Recent Releases Roundup: Ricky Byrd, Heidi Newfield, Cidny Bullens, Brian Bromberg

A diverse field of musical styles are explored via new audio releases featured in my latest column...

Artist: Ricky Byrd

Titles: Sobering Times (Kayos Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Ronnie Wood, Jim Carroll Band, the Smithereens, Willie Nile

Tell me more: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Ricky Byrd isn't facing his demons alone. On his newly-released Sobering Times, the New York-based artist is triumphantly celebrating his recovery with the world at large via a slew of stellar rock originals marked by his straightforward confessional lyrics and infectious rock song craft. The melodic "Quittin' Time (Again)," edgy "Together," breezy "Hear My Song" (featuring Byrd's wonderful mandolin work), acoustic proclamation "Pour Me," and roots rockers "Tired" and "Recover Me" (the latter a terrific duet with Willie Nile) are among the the terrific cuts on the album. Byrd released Clean Getaway in 2017 as a musical statement about recovering from addiction, but it's clear from the strength of "Sobering Times" there was plenty of territory yet to explore this time around. Released on Sept. 25, 2020 (the 33rd anniversary of the day the former Joan Jett & the Blackhearts lead guitarist started on his sober journey), Sobering Times is a wide-ranging release that not only celebrates Byrd's stellar guitar talents and songwriting, but his expressive baritone vocals and ability to mine new pay dirt in the classic sounds of '70s and '80s rock. A stellar cast of players joins Byrd on the recording including Bob Stander (bass guitar, percussion), keyboardist-accordion player Jeff Kazee (of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes fame), drummer Steve Holley (Wings, Ian Hunter, Joe Cocker), drummer Liberty Devitto (Billy Joel) and vocalist Christine "The Beehive Queen" Ohlman (Saturday Night Live band). Information: RickyByrd.com.

Artist: Heidi Newfield

Titles: The Barfly Sessions (Not Famous Enough LLC)

You might like if you enjoy: Ruthie Foster, Janiva Magness, Larkin Poe, Sass Jordan

Tell me more: Nashville, Tennessee-based songstress Heidi Newfield's explosive talents as singer, harmonica master and songwriter are exhibited across the freewheeling The Barfly Sessions. The 14-track disc finds the artist co-writing and collaborating with a number of ace songwriters and top-tier guests (Jim Lauderdale, Delbert McClinton, Chris Stapleton, Matt King and more). Produced by Newfield along with Jim "Moose" Brown, The Barfly Sessions is a mostly rousing high-octane affair as evidenced by the fiery opener "I Won't Wait Around," countrified "Wrong Side of the Bottle," aptly-titled "Bring This House Down" and rousing cover of "The Blues is My Business (with Newfield and McClinton sharing lead vocals as well as blues harp duties). Newfield also showcases her potent soprano on the soulful ballad "Three Things," tenderhearted country-flavored "Wait For It" and "Temporary Fix (For a Permanent Scar)," and the wistful "When Heaven Falls." Information: HeidiNewfield.com.

Artist: Cidny Bullens

Titles: Walkin' Through This World (Blue Lobster Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Cindy Bullens

Tell me more: The bold Walkin' Through This World marks singer-songwriter Cidny Bullens' first release as a transgender man; the album (produced by the artist and Ray Kennedy) explores and documents the real-life story of the Nashville-based artist's five-year gender transition. That story is bolstered by the bona fide artistic power and authority of the songs on the disc.   The LP opens with the tuneful "Little Pieces," Americana-mining "Purgatory Road," spoken word-centered anthem "Walkin' Through This World" and affecting "The Gender Line" – which collectively showcase the stellar variety of sounds that bring the LP's theme to life. Other highlights for this listener were the infectious roots rocker "Crack The Sky," uptempo "Call Me By My Name" and spirited rock and roller "Lucky For Me." "Walkin' Through This World" features collaborations with a number of well-known artists including guest vocalists Beth Neilson Chapman, Rodney Crowell, Mary Gauthier, Bill Lloyd and Jess Leary.  A two-time Grammy nominee as Cindy Bullens, the artist has worked with a who's who of greats including Bob Dylan, Sir Elton John and Rod Stewart. What's more, Bullens sang lead vocals on several tracks of the soundtrack of 1978's "Grease" (including "It's Raining on Prom Night" and "Freddy, My Love"). Information: CidnyBullens.com.

Artist: Brian Bromberg

Titles: Bromberg Plays Hendrix - 2020 Remix and Remaster (Artistry Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Brian Bromberg, Vinnie Colaiuta, Stan Getz, Jimi Hendrix

Tell me more: Celebrated jazz bassist Brian Bromberg has issued a remixed and remastered version of his 2008 album Bromberg Plays Hendrix. Re-released in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Hendrix's passing in September 1970, listeners will be blown away that no electric guitars are used on the album; rather, Bromberg uses both acoustic and electric basses (including overdriven electric piccolo bass, a 24-fret instrument with each string tuned an octave up) while drummer Vinnie Colaiuta is also key as they revisit some of the most beloved Jimi Hendrix classics with dazzling arrangements sure to please fans of both jazz and Hendrix. To describe this album as impressive is truly an understatement. My favorite tracks on the album include the opener "Fire," flat-out thrilling "All Along the Watchtower," jazzy "Hey Joe" and high-powered "Purple Haze." The outstanding new mix isn't all; a previously-unreleased funk-tinged rock original track titled "Jimi" recorded during the original sessions is featured here as well. Listen to Bromberg Plays Hendrix with headphones folks and be prepared to be blown away. I sure was! Information: BrianBromberg.net.

Robert Kinsler

Sights and Sounds: Gary Calamar, Americana Music Association, Justin Currie

Happy Tuesday morning everybody! Here is a quick roundup of several items pulled from my inbox first thing today...

NOTED MUSIC SUPERVISOR AND KCRW DJ GARY CALAMAR’S DEBUT RELEASE YOU ARE WHAT YOU LISTEN TO CONFIRMED FOR OCTOBER 14, 2014 VIA ATLANTIC RECORDS

True Blood, Dexter, Six Feet Under Music Supervisor as well as Disc Jockey, Author and Former Record Store Manager’s Musical Evolution Continues with Solo Debut From a Rock and Roll Wordsmith

LOS ANGELES, CA (TUESDAY AUGUST 26, 2014) – Five-time Grammy nominated music supervisor and noted KCRW Disc Jockey Gary Calamar (www.garycalamar.com) announced today that his debut E.P. You Are What You listen To will be released October 14 via Atlantic Records.

You Are What You Listen To is Gary Calamar’s debut as a musician & songwriter of gloriously catchy, sparkly rock and roll songs, filled with abundant wit and melody. Drawing inspiration from his rock heroes, his tunes alternately crunch as well as caress. Produced by John Would (Fiona Apple), the six songs that compromise the E.P. jam their way directly into your head. They are:

1. I Got An Idea

2. Giddy

3. Minimum Day 

4. She’s So Mid-Century 

5. The Last Revolution

6. Back Door Man

So how does one go from music industry soldier to simply musician? Well, it’s actually more like an evolution than a career change. Known primarily as a five-time Grammy nominated music supervisor on shows like True Blood, Dexter, Six Feet Under as well as KCRW DJ, Gary Calamar has always been a songwriter. None other than Iggy Pop recorded his tune “Let’s Boot and Rally”. So after years of being a closeted songwriter with no time to record, up stepped Atlantic Records who heard a few demo tracks and asked to put the record out. And here we are, You Are What You Listen To. 

Gary’s humble beginnings in the music business began behind the counter at LA’s finest record stores: Licorice Pizza (RIP), Moby Disc (RIP) and Rhino (RIP). He managed the criminally underrated L.A. band, The Balancing Act who released 3 indie classics on IRS Records. From there he was offered a job at one of the world’s most influential radio stations, KCRW. He also co-authored the book Record Store Days: From Vinyl to Digital and Back Again. But all the while he’s been entertaining his inner circle of music pals with his own compositions. Catchy, sparkling, glorious bursts of rock and roll mischief and majesty, they are. Real, live, can’t-get-them-outta-yer-head songs that will be released in on October 14. 

Live dates to be announced shortly. 

Americana Music Association announces its 13th Annual Honors & Awards Performers and Presenters

(Nashville, Tenn.) August 26, 2014 – The Americana Music Association reveals an initial presenter and performer lineup for its 13th annual Honors & Awards Show. As anticipated, the list reflects Americana’s “spirit of eclecticism” (New York Times) through its diverse production/curation.

Hurray For The Riff Raff
is Alynda Lee Segarra /
Photo: Josh Shoemaker

In addition to previously announced performances by Loretta Lynn, Flaco Jimenez, Taj Mahal and Jackson Browne, the tastemaker event will feature Buddy Miller, Cassandra Wilson, Hard Working Americans, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Jason Isbell, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Stuart, Parker Millsap, Patty Griffin, Robert Ellis, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Ry Cooder, Sarah Jarosz, St. Paul & Broken Bones, Sturgill Simpson, The Devil Makes Three, The McCrary Sisters, The Milk Carton Kids and Valerie June with presentations by Amy Ray, Carlene Carter, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, JD Souther, Joe Henry, John Paul White, John Ritter, Keb Mo, Rhett Miller, Shovels and Rope, Todd Snider and Vince Gill.

The 13th Annual Honors & Awards Show — held at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 17th — will be hosted by Jim Lauderdale and feature a house band led by Buddy Miller that includes Don Was, Joachim Cooder, Tim Lauer, The McCrary Sisters and legend, Ry Cooder.

Broadcast live with radio partners SiriusXM "Outlaw Country" and online via NPR's Folk Alley, and edited for television for PBS that will air November 22 in the Austin City Limits time slot. The Americana Honors & Awards, for the first time, will also air on Australia's CMC (Country Music Channel). The show kicks off the 15th Annual Festival and Conference that runs Wed. Sept, 17 through Sunday, Sept 21.

For a full list of performers, panels, and ticket and registration information, please visit americanamusic.org.

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The 15th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, a “smaller, rootsier version of South by Southwest” (New York Times) will take place September 17-21, 2014 in Nashville, TN, kicked off by the 13th annual Americana Honors & Awards Show on Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The Americana Music Association is a professional non-profit trade organization whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American Roots Music around the world. The Association curates events throughout the year including the annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, presented by Nissan, the acclaimed Americana Honors & Awards program and most recently “Americana NYC” Aug. 4th – 11th — a partnership with Lincoln Center. For more information, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

JUSTIN CURRIE US TOUR IN SUPPORT OF LOWER REACHES

Justin Currie will tour the U.S. in September and October of 2014.

Justin Currie, the lead singer and songwriter of Scottish pop-rock band Del Amitri, is pleased to announce U.S. dates this fall in support of his newest release, Lower Reaches.

Watch Justin Currie's Video "Bend To My Will" here Visit Justin Currie's website here The new album is the follow-up to Currie's 2010 critically acclaimed project The Great War which garnered 4 star reviews and earned Currie the moniker of "a songwriter's songwriter" from Mojo.  On Lower Reaches, Currie's pop sensibilities and radio ready vocals are ever present, but it's his songwriting that is perhaps most striking.  The new set of self-penned songs show Currie emerging as a writer of great depth and sensitivity, deftly examining life, relationships and the human condition, albeit delivered with the healthy dose of cynicism and wit that his fans have come to count on. Currie wrote most of the songs on Lower Reaches during a solitary songwriting retreat on the Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland.  Hunkered down in a remote cottage in the shadow of The Cuillins, the mountain range that dominates the Hebridean island, Currie had no internet and no mobile phone, just an acoustic guitar, a piano, and a ghetto-blaster on which to record his ideas.  "I suppose it was a bit like my Brill Building", he smiles. "You're being your own boss and putting yourself under pressure to write."  Currie wrote fifteen songs in eleven days, something of a personal best in terms of rapid-fire delivery. When it came time to capture the music in the studio Currie traveled to Austin, Texas to work with producer Mike McCarthy (Craig Finn [The Hold Steady], Spoon, Patty Griffin, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead).  The process was, in Currie's words, "a brilliant experience" and the resulting tracks have been heralded by the UK press as among the songwriter's recent best. Watch Justin Currie's Video "Bend to My Will" here As singer and main songwriter in Del Amitri, formed in Glasgow in 1983, Currie wrote many of their biggest hits including ‘Roll To Me’, ‘Always The Last To Know’, and ‘Nothing Ever Happens’. During their long and distinguished career, Del Amitri released four Top 10 albums, including ‘Waking Hours’ (1989), which sold over a million copies in the UK alone.

About Compass Records Billboard Magazine has touted Compass Records Group as one of the leading independent labels of the past decade. The label group is home to more than 500 releases across the Compass Records, Green Linnet and Mulligan Records imprints with a roster that boasts a variety of artists including Colin Hay, A.J. Croce, Victor Wooten, Claire Lynch, the Farewell Drifters, Peter Rowan, The Gibson Brothers, Darden Smith, BeauSoleil, Michael Cleveland, and label co-founder Alison Brown. For more information, visit www.compassrecords.com.

Sights and Sounds: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Deep Purple, Tears for Fears

With the weekend here, why not provide a recap of some highlights I wasn't able to squeeze in earlier this week...

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell return to Austin City Limits on Saturday, November 2

Austin, TX—November 1, 2013—Music legends Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell return to Austin City Limits (ACL) and share the ACL stage for the first time. The pair celebrate their shared history, their recent collaborative album Old Yellow Moon and the continuing power of the song in a new episode that premieres November 2^nd. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings for times) and full episodes are made available online at acltv.com immediately following the initial broadcast.

Friends for forty years, Harris and Crowell have an entwined four-decade history of music-making. ACL veterans, both artists have each appeared on the program seven times, although this episode marks the first time the pair have performed together on the ACL stage. The Americana icons perform favorites and songs from their acclaimed duets album Old Yellow Moon. The collaboration was chosen as album of the year at this year's Americana Music Awards and the pair was honored as duo of the year. American Songwriter says of the album, “On Old Yellow Moon, Harris and Crowell embrace the entire range of life and music they've experienced, from the reckless passions of youth to the reflectiveness of age, from loose-limbed hillbilly boogies to graceful balladry.”

“It’s great to be back at the world’s greatest and longest-running music show,” says Harris as she takes the ACL stage with Crowell. The breathtaking performance includes the two longtime kindred spirits joining their voices on Crowell originals as well as revivals of songs by Roger Miller, Matraca Berg and Kris Kristofferson. Harris opens with some of her earlier Gram Parsons-era hits, and the duo fast-forwards to a more recent era for Harris' “Red Dirt Girl” and Crowell's “Rock of My Soul”, their voices wrapping the songs in the kind of harmonies only old friends can generate. Special guest Shawn Colvin joins in the finale for a spirited take on Crowell's “Stars On the Water.” The episode celebrates a longtime friendship and collaboration, and the pleasure the two music legends take from singing some of their favorite songs is palpable.

“Emmylou and Rodney are an important part of the history of ACL – going all the way back practically to the beginning,” says executive producer Terry Lickona. “But it goes deeper than that – they reflect the heart and soul of what ACL is all about. And the two of them together is a perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts!”

Episode Setlist:
Wheels
Pancho & Lefty
Luxury Liner
Red Dirt Girl
Rock Of My Soul
Invitation to the Blues
Back When We Were Beautiful
Chase the Feeling
Dreaming My Dreams
Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight
Old Yellow Moon
Stars on the Water

Season 39 Fall Broadcast Schedule (six additional episodes to be announced)

October 5        Juanes | Jesse & Joy 
October 12      Phoenix 
October 19      The Lumineers | Shovels & Rope
October 26      Vampire Weekend | Grizzly Bear
November 2    Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
November 9    Emeli Sandé | Michael Kiwanuka
November 16  Jim James | The Black Angels
November 23  ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2013

The complete line-up for the full 13-week season, including six new episodes to air beginning January 2014, will be announced at a later date. Check the news section ofacltv.com for additional episode updates.


About Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits (ACL) is a television series on PBS that records and broadcasts original musical performances from exciting new talent and legendary artists of all genres.

Austin City Limits is the longest-running music series in American television history and remains the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts. ACL has been designated an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark. In 2012, ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement. In 2011, ACL moved to the new venue ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin.

ACL is produced by KLRU-TV and funding is provided in part by AMD, Budweiser, the Austin Convention Center Department and Dell. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Austin City Limits. Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com.

CLASSIC DEEP PURPLE GETS BOXED ON THE AUDIO FIDELITY COLLECTION Pioneering Hard Rockers' Machine Head, In Rock, Fireball and Who Do We Think We Are! Will Be Reissued as Gold CDs in New Numbered, Limited-Edition Set on November 19

Hot on the heels of the news that they have been nominated for 2014 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, classic rockers Deep Purple will be feted with a deluxe, limited-edition boxed set featuring 24-Karat Gold CDs of four of their best-selling albums, according to Audio Fidelity president Marshall Blonstein.  November 19 is the release date for DEEP PURPLE:  THE AUDIO FIDELITY COLLECTION, which will include IN ROCK (1970), FIREBALL (1971), MACHINE HEAD (1972) and WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE! (1973).  The four CDs, containing such breakthrough Deep Purple hits as "Smoke on the Water" and "Woman From Tokyo," will be housed, appropriately, in an embossed metallic container, each engraved with a unique edition number, and will be sold through both online and traditional retail outlets. Embossed, numbered container. THE AUDIO FIDELITY COLLECTION features the legendary second lineup of Deep Purple, which originally formed in 1967 in Hertfordshire, north of London. By 1970, the pioneering hard-rock/metal quintet consisted of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, vocalist Ian Gillan, keyboardist Jon Lord, bassist Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice. Originally issued in the U.S. by Warner Bros. Records, the four albums represent the band at the peak of its popularity and creative powers. The double-platinum MACHINE HEAD reached No. 7 on Billboard's Top Albums chart; FIREBALL, IN ROCK and WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE! all were certified Gold. "Woman from Tokyo" (from WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE!) and "Smoke on the Water" (MACHINE HEAD) were Top 10 singles and remain staples of classic-rock radio. (Reflecting in 2012 on Deep Purple's long overdue nomination for Hall of Fame induction, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather commented, "What's the first song every kid learns to play? 'Smoke on the Water.' And they're not [yet] in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?")    All four discs in THE AUDIO FIDELITY COLLECTION will contain original album artwork and will feature the remastering done by engineer Steve Hoffman when the individual CDs were previously issued by Audio Fidelity. "They have been unavailable for five years," says label president Blonstein, "and since then we've had numerous requests from customers to 'reissue the reissue.' So we decided to offer them again, but in this special boxed-set edition." Indeed, copies of the earlier MACHINE HEAD and WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE! currently fetch handsome prices on sites like Amazon and eBay. To distinguish the forthcoming CDs from the earlier editions-and to enhance the unique collectability aspects of the boxed set-the new discs' outer sleeves come with gold, instead of black slip cases.

Deep Purple, which has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, was announced (on October 16) as a nominee for the 29th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, which will be held in New York City in April of 2014. Inductee selections will be announced in December. Founded in 2002 by Marshall Blonstein, Audio Fidelity specializes in deluxe reissues of classic popular-music recordings for the audiophile and collector markets. The Camarillo, California-based label is best known for its 24-karat Gold CDs and its virgin-vinyl album editions, though it also releases DVD titles. Audio Fidelity emerged out of the pioneering DCC Compact Classics label that Blonstein started in 1986, following stints as president of Island Records and co-founder of Ode Records (where he helped make Carole King's Tapestry one of the best-selling albums of all time and built the cult-film franchises The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke).

Visit: www.audiofidelity.net

Tears for Fears in July 2007 in Costa Mesa, CA

Tears for Fears gives 'The Hurting' deluxe treatment

George A. Paul's Music Minded blog has an excellent overview of Tears for Fears' The Hurting deluxe release celebrating the 30th anniversary of the notable album. Read it here.

I have always been impressed when catching Tears for Fears (Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal) live. Read my review of the duo's performance at the Pacific Amphitheatre in July 2007 on the Orange County Register site by clicking here.