#caleb elliott

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West Point Storm, June 14, 2013 Photographer: Richard Johnson (Caleb Elliott) Source: DeviantArt

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Neon Light (A Song For Tuckerton) by Michael VM from the album the happiest man on earth

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Caleb Elliott presents: I Don’t Believe You

Folky VHS vibes

Caleb Elliott released his debut record Forever to Fade in 2019, followed by Weed, Wine & Time in 2023 (both via Single Lock Records). He has opened for a variety of artists such as Alabama Shakes, Gaz Coombes (Supergrass), Sean McConnell, The White Buffalo, Fruition, and The Secret Sisters (who are featured on his forthcoming single). This year, he follows up Weed, Wine & Time with two new singles, “I Don’t Believe You” and “Slow Burn,” in which sonic influences like Harry Nilsson and Louisiana’s own Bobby Charles can be heard woven throughout Elliott’s melodies and arrangements.

When he is not recording and touring his solo project, Elliott is an active co-writer, with writing credits on songs like Mary Gauthier’s “Thank God for You” and Billy Allen + The Pollies “It’s Okay,” which was recruited as the theme song for Netflix’s The Madness. Elliott’s own songs have been featured on the Showtime series Shameless and the Marvel series Daredevil: Born Again. More recently, Elliott has found a love for co-producing records with long-time collaborator Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes), shepherding in the next generation of folk artists. As a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, session musician, co-writer, and producer, Elliott invokes a studied and heartfelt multi-disciplinary approach to bringing songs to life.

Stream the new single I Don’t Believe You in Spotify:

The protagonist in this song has allowed the denial to fester to the verge of a complete mental breakdown. He’s realized a relationship must end, and he will have to be the one to call it off. Bass, drums, guitar, keys and lead vocal were tracked live in the same room together, with the Secret Sisters angelic harmonies added in post. We wanted it to feel very live, like you’re in the room with an actual band performing together. The end result tips its cap to Harry Nilsson and The Band in a wonderful way I’m very happy about.

Check the official videoclip:

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Live Picks: 7/25

Screaming Females

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Americana, R&B, punk, hardcore, improvisational jazz--take your pick.

John Paul White, Lincoln Hall

Even if you were never a fan of The Civil Wars or John Paul White’s post-band solo career, you have to appreciate the guy. He co-founded Single Lock Records and helped expand its reach beyond music of The Shoals, releasing great albums by Nicole Atkins, Erin Rae, and Donnie Fritts. Plus, he co-wrote two of the best songs on the most recent Lindi Ortega album. Tonight, he may play only his music and non-White adjacent covers, but if you go, trust that you’ll be seeing one of the best Americana figures today.

Louisiana singer-songwriter Caleb Elliott opens.

Anderson .Paak, House of Vans

We previewed Anderson. Paak & The Free Nationals’ show last month at Huntington Bank Pavilion:

“Executive produced by Dr. Dre, Anderson .Paak’s Ventura is a quick follow-up to the disappointing Oxnard that’s solid, but safe. From the get-go, the skill at hand, in both the singing, rapping, and instrumentation takes reigns from the lyrics or themes. It’s a bold move to open your album with a song featuring a typically dexterous and overwhelmingly awesome verse from none other than Andre 3000, and .Paak’s slow and smooth delivery doesn’t quite keep the song in check. Overall, the record sees him at various stages of relationships, wanting a lover to come back to him on the opener, wanting to ignite a flame on blue eyed soul jam 'Make It Better' (which doesn’t use Smokey Robinson nearly enough), and questioning a woman on the freaky keyboard funk-laden, two part 'Reachin’ 2 Much'. On 'Chosen One', he wants a woman that loves him for him. On 'Twilight', he tells a lover that she guides him through the darkness–all you really care about is the arpeggio horn line and retro Pharrell beat. On closer 'What Can We Do?', he contemplates his next relationship–all you really care about is the mere presence of the late, great Nate Dogg. This is standard stuff with a great cast making the most they can out of the material.

Ventura succeeds best when .Paak gets creative with the format or delves into his sociopolitical perspective. The short, funny 'Good Heels' is a conversation disguised as a slow jam, he and Jazmine Sullivan contemplating how she’s gonna sneak in and out of the house to get her stuff back when his girlfriend is coming home. On 'Yada Yada', .Paak expresses his gratitude at being able to make music in general, let alone the type of music he wants to make: “Chicken wings and sushi, I’ve gotten used to the perks / Narrowly escapin’ the holy war on the turf.” And the political funk of 'King James' pays tribute to the biggest star in the NBA of the past couple decades, someone who also happens to be a philanthropist and advocate for the black community at large, someone for .Paak to look up to and aspire to be like.

Too often, though, .Paak’s grand realizations come in the form of thoughts like on 'Winners Circle': “If I know that I can get it, then I’ve already had it” isn’t really deserving of any sort of praise, despite its honesty and newness for .Paak. Songs of devotion and love might be novel for him, too, but the fact that he’s overshadowed by his guests make you wonder whether he’ll ever return to the greatness of an album like Malibu.”

Psych soul singer Kadhja Bonet opens, and .Paak’s band The Free Nationals perform a set of their own in between. Up at the site will also be an art installation by Dewey Saunders.

Screaming Females, Beat Kitchen

We previewed Screaming Females’ Lincoln Hall show last March:

“We’ve always loved Screaming Females, having last seen them at Music Frozen Dancing 2017, where we wrote that they stole the show even from that year’s headliners, METZ. We’re even more hype on their headlining show at Lincoln Hall because their new album All At Once is the best music they’ve ever made, highlighted by the stop-start thrill ride 'Glass House', far out, two-part 'Chamber of Sleep', and barn-burner 'Step Outside'. They’ll play a lot from All At Once and perhaps a couple from their other truly great album, 2012′s Steve Albini-produced Ugly.”

They may play a new song tonight at Beat Kitchen.

Punk bands Bad Cop/Bad Cop & Dark Thoughts open.

Terror, Bottom Lounge

The oft-touring Terror is one of five bands from Pure Noise records on this current showcase tour. We previewed their set at Subterranean last fall:

“Sure, Total Retaliation’s got its fair share of lyrical head-scratchers ('Execution / Exile / Disillusion / No trial!’). But a song like 'Resistant to the Changes’ is Terror turning a new leaf for the positive. ‘I will never take these words for granted,’ Vogel sings, 'I came here to erase those years / You gave me a place to come home / And I will never walk this world alone.’ Finally, the walls have fallen.”

Orange County hardcore punks Stick to Your Guns headline. Canada’s Counterparts, Long Island’s Sanction, and Delaware’s Year of the Knife also open.

Rempis/Abrams/Ra, Elastic Arts

In preparation for their performance at the Chicago Jazz Festival mainstage, saxophonist Dave Rempis, Joshua Abrams (this time on bass), and drummer Avreeayl Ra will play two improvised sets tonight at Elastic Arts.