Currently listening to...
Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw, Dinah Washington, Lhasa, Dave Rawlings Machine, Jake La Botz, Fire in My Bones gospel comp
Television
Nah
Heroes
JEFF WALL, mandolin-playing, cuss-loving, 20-year Navy veteran:
“I’d rather someone wrap themselves in the Constitution and burn the flag than wrap themselves in the flag and burn the Constitution.”
WORDS OF WISDOM — from KRIS KRISTOFFERSON:
“Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart. 'Cause that's all that matters in the end."
WORDS OF WISDOM — from DUANE JARVIS:
"Live for today, pray for tomorrow."
WORDS OF WISDOM - from MARTHA GRAHAM to AGNES DEMILLE:
"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, the expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open ... There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jake La Botz (Nov. 23), Michelle Manteris (Nov. 24), Kent Geib (Nov. 25), Lori DeWitt (Nov. 29) and Dawn McCoy (Nov. 30).
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own"
—Billie Holiday, "God Bless the Child"
WHAT WE ARE: Writers and musicians devoted to music, especially Americana and roots music — not a genre, but a wide field of interrelated genres, encompassing old-time, Appalachian folk, bluegrass, blues, Cajun, cosmic country, conjunto, African folk, funky blues-rock, gospel, hillbilly stomps, honky-tonk, roots-rock, alt-country, singer-songwriters, Cuban son, Southern soul, son jarocho, Southern rock, zydeco and numerous hybrids in between. Yeah, we prefer wide-open revival tents to exclusive members-only clubs.
AmericanaRootsLA started out of frustration with people here in the Los Angeles music community complaining that the scene was dead, when it was anything but. It's been a community resource for five years, first as a biweekly email newsletter and website (americanarootsla.net), and since early November 2006 as a MySpace calendar/page; both the newsletter and website are currently on hiatus while they're being revamped.
The goal has always been to help keep this community connected locally via regularly updated calendar listings (see below), news reports, info about upcoming releases and informational links. We also try to contribute to a national grassroots support network for artists and music lovers.
WHAT WE ARE NOT: Promoters, publicists or show bookers. We do, however, have good friends who are pros in those fields; we particularly respect all the hard work invested in supporting this scene by Shilah Morrow's Sin City enterprise and Kim Grant and Pamela Moore's Happy Bookers.
NOTE RE THE CALENDAR: IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING that anytime you see a show listing in the long-ass calendar below, it pays to call ahead and doublecheck not only the time and venue, but whether the show is still actually happening. We try to doublecheck info as much as possible, but this is a volunteer effort and we are not responsible for any of those last-minute lineup switches and cancellations, which are more common than you'd think...
SOME THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT US...
Under our roof, Willie & Waylon are rock ‘n’ roll; Kristofferson, Brother Ray, Johnny & June, Springsteen and Emmylou are heroes; and we get our soul food from Dock Boggs, Howlin’ Wolf, Lucinda Williams, Patty Griffin, Buddy & Julie, Townes, Hank, Gram Parsons & Chris Hillman, Clarence White, the Staple Singers, Los Lobos, ZZ Top, Doc Watson, Merle, Blind Willie Johnson, Tarbox Ramblers, Dinah Washington, Hazel & Alice, Lone Justice, Tony Joe White, Jessi Colter, The Band, Etta James, Steve Young, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Dave Alvin, Stevie Ray, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, Kimmie Rhodes, Roscoe Holcomb, Drive-By Truckers, Little Feat, Steve Earle, Carter Family, Patsy Cline, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Billy Joe Shaver, Billie Holiday, George Jones, R.L. Burnside, Dolly, Quetzal, Tammy, Loretta, Butch Hancock, John Lee Hooker, Dr. Ralph, the Blasters, Otis Taylor, Mary Gauthier, Guy Clark, Eric Taylor, Tinariwen, New Grass Revival, the Allman Brothers, Kitty Wells, Johnnie & Jack, Cesaria Evora, Ry Cooder, Buddy Guy, Patty Loveless, C.J. Chenier, Jim Lauderdale, Kevin Gordon, Leon Russell, Joni Mitchell, Anne McCue, Dr. John, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Shelby Lynne, Tim Easton, Jeffrey Foucault, Daniel Lanois, Skynyrd ... to name a few.
We love twang, but anyone who calls something Americana and doesn’t include the blues needs their ass kicked. Seriously.
Thanks, we can use it up here - still overcast & drizzly, but nothing like the torrential rains earlier! Think everybody was surprised at how much rain & wind we got
Just dropping by to say Hi and see what you’re up to and how you are doing.
As always, wishing you well. Stay positive, productive & purpose driven.
Peace
Michael
Got a Takamine LTD 2009....a beaut with a Cool Tube active preamp blended with triax soundhole pickup....hopefully sonic nirvana! I will find out Tuesday at the Lib...ya comin?!
Happy Saturday to ya. Man these fires are really bad. It's raining ash over here in Tujunga. I hope the fires don't spread towards your place.
Hey I just wanted to give you a heads up. Rachel and I went to the El Rey last night to see JJ Grey & Mofro. Holy jesus...they were good. There were two tapers there and one of them told Rachel that he would be uploading the show to Archive.org some time today. When you get a chance check it out. Here's the link. http://www.archive.org/index.php
Thanks Friends You cheered me up with 'All Right Im wrong' and moved me with 'Atlantic City' They both have great meaning for me. Pilgrim and Suede 1996-2009
I hear we are getting an extra voice for our Harvest Celebration @ Balic Winery. Is that true? Had I known it was for sure - sooner, I could have put you on the flyer. Love to have you here. Thanks! Enjoy and see you soon!
![Andy Mason [music]](http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/67/s_22ee704a2ba640dfbf477e8610bc3742.jpg)
