24 November, 2015
12 November, 2015
09 November, 2015
Nikki Lane: All or Nothing
By: Moose Gronholm
Nikki Lane is a country girl born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina whom now resides in music city, Nashville. Yes she plays country, but this ain’t what you hear on the radio, and in fact she has asked before “why can’t we just have a pop-country radio station and a country-country station?” Her music is country-country at the core. Call her an outlaw, call her a rebel, call her whatever you may like because regardless of the label she is doing something she loves to do. Her music is honest and un-wavering in doing so. Her record label New West Records recently re-released her sophomore album All or Nothing to which she is embarking on winter tour meanwhile putting the finishing touches and working on her third album as well. The hard work is a testament to whom she is and the passion she has for what she does, and could all be contributed to where she has come from.
All or Nothing was produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) back in 2014. She has a wide range of influences from Motown, to country, alt-rock, and punk – rock and all Auerbach did was hone in on this and shape the record while letting her be her. From the first track “Right Time” to the last the record brings country into a different light. This ain’t your four wheelin’ country-pop record. The first song has a line that goes “It’s always the right time to do wrong right,” and you don’t have to use your imagination with a song that is called “Sleep with a Stranger.” As Nikki put it in an interview on her website when talking about the record “My songs always paint a pretty clear picture of what’s been going on in my life, so this is one moody record. There’s lots of talk of misbehaving and moving on.” From the music end of things this is a record that’s not pretty and polished it’s raw and simply reflects its singer in many ways. The pedal steel in its twang, the raucous drums, the sting of the electric guitar, and the smoky whisky voice of a gal from South Carolina make this album something country could really use right now. Again Nikki Lane from a Rolling Stone interview earlier this year “I’m not trying to make a pop-country hit,” she said “I’m trying to make a pop-country killer.”
She has been gaining and reaching much success over the past few years now, and while country music welcomes their pretty stars and starlets here is a gal who is brash and not afraid to say it. A little bit of Wanda Jackson and a little bit of Patti Smith mix em up and here is Nikki Lane coming to a theater near you. It is truly about as simple as that. All the while defining herself both as a musician, and as a songwriter, and carving her name into country music.
Nikki will be at the Woodward Theatre November 10th as well to country-fy your soul.
23 October, 2015
Our Heart
Here in my mind do i reside
Here in my heart do i bellow to the moon
Here where the rain comes gently tapping on my window
Do i flee with care the state to which both mind and body have become
I will find you
But i need to lose you
I need to let you slip through my grasp
You and I have been together for many sunset and sunrise
You and I have seen many a heart get trampled upon
You and i have had our heart trampled upon
The wind still came through with it's whistle
The skies still turned blue and grey
And like sheep we watched the wolves howl at the starry eyed sky
If the thought be fleeting then i shall pass
If the thought dances to the rhythm of that swing
Well for spontaneity's sake will hold and latch onto the thought
For i do not want to lose you, just yet.
I will eventually but not yet.
Here in my heart do i bellow to the moon
Here where the rain comes gently tapping on my window
Do i flee with care the state to which both mind and body have become
I will find you
But i need to lose you
I need to let you slip through my grasp
You and I have been together for many sunset and sunrise
You and I have seen many a heart get trampled upon
You and i have had our heart trampled upon
The wind still came through with it's whistle
The skies still turned blue and grey
And like sheep we watched the wolves howl at the starry eyed sky
If the thought be fleeting then i shall pass
If the thought dances to the rhythm of that swing
Well for spontaneity's sake will hold and latch onto the thought
For i do not want to lose you, just yet.
I will eventually but not yet.
09 October, 2015
21 August, 2015
28 May, 2015
06 May, 2015
23 April, 2015
Bob Cushing: Troubadour Songs
Bob Cushing: Troubadour Songs
By: Moose Gronholm
Bob Cushing has been troubadour in this area for 26 years playing shows and trying to make a living at it. For his latest project he recruited his long time friend, mentor, guitar teacher, and his greatest influence on his playing Chris Goins (of Hu Town Holler and many other projects and bands). Chris played all the guitars, did some backing vocals, some tambourine, and even produced this album for his long time friend. The recruited some other help as well to round out the songs Brian Baverman on drums, John Castetter on bass, Ricky Nye (piano, organ, and accordion), Karen Addie fiddle, and Kenny Cowden on harp for “Smoker’s Blues.” With this cast of incredibly talented musician’s Bob Cushing’s songs are now seeing the light of day, which he told me in a recent conversation, are rounded out and given the gusto they need to be country songs. Bob Cushing and I had a conversation about this album and music in general.
When Bob was 14 he bought KISS ALIVE, and knew he wanted to be a musician. He took up guitar, and a with a few blips along the way went full steam ahead at age 18. At 23 he finally got the courage to get up and sing as well. Shortly thereafter he met his number one influence in Chris Goins. Though Chris is two years younger he has been in the biz for several years longer than Bob. Chris took Bob under his wing when Bob was starting out. According to Bob, Chris is “a musician’s musician, and a consummate pro, and has never steered me wrong or given me bad advice. He taught me how to be a professional, and even gave me guitar lessons for awhile which is how we first met.” With this latest album Bob enlisted the help of his best bud Chris. It had been nearly 10 years since their last studio album together, and their last album together was a double live album nearly 5 years ago. In total they have done 6 albums. To say it was TIME to release as Bob said is an understatement of sorts.
Troubadour Songs is a culmination of sorts for Bob. A writing binge came to him and the feeling that these songs needed to see the light of day was in the air. With the album Bob takes his country music and songs and gives you an honest take on a life lived playing music. 6 songs of some pretty darn good country music. The writing is simple yet unique, fun and honest. “I hope they’re grading on a curve when i come to the pearly gates,” is a testament to the writing, and with the musicianship on this latest album it molds Bob’s words into some great songs. Bob told me “I’m very fortunate to be friends with some of the best musician’s in Cincinnati, or ANYWHERE.” These songs are country and are pleasant listen. With it starting to get warmer out this 6 song album would be great to listen to while on a drive, just anywhere.
The album has been recorded and is done. What the future holds for Bob is putting this out on the internet machine. The CDBABY, amazon, and all the media outlets, and radio. In his words “my work is just getting started.” Playing shows as well is in there as well. Living the troubadour life. He will be at a local venue out on the West Side called The Crow’s Nest this Saturday for his release of this album. There is something about music that all musician’s love, and it is the sheer joy of just playing. I asked Bob, like I ask anyone I interview, why music? Of all things to do or pursue, why this? His answer was simple on no non-sense, probably my favorite one to date, he said “Why NOT? Beats diggin’ ditches!”
19 March, 2015
04 March, 2015
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