This month's show, "Cow Tippin' "will knock you off your feet. Especially if you're of the bovine persuasion. Sit back and enjoy another fine hillbilly episode of The Big Enchilada!
Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 KSFR, Santa Fe, NM Webcasting! 10 p.m. to midnight Fridays Mountain Time Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrel(at)ksfr.org
Here's my playlist :
OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens
Diggy Liggy Lo by Doug Kershaw
She Gave Up on Herself by Miss Leslie
Who Shot Sam by George Jones
I Had My Hopes Up High by Joe Ely
I'm a Little Mixed Up by Eilen Jewell
5 Minutes to Live by Joecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre
(Sing a) Worried Song by Legendary Shack Shakers
Twelve Gates by Joe West
I Like to Sleep Late in the Morning by David Bromberg
All of the Monkeys Ain't in the Zoo by Tommy Collins
If You Ain't Livin' You Ain't Lovin' by Faron Young
Carolyn by Merle Haggard
You Better Not Do That by Tommy Collins
No One Likes Me by The Imperial Rooster
White Trash by Bottle Rockets
Precious Memories by The Blasters
May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose by Little Dickens
I'm Just a Honky by The Ex-Husbands
White Man's World by Jason Isbell
Tell the Devil I'm Gettin' There as Fast as I Can by Ray Wylie Hubbard with Lucinda Williams and Eric Church
Walk Right Back by Chris Hillman
Take a Message to Mary by The Everly Brothers
Stoplight Kisses by The Cactus Blossoms
Lay You Down by Nikki Lane
Ol' Dude with an Attitude by Tommy Miles
You Remind Me / 13 Roses by Beth Lee & The Breakups
All Apologies by Iron Horse
Way Down in My Soul by Zephaniah Ohora
What's the Score by Don Williams
Streets of Baltimore by Del McCoury Band
Guess I Got It Wrong by Robbie Fulks CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets
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A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican Sept. 29, 2017
Ty's most recent album cover
When I was a boy, back before rock ’n’ roll became “art” and recording sessions took on extravagant budgets that dwarfed the gross national product of some emerging nations, you could count on bands like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones or The Beach Boys to release a couple of albums a year, sometimes more. But by the 1970s, it became standard practice for bands to take two years or more to make an album. Thus, in recent years I’ve come to sincerely respect musicians like Ty Segall and John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees, both of whom seem maniacally driven to make their work available to people who want it — even if their marketing strategy (I’m using that term sarcastically) defies conventional music-biz wisdom.
Take Segall, who is coming to Santa Fe next week. This California kid has released more than a dozen new-material studio albums over the past decade, plus a couple of singles compilations, a handful of live albums, a nine-song EP of T. Rex covers, and various side projects. That’s downright brain-boggling, considering the boy just turned thirty a few months ago. If nothing else, you have to admire his work ethic.
Segall’s ever-growing body of work includes two self-titled albums: one from 2008 on Castle Face Records (which includes his immortal “Pretty Baby, You’re So Ugly”) and one released this year on Drag City.
The Segall album of which the new one most reminds me is Slaughterhouse, a 2012 pounder released under the name Ty Segall Band. And this comparison is a mighty compliment. Slaughterhouse, which packed more guitar fire and fury (where have I heard this phrase lately?) than anything Segall’s done since, is hands-down my favorite Ty album.
The cover of the 2008 self-titled Ty Segall album
This year’s Ty Segall comes pretty close. It’s produced by none other than Steve Albini, the Chicago-based studio guru best known for his aggressive, stripped-down sonic attack. (Think Pixies, Jesus Lizard, Nirvana’s In Utero.) Come to think about it, this record sounds more like a Steve Albini album than most of his productions I’ve heard in the past couple of decades.
The opening track, “Break a Guitar,” is a harbinger, with guitars screaming for mercy. “Thank You Mr. K” is Segall at his most rocked-out. “Freedom” starts a little soft, but it doesn’t take long for the guitars to roar. Segall’s voice in recent recordings has drifted toward Marc Bolan territory, but on the “The Only One,” it reminds me a bit of John Lennon on the verge of a primal scream, fronting Nirvana.
But not everything here is raw and rowdy. Segall is nothing if not versatile. “Orange Color Queen” starts out with folky guitars before settling into a ’70s British soft-rock groove. “Talkin’ ” features a slow, lilting, almost country melody that sounds closer to The Grateful Dead than anyone ever dreamed Segall would get. And speaking of The Dead, the 10-minute-plus “Warm Hands (Freedom Returned)” is a sprawling, constantly-changing excursion that dips into zones of punk, psychedelia, and metal. But somewhere near the halfway point, the songs seem to melt away, leaving just a quiet, noodling interplay of instruments and feedback. In the haze you can imagine the sweet-faced ghost of Jerry Garcia leading you back to the cosmic path to Terrapin Station.
The thing I love most about this album is that Ty Segall continues to amaze and surprise me. So check him out, and know if you don’t like this one, a new album likely will be here sooner than you’d think.
Ty Segall performs at Meow Wolf (1352 Rufina Circle). Doors open 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6. Tickets are $22, $25 at the door. Opening will be Flat Worms. Sorry, kiddies, only those twenty-one or older will be admitted. (What kind of message does that send to the children? I think it’s “Kids, stay home!”) For more information, visit www.meowwolf.com or call 505-395-6369. Also recommended:
* Orc by Thee Oh Sees. This group deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Ty Segall when you’re talking about prolific musicians. It was only about a year ago I was marveling at their album A Weird Exits, which came right on the heels of a live album. And after Exits they released what’s basically a six-song EP, called An Odd Entrances, which included an eight-minute song called “Nervous Tech (Nah John)” which is credited to Miles Davis, based on the great jazzman’s “Go Ahead John.”
On Orc, head Oh See Dwyer seems to lean a little heavier on electronica than normal, though the basic thrust of the music is still centered on his crazy guitar. That sure is the case with the frantic first song, “The Static God,” which kicks off with rapid-fire drums and Dwyer’s guitar, which sounds as if it’s about to explode. The next track slows down only slightly, with the guitar playfully bouncing off the whizzing, fizzing keyboards (also played by Dwyer) that sound like a Martian trying to play “96 Tears.”
Some songs, like “Animated Violence” and “Drowned Beast,” are mostly heavy and sludgy, while others are lighter and almost breezy, such as “Keys to the Castle” — at least parts of it. All numbers, “Castle” included, are subject to sudden changes in tempo, tone, atmosphere, and direction. And, of course, all are subject to Dwyer’s signature yelps, followed by him trying to murder his guitar.
The most interesting tune here is “Jettisoned,” which features verses with a Motown-like melody, with Dwyer singing in his finest whispered falsetto. The verses are soft, though these are momentary lulls. You can hear Dwyer’s restrained guitar itching to attack — as it does with wild gusto in the instrumental parts.
Some videos for ya
This is the official video for "Break a Guitar."
And here's Thee Oh Sees performing "Animated Violence" live
He was a soldier, a preacher and a honky tonk singer. He was an Okie who helped shape what became known as The Bakersfield Sound, recording a bunch of singles in the 1950s with a lead guitarist named Buck Owens. He wrote hits for Merle Haggard, Faron Young and Mel Tillis. Haggard wrote a song about him.
He was born Leonard Raymond Sipes, born Sept. 28, 1930 in Bethany, Okla. just outside of Oklahoma City. But he would become better known under his stage name, Tommy Collins. He would have been 87 today, but he died in 2000 before he reached 70.
I first became familiar with Collins in the mid '60s from his guest appearances on my favorite syndicated country music show, The Buck Owens Ranch. His songs were funny and a little suggestive. I thought he sounded like another Okie hero of mine, Roger Miller.
But he also had a serious side to his songwriting. Later, he'd write the dark tale of adultery called "Carolyn," which Haggard would turn into a hit.
Let's celebrate Leonard's birthday with some songs he did with Buck and The Buckaroos on the Owens show. Buck plays lead guitar on this one.
Here is Collins' version of "Carolyn." (I still like Haggard's version best.)
Once again some self-proclaimed Bible expert gave an exact date -- Saturday, September 23, 2017 -- when the world would go KABLOOEY as foretold by the ancients.
And now, this funky dude, "researcher" David Meade, says he made a slight miscalculation. The end will come in October. Meade now says.
That reminds me of a friend of mine who staunchly believed that Y2K would lead to a meltdown of civilization. When I chided him about this on Jan. 2, 2000, he said, "Well now I hear it's going to happen in a couple of months ..."
The history of religions, cults and weird beliefs in America (and I assume elsewhere) is full of Doomsdays that turned out to be duds. There are too many numskulls who believe this crap -- though there probably are too many of us who love making fun of it.
And a lot of musicians in recent decades have created a lot of songs dealing with the end of the world.
Here are some of my favorites.
Let's start with The Jefferson Airplane's greatest stab at apocalypse rock, "The House at Pooneil Corners." It was the final cut on their 1968 Crown of Creation album. The one with the mushroom cloud.
Everything someday will be gone except silence Earth will be quiet again Seas from clouds will wash off the ashes of violence Left as the memory of men There will be no survivor my friend Suddenly everyone will look surprised Stars spinning wheels in the skies Sun is scrambled in their eyes While the moon circles like a vulture
This one by R.E.M. is overplayed, but I still love it. In contrast to the stern sincerity of The Jefferson Airplane, Michael Stipe dripped with irony as he rattled off the lyrics:
Six o'clock, T.V. hour, don't get caught in foreign tower Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn Lock him in uniform, book burning, bloodletting Every motive escalate, automotive incinerate Light a candle, light a motive, step down, step down Watch your heel crush, crush, uh oh
Tom Waits caught a midnighjt boxcar to Pooneil Corner on "Earth Died Screaming," the first song of his 1992 masterpiece, Bone Machine. There was thunder There was lightning Then the stars went out And the moon fell from the sky It rained mackerel It rained trout And the great day of wrath has come And here's mud in your big red eye The poker's in the fire And the locusts take the sky And the earth died screaming While I lay dreaming of you
Here's a lesser-known song by a lesser-known artist, Phoebe Legere. "Armageddon a Go-Go" appeared on her 2002 album Last Tango in Bubbleland.
The anchor man has seven eyes Seven horns and seven ties He says "The end is near In fact, it's here." The sky rolls up and disappears ...
But more than 50 years later, my favorite is still the classic by the late Skeeter Davis. Technically, "End of the World" is not literally about the destruction of the planet Earth. There are no stars spinning wheels in the sky or raining mackerel or seven-eyed anchor men. But Skeeter's sweet voice and sad eyes tell a story of personal apocalypse that still makes me shudder sometimes.
Here's a live TV performance of Skeeter Davis singing her greatest hit.
Sunday, Sept. 24 , 2017 KSFR, Santa Fe, NM Webcasting! 10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrel(at)ksfr.org
Here's my playlist :
OPENING THEME: Let It Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres
Mess Around by Ray Charles
When You Stop Loving Me by Thee Headcoatees
Hangin' on a String by Question Mark & The Mysterians
Human Lawn Dart by James Leg Oh Sinnerman by Black Diamond Heavies
Mon Nom by The Yawpers
Eleggua by Dr. John
God is a Bullet by Concrete Blonde
Hey Pendejo by Chuck E. Weiss
Break a Guitar by Ty Segall
Some Kind of Kick by The Things Heavy Load by Phil Hayes & The Trees
Come Ride With Me by The Black Lips
Drowned Beast by Thee Oh Sees
Go Wild by Travel in Space
AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAZE Globalquerque was this weekend. But the annual Fiesta Fela is coming up!
La Muerte En Quillagüa by Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna
Makiyage by Bideew Bou Bes
Centinela by Bostick & Fussible
Aseni by Orlando Julius
Vodka is Poison by Golem
Antory Peca by Cankisou
Zombie by Fela Kuti
Walking on Burning Coal by Gogol Bordello
Love Letters by Dex Romweber Duo with Cat Power
Change for the World by Charles Bradley
Mean Old World by Sam Cooke CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis
Friday, Sept. 22, 2017 KSFR, Santa Fe, NM Webcasting! 10 p.m. to midnight Fridays Mountain Time Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrel(at)ksfr.org
Here's my playlist :
OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens
War Whoop (Chief Paduke's Revenge) by Legendary Shack Shakers
Keep on Truckin' by Hot Tuna
Second One to Know by Chris Stapleton
I Need Me (a Whole Lot More Than I Need You) by Miss Leslie
Cathead Biscuits and Gravy by Nancy Apple with Rob McNurlin
The Sound of Laughter by Jocephus & The George Jonestown Massacre
Callin' My Name by Lara Hope
Rag Mama Rag by the Band
At the Darktown Strutters Ball by Hoosier Hot Shots
Hungover Again by The Imperial Rooster
Deeper in Your Love by Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders
Six Pack of Beer by Hank III
Blue Moon of Kentucky by Reverend Beat-Man
Alien Baby by DM Bob & The Deficits
Waiting at the Turnpike by Dad Horse Experience
Arizona Rose by The Waco Brothers
Drunk by Noon by Sally Timms
New Old John Robertson by Chris Hillman
Traveling Man by Dolly Parton
Between Jennings and Jones by Jamey Johnson
Sunset Highway by Steve Earle
I'm a Little Mixed Up by Eilen Jewell
Fun All Night by The Banditos
Keep Your Mouth Shut by Beth Lee & The Breakups
Dysfunction by Joe West
St. Pete Jail by Panama Red
Vote for Me, My Name is Buddy Max by Buddy Max
House of the White Rose Bouquet by Ray Wylie Hubbard
Cumberland Gap by David Rawlings
Get Thee Gone by Geraldine Fibbers
Whispering Pines by Johnny Horton
Divers Are Out Tonight by Porter Wagoner
Given to Me by Southern Culture on the Skids
A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow by Mitch & Mickey CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets
Like the Santa Fe Opry Facebook page Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast! CLICK HERE Steve Terrell is proud to report to the monthly Freeform American Roots Radio list