Will Johnson
Will Johnson (www.centro-matic.com) must be one of the most prolific artists around; with his bands Centromatic and South San Gabriel he tours and records all the time, well nearly all the time, because whenever he gets a moment he records and tours solo. Barry Jones spoke to him for Americana UK in 2003 and caught up with him again in his Austin home in December 2004 to talk about his latest solo venture, the outstanding, personal and very moving recent album “Vultures Await” (Munich 2004). Interview date: 2nd December 2004 Read more... Updated Thursday, December 02, 2004 | | Richmond Fontaine
Richmond Fontaine and their latest album “Post to Wire” were one of the big successes in Americana during 2004, but they’ve been around a bit longer than that. The front man and songwriter is Willy Vlautin, and guest contributor Oliver Gray put together this feature for Americana UK giving us Willy’s insight into how the band has arrived at where it is today. Interview: December 2004 Read more... Updated Tuesday, December 07, 2004 | | Jeff Jepson
Jeff Jepson is a British singer songwriter whose work has previously been featured on Americana UK. On a trip home to London, after a gig, he met our Features Editor Barry Jones heading to the metropolis. The realisation that there was some musical common ground was immediately apparent, and before the trip was over this interview had been arranged. Interview date: 15th December 2004 Read more... Updated Wednesday, December 15, 2004 | | Jason Ringenberg
Illinois-raised Jason Ringenberg is a legendary performer in the world of alt-country. Since 1982, with and without his band, The Scorchers, he has been entertaining us with his own very special brand of cow-punk. While lesser mortals have faded away Jason has continued to find something new to say, and his latest album Empire Builders (Spit&Polish 2004) (www.shoeshine.co.uk) reaches new levels of social conscience and will enhance his reputation still further. That he maintains his credibility while pursuing a new family entertainer career, as Farmer Jason, is testament to his outstanding qualities, and he’s also a really nice guy. Barry Jones spoke to him in Bristol during a brief tour of the UK. Interview date: 10th November 2004 Read more... Updated Wednesday, November 10, 2004 | | Bob Collum
Bob Collum is an old friend of Americana UK. Not just because one of our Staff Writers, Dan Wilkinson, plays bass and sings in Bob’s band, The Welfare Mothers, but because he is a singer songwriter who believes in the melodic as well as the lyrical aspect of songwriting, immediately apparent to anyone who has heard the new album “the boy most likely to…”(Atomic Powered Records 2004). Another endearing trait is that Tulsa-born Bob leaves London for Americana UK’s home town of Liverpool to play whenever the opportunity presents itself, and with the new “Hell’s Ditch” monthly event taking place in the city, January sees Bob and the band coming back again. Barry Jones spoke to him about it and the new album, amongst other things. Interview date: 17th December 2004. Read more... Updated Friday, December 17, 2004 | | The Sadies
The Sadies (www.thesadies.net) are brothers Dallas and Travis Good, who take guitar and vocal duties, upright bass player Sean Dean, and drummer Mike Belitsky. October 2004 sees the release of their new album, “Favourite Colours” (Yep Roc 2004) and a brief tour of the UK to promote it. The band are developing the reputation of being one of the finest live bands anyone is likely to see, and anyone who has seen them play live is unlikely to dispute that. The album and the tour has seen the band augmented by the addition of the excellent pedal steel, and occasional trumpet, playing, of Paul Brainard formerly of Richmond Fontaine, but it was the four core band members who convened for a chat, prior to their gig at Chester’s Telford’s Warehouse. In the salubrious surroundings of their tour bus, Barry Jones spoke to them about their touring, the album, and their festival experiences. Interview Date: 19th October 2004. Photograph by Barry Jones. Read more... Updated Tuesday, October 19, 2004 | | Terri Binion
Born in North Carolina, but now a native of Florida, Terri Binion’s songs tell real life stories in gentle honeyed tones. “GayleAnne”, the opening track of her new album “Fool” has the added boost of backing vocals from her friend Lucinda Williams, but Terri (www.terribinion.com) doesn’t really need star additions to maintain an album of good quality songs, which will be apparent to anybody lucky enough to have heard it. Some years ago, a visit to Europe played a big part in re-kindling Terri’s love of music, and she told Barry Jones about it while on a return visit. Interview date: 20th April 2004 Read more... Updated Saturday, April 17, 2004 | | Nels Andrews
Albuquerque based Nels Andrews (www.nelsandrews.com) received the “NewFolk” award at 2002 Kerrville Folk Festival, to join a select group of winners which includes the likes of Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle, but any comparisons with any of those would be wasted, as he is an artist with his own distinctive sound and his own voice. “Sunday Shoes”, is Nels’ dark, brooding and compelling debut album. Co-produced with Jeffrey Richards (Hazeldine) the album is sparse, inventive, tasteful, shows rare maturity, and is already a contender for album of 2004. Barry Jones spoke to Nels about the album and his visit to the UK planned for December 2004. Interview date: 3rd November 2004 Read more... Updated Wednesday, November 03, 2004 | | Andrew Morgan
What better way to spend a cold October eve than a transatlantic chat with a musician who’s so up-and-coming, it’s not even funny. Andrew Morgan’s album ‘Misadventures in Radiology’ (Broken Horse, 2004), which has received rave reviews across the board, will no doubt be denting those end-of-year top tens. I hooked up with the enfant terrible of classically inflicted chamber-pop to talk nuns, stadiums, the American Election and Dire Straights… Interview by David Jenkins, November 2004. Read more... Updated Sunday, November 07, 2004 | | Michael Carpenter
Michael Carpenter, one of Australian label, Laughing Outlaw’s homegrown roster spoke to us last year when he was in the UK touring his last album “Kingsrdworks”. September 2004 saw the release of a new album, “Rolling Ball” which is brimful of hooks and harmonies, so Barry Jones spoke to Michael, in Sydney, to find out what was happening, and what his plans were. Interview date 15th October 2004 Read more... Updated Friday, October 15, 2004 | | The Redlands Palomino Co
The Redlands Palomino Co. have just released their debut album “By The Time You Hear This…”(Laughing Outlaw 2004), which is getting plenty of radio airplay and which is as good an example of British Americana as you are likely to hear. Singer songwriters, husband and wife, Alex and Hannah Elton-Wall are at the heart of the group, and during their trip to Liverpool, supporting Richmond Fontaine, Barry Jones met up with them in a Lime Street pub to talk about the album, a mutual windswept festival experience and Bob Harris’s socks. Interview date: 25 September 2004 Read more... Updated Saturday, September 25, 2004 | | Passenger Side
Passenger Side are a three-piece Merseyside band who take some of their inspiration from Americana and alt.country, whilst retaining British sensibility. They have adopted the very generous marketing strategy of giving their critically acclaimed cd’s away to anyone who wants one, although, as their reputation grows, there is no doubt that the strategy will have to change. They have supported The Sadies, amongst others, and recently opened for another Liverpool band, The Pearl, at their album launch at the world famous Cavern. Barry Jones was there to witness the events, and find out all about the band. Interview date: September 2004 Read more... Updated Friday, February 17, 2006 | | Hayseed Dixie
John Wheeler, aka Barley Scotch from Hayseed Dixie: Apparently from Deer Lick Holler, deep in the heart of Appalachia, Hayseed Dixie have seen growing success in the USA with their very individual take on rock classics originally recorded by AC/DC, Queen and KISS, amongst others. Summer 2004 saw the European release of an album, Let There Be Rockgrass (Cooking Vinyl 2004), which includes some of their best work, including a few originals, notably the positively fragrant Keeping Your Poop In A Jar. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, fiddle player Barley Scotch is the driving force behind the band, and in his alter ego of Nashville studio boss John Wheeler, he talked to Barry Jones about the band, the album and the inspiration behind that faecally fixated song. Interview date 28 July 2004 Read more... Updated Wednesday, July 28, 2004 | | Thad Cockrell
His father and two brothers are Baptist preachers, and Thad Cockrell (www.thadcockrell.com) was heading in the same direction, graduating from a North Carolina theological seminary, before deciding that his real calling was music. “I’ve always loved the twang of hurt” is a quote which explains some of the reasoning behind the move, and the sound of his wistful tenor voice is a good indication that he’s made the right choice. His second album “Warmth and Beauty”(Yep Roc 2003) was very well received, and he completed his first successful tour of the UK in May 2004. On the last date of that tour, Barry Jones met up with Thad, and had a chat over a cool beer on a warm spring Sunday afternoon in Manchester. Interview Date: 2nd May 2004 Read more... Updated Sunday, May 02, 2004 | | Toby Burke
Pete Gow talks to Loose Record’s Toby Burke about his new highly acclaimed solo record “Winsome Lonesome,” an album entirely live into a four track tape machine, his band Horse Stories and the influences of English folk music - interview date: 19th August 2004 Read more... Updated Thursday, August 19, 2004 | | Juliana Hatfield
After a gap of four years, former indie sweetheart, and Blake Babe, Juliana Hatfield has released In Exile Deo, a new collection of her own songs. With the assistance of renowned producers David Leonard and David Way, who have previously worked with people like Prince, Madonna and Michael Jackson amongst many others, she has produced a very fine album indeed, drawing out the best of her bittersweet vocals and her accomplished riffing guitar style. On a flying visit to the UK, she talked to Barry Jones about her album, her side project Some Girls, and her friend Jeff Buckley. Interview date: 24th May 2004 Read more... Updated Monday, May 24, 2004 | | Wrinkle Neck Mules
Mason Brent, Andy Stepanian, Chase Heard and Blake Gayle are The Wrinkle Neck Mules, whose debut album “Minor Enough” was released in 2003 to great critical acclaim. Richmond, Virginia based Andy Stepanian, one of the singer songwriters in the band, gave Rob Ellen some details of the background to the group as they readied themselves for a tour of the UK in July 2004. Read more... Updated Friday, May 07, 2004 | | Slaid Cleaves
It’s taken a while, but Slaid Cleaves has finally followed up the stunning, must-have album, “Broke Down”, with another very fine piece of work. “Wishbones” explores the now familiar territory of imaginative and believable narrative tales suffused with whisky and smoke, this time with the addition of a touch of raunch. He toured the UK in April 2004, and Barry Jones took the opportunity to speak to him. Interview date 28/4/04 Read more... Updated Wednesday, April 28, 2004 | | Case Hardin
Case Hardin (www.casehardin.com) are a band developing a good following with their British take on the Americana genre. Citing influences such as Whiskeytown and Uncle Tupelo, they have already supported acts like Peter Bruntnell and Horse Stories, as well as appearing at The Borderline during Way Beyond Nashville. Singer songwriter with the band, Pete Gow, is also a Site Writer on Americana-UK, so Barry Jones spoke him about the band, his music and his influences. Read more... Updated Wednesday, April 07, 2004 | | Sarah Harmer
For her latest album “All of our Names”, Sarah Harmer converted her Quaker Valley Ontario farmhouse into a recording studio. The process had benefits and disadvantages for Sarah, but the end result is a fine follow up to her 2000 album “You Were Here” which had been named Debut CD of the year by Time Magazine. “All of our Names” will deservedly draw further critical acclaim, and Barry Jones talked to Sarah about the album, the recording process, singing with her father, and arboreal forests. Interview date 31st March 2004 Read more... Updated Wednesday, March 01, 2006 | | Quiet Loner
Matt Hill is the Nottingham-born, Manchester-based, singer songwriter in Quiet Loner (www.quietloner.com), a band named in homage to the much-lamented stand-up comedian Bill Hicks, who was also in a band of that name. In a New Mexico town implausibly called “Truth or Consequences” Matt experienced something that convinced him that he should be playing country music, and the consequence of that is the debut album “Secret Ruler of the World” (Circus 65 2004) (www.circus65.com) already a high flyer on the Americana-UK chart. Barry Jones spoke to Matt about the album, his Damascene conversion, Bill Hicks and another of Matt’s specialist subjects, Elvis Presley, amongst other things. Interview date 19th March 2004 Read more... Updated Friday, March 19, 2004 | | Jesse Sykes
Following on from the success of their debut release “Reckless Burning”, Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter (www.jessesykes.com) have now released “Oh My Girl”(Fargo). It is a dark and beautiful album, much like Jesse herself. With the distinctive tones of ex-Whiskeytown guitarist Phil Wandscher adding the twang to what has been aptly termed “Twang Noir”, they are a combination not to be missed, either as a full band, or stripped down to their essence, Jesse and Phil. Following an afternoon showcase at The Borderline, Barry Jones spoke to Jesse over a cup of coffee, upstairs at Foyle’s bookshop, listening to the ambient sounds of jazz. Mmm nice! Interview date 11 March 2004 Read more... Updated Thursday, March 11, 2004 | | Richie Furay
Richie Furay was most famous for spending his earlier days with Neil Young and Stephen Stills in Buffalo Springfield as well as forming the legendary 70’s country rock act Poco. One of his lesser known musical outfits The Souther Hillman Furay Band was our Classic Americana album for the month of February and Richie was kind enough to answer some questions via e mail with Daniel Stulic about the time he spent with The Souther Hillman Furay Band and beyond. Interview date: March 2004 Read more... Updated Sunday, March 07, 2004 | | Mark Browning (Ox)
Canadian band Ox is the vehicle for singer songwriter Mark Browning. No stranger to Americana UK, Mark’s album Dustbowl Revival has now been released in the US by Universal, and it looks as though his talent will soon be recognised by a much wider audience. Emerging blinking from a gig in the gloom of Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May, Barry Jones spoke to Mark to find out what had been happening since their last conversation Interview date: 7th May 05 Read more... Updated Friday, May 07, 2004 | | Vinny Peculiar
Vinny Peculiar (www.vinnypeculiar.com) is a musician, poet, performance artist, and as you will probably have guessed by now, that's not his real name. Over the last 5 years, Vinny has made three conventional albums (with songs on them), and one poetry CD (with background music). His latest album "Growing Up With…" (Shaddrack & Duxbury Records) was released in February 2004, and has gained a universal nod of approval from critics everywhere. His songs are unusual takes on unusual incidents from his life experiences (e.g. “Confessions of a Sperm Donor"). Some quite unusual comments have been written about Vinny’s work, but the most effective summary is: 'If Tony Hancock had made pop records they would probably have sounded like this' (UNCUT). In the middle of a UK tour launching/promoting the new album, Allan Openshaw spoke to the man himself. Interview date: 10th March 2004. Updated Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | | Daniel Wylie
Daniel Wylie (www.danielwylie.com) was the singer and songwriting talent behind the success of The Cosmic Rough Riders “Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine”(2001), but left soon after to pursue a solo career and artistic freedom. The result is “Ramshackle Beauty” (Measured Records), another fine album of summery sounds and angelic harmonies, which has definitely found favour here at Americana-UK, and may well prove to be the soundtrack to the summer of 2004. Barry Jones spoke to Daniel about the new album, his relationship with his old band and what we can expect next. Interview date 3rd March 2004 Updated Wednesday, March 03, 2004 | | The Last Town Chorus
The Last Town Chorus (www.thelasttownchorus.com) lives in Brooklyn, New York. Comprising Megan Hickey, voice and lap steel guitar and Nat Guy, acoustic guitar, their sound is as sparse as that line-up suggests, and yet almost mesmeric in the soundscapes created. Whatever your preconception of electric lap steel guitar, prepare to hear something new and haunting on their eponymous first album. The Village Voice described the music as “Moody, warm like old-fashioned lemonade spiked with LSD…a good example how minimal can be used to create multiple sounds.” They’re heading for Europe in March and Barry Jones spoke to Megan in Brooklyn and talked about the music and their plans. Interview date 13 February 2004 Updated Saturday, February 14, 2004 | | David Childers
David Childers’ father was a playwright turned lawyer, and David himself studied English and Creative writing, and became an artist-in-residence, before following his father and also becoming a practicing lawyer. But David (www.davidchilders.com) broke the pattern and is now releasing records, full of raw emotion and intelligence. He collaborated with Martin Stephenson on an album called “The Haint of the Budded Rose” which resulted in an appearance at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections in 2004, and he has an album of his own, recorded with The Modern Don Juans, called “Room#23”(Ramseur Records 2003) which has, rightly in our view, featured prominently on the influential AMA Americana Airplay Chart. Raised in North Carolina, and currently living in Charlotte, where he has been repeatedly awarded the title of “Charlotte’s Best Songwriter”, he spoke to Barry Jones just before leaving for Glasgow. Interview date 22 January 2004 Updated Wednesday, January 07, 2004 | | Blanche (Dan Miller)
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Blanche (www.blanchemusic.com) are, what could be described as, an Art-Country band, using visual effects, and their own appearance, to heighten the impact of their music, which calls on old-time country instrumentation and themes, delivered with a sensibility which reflects their, more rock based, Detroit background. Having toured the UK at the end of 2003 with The Handsome Family, they came back at the start of 2004 to support The White Stripes. Dan Miller, guitarist and singer, and his wife Tracee Mae, who plays bass and sings with Blanche, were both in a band with Jack White of the Stripes, and Jack played on one of the tracks on Blanche’s album “If We Can’t Trust the Doctors…” (Loose 2004) due for release in March 2004. Barry Jones spoke to Dan, the week before the tour started, about all sorts of things, including whether or not all publicity is good, in light of a well-publicised altercation, which occurred at Blanche’s US album launch party. Interview date 12 January 2004 Updated Wednesday, January 07, 2004 | | Amy Allison
You might wonder why New York based singer/songwriter Amy Allison (www.amyallisonmusic.com) would choose to record her latest album “No Frills Friend” (Spit & Polish 2003)(www.shoeshine.co.uk) in Scotland. Well we did, and so Barry Jones asked her, during her pre-Christmas tour of the UK with label-mates Amy Rigby and Neil Cleary. “No Frills Friend” is an eclectic mix of songs, which take in classic country, show tunes and Brill Building soul, all delivered in Amy’s distinctive style, combining melancholy and optimism in a compelling confection. Elvis Costello is a fan, as is her father, jazz/blues legend Mose Allison. Laura Cantrell, who knows a good song when she hears it, covered one of Amy’s songs on her debut album, so do you need any more convincing? Updated Wednesday, January 07, 2004 | | Neil Cleary
He grew up fascinated by rap music, but in 2003 New York based Neil Cleary (www.stratfordprojects.com/neilcleary) produced a very plausible country rock album. “Numbers Add Up” (Spit & Polish 2003) made the 2003 top ten of one of Americana UK’s discerning writers, and quite rightly so. He toured the UK with Amy Allison and Amy Rigby just before Christmas 2003, and Barry Jones spoke to him about his influences, his ambitions, and their common admiration of some very English music from the none too recent past. Updated Wednesday, January 07, 2004 |
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