R.I.P. Pete Seeger, this is you hanging out with Johnny Cash.

We lost an icon today. I chose the Johnny Cash video for obvious reasons. Theyyyyyyy
Lord!

R.I.P. George Jones (1931-2013)

Odd that just as I've been on quite the country music kick lately, my favorite legend of the genre passes away. Seeing his face regularly on Austin City Limits, Hee Haw, and The Grand Ole Opry  is an enormous and fond memory from my 1970's-early '80's childhood.

George "Possum" / "No Show" Jones stopped lovin' her today. They placed a wreath upon his door. Thank you, George, for popularizing two of my favorite songs.

Chris Head - Songs (Unreleased Material, 2011)

Its not often I connect with country music these days. Of all the genres that seem tired and unbelievable, its country. In fact, every time I hear a current act I like, I'm shocked. It happened again when I heard Chris Head's songs. A longtime and prolific member of the Asheville, North Carolina punk scene, Head writes heart-wrenching, melancholy and unassuming lyrics about love and loss. Not only that but every song has a classic hook, at least one of which will stick in your head after you walk away.

Sit down and give it a listen. I dare you to shrug it off.    

Vestibule - The Kid's Lamentations via The Judge's Conflagrations (Mixtape, 2012)

So I hadn't made a mixtape in a while and decided to make a soundtrack to "An Evening Redness in the West". If ya know, then ya know. If ya don't, sorry. Enjoy these contemplative dirges of western sounds. Nobody beats the McC.  Peace and scalping...

Download it Here

The Louvin Brothers - Satan is Real (Capitol, 1960)

Ira, Ira, Ira... what happened to you? You preached the gospel yet set such a poor example. I mean, if you want people to take the Lord Jesus seriously, you have to be a better role model. What you chose to do was to drink way too much corn liquor and beat the shit out of your wife until she shot you in the chest multiple times. Granted, you're a stubborn mother fucker, you lived, but come on man, what were you thinking?

And Charlie, besides pioneering Close Harmony (thanks for that), how the hell did you put up with your bro and all this misbehavior? At least you didn't get a bad rap by association. I'm sure you were no angel but at least you never got caught.

I don't believe in Hell, the rapture, the tribulation, the day of judgement or Jesus answering any sort of prayer but when I drink enough (like while I'm writing this) I begin to feel my church-raised childhood creeping in. Then some false sense of guilt arises that makes me feel bad about every decision I've ever made...and isn't that what Christianity is all about? Praise the lord and pass the whiskey. And by the way, Satan's Jewelled Crown is one of the prettiest songs you will ever hear.

Most importantly, you can thank Ira for this album cover, possibly the greatest one ever conceived.

Get it Here