Album Reviews

Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge: Close To Picture EP

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The Close To Picture EP was released recently on August 6, 2013. The responsible parties are Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge who is best known for his work with the prolific Punch Brothers. Close To Picture is a four track EP available to own at only four dollars. It is a small collection of thought provoking works for acoustic guitar. The melodies and compositional forms are engaging, and the performances are highly virtuosic. Seldom do guitar players in this medium perform with this high of a sense of shape, tone, musicality, and composition. In their own words, "With Lage’s background in modern jazz and new music, and Eldridge’s deep relationship with bluegrass as well as his being a member of the widely acclaimed band, Punch Brothers, this duo lives at the nexus of improvisation, spontaneous composition, and virtuosic refinement, all performed on their respective 1939 Martin guitars."

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Album Reviews

Pay The Devil: Money For Old Rope EP

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Since 2011, friends of the Dig Pay The Devil have worked to become a regular component of the Milwaukee Wisconsin music scene. The four piece band is comprised of Ivan Eisenberg on banjo, harmonica, and vocals, Ivan Wayne Baker III on guitar, and vocals, Matt Gibbons on mandolin, and vocals, and finally Kent Heberling on spoons, kick drum, and snare. Their newest EP is entitled Money For Old Rope and was released this week on August 6, 2013. True to their nature, it is a mix of Bluegrass, Americana, and  new compositions which speak to the audience through the filter of traditional music.

Read on for my complete thoughts. You dig?

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New Releases

J Roddy Walston & The Business: Essential Tremors

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People that know the music of J Roddy Walston and the Business know that they are the face of rock and roll in the 21st Century, and people that are still learning are about to agree. Building on the success of their previous two albums, signing to ATO Records, and now poised to release their third album Essential Tremors this September 10th, this juggernaut band with a charismatic, whiskey swilling, hard singing, Jerry Lee Lewis inspired piano playing front man is knocking down doors and demanding your attention.

In preparation for forthcoming release of Essential Tremors, the band has is streaming Marigold from the album. As read in Kyle McGovern's well written article for Spin this morning, Walston boils the song down like this: "'Marigold' is a dance song about the classic 'Girl meets boy who is pretending to be a girl, who is poor and an artist and dabbling in drug usage because it's all art and his trust fund says so,' story." Read on for my complete thoughts as well as a teaser video.

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Videos

Bryan John Appleby: Timber! Concert Footage

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Some unearthed footage has recently been posted on the world wide internet of Bryan John Appleby performing at the Timber! Outdoor Music Festival in Carnation Washington. This event boasted a seriously engrossing line up of artists (many of whom have been featured here on Those Who Dig) and put them on outdoor stages in the great outdoors of Washington State. Sadly, my relocation to the Pacific Northwest was just a little to late to take in this event personally, but I'm all in for next year. Regardless, Bryan John Appleby is a favorite of mine and I was happy to sneak a peak of his set from July 26th where he was caught performing both his own song, The Words Of The Revelator, and the Simon & Garfunkel classic Sounds of Silence. 

Even though this appears to be a bootleg camera phone video, the audio is balanced (props to the Timber! audio engineers for that one) and BJA's prodigious tenor voice rings out clear and true. If this taste of Bryan John Appleby has you in the mood for more, check out our other articles about him here, or swing into his bandcamp page to listen to, and consider purchasing his latest album Fire On The Vine. You can also get at our man via Facebook and Twitter. You dig?

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New Releases

Widower: Fool Moon

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LA based Widower is the latest addition to the Mama Bird Recording Company family. With the release of his album Fool Moon yesterday and in the company of musicians like Denver, SaintSeneca, Barna Howard, and Quiet Life, Widower is in a prime position to have a landmark year. Widower is the singer/songwriter moniker which front man Kevin Large has taken on for the last decade. On this album he is also joined by the enviable cast of musicians Brian Wright, Jeff Fielder, Ty Bailie, William Moore, and vocalist Kaylee Cole. 

Check out the single Oh Catherine, My Catherine below and then read on for my full thoughts.

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