It’s a heavy show today, at least in the beginning. We begin by introducing Ruby The Hatchet fronted by Jillian Taylor, from New Jersey. Then from Maryland, via the new Heavy Nuggets compilation, we check out The Obsessed. Then we pay a tribute to Rick Parfitt, the rhythm guitarist of Status Quo who passed away on December 24th. Then we introduce two brand new bands, one from Australia – The Rhinehearts and the other one Tyler and The Names, fronted by Tyler Bejoian from Boston. At the very end of the show, we hear two bonus songs from the brand new reissue of the legendary album Dixie Friend by Jim Dickinson.
Always August – Flatland;
Ruby The Hatchet – Vast Acid;
The Obsessed – Be the Night;
American Sharks – Satan’s Overture Pt. 1;
Nudity – Now I’m Resting;
Status Quo – Drifting Away;
Status Quo – Pictures Of Matchstick Men;
Camper Van Beethoven – Pictures of Matchstick Men (Live in CLE);
Rinehearts – By Himself;
Tyler & the Names – Orange Van;
The Infidels – Summertime Sucks;
Giant Sand – Milkshake Girl;
Babe Ruth – Sad But Rich;
Goodnight Loving – Dead Fish on the Banks;
The Prophet Hens – I Might Not Be Right;
The Mobbs – G-Type;
Occult Detective Club – The Way It Goes;
James Luther Dickinson – Old Time Used To Be (Christmas Tree);
James Luther Dickinson – Clap Your Hands.
We have some nice new projects for the familiar faces at The Little Lighthouse. Jeffrey Evans (68 Comeback, Gibson Bros) plays with Ross Johnson (Panther Burns) occasional gigs in Memphis and now an album of a set they recorded back in 2008 with Jim Dickinson is finally out on a disc. Robert Pollard gathered some old Dayton friends and formed a new band called Ricked Wicky (actually the name of one of his first bands). Tim Lee and Susan Bauer celebrate a 33rd and 1/3 anniversary with an LP of the same title. We introduce some new names in this show this time: Germ House from New Mexico, Two Gallants from San Francisco and The New Piccadillys who play Mersey beat versions of well rock’n’roll standards (mostly!).
Today we say goodbye to one of the greatest musicians in rock’n’roll, the bass player of Cream, Jack Bruce who passed away on October 25th this year. We briefly review his career through his songs with Cream, solo and Golden Palominos. In our Blues Alphabet segment we hear the original version of I’m So Glad, popularized by Jack Bruce, but written by Skip James. Rory Block, the greatest female blues guitarist who’s been around since the sixties, made a new tribute to Skip James.We also check out the new music by Dan Stuart hecho en Mexico with Twin Tones. We also have some new, promising bands today: Manateees from Memphis and Soft Shoulders from Montreal. We tie things up today with The Klitz, more legend than a band, four ladies from Memphis, organized and recorded by Jim Dickinson in the late seventies, which is now finally out on a 7″. Also, check out Eddie and The Hot Rods in our live in Cleveland segment, they really sounded great.
As usual, at the end of the year, we bring you the list of the best albums played here at The Little Lighthouse in the past season. I think this was an interesting year. Debutant band Games tops the list with a catchy selection of hits. The ghost of Jim Dickinson rules the list this year with several bands paying tributes to him. Memphis is the most frequent city on the list, remaining the capital of rock’n’roll still after all these years.
Things are very complicated this year. There are two excellent bands with the name of (The) Fuzz. Both are special projects from previously well established musicians. There is Fuzz (without “the”) from San Francisco lead by Ty Segall, a band that has captured attention of music fans all over the world. The other Fuzz is The Fuzz, they are from Memphis and they are lead by Harlan T. Bobo. You won’t hear that much about this band in fancy web portals though, except in this one.
San Francisco is maybe the hottest rock’n’roll town at the moment. But, in the world of The Little Lighthouse, the rock’n’roll capital is still in Memphis, TN. On our year end list, six albums are from Memphis and only two are from San Francisco. But only one of those records reflects the spirit of rock’n’roll in its most traditional, old fashioned way and it’s from Memphis and it’s all about Memphis. It’s the Trashed Romeos record Where Dreamers Never Go.
The most exciting thing in this show is the new band for Greg Roberson who was in Reigning Sound. His new band is called Trashed Romeos and they made a tribute to the Memphis underground scene in the 60s and the one and only Jim Dickinson. The record is called Where Dreamers Never Go. Lucero, also from Memphis, have a new ep and it’s called Texas and Tennessee. Regarding TX, Israel Nash Gripka moved over there and has a new album too. Elsewhere, we have Danny And The Champions of the World from London and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard from Australia with their brand new albums.
Some sweet new americana today, or maybe it’s better to call it roots rock, since americana is really a worn out term these days. Neko Case has a new record, as well as her bandmate from the Blacky Ranchette project, Richard Buckner. Mark Lanegan is back as well with a new record consisting entirely of covers aptly called Imitations. Let’s not forget the cow punk legends Hickoids from Austin who recently gave us two new records, one a cover record called Kicking It With The Twits and also Hairy Charin’ Ape Suit that contains new songs. Finally Dickinson brothers have a new record with the North Mississippi Allstars, called World Boogi Is Coming, which were one of the last words of their father Jim before he died. The record contains a new version of Brownsville with Sid Selvidge who recently passed away and who many years ago sang this tune also with Jim in Mud Boy and The Neutrons.
Today’s show is dedicated to Sid Selvidge. He was a part of the Mud Boy and The Neutrons, a group of highly influential Memphis musicians. Lee Baker on guitar and Jim Dickinson on piano both passed away relatively recently, and Sid, who was the lead singer, just died in May this year. He was an incredible talent and a great singer who did not put out a lot of records, but nevertheless, influenced many. We also have Bassholes with their new record called Boogieman Stew and King Khan also with his new record called Idle No More. We also introduce a new super-group, consisting of Eddie Munoz from Plimsouls, Clem Burke from Blondie and Keith Streng from Fleshtones. It’s called The Split Squad. Our Australian favorites, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard are back with a new Internet single, a cover of T. Rex song Lean Woman Blues.
Michael Tarbox used to lead a great band called Tarbox Ramblers. Hailing from the Boston area, Tarbox Ramblers were the leaders of the new blues revival for the past 15 years with a blend of academic and heartfelt approach that won our hearts. The first album for Rounder Records in 2000 was a furious collection of authentic and raw blues which relied on the primitive traditions on North Mississippi blues and Appalachian folk. The second album also for Rounder A Fix Back East was a step towards rock roots, split produced by one and only Jim Dickinson and Paul Q. Kolderie who we know best from his work with Morphine. Then, a long decade with sporadic limited edition discography followed.