Professor Patterson Hood? Is the End of Days upon us? By Blurt Staff According to the Bible, the seven signs of the Apocalypse include war, famine, disease, hatred, crime and earthquakes, but BLURT's crack team of Biblical historians have uncovered the long lost eighth sign that Judgement Day may be near: Patterson Hood is lecturing today at Princeton University. The always-affable frontman of the Drive-By Truckers is meeting with American Studies students to kick off "Radio Free Dixie (Or, De Dirty South Broke-down): A Symposium on New South Sounds & Culture," a free two-day event that formally begins this Friday, May 8, which will attempt to examine the influence of rock musicians, artists, scholars, politicians, spiritual figures and critics that emerged from the Southeast region of the United States during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. We here at BLURT always enjoy any opportunity to shoot the bull with Hood. Our most recent chat with the long-time Athens, GA resident focused on Murdering Oscar (and other love songs), his new solo release due out June 23. Keep your eyes peeled for an extensive feature in our upcoming print edition hitting newsstands in June. You can read the rest of the article here.

Check this link (which is one of the articles I mentioned above) for a very well written history of Cracker. To answer your question, I'd say they have many different sides, one of which leans very heavily on country.

They've done some reunion shows in recent years (sometimes with Cracker on the same bill) but I've always managed to miss 'em. A third Lowery incarnation also often appeared on those same tours called Ironic Mullet. I'm pretty sure it was with that particular band in mind that Cracker cut their album Countrysides that included their takes on everything from Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mothers to tunes by Hank, Jr. and Dwight Yoakam. They'd even go as far as playing backroad dives and biker bars under the Ironic Mullet guise. During those tours with Camper and Cracker they would also apparently don disguises and open the shows as Ironic Mullet. I was just looking up stuff for this post and ran across a couple of cool articles, one of which mentions the Grateful Dead had been learning Cracker's Euro-Trash Girl but it never made it into any of their sets.

Hard to believe this album will be turning 30 in June. I can recall the summer back in '79 when I got it and Nantucket's Your Face or Mine? on cassette for my birthday. Seems like only yesterday. My how the time flies..

I'm a big fan as well yet I've never seen 'em live despite having ample opportunity to, including way back when they were touring with Counting Crows when August and Everything After first came out. I also had a chance to see Lowery's previous band, Camper Van Beethoven when they opened for 10,000 Maniacs in '89 but those plans went awry and I was unable to make the show.

More info on the new record from CrackerSoul as well as their label, 429 Records. I've only heard one song (see the clip below) but it sounds pretty good, as does the guest roster which includes Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers), Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) and John Doe of X. Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out

I think Eddie Van Halen's in a similar situation. He had been reduced to scoring a porn film prior to the reunion with Roth. Plus, who else would even want to be in Van Halen at this point? The other alternative would be Eddie joining another band (which I just don't see happening) which would leave his brother Alex in the lurch. I just kinda think it's either Van Halen or nothing at this point for all of them (well, except for maybe Wolfie who's probably being groomed for a career of his own someday).

I had a chance to see these guys back in the mid-90s during one of my first trips to Athens, GA but ended up at the 40 Watt Club instead to see Bryan Cook (Time Toy, Hindu Love Gods) and Goober and the Peas (which may or may not have included Jack White at the time). Bloodkin are playing here soon but it's the same night as the Gourds. Seeing as how I've already seen the Gourds once this year I may have to check out Bloodkin instead. BAND OF THE WEEK: BLOODKIN LAZARUS, DIG YOURSELF: THE EPIC, UNTOLD STORY OF BLOODKIN (OR: WHY YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF ONE OF THE GREATEST ROCK ’N’ ROLL BANDS OF THE LAST TWO DECADES… UNTIL NOW) By Steve LaBate Photos by Ian McFarlane Hometown: Athens, Ga. Band Members: Danny Hutchens (vocals, guitar), Eric Carter (guitar, vocals), Eric Martinez (guitar), David Nickel (bass), Aaron Phillips (drums), William Tonks (dobro) Album: Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again For Fans Of: Rolling Stones, Black Crowes, Drive-By Truckers, Carson McCullers It’s a scorching summer afternoon in Athens, Ga., the last day of Athfest 2003, and a few hundred people wait in the middle of Washington Street for the next act to take the hastily assembled outdoor stage. Finally, about 20 minutes late, local shoulda-beens Bloodkin slither onstage, ghostly pale, disheveled and sweat-soaked, hiding behind mirrored aviator shades. Frontman Danny Hutchens is dressed head-to-toe in black, his long, brown hair starting to gray from years of diving headfirst into places deeper and darker than most civilians could dream. But even more frightening is the sight of Hutchens’ best friend and lifelong musical partner-in-crime, the Keith to his Mick, guitarist Eric Carter. The nice way to say it would be to quote Kris Kristofferson’s classic-country tune “To Beat the Devil”: Carter looked like he “was about a step away from dying.” Really, though, he looked more like someone who’d overdosed, been buried a few days, then dug up and had a Les Paul Jr. shoved into his bony hands. You can read the rest of the article here.

Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers Songs In the Night

I think at this point it wouldn't make any sense not to have Roth in the band. I also don't see him not coming back especially since he's the one that's wanted it so badly for all these years. While I'm sure he's no walk in the park I think it's become crystal clear that neither is Edward, that's why Anthony isn't with them now. If they were to go with another lead singer at this stage it would only push them even further into Spinal Tap territory. If they're going to continue with Roth they definitely need to record some new material or else they're going to amount to little more than a nostalgia act. I saw them on that last tour and have no problem saying that's the main reason I went (I hadn't seen them in any formation since 1979) but they do need some fresh tunes. On that tour they did the same setlist night after night with the same scripted banter. I enjoyed it but not if I had wanted to catch multiple shows on the tour.

Tweedy fires back: Jeff Tweedy Thinks Jay Bennett Lawsuit Is Bullshit

Maybe it's because it's Pat's song? It's been a while since I've seen that particular episode of Crossroads but I seem to recall Martina holding her own pretty well even if it wasn't on that song.

Like Big & Rich? If you do like your country with more of a rock edge I suggest checking out the Bottle Rockets (Robert Kearns from that band as well as Cry of Love will be filling in for Skynyrd's ailing bassist Ean Evans on their upcoming tour) as well as the Drive-By Truckers. I believe you said you picked up Steve Earle's Copperhead Road. Was it by any chance the newly released deluxe edition (see below)? If so, it includes a show recorded at the Pier in Raleigh many moons ago. By the way, he also has a new album coming out of Townes Van Zandt covers entitled Townes appropriately enough. He is going to be playing a very intimate show in nearby Carrboro for that tour in June. Amazingly enough there are still tix available.

I've seen artists like Steve Earle, John Prine and others take home Grammys but they're not exactly household names. I do agree that some of the bigger awards are usually handed to fairly well known artists though. The Oscars do a much better job of recognizing relatively unknown/indie type films where the Grammys are infinitely more mainstream for the most part.

The article I posted in this thread back in February says that according to Edward, Roth will be taking part in the upcoming sessions though it also mentions Roth "couldn't be reached for comment on his future with the band". Edward also plans to tour with the same llneup again. Personally, I wish they'd lose Wolfgang and bring Michael Anthony back into the group but that just isn't going to happen.

I'd love to see Alison fronting a band that included Page, Jones and Jason Bonham.

I wouldn't exactly call him an idiot. Love makes folks do some crazy and fucked up things. He thought it was the best thing to do at the time so he did. He's back into rock n' roll these days but remains a very spiritual person. To each their own. Mainly just curious how rare it is. Since it was a promo item we received at the radio station I always figured there probably weren't that many copies of it out there. I did manage to snag a copy of Led Zeppelin On the Radio: Rarities On Compact Disc Volume #7 though.

What other country acts has Brad toured with? I've seen him with Tift Merritt, Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown. I know before that he was also in the Backsliders and Finger. I've also seen him in the post-Backsliders band the Anti-Carpetbaggers League that included all of the original Backsliders except for Steve Howell. I didn't even know Brad had joined Keith Urban's band until I saw him onstage with him on SNL a couple of years ago. I don't think I've ever seen 'em with Chris Frame. I believe the one time I have seen Son Volt Chris Masterson (from Jack Ingram's band) had joined. I do like Mark Spencer (Blood Oranges) though. I caught a Gob Iron show a couple of years ago and he was one of the many highlights (Farrar on drums was another). I've probably mentioned this before but what I listen to is dictated more by mood than being into a certain style. Today it may be old dB's and Let's Active records, tomorrow it may be the Itals, there's just no telling.

They haven't updated the years 1978-1981 but there's a list of shows N.R.P.S. played from 1968-1977 on their website (included the concerts they did with the Grateful Dead).

I'm not really a fan of hers but I did enjoy her duet with Jimmy Buffett on from his License To Chill record as well as her appearance with Pat Benatar on CMT's Crossroads. She's definitely got some pipes. Pat Benatar & Martina McBride "Promises In the Dark"

Ya mean these guys?

I don't think the bashing of Nickelback has anything to do with any sort of backlash (critical or otherwise), from my perspective it has to do with the fact that they suck.

Brad Rice is now with Keith Urban. I'm not an Urban fan, though I will say from what I've heard he seems to be a pretty fair guitar picker. Can't really blame Brad for taking the gig as I'm sure that's better than working in the trenches as he has for all these years. I've always been a Uncle Tupelo/Wilco/Son Volt fan but I've never heard any of Jay's solo records. I do like the last couple of Son Volt albums though but like you, I haven't listened to The Search all that much. From what I've been reading American Central Dust is the closest thing he's done to Trace in a very long time. That's not to say it's better than Trace or anything but it's apparently more in that vein musically than the last couple of Son Volt outings.

I'd love to see Levon Helm at some point but I'm not going all the way to NY to do it unless it's for one of his infamous Rambles. Speakng of the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, here's a link to the press release for the upcoming collector's edition of the CD/DVD box set. Looking forward to seeing this this summer:

Speaking of Farrar, have you heard the new Son Volt record, American Central Dust? I know it's not officially being released until July but it leaked about a week or so ago. I haven't heard it yet myself (I'll wait until it actually comes out) but everyone seems to be falling all over themselves to praise it.