Marcia Ball’s new album was recorded in Austin and Louisiana. Contributed/Mary Bruton
OUT THIS WEEK
Marcia Ball, “Shine Bright” (Alligator). At 69, Ball remains one of Austin’s most prominent and active musicians, and on “Shine Bright,” which features nine originals plus three covers, she shows that she still has plenty to say. Recorded partly in Austin and partly at Dockside Studios in Louisiana, the album is an ideal reflection of the dual-state cultural geography that has long shaped Ball’s music. Read more about the album in our interview with Ball at mystatesman.com. In-store April 24 at Waterloo Records, playing May 19 at Antone’s. Here’s a recent live duo version of “Life of the Party”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFecUWRin68&w=492&h=307]
Charley Crockett, “Lonesome As a Shadow” (Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers). Now based in Austin after winning a Best Blues Act award in Dallas a couple of years ago, Crockett sounds more deeply rooted in country on his fourth record. Ultimately, though, he’s drawing from a variety of traditional American forms; accents of horns are as likely to give his songs a soul/R&B as pedal steel is to steer the sound toward honky-tonk. Release show April 22 at Stubb’s indoor. (Crockett also will be busking outside Waterloo Records the morning of April 21 in connection with Record Store Day.) Here’s the video for “Ain’t Gotta Worry Child”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBoy0h0hlD4&w=492&h=307]
Ty Richards, “Welcome to Flat Earth.” Richards’ 2017 release featured a promising single, “Going Out for a Cigarette,” that got a lot of KUTX airplay. He takes a different approach on this politically themed mini-album, which features seven songs plus an collage of historical clips titled “IndoctriNation.” The music is heavy on synths, which generally serve the dystopian content of Richards’ tunes well, but render a cover of the Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night” all but unlistenable. Release show April 20 at Mosaic Sound Collective. Here’s the track “Merry-Go-Round”:
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/381761978" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]Arkansas Dave, self-titled (Big Indie). Thirteen tracks of steady if unremarkable blues-country-rock from the Arkansas native who formerly played drums with Guitar Shorty, Dr. Zog and others. Here’s the video for the track “Squeaky Clean”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWsOHKk_Tj4&w=492&h=307]
RECENTLY RELEASED
Jeff Warren Johnston, “Undiscovered Country.” Heretofore unknown, Austin native Johnston lined up an impressive cast to help him make “Undiscovered Country,” including Robert Earl Keen guitarist Rich Brotherton as well as Lloyd Maines on pedal steel, Warren Hood on fiddle and Kevin Smith on bass. Johnson has an appealing voice and writes easily likable country and roots-rockabilly songs that shine in the hands of such a stellar crew. Playing April 21 at Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse and April 25 on Sun Radio’s Texas Radio Live at Guero’s. Here’s the opening track, “El Toro”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4CwSTbWoJ0&w=492&h=307]
Honey & Salt, self-titled (Spartan). Ten tracks from the math-rock trio featuring guitarist Wade Allen, bassist Austin Sears and drummer Benjamin Sams. In-store April 25 at Waterloo Records. Here’s the track “Simple Errors”:
Cody Bryan Band, “Here.” Latest from the four-piece country-rock outfit featuring singer and rhythm guitarist-singer Bryan, lead guitarist andfiddler Zach Lynch, bassist Miles Barker and drummer Pedro Corsetti. Release show April 21 at One-2-One Bar.
RELATED: Jimmy LaFave’s last album scheduled for posthumous release in July
COMING SOON
- APRIL 27: Willie Nelson, “Last Man Standing” (Legacy), playing July 4 at Circuit of the Americas.
- APRIL 27: Gary P. Nunn, “Friends for Life” (duets album).
- APRIL 27: Mobley, “Fresh Lies, Vol. 1,” in-store April 27 at Waterloo Records.
- APRIL 27: Christy Hays, “River Swimmer” (Nine Mile), in-store May 14 at Waterloo Records.
- APRIL 27: Nightowls, “We Are the Nightowls” (Nine Mile), release show April 20 at Continental Club, in-store May 15 at Waterloo Records.
- APRIL 29: Dunebuggy, “33” (Flak), in-store April 29 at Antone’s Record Shop.
- MAY 4: Shakey Graves, “Can’t Wake Up” (Dualtone).
- MAY 4: Jeff Plankenhorn, “Sleeping Dogs,” playing May 2 on Texas Radio Live at Guero’s, in-store May 4 at Waterloo Records.
- MAY 11: Marmalakes, “Please Don’t Stop” (Austin Town Hall), in-store May 7 at Waterloo Records.
- MAY 18: Kelly Willis, “Back Being Blue” (Thirty Tigers), release show June 2 at Stateside at the Paramount.
- MAY 18: Jason Boland & the Stragglers, “Hard Times Are Relative” (Thirty Tigers), playing May 19 at Dripping Springs Ranch Park.
- MAY 18: Chris Sensat, “Rye.”
- MAY 25: Brownout, “Fear of a Brown Planet” (Fat Beats).
- MAY 25: Patricia Vonne, “Top of the Mountain” (Bandolera), release show May 26 at Continental Club.
- JUNE 1: Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, “Downey to Lubbock,” release show June 2 at Antone’s.
- JUNE 8: Jesse Dayton, “The Outsider” (Blue Elan).
- JUNE 15: Tish Hinojosa, “West.”
- JUNE 22: Giulia Millanta, “Conversation With a Ghost” (Ugly Cat).
- JULY 13: Jimmy LaFave, “Peace Town” (Music Road).
READ MORE: Check out all our recent Austin360 On The Record roundups