This week's show starts with a very appropriate and timely tribute to The Big Man, Clarence Clemons, who walked across the veil last weekend, and some reflections on his contribution as the soul of the E Street Band.
Then, we crank it into gear and hit all the notes with those artists that you're probably not hearing on any mainstream radio, pushed hard on the web or TV by corporate labels, fiercely independent artists. True musicians who aren't afraid to follow their muse, and pay their dues, and have no...
This week's show starts with a very appropriate and timely tribute to The Big Man, Clarence Clemons, who walked across the veil last weekend, and some reflections on his contribution as the soul of the E Street Band.
Then, we crank it into gear and hit all the notes with those artists that you're probably not hearing on any mainstream radio, pushed hard on the web or TV by corporate labels, fiercely independent artists. True musicians who aren't afraid to follow their muse, and pay their dues, and have no use for the words "should sound like" or "the fans want to hear" or "well, if you want it to be mainstream. . . ".
- The Tedeschi Trucks Band ( a true collaboration, sublime)
- Cody Canada & The Departed (my most highly anticipated release of the year so far)
- Bob Geldof (yes, that Bob Geldof; The Boomtown Rats, Live Aid, etc.)
- Joe Ely ( a Texas treasure)
- Sarah Jaffe ( and a big thanks to Leif Rayburn for turning me on to her, from Denton, Texas, by the way)
- Justin Townes Earle
- Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights (Dallas and Oklahoma)
- Ty Stone (downriver Michigan)
- Jason Aldean w/ Ludacris (totally amped up version you heard at the close of the CMA's the other night, a tip of the hat to my son Caleb Williams for turning me on to this cut)
- The man himself, Shooter, plus Jason Isbell, the Drive-By Truckers, Leroy Powell and others
I'll stick with what I've said and gotten myself in trouble for, (and truly don't give a shit); American rock and roll is the most important contribution to culture and the development of the human spirit in the history of the world, period. Musicians are out our ghost poets, our conductors on the mystery train, our sages and philosophers and they reflect who we are on the inside. We need to support these younger artists who are trying to develop their own sound, and not be close minded, and turn into the parents of another generation who always said of The Beatles and Stones "Turn that shit down", and I see and hear way too many people of my own generation playing that same note and tune, and being narrow, close-minded and in so doing, try to kill the spirit that is music.
Remember to kiss your kids, tell the ones you love that you do, out loud. This rodeo, this flying circus we're in called life is a guaranteed one-way ticket and no one, absolutely no one, not you, not me, gets out alive. What it means is that this ain't no dress rehearsal, the curtain's gone up on the real deal baby, and the pyro's lit and screaming, so you get up on the side of that chute, get on, suicide wrap your right hand in, wait for the gate and then hang on for all you're worth to get to that cowbell and that 8 seconds, period. Wring every last drop of joy and juice out of life you can, everyday.
As always, a big shout-out to Shooter Jennings and his website, givememyxxx.com, where a lot of these artists can be found, and a shitload more that deserve your ears attention for a while. You can subscribe to this broadcast in iTunes, just look up Kip Williams in podcasts, and you can fan up and "Like" either "Music that doesn't suck canal water" on FB, or "The Desolation Angel - An Idiot's Ravings" there too, either one. You can always send a friend request to me, Kip Williams, just make sure to put a note with it that you're friending me because of the broadcast.
Till then, enjoy. See you again, this side or the other.
Kip
