From our buddy Bailey Jones over in Auburn with Sundilla!  If I come across as a little brain-dead this week, it’s because I have just returned from Folk Alliance. Folk Alliance is a four-day conference in Memphis, and to put it as simply as possible, a thousand or so musicians take over a large hotel and spend almost the entire time auditioning for people like me, in hopes to get booked at places like Sundilla. At a given moment there might be dozens of tiny little concerts taking place in various rooms of the hotel. It’s actually indescribable, and if not for the aforementioned brain-dead thing, I wouldn’t be trying.

It was at Folk Alliance two years ago that I first heard Miche Fambro, and immediately put him on my “gotta get this guy to Sundilla!” list. And finally, we have; Miche will be performing this Friday, February 26. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, though as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer. AND– I’ll mention this again later– you can go to www.offbeatauburn.com and hear an interview that our own Kelly Walker did with Miche. It’s a great way to get a handle on just how engaging and entertaining Miche is… though it’s only a fraction of the whole Miche experience. (more…)

After diving headfirst into the music scene with his 2005 debut, Above the Underneath, Sam Thacker released his sophomore album, Lines, in August of 2009.  But while it is often tempting to measure the careers of artists simply by their discography, much of Thacker’s story is found in the interim – it lives in overnight van rides and cramped motel rooms, grows through honest experiences and inspired collaborations, and it is written on the walls and stages of clubs and theaters across the country.

Indeed, taking such a substantial amount of time between albums was a conscious decision; one that afforded Thacker the opportunity to develop as an artist in a way that seems to have been forgotten by most of the music industry today.  He honed his skills as a songwriter and a performer over time and, perhaps most importantly, on the road.  “I’ve spent the better part of the last three years between a van, an SUV and a bus driving across the country playing music – following broken lines along highways and back roads to and from places I’d never been before,” he says.  “Every song on this album was shaped, in some way, by those stripes that lead me away from and back to my home…the lines that have made me the artist and person that I am today. They represent loss and appreciation for the past, growth and transformation, hope and excitement for the future. So this new album is called Lines. It is about crossing lines and drawing new ones. It is about the lines that bring us to where we are and the lines that will lead us to what we will become.”

Thacker’s journey thus far is evident on Lines.  Recorded in 2008 with renowned Atlanta-based producer Russ-T Cobb (Avril Lavigne, My Chemical Romance, Butch Walker), the album represents a remarkable growth for Sam both as a songwriter and a performer.  The twelve songs drip with relentless reality and emotion that demands notice, yet he manipulates melody and rhythm in a way that allows the songs to remain accessible to his diverse audience.  Performer Magazine notes, “Thacker writes lyrics that are personal while at the same time easily relatable.”

While Thacker’s sincere songwriting remains rooted in singer/songwriter tradition (think Bruce Springsteen meets John Mayer), he delivers his tunes with sweeping anthemic choruses that point to the influence of larger-than-life rock bands (like U2 and Coldplay).  Atlanta Music Guide writes, “Thacker combines the expected folk and country guitar riffs with an unexpected rock edge.”  Indeed, one listen to Yes (the opening track on Lines) forces the listener to immediately dispel any inclination to pigeonhole Thacker as just another “guy-with-guitar singer/songwriter.”

Ricky and Micol Davis, shortly after marrying in 1994, began their musical life together at an open mic night at Sassy Ann’s in Knoxville, which proved to be the beginning of something very special. After releasing their debut album, My Side Of The Road, in 1997, they moved to Nashville in 1998. Vanguard recording artist Mindy Smith, who had just moved from Knoxville to Nashville a few months earlier, encouraged Ricky and Micol to move to Music City, where open mics, jam sessions and songwriter rounds found the duo ready for 2001’s Delta Low ~ Mountain High, a release that continues to garner favor and attract media attention. 2005’s Miramax film, Daltry Calhoun, features Blue Mother Tupelo’s dreamy rendition of the Paul Anka classic, “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” and the movie’s soundtrack also includes BMT’s version. Love Live ~ 5 Songs From The Road showcases some live favorites recorded between 2001 and 2006, and highlights BMT’s penchant for jams and spontaneous sincerity. The song “Without You” (from Delta Low ~ Mountain High) is included in 2009’s 1970s style film, Sugar Boxx, directed by cult film maker Cody Jarrett. Through the years, BMT has traveled wherever the music leads—touring, recording, and living through their music.

Last week Joe Crookston set the bar very high for future Sundilla shows, but this Friday, January 22, Joe’s good friend Greg Klyma will do his best to reach that bar… and don’t bet against him. Showtime is 7:30 and admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, though as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer. We’ll also see outside temperatures that are considerably warmer than we had for Joe’s concert. (We have no control over the weather, of course, but after those frigid two weeks we’ve just come out of, I’ll take any reminder of warmer weather that I can get.) (more…)

The show Thursday Night at Eighth & Rail with Garrett Moore has been cancelled as he’s heading to Hatti to work with some releif efforts there.  More when we find out how it’s going with his group.

Adam Hood is at Eighth and Rail on Friday (Christmas) and Saturday Night.  Adam always works his schedule to bring him close to home for the holidays!

From the Eighth & Rail website about this weekend.  It’s Tim Brantley on Friday and Mike Dunn and the Kings of New England.  About Tim: 

Many artists struggle to establish their musical identity, laboriously trying on different musical styles like a piece of clothing, looking to find what fits. But there are others that emerge fully formed, in full command of their craft, their identity and their music. Tim Brantley fits firmly in the latter category. His new album, Goldtop Heights, is a captivating and moving debut that heralds the arrival of a gifted and significant new talent, one whose music feels familiar in the best possible way, while striking out on his own territory.

A Georgia boy who grew up in Loganville, near Decatur, Brantley played piano as a child, but didn’t take music seriously until he was in his early 20’s. He explains, “I started writing songs in my head, and it took my interest in music to another level. I had to pick the piano back up so I could cut music to the ideas I heard in my head. Then I started playing guitar to broaden my horizons even more.” Almost immediately, he formed a three-piece band and began playing local coffee shops and bars, going through what he calls, “the typical post-high school lifestyle.” “I wasn’t interested in anything I was doing other than music, and I loved the wide-openness of my life.”

And Mike Dunn and the Kings of New England:   In the year 2006, Mike Dunn recorded some songs. He self-released those 6 songs under the band name “Mike Dunn and The Kings of New England” The songs on the EP, titled “The Edge of America”, is a testimony of growing up listening and playing along to his favorite records. Records like “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty, “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, “14 songs” by Paul Westerberg and you know the rest…..

In the year 2008, Mike Dunn and the Kings of New England signed a record deal with P is for Panda, an imprint of Hopeless Records. Look for their debut full-length album “Sundowner” to come out in the fall of 09.

Almost born on the airplane from Columbus, Ohio, where his family lived, to Philadelphia, because his mom, a native of Philly, only trusted one doctor. Then the infant Edelman was flown right back to Columbus. “I was a very serious kid, and I think that’s why. That’s a lot of stress for a baby.” His best friend in Columbus was a weeping willow tree. From there Paul’s family moved to the north shore of Long Island, one of the natural habitats to the privileged dirtbag.” There was a lot of money in that town, we stood out like sore thumbs.” His family was always musical. Paul’s uncle narrowly avoided success when he refused to sell one of his songs to Joe Cocker.” Everyone in the family had talent, my mom had a beautiful voice.” (more…)

Friday Night at Eight and Rail!  Act Of Congress – “One of the freshest sounding, exuberant bands in all of the known acoustic universe.” Dave Higgs-Nashville Public Radio

Hailing From Birmingham, Alabama, the organic sound of Act Of Congress combines hook laden melodies, compelling songwriting, and intelligent acoustic instrumentation that’s rapidly gathering attention throughout the country. Having released their debut album “Declaration” (2008), Act Of Congress’ sound is grounded, approachable and technically masterful. In two short years, the band has been recognized by the likes of Paste Online, SXSW, Disney, and Billboard (chosen from over 2000 submissions to compete and ultimately win the 2008 Disc Makers IMWS Award.) AOC has also worked with Live Nation, opening VIP areas for artists such as John Mayer, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Brooks and Dunn. (more…)

Well, it’s here.  Thanksgiving weekend.  Work around town will slow in offices after lunch on Wednesday.  Folks in town for some turkey on Thursday, will escape to Eighth and Rail Thursday Night for Adam Hoods annual holiday return.  Adam is at the tavern on Saturday Night as well.  Crazy people, please don’t take offense, will get up and shop as early as 4AM at some area stores for Black Friday.  They will do that, even after the news on TV had told of stories of the loss leaders and how they draw you to the store for something you probably won’t get.  And then those football games on Friday.  This is the first of at least two years for the Iron Bowl to follow the turkey to town. Alabama fans hope that the game of 20 years won’t be repeated.  And Auburn High with another big game on Friday Night at 8PM.   Have a great weekend.  Please feel free to leave a comment (aka Join the Conversation)

It should be old news by now that Kate Campbell will be returning to Sundilla this Friday, November 13; that day is sneaking up on us quickly! Admission is $15, and you can buy tickets at The Gnu’s Room until the day of the show. Buying one of these tickets is the only way to be sure that you’ll be able to get in the door, and the ONLY way that you can sit in one of the comfortable padded chairs. (We will set out a limited number of folding chairs in the back of the room.) Showtime is 7:30, and the doors will open at 6:30. We will have free coffee, tea, water and food, and as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer. (And please note that there is NOT a special student discount for this concert, nor are children 12 and under admitted free.)

If you have been familiar with Sundilla for at least four years, you are probably familiar with Kate Campbell; the simplest way to put it is that she is by far the most popular performer among our audience (and it isn’t even close.) Kate has released 12 CDs, two of them since her last Sundilla performance four years ago, the most recent of which is called “Save the Day.” (more…)