of Slander – The Street
Tailgunner Joe & The Earls of Slander – This is Your Brain

Nervous Turkey – Strang
Nervous Turkey – Too Late For Romance

For those that don’t know, let’s talk Legendary Shackshakers live for a moment.

It’s Those Leg-en-dary muthafucking Shack Shakers. Does anything more really need to be said? Those who know, know. Those who don’t…well, what the fuck is wrong with you? Get your ass to The Garage and see what Jello Biafra called rock and roll’s best frontman, Col. J.D. Wilkes. Snot rockets will be launched, pubes will be thrown, beers will be drank and howdies will get doodied. You may hate the music but you’ll love the show, I guarantee it. It’s Iggy Pop fronting Southern Culture on the Skids. The southern gothic, rock and roll version of the Sex Pistols, but more entertaining and with more talent.

Those Legendary Shackshakers – Blood On The Bluegrass
Those Legendary Shackshakers – Piss and Vinegar
Those Legendary Shackshakers – Old Spur Line

So, I hope to bounce into a few of ya’ll this weekend. Say hey to me ’cause, despite all your efforts to make it not so, I still love you Tampa and you can insure that by buying me a drink and complementing my new hat.

A ninebullets.net reader sent me this story this morning:

Police: Singer exposed himself at Christian club
Associated Press
Posted Jul 02, 2008 @ 06:00 AM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. —

Police say the lead singer of a Nashville-based rock group exposed himself to concertgoers during a show at a Christian-based club for young people.

Police have issued an arrest warrant for Joshua Wilkes of the Legendary Shack Shakers.

The arrest warrant says Wilkes was performing Friday night when he exposed his genitals to a few hundred teens and adults in the audience.

Ben Cissell, a representatives for the club, says it was the group’s first — and last — performance at Rocketown.

The group was opening for the ’90s punk rock band Rancid.

Rocketown says it screens the bands that play there to make sure they are appropriate.

A representative of the Legendary Shack Shakers was not immediately available for comment.

As I responded to the emailer, I’ve seen LSS 10 to 15 times and I’ve never seen JD pull his junk out.
Throw pubes…yup. Put his hands down his pants and stick a finger out his fly…check…but who knows. Also, Rancid? Christian club? So many things in this story don’t make any sense but it is apparently true. Here is a more detailed story complete with video (not of JD’s junk…) I guess it just ain’t rock and roll until somebodies penis is out.

The Legendary Shack Shakers – County of Graves
The Legendary Shack Shakers – Hellwater

In other news the same reader emailed me a story that made wonder if I had died and returned to the 60′s or something:

Boots Riley, guest rapper for Galactic, was arrested for saying ‘Fuck’ at a Virginia music festival.

WTF? Are you fucking serious? Did they at least, I dunno…DO A GOOGLE SEARCH prior to booking the bands? And don’t gimmie no “there were kids there” bullshit. If hearing the word Fuck is the worst thing that ever happens to them they’ll live a pretty fucking charmed life.

Galactic (feat. Boots Riley) – Hustle Up

DAMN THE MAN! FREE BOOTS!

From an LSS myspace bulletin:

Ladies and gentlemen,

As our good buddy David Lee is currently tearing up his bicycling career all over the world, please meet the NEW guitarist for the Legendary Shack Shakers: Duane Denison.

Duane first came to public notice through his work with Chicago indie rock icons The Jesus Lizard. But he has also worked with a wide variety of internationally acclaimed artists including Hank Williams III, Mike Patton/Tomahawk, Bobby Bare, the Silver Jews and Firewater.

Duane’s style is synonymous with innovation, technique and taste. His move to Nashville a few years ago has allowed him to collaberate with several local, country-fried musicians. But only now will he be allowed to push the envelope and blur the lines between both the roots and Indie Rock worlds.

Strap yourself in and get ready for the NEXT chapter of the Legendary Shack Shakers!

Mr. Lee is abandoning the music life for a shot at professional biking.
Well, best of luck to him…he will be missed on stage, I can assure you of that.

I’ll get to see this new lineup at the Deep Blues Festival in July. I’ll post a full report then.

The Legendary Shack Shakers – Where’s the Devil When You Need Him

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.

Damn it man. This show is exactly what the doctor ordered for your ol’ Autopsy IV. I work in the engineering field and over the past two weeks I have been under the gun and haven’t even had time for lunch or dinner much less blogging. Hence the sporatic posting around here. Well, the wave finally broke yesterday, life has calmed down and I am in the mood to blow off some steam. So, put on your special underwear, bring your drinkers stomach and let’s have a little fun. Because:

Those Legendary Shack*Shakers are coming to town! Snot rockets will be launched, pubes will be thrown, beers will be drank and howdy’s will get doodied. You may hate the music but you’ll love the show and I guarantee it. Jello Biafra called the good Colonel J.D. Wilkes “the last great rock and roll front man” and I ain’t yet to see someone prove him wrong. It’s Iggy Pop fronting Southern Culture on the Skids….the southern gothic, rock and roll version of the Sex Pistols but with more talent…

From my review of their last show here in town:

Look, have you ever tried to tell someone a really funny story and when you were finished they just looked at you, so you drop the “you had to be there” gimmick? That’s what trying to explain a Shackshaker show is like. You should have been there. An LSS show is part rock show, part circus side show and part tent revival and, for those lucky enough to witness them, they are never forgotten. This show was no different.

Next time, be there.

This is next time…Three tracks from their new cd Swampblood:

The Legendary Shack Shakers – Old Spur Line
The Legendary Shack Shakers – Swampblood
The Legendary Shack Shakers – Hellwater

Lock up your daughters and cover up your wives! Those Legendary ShackShakers are crawling out of the swamp with their third and final installment in their “Tentshow Trilogy” series. A final installment that might be the best album they have ever released. Inspired by the good Colonel J.D. Wilkes’ new home somewhere in West Kentucky, Swampblood embraces a toned down more-blues/less-polka sound for much of the album. Longtime fans need not worry, there is still plenty dirty harmonica-fied, amped to 11, dixie-core there to appease you, however, this album seems to show just how talented these four guys really are. The first time my wife listened to the cd she said, “It’s like they finally decided to be great instead of just awesome.” That’s as good a way to put it as any. From the opening banjo of “Dawn” that gives way to the thump of Mark Robertson’s stand-up bass, spiced with that harmonica of “Old Spur Line,” you can tell things, while familiar, are just a little different this time around. Lyrically, well…I’ll just quote J.D. on that one:

Lyrically speaking, Swampblood lures you into a whole new realm of southern gothic goings-on. It is a cruel place, populated by three-legged dogs, lynch mobs and fallen forests…lustful angels, bloodthirsty hill-folk, and the bloated bodies of beached bovines.

Waterlogged corpses bob in the flooded streets of yore…crossed-eyed grannies pluck tuneless banjers…pigs run around with no clothes on.

Oddly enough, much of the lyrical reportage of Swampblood is based in truth. That’s the scary part. The local legends I was told as a troubled kid are passed on like some weird mix of classic oral tradition and primal scream therapy…The Brothers Grimm meet Sigmund Freud.

And it is that very penchant for words that you see above that makes his songs so god damned much fun…

So, you’ve heard of the Shack Shakers and you’ve read about the glorious pandemonium that is a Shack Shaker show, but you’ve never actually *heard* the Shack Shakers? Well, this is as good a time as any to jump into the greasy cesspool that is THE Legendary Shack Shakers. Not only are you gonna hear what might be their best album to date….you may be listening to the best album of 2007.

The Legendary Shack Shakers – Old Spur Line
The Legendary Shack Shakers – Swampblood
The Legendary Shack Shakers – Hellwater

The Legendary Shack Shakers Official Site, LSS on myspace, Buy Swampblood

As a side note: J.D. Wilke’s film Seven Signs has officially wrapped and is set to head out on the festival circuit. You can bet your willy that there will ba a review of the movie posted on this here site the day after I get to see it…Which will be….I dunno….one day, I suppose. Here is the trailer: