The Perm & The Skullet

[permandskullet]

DAMIEN JURADO - OVER RAINBOWS AND RAINIER

Have you ever heard a song and instantly fell in love or felt you had always known it. That is the way I feel with Damien Jurado's first single, Over Rainbows and Rainer, off of his upcoming release, The Horizon Just Laughed. An instant capturing of time and place, a feeling, like a snapshot of your soul. I love tracks that can bring you into the song immediately and inspire such vivid imagery. I am such a visual person and songs that can provide a three dimension experience, not just musically and lyrically, but songs that can actually bring you into the piece, are absolutely brilliant. Jurado's song is an experience that literally kindles the imagination, creating an ambiance that pulls at your core. A song that conjures silhouettes, settings and false memories; A truly wonderful connection. I highly recommend this song and I can't wait for the album's release in a few months.

Damien Jurado's album, The Horizon Just Laughed, will be released on May 4, 2018 on Secretly Canadian.  All vinyl pre-orders will be shipped to customers one month early on April 9th; It'll be available to stream via Spotify, Apple Music, + Pandora on July 6th Pre-order: https://damienjurado.ffm.to/horizon

Like previous albums, The Horizon Just Laughed started with a dream – though that’s where things change, as they often do. It is Damien Jurado’s first self-produced album in a 20+ year career, more personal and more rooted than even his Maraqopa trilogy, as though after so much time on the road he’s stumbled upon his home. The album feels like a beautiful collage — its narrative pieced together through letters and postcards, with each part contributing to its greater whole, and providing snapshots of ones journey to find a sense of place and connection to a changing world.

I was thrilled to find out that my internet friend and artist, Marcus @mpw_67 , provided the artwork for The Horizon Just Laughed. He is brilliant with collage / photography and I highly recommend you following him on Instagram. I'm so happy for him!

[permandskullet]

Frank Ocean - Moon River

Thank you Frank Ocean / / Subtly dropped on Valentine’s Day, Mr. Ocean gave the world his version of the Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer classic from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Moon River won the 1961 Academy Awards for Best Original song and two Grammys, for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It has been performed countless times by some of the biggest names in the industry, yet Ocean is able to capture the simplistic beauty and wanderlust from the original like no one else. You can hear the yearning in his voice and the questioning of fulfillment in his own journey and the possibilities to come. A true musical pioneer.

[permandskullet]

Parquet Courts - Almost Had to Start a Fight/In And Out of Patience

I was digging through Spotify this morning and came across the latest from Parquet Courts. I've been a fringe follower of the group since 2013's, Light Up Gold, but every time their music comes on shuffle, I'm like, "Hell Yeah!". I love their sound and the new single from the band does not dissapoint. It's raw yet refined; Frantic but controlled. I can't wait to see them perform it live at Cat's Cradle in June. The new album is produced by none other than Danger Mouse and if this is a glimpse of how the entire LP sounds, I think we're in for a real treat. Check out their two-part garage rocker, "Almost Had to Start a Fight/In And Out of Patience" below. The new LP, Wide Awake!, drops May 18th on Rough Trade.

[permandskullet]

This is how I spent my morning. The Coachella Webstream/replay has been fantastic.

[permandskullet]

MERLE HAGGARD & THE STRANGERS Camp Mather, CA 1994 (?) [no label, 1CD] Live at Angel’s Camp, Camp Mather, CA; March 16, 1994.

Track 01. Cowboy’s Sweetheart (Bonnie Owens) 2:17 (3.8MB) Track 02. Workin’ Man Blues 3:18 (5.5MB) Track 03. Big City 3:05 (5.2MB) Track 04. Mama Tried 2:11 (3.7MB) Track 05. Where The Lonely Go 4:05 (6.9MB) Track 06. Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink 4:10 (7.0MB) Track 07. Silver Wings 3:29 (5.9MB) Track 08. Honky Tonk Night Time Man 1:59 (3.3MB) Track 09. Old Man From The Mountain 1:53 (3.2MB) Track 10. If I Could Only Fly 4:02 (6.8MB) Track 11. California Blues (Blue Yodel #4) 3:22 (5.7MB) Track 12. Okie From Muskogee 3:06 (5.2MB) Track 13. Mama’s Prayers 2:37 (4.4MB) Track 14. The Farmer’s Daughter 4:18 (7.2MB) Track 15. In My Next Life 4:01 (6.7MB) Track 16. I Am An Island 3:31 (5.9MB) Track 17. That’s The Way Love Goes 2:52 (4.8MB) Track 18. Brain Cloudy Blues 5:38 (9.5MB)

 ∆ Track 06. Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink 4:10 (7.0MB)

Get the entire collection here.

[permandskullet]

Here’s to you Hag

[permandskullet]

R.I.P. Merle Haggard - We’ve lost another legend.

[permandskullet]

Absolutely amazing.

Drive-By Truckers and Megafaun pay homage to Levon Helm at the Cats Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina. This the first of several encores from the show on April 19, 2012 -- the day of Levon's death.

Published on Apr 19, 2012 by htidas

[permandskullet]

What better way to bring this back, than to post some of the bands I can't wait to see at this year's Hopscotch Music Festival. There are many stand outs and obvious choices to post first, but I wanted to go with a band that I'm really excited to see perform live...The Spits.

[permandskullet]

Levon Helm, singer and drummer for The Band, left this world yesterday. Take a load off brother.

[permandskullet]

The Bowerbirds / Summer Hymns at Bickett Gallery

Had a great time last night at one of the final shows at Raleigh's Bickett Gallery. The night opened with the Deleted Scenes, followed by Pittsboro's The Never, and then a real highlight of the evening was when Billie Karel and Roger Gupton sat down for an impromptu acoustic performance. I think this was, in some part, in honor of what Molly Miller, Bickett's founder, has done for this community. Karel's gorgeous vocals intertwined with Roger's acoustic guitar and harmonies made for a truly beautiful experience. Their cover of Emmylou Harris' Wrecking Ball was one of the best renditions of the song I've ever heard. I was floored and I'm still thinking about it today. Below is a photo and I hope to see them perform again sometime soon. After the first three acts, I was thinking what a great night, but nothing could prepare me for Summer Hymns' Zachary Gresham. This was an acoustic solo set that was just mind blowing. I don't think people liked it as much as I did as the room began to clear after only a few songs in, but the small group, who were nestled on the floor, got an amazing show. His solo renditions of (the set closer) Pity and Envy, Mr. Brewer (Cackle, Cackle), and Bombay Brown Indian Ink, were just a few of the highlights for me. It was as if time stood still as we watched and listend in awe. Gresham's intense and genius like lyrics where nothing short of inspiring. Below are a few pictures, but they really don't do this justice. Download Summer Hymns covering Neil Young's Mr. Soul live at the 40 Watt Club 2/7/7. .: Mr. Soul The reason I went out last night was for the show's headline event. A chance to see The Bowerbirds in an intimate space before they go out on tour with The Rosebuds. I had this feeling that if I didn't go and see them now, it might be the last time I would be able to witness them with a small crowd. Not because they won't play small venues, no, I don't get that feeling at all, but, as I wrote in the review, the band is about to explode...and with the release of Hymns for a Dark Horse, and after the tour with The Rosebuds, I have this feeling alot of things are going to change...and by change I mean for the better. Once you hear them live, once you listen to their cd, you have no choice but to become a fan. It becomes second nature like taking a breath, only this breath is full of earth, life, and desire. I hope everyone has a chance to experience the absolutely beautiful song of The Bowerbirds. Below are a few photos from the experience. Download two tracks from The Bowerbird's Hymns for a Dark Horse. .: Dark Horse .: In Our Talons

[permandskullet]

Nathan Oliver

When I heard Nathan Oliver's music, literally my first thoughts were, "where has this guy been?". How have I managed to overlook a great talent in my own backyard? ( Unfortunately I'm sure this happens more often than I like to think) Then I read his one sheet and the first line reads, "Where has Nathan Oliver been hiding all this time?" See I'm not the only one, but I'm glad I found him. On his S/T release on Pox World Empire, Nathan creates somber/shaded pop-folk with just enough edge, just enough to get you moving and excited about what music in the Triangle area can be. He belongs somewhere in between an Elliott Smith heart with a Shins/Spoon feel, scoring a Wes Anderson film, and underlying it all is something I've yet to put my finger on. That something that is waiting to break out. Who knows, maybe it has and I'm just not privy to it yet, but what I do know is that Oliver joins a growing cast of amazing troubadours living in the area and you just need to listen to the tracks below to hear it. .: Black Ship White Sails .: State Lines Pt. 1 Nathan will be performing tomorrow night (May 20th at 8pm) at The Blend in Chapel Hill with The Watchers (Chicago), Shakermaker, Betty and the Boys, and LA Toy.

[permandskullet]

Dawn Landes

Dawn Landes’ bluegrass cover of Peter Bjorn & John’s “Young Folks.” Dawn recorded the song with WST (We Sorta Tried) Bluegrass Band from Austin, TX. Unfortunately it's not just the pretty voice of Landes, because the background singers kind of get on my nerves, but I got this in the mailbox and thought I'd post it. I love when people cover great songs...sometimes it works. .: Young Folks

[permandskullet]

The Avett Brothers

At over six years of perfecting their art, The Avett Brothers have become one of North Carolina's premiere acts. Sold out shows, the constant touring and perfecting of their sound, a recent gig on Conan, and now a new lp released May 15th entitled Emotionalism. The Avett Brothers are the trio made up of brothers Scott and Seth Avett, alongside friend Bob Crawford. They make acoustic folk music in the sense of their instruments of choice, but through the intertwining of guitars and banjos, we hear perfect 60's harmonies and lively backdrops, that create a perfect hybrid of rustic thoughts and pop dreams, not to mention the overly sincere vocals that are to die for. Emotionalism is a culmination of a passion that runs deep. The album expresses a beauty and desire for love, laughter, and heartfelt memories, all the while, living in coffin thoughts. The desire for such things, no matter how presented, are forgotten in today's world, on not only a musical level, but in life in general. Listening to the brothers Avett is like being washed with creek side waters emerging clean and refreshed and reborn in hope. If you haven't experienced The Avett Brothers by all means follow the links. Below is a sample track. .: Will You Return?

website | myspace

[permandskullet]

The Bowerbirds

Hymns for a Dark Horse marks the first release for the aviary known as The Bowerbirds, released on the newly formed Raleigh/Durham label Burly Time Records (Grayson Currin and Brad Cook)

There is a real sense of passion and heartfelt warmth that I hear on this release that was only sparsely played out on the prior material I've heard from the band. A polish that has yet to fade as I spend these summer days opening my wings to dry out and be embraced by the comforts of The Bower Birds.

Without a doubt, The Bowerbirds (Phil Moore, Beth Tacular, and Mark Paulson) are the latest gem to be mined from the earth in these parts...and for good reason. They make acoustic wind with gypsy eyes that blows over the brook and through your hair like a graced hand, providing that sanctuary I know you've been looking for.

A real sense of comfort and openness overcomes me as they take flight --- Moore's vocals fill the speakers and don't let go as he plays with the instrumentation and harmonies of Tacular, and we get a real sense of a band being stronger as a whole than it's individual parts.

Let go and enjoy the ride as they perform their dark earthy folk/pop tunes for all to hear--- Trust me, they'll bring you back upon the shores in which you started the journey, only this time your heart has been warmed and you're ready for the release.

Below are two tracks, with Dark Horse being a more fair representation of the album as a whole, but I had to include In Our Talons because it's a favorite (along with The Ticonderoga). The Bowerbirds are currently on tour with The Rosebuds, but you can get your fill locally this Saturday, May 19th at The Bickett Gallery alongside Summer Hymns, The Never, and Deleted Scenes.

.: Dark Horse

.: In Our Talons

[permandskullet]

Black Dragon

Eating Birds finds that balance between uneasiness and sanctuary. As the bells chime, you are tranced to ease, but when they slow, an empty ocean of despair and unknown sets in - Reverbing at your inner membrane, awaiting what is to come. You shutter with Lynchian fear, and what you hear, and you will find out if you let yourself, is at the heart of the Black Dragon. I've written about Black Dragon (Adam Hudson Spittler) before and my amazement with his tape-scapades of near madness and soul searching trips, His first album, Terrible Tide, is no exception. I keep trying to have Black Dragon be my first cd release under this "label" I want to create. Maybe one day...and yes it's that good. Below is "Eating Birds"... .: Eating Birds |myspace|

[permandskullet]

Son House

When you're dragged out, scaly skinned from the heat of the sun, laid up on the desert floor searching for the precipitation between the cracks of time...This and only this, is when Son House can be revealed to you in all his glory. Pure Delta Blues in all it's heavenly glory --- Pony Blues has been quenching my 2 & 2 is four thoughts of fish bone nights and Pony $ blues.... .: Pony Blues