All photos by Tracy May; to check out the complete gallery, click here.
The last time I was at The Ritz was for the fateful Corrosion of Conformity show where (4) people were stabbed with (1) ultimately dying. I’d heard a lot about the near million dollar renovation the venue had gone through prior to reopening a year (really? it’s been a whole year?) ago but I had not seen it yet. What better chance than for their free, one year anniversary show featuring one of my favorite songwriters, Grayson Capps (pictured with hair swinging at right)?
The venue itself is beautiful and the acoustics are dramatically improved. Granted, I am judging the latter on one show but Grayson and the Stumpknockers were loud and they sounded great and the re-configured ballroom is infinitely more conducive to live music than it used to be. While this isn’t supposed to be a review of the venue I wanted to mention it ’cause they did a fantastic job and I look forward to seeing more shows there. Read the rest of this entry »
You know what they say, “when it rains, it pours,” and such is the case this week with three shows in four days. While I don’t expect anyone else to adhere to such a rigorous schedule, I do think you can find something you like in one (or more) of these shows. If you do make it out to any, find me and we’ll tell fish tales over a beer.
I am so excited about this show. Honestly, I just assumed Grayson Capps would never come to Florida. BUT! Here he is and he’s bringing his full band, The Stumppknockers, with him. If the sound of Southern soul mixed with back-country stomp with a little road-house blues sounds like something that might tickle your fancy, you need to get to The Ritz on Thursday night for this show.
When I last wrote about Grayson I said, “I find myself drawn to the drunks, whores and vagabonds that haunt Grayson’s songs. They’re like old friends you keep up with via letters in the mail, and with a new album comes new updates.” It’ll be nice to finally meet this motley crew of characters in person.
Okay, last month we stumbled, both technically and performance wise, through the debut podcast. Come month two, we’re ready to drop the cream of Americana podcasts (from one of the best Americana blogs) on you, and our tech is prepped for the amount of awesome that you’re likely to find yourself listening to multiple times a week. I know I’m coming off like the Kanye West of the Americana blogging community, but I don’t give a fuck. I like fish sticks and I’m telling you, you’re gonna love it and you’re gonna listen to it numerous times. I feel that confident.
So, here is the tracklisting for what very well may be the only thing you listen to for the rest of this week:
Drive-by Truckers – Nine Bullets
Autopsy IV Commentary
Strawfoot – Cursed Neck
Pinebox Serenade – Woven Arms
Uncle Sinner – When Jesus Comes
Autopsy IV Commentary
Olin & The Moon – Call Me Up
American Aquarium – California
Eileen Jewell – Sea of Tears
Autopsy IV Commentary
Drag The River – Old Sad Songs [extended] (Lucero Cover)
Gillian Welch & Old Crow Medicine Show – The Weight (The Band Cover)
Scott H. Biram – Sinking Down (FD Session)
Jon & Chad (Drag The River) – Dancin’ In The Moonlight (Thin Lizzy Cover)
Autopsy IV Commentary
Grayson Capps – Going Back To The Country
Chris Knight – Enough Rope
Autopsy IV Commentary
Two Cow Garage – Should’ve California
IF YOU LISTEN TO THIS AND ENJOY IT PLEASE FORWARD IT TO SOMEONE ELSE!