Wednesday, February 20, 2013

ROUTES & BRANCHES
February 16, 2013
Scott Foley 

Phil Lee is a fascinating guy.  A longtime songwriter, he has released relatively few albums.  He was in a reformed version of Flying Burrito Bros. "for about 40 minutes".  He has been a knife-thrower, has hauled meat for the Tennessee Dressed Beef Company and is "the world's most cautious thrill seeker".  Fortunately for us, he has released his 4th album, Fall & Decline of the Mighty King of Love, a remarkably original slice of classic roots rock and near perfect alt.country that could make fans of Jerry Jeff Walker, John Prine and Todd Snider and swoon.  As with those other artists, there is definitely something a bit unhinged about Mr Lee, which is what makes his highwire act all the more mesmerizing.  Guests include Richard Bennett, Ken Coomer, Jen Gunderman, Joy Lynn White, David Olney and more.  "Grampy Lee" was also bold enough to provide some succinct answers to our Departures questionnaire:

Hometown:  Durham, NC
Favorite Music As a Youngster:  Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan
Your Five Favorite Albums:  Tams, Presenting the Tams
Beatles, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Bob Dylan, Freewheeling Bob Dylan
Hank Williams, Luke the Drifter
Rolling Stones, Beggar's Banquet
Lyric You Wish You'd Written:  "Do they take 'em for espresso?  Yeah, I guess so ..." Dean Martin, from "On An Evening In Roma"
Best Concert You've Seen:  Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Jim Lauderdale and Patty Loveless in concert at the Ryman Auditorium
What's On Your Player RecentlyAll I Have To Do Is Dream: Songs of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
 

In other news, I'll be hosting a rare Live@Lunch broadcast March 28 from noon to 1pm MT as we present live music and chat in the KRFC studios with Tom Gillam and Robert Cline Jr, both of whom are featured in this week's Episode.  Gillam has a new album out that I hope to be spinning next week in anticipation of his trip from TX to CO. 

*  Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Floyd Hill Whiteout"  Midnight Rodeo  (Self, 06)
^  Phil Lee, "I Like Everything"  Fall & Further Decline of the Mighty King of Love  (Palookaville, 13)
*  Living Sisters, "Jolene"  Run For Cover  (Vanguard, 13)   D
*  Jacob Jones, "Now That I Found You"  Good Timin' In Waynetown  (Electric Western, 12)
*  Shane Nicholson, "It's Such a Shame"  Familiar Ghosts  (Liberation, 08)
*  Buck Owens, "Swinging Doors"  Honky Tonk Man  (Omnivore, 13)   D
*  Mt Standard Time, "Forgotten For Rotten"  Sunny  (Self, 13)
*  Shooter Jennings, "Wild & Lonesome"  Other Life  (eOne, 13)   D
*  Samantha Crain, "Never Going Back"  Kid Face  (Ramseur, 13)
*  Doug Paisley, "No One But You"  Constant Companion  (No Quarter, 10)
*  Billy Bragg, "No One Knows Nothing Anymore"  Tooth & Nail  (Cooking Vinyl, 13)
*  Whiskey Sisters, "All I Can Do"  Whiskey Sisters  (World, 12)   D
*  Esther Sparks & Whiskey Remedy, "Back To Life"  single  (Self, 13)   D
*  Wayne Hancock, "Ride"  Ride  (Bloodshot, 13)
*  Jason Ringenberg, "Bible & a Gun"  Best Tracks & Side Tracks  (Yep Roc, 07)
*  Fox St All Stars, "Heard That Line"  Tough Talk  (Self, 13)   D
*  Bow Thayer, "Beauty of All Things"  Eden  (Tweed River, 13)
*  Tom Gillam, "Abby & Andy"  Shake My Hand  (Hayden's Ferry, 04)
*  Robert Cline Jr, "Mockingbird"  All the Right Reasons  (Mockingbird, 12)
*  Mavericks, "Lies"  In Time  (Valory, 13)   D
*  Susan James, "Wandering"  Driving Toward the Sun  (Self, 13)   D
*  Mary Gauthier, "Cigarette Machine (live)"  Live At Blue Rock  (Self, 13)
*  Two Dollar Pistols, "Gettin' Gone"  You Ruined Everything  (Yep Roc, 02)
*  Sons of Fathers, "Roots & Vine"  Burning Days  (Self, 13)
*  Beautiful Loser Society, "Eights & Aces"  Desperate Promenade  (Self, 13)

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