Monday, October 23, 2006

New York Artists To Salute Gram Parsons
“Gram Parsons 60th Birthday Tribute: A Night of Cosmic American Music,” honors country-rock pioneers’ influence, showcases music he inspired

Ten artists and bands will pay tribute to country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons, who would have turned 60 in November, with a tribute show at Galapagos in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The show starts at 7 p.m.

The “Gram Parsons 60th Birthday Tribute: A Night of Cosmic American Music,” will showcase some of New York’s best roots-rock, country-rock, alt. country and Americana artists. The lineup includes the New Heathens, Chip Robinson of the Backsliders, the Demolition String Band, the Karen Hudson River Band, Future Farmers of America, Alan Lee and the Wicked Messengers, Sugarpine, the Apple Bros. and Joe Cassady and the West End Sound.

At the end of the evening, all the evening’s performers will join onstage for a rendition of the classic Parsons song, “In My Hour of Darkness.” Rench will DJ the afterparty.

Each act will perform Parsons’ music combined with original compositions. In between bands, videos of Parsons and scenes from the movie, “Grand Theft Parsons,” starring Johnny Knoxville, will be shown on a video screen above the stage.

“Every artist performing at the tribute show cites Gram Parsons as a major inspiration,” said event coordinator Nate Schweber, singer in the New Heathens. “This night will be a testament to Gram’s lasting influence.”

The show will be the first Gram Parsons tribute in New York City since October 1993 at the now-defunct club Gonzalez Y Gonzalez. That show featured several artists on New York’s Diesel Only record label including Alan Lee of the Twanglers who will perform with his band the Wicked Messengers on Nov. 15.

“A Gram ‘tribute night’ (is) a perfect way to spread the word about bands that show their country roots without acting slavish towards the concept,” Lee said. “Most of us have eclectic tastes and as a result feel comfortable writing songs in a variety of styles. Hell, it’s one of the major reasons I love the Rolling Stones and Steve Earle.”

Gram Parsons, a native of Waycross, GA., was a brief member of rock and roll hall of fame band the Byrds, and a major influence on its seminal album Sweetheart of the Rodeo. He fronted the band The Flying Burrito Brothers in the late 1960s before recording two solo albums backed by Emmylou Harris and Elvis Presley’s touring band. A close friend of Rolling Stone Keith Richards, Gram Parsons died of a heroin overdose in a hotel near Joshua Tree National Park on Sept. 19, 1973. He was 26. His most famous recordings include “Sin City,” “Return of the Grievous Angel,” “Wild Horses,” and the autobiographical “Hickory Wind.”

Galapagos is at at 70 North 6th Street between Kent and Wythe. Take the L to Bedford.
Visit http://www.galapagosartspace.com/ or call 718-384-4586.

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Monday, October 16, 2006

NEW CROW HEATHENS SHOW
New Heathens jam with Old Crow Medicine Show singer in Provincetown


The New Heathens jammed with Ketch Secor of the Old Crow Medicine Show on a couple of roof-raising songs at the Squealing Pig in Provincetown, Mass. on Saturday.

The musical pairing started when we performed the Old Crow Medicine Show song “Tell It To Me,” – which features the catchy refrain, “Cocaine you’re gonna’ kill my honey dear!” – without even knowing that the man we learned it from was sitting 10 feet in front of us.

I introduced the number as “a song we learned from a great band called Old Crow Medicine Show.” A young man sitting at the bar, dressed in a plaid shirt, jean jacket, charcoal-colored pants and boots, perked up. He sang along with every word. I thought he looked like one of the guys in Old Crow Medicine Show, but I put the thought away and chalked it up to the Ryan Adams/Hillary Duff/Marilyn Manson/Flock of Seagulls phenomenon (that fans of a certain artist or band often LOOK like said artist or band). Besides, OCMS are from Nashville, and they’re on tour – they just played New York’s Webster Hall two weeks ago – why the hell would one of them be at the Squealing Pig in Provincetown, Mass.?

After our set I walked up to the dude, thanked him for coming out, and mentioned that he really seemed to like the Old Crow Medicine Show song.

“That’s my song!” he said. “I’m the singer in Old Crow Medicine Show, that’s my band!”

Picture a bomb exploding. That was my brain. What are the chances of this happening?

“I thought you looked like the singer of Old Crow Medicine Show!” I said. “Will you come do that song with us if we play it again next set?”

“Sure! I love the electric version you guys do,” he said. “My name is Ketch, by the way. Do you guys know ‘Wagon Wheel?’”

I told him that I knew the words, but not the chords.

“It’s real easy,” Ketch said. “I’ll show it to you.”

Ketch picked up my guitar and showed us the chords, then I gave him a harmonica and we were off! We cruised through Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” with Ketch belting out the melody and blowing harp. I sang harmony and we kicked out a really cool version of the song. One take, no rehearsal.

Next we played “Tell It To Me,” this time with me on lead vocals and Ketch singing backup and blowing crazy harmonica. With each verse the playing got more intense. Ketch started shuffling his feet, then jumping up and down, then dancing like a banshee. The New Heathens were all dancing too, as were a whole bunch of folks in the bar. Others clapped while others pounded their fists on tables and stomped their feet.

Hot damn! What a blast!

Ketch says he’ll be in Provincetown for the winter. We’re looking forward to going back and hopefully jamming with him some more.

We’ve been extraordinarily lucky in the New Heathens to have jammed onstage with a grip of fantastic musicians including Keith Christopher from the Yayhoos, Boo Reiners from the Demolition String Band, Drew Glackin from Tandy, Charlene McPhereson from Spanking Charlene, Alan Lee from the Wicked Messengers, Peter Hutchison and John “Chico” Finn from Future Farmers of America, Zane Campbell, Jim Marchese from Mary Lamont’s band, John Truelove from Coppersonic and now Ketch Secor from Old Crow Medicine Show.

Hope to see you at an upcoming gig. Because you never know who might be there or what might happen…

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Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Dewey Beach Americana Music Festival in October 20-21

New Heathens will take stage on Friday October 20th at 10:20pm at the Rusty Rudder. Visit the website for a full list of artists and schedule.

Dewey Beach Americana Fest

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