On The Radio December 2, 2011 December 23, 2011 Brett Dennen, The Kruger Brothers, (Rebroadcast from March 25, 2011) Red Clay Ramblers, Charlie Worsham, Nikki Lane Cake, The Old 97’s, Hayes Carll, Hot Club of Cowtown December 9, 2011 Dawes, James McMurtry, Blitzen Trapper, December 30, 2011 Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Matthew Sweet (Rebroadcast from April 1, 2011) Mavis Staples, Dougie MacLean, Joy Kills Sorrow, December 16, 2011 Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Tim O’Brien The Nighthawks, Chanler Travis Three-O, Milk Carton Kids, Sarah Siskind, Lucy Wainwright Roche Hayes Carll James McMurtry Mountain Stage® from NPR is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting December 2011 On The Radio December 2, 2011 December 9, 2011 Nikki Lane Stage Notes Stage Notes Brett Dennen - In the early 2000s, Northern California native Brett Dennen Dawes – The California-based roots rocking Dawes consists of brothers Tay- was a camp counselor who played guitar, wrote songs and performed fireside. lor and Griffin Goldsmith, Wylie Weber and Tay Strathairn. Formed in the Los With a self-made album, he began playing coffee shops along the West Coast Angeles suburb of North Hills, this young group quickly became a favorite of and picked up a devoted following. Dennen has toured with John Mayer, the critics, fans and the veteran musicians who influenced its music. After connect- John Butler Trio, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Ben Folds. On 2007’s “Hope For the ing with producer Jonathan Wilson, the group began informal jam sessions Hopeless,” he was joined by Femi Kuti, Natalie Merchant, and Jason Mraz. His with Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, Heathbreakers’ Benmont Tench, and Black songs have appeared on “Scrubs,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Parenthood,” “Brothers & Crowes’ Chris Robinson. These sessions helped form the songs of their 2009 Sisters” and “House.” His current release is titled “Loverboy.” debut “North Hills.” The band’s new recording, “Nothing Is Wrong,” features Red Clay Ramblers - Now in their 40th year, the Tony Award-winning Red Clay Tench and Jackson Browne - who has since invited the band to both support Ramblers are a North Carolina string band whose repertoire reflects their roots and back him on a European tour. in old-time mountain music, as well as bluegrass, country, rock, New Orleans James McMurtry - The son of novelist Larry McMurtry, James McMurtry has jazz, gospel, and the American musical. Over the years, the band has per- established a singular style and voice. “Childish Things” (2005) featured the formed with a diverse cast of musicians including Shawn Colvin, Ralph Stan- stinging commentary “We Can’t Make It Here,” which won “Best Song” at the ley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Eugene Chadbourne, Ireland’s Boys of the fifth annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards. Always outspo- Lough, Randy Newman, and Michele Shocked. The Ramblers appeared with ken, “Just Us Kids” featured politically-charged tracks like “Cheney’s Toy” and the North Carolina Symphony New Year’s Eve 2007, and “Carolina Jamboree,” “God Bless America (Pat MacDonald Must Die).” In 2009, he released “Live in its second ballet, was debuted by the Carolina Ballet in 2005 and reprised in Europe,” with backing provided by Ian McLagan and Jon Dee Graham. 2008. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Hailing from Greenhill, AL, (not far from famed Blitzen Trapper Kruger Brothers - Originally from Europe, now living in North Carolina, Jens music mecca Muscle Shoals) Jason Isbell came into prominence as a member and Uwe Kruger were introduced to American audiences in 1997 and quickly of Athens, GA’s new breed Southern rockers, Drive by Truckers. A member of gained the attention of fans and the music industry. Joel Landsberg, a native of the group for six years, he struck out on his own in 2007. With more than 400 New York City, joined the brothers in the early ‘90s. Exploring the fertile ground shows under their collective belts, Isbell and the 400 Unit are a band that can between bluegrass and jazz, the group received a National Endowment for move effortlessly from ferocious rock to subtle, acoustic-based Americana. The the Arts grant for “Music from the Spring,” a symphonic suite composed and group’s current release is titled “Here We Rest.” orchestrated by Jens Kruger. In 2010, the Kruger Brothers also premiered a new work for banjo, guitar, bass and chamber orchestra titled “An Appalachian Blitzen Trapper - Formed in Portland in 2000 by songwriter Eric Earley, Blit- Concerto.” zen Trapper has slowly amassed both a large following and a resumé that includes playing most of the country’s major festivals. The band has toured Charlie Worsham - Raised in the northern Mississippi hills just south of Mem- with the likes of Iron and Wine and Wilco. The group appeared on Late Night phis, Charlie Worsham was proficient on most stringed instruments at a young with Jimmy Fallon, was featured in an episode of the Travel Channel’s Anthony age, and made his Grand Ole Opry debut with Mike Snyder at age 12. After Bourdain: No Reservations, and numerous songs have appeared in television moving to Nashville, he quickly landed a songwriting deal with a publishing shows, commercials and movies. Blitzen Trapper’s latest recording is “American company and before long was leading a band. He now divides his time be- Goldwing,” its third full-length release for the Sup Pop label. tween writing songs, doing recording sessions and playing live. He recently released his self-titled debut and is touring with Taylor Swift and Miranda Matthew Sweet - After cutting his teeth as the guitarist with Athens, GA’s Lambert. Oh-OK and Lloyd Cole, Nebraska native Matthew Sweet emerged as one of the leading voices of the ‘90s power pop revival. His breakthrough release, 1991’s Nikki Lane - Nikki Lane’s path to country music took her from her native “Girlfriend” - largely inspired by the demise of his marriage - quickly became a Greenville, SC, through Los Angeles, New York, and finally to Nashville, where in critical and commercial favorite as well as a touchstone for a decade of power addition to working on her music, she operates a vintage clothing store called For the latest information about pop artists. His 1995 release, “100% Fun,” reached gold status. In 2011, Sweet High Class Hillbilly. Impressed by her vocal chops and charismatic personal- celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of “Girlfriend” by playing shows For the latest information about these artists, visit their websites ity, she was signed by indie label IAMSOUND, which paired her with producer on which he played the entire album. He also released his first CD of original these artists, visit their websites by clicking on their names. David Cobb and Lewis Pesacov. The fruit of these sessions, a retro-voiced four material since 2008. by clicking on their names. song EP called “Gone, Gone, Gone” was released in July 2011. December 2011 December 2011 On The Radio Stage Notes December 16, 2011 December 23, 2011 Stage Notes The Nighthawks were over 10 years old and had baffled the mainstream CAKE - Founded in 1992 and achieving worldwide success thanks to platinum industry before the term “roots rock” was coined to explain West Coasters albums “Fashion Nugget” and “Prolonging The Magic,” Sacramento’s CAKE like Los Lobos and The Blasters. By then, the affiliation with many of the living was instrumental in bringing post-alternative rock to the commercial airwaves. Lucy Wainwright Roche blues greats seemed to brand The Nighthawks a “blues band,” despite the Recently, CAKE re-released its first album, “Motorcade of Generosity,” as an fact that they played with Carl Perkins as well as Muddy Waters. The band enhanced CD with previously unavailable video footage. After converting its has also played alongside legends John Lee Hooker, Pinetop Perkins and entire Sacramento recording studio to solar power, the band’s upcoming re- Hubert Sumlin, as well as contempories Warren Haynes and Bob Margolin. The lease, “Showroom of Compassion,” was written, rehearsed and recorded using Nighthawk’s latest album is “Last Train To Bluesville.” 100 percent solar energy. Sarah Siskind -- has been called “the best female singer/songwriter in Hayes Carll - Hayes Carll has garnered a reputation as one of the finest trouba- America today” (Steve Binder, legendary TV director/producer). She has dours Texas has to offer. Often performing more than 200 shows a year, Carll toured with Bon Iver and The Swell Season, and written songs for Alison has co-written with the likes of Guy Clark, John Evans and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Krauss and Randy Travis. She has also has performed live on World Cafe with In 2008, Carll won the Annual Americana Music Association’s “Song of the Year” David Dye and her music has been featured on NPR’s “All Songs Considered” award for his satirical “She Left Me For Jesus” - which “Imus In The Morning” and “Song Of The Day.” Her previous album, “Say It Louder,” was called “a host Don Imus called “the greatest country song ever.” masterpiece” by Bonnie Raitt. Old 97’s - Founded, in 1993, the Dallas-based alt-country, power-pop the Old Lucy Wainwright Roche -- grew up in Greenwich Village. Her childhood was 97’s is led by singer/songwriter Rhett Miller. After signing with Elektra in 1997, spent living out of a suitcase, either on the road with her musician parents, the group became a staple of festivals thanks to strong releases like “Too Far To or being ferried around to different relatives in her big musical clan. Lucy Care” and “Flight Songs.” Many of the songs on the group’s eighth and latest pursued her own path and became a second and third grade teacher.