This week’s show was a whole lot of fun. Most of the second hour is me, Von, Big Kettle Drum and Branden Barnett cutting up in the studio with them breaking up the ball busting with songs.

Sound fun? If so, tune into the archive of the show.

Below is the playlist for July 15, 2013 [Artist - Song (Album)]

01. Drag The River – Old Sad Songs (unreleased)
02. Waylon Jennings: Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line (Golden Age of Country)
03. Hellbound Glory – Better Hope You Die young (Damaged Goods)
04. Sturgill Simpson – Poor Rambler (High Top Mountain)
05. Brothers of the Last Watch – Book of John (Brothers Of The Last Watch)
06. Jason Isbell – Traveling Alone (Southeastern)
07. John Moreland – Gospel (In The Throes)
08. Two Cow Garage – Swingset Assassin (Speaking In Cursive)
09. Bonnie Whitmore – The Gavel (There I Go Again)
10. The David Mayfield Parade – another year (Good Man Down)
11. Lucero – Darby’s Song (Tennessee)
12. Tim Barry – “222″ (Manchester)
13. Black Joe Lewis – Skulldiggin (Electric Slave)
14. Travi LaBrel – Paper Hearts (unreleased)
15. I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House – Mayberry (Mayberry)
16. Matt Woods – Hand to Mouth (Twang and Band Compilation)
17. Big Kettle Drum (Live In Studio)
18. Branden Barnett (Live In Studio)
19. The Builders And The Butchers – No Roses (Western Medicine)
20. Jake Bugg – Seen It All (Jake Bugg)
21. Have Gun Will Travel – High Road (Fiction, Fact or Folktale?)
22. Eileen Jewell – Shakin’ All Over (Sea Of Tears)

Bold = Request

Ninebullets Radio on Facebook
You can stream Ninebullets Radio here
You can download Ninebullets Radio here: Hour 1 / Hour 2
If you like Ninebullets Radio please drop a 5 spot in the Tip Jar.

P.S.: If you like this show, do me a favor and post about it on your Facebook/Twitter/Blog. It’ll do a lot to help these bands reach new ears…and in the end, that’s what this is all about. It’ll also help bring the existence of the radio show to more people’s attention & the more people there are listening/paying attention to the show the more likely it is to stay on the air.

Episode 128: aired 06.15.2013

Jason Isbell released an amazing record this week. As long as this isn’t the first time you’ve turned the internet on in days then you already know this. The man has been everywhere, NPR’s All Things Considered, New York Times Magazine, Paste, Twitter, Twitter, Twitter. And the record lives up to all the hype. It is Essential Listening.

Here’s what you probably already know about Jason and Southeastern. It’s a solo record because that’s what the songs dictated. It’s the first record he’s made sober and the first since his marriage. Both of those ideas play prominently on the record. Really and truly, if you read Nine Bullets at all then you’re a Jason Isbell fan. In my review of Live In Alabama I asked if people thought he was the most talented musician (songwriting, instrumental prowess, singing) in our little universe of music. I thought he was then and I think he’s pretty much slammed the door on that now.

That’s the review. Now I’m going to talk about other stuff.

Jason’s passed us by now, he doesn’t need Ninebullets when he’s got NPR and I applaud him for his success. He’s successful because his music is stunning and I couldn’t be happier that the world is finding that out. If you’re a new fan of Jason’s and you stumbled onto this review – welcome to the party, check out his previous work, you’re going to find some songs that knock you on the floor. Also take a look around Nine Bullets, there’s lots of great music to discover here. Might I suggest Brothers Of The Last Watch – a totally different thing but an amazing band that could use some more ears.

Everyone probably has a ‘the first time I saw Jason play story’ so here’s mine. It was pre-SRO explosion and word had already spread on the dbts yahoo group that some young guy was playing with the band now and he had a couple of amazing songs and could really play. I drove down to Denver to a little club called the 15th Street Tavern. The stage was a foot and a half high and the place was packed with 42 people. The band was really into their playing loud stage and they did. Midway through the show two “burlesque” dancers wandered into the bar and on stage. They danced half a song with the band and left. They were killer that night.

Jason Isbell – Elephant
Jason Isbell – Flying Over Water
Jason Isbell – Songs She Sang In The Shower

Official Site, Jason on Facebook, Buy Southeastern

I got into Bones In The Desert immediately. The first day I heard it I listened to it three times back to back to back. I can’t tell you why, maybe it was the fuzzed-out searing guitar of the opener, “What Have You Been Up To”, maybe it’s the sure-fire professional songwriting and playing but with a nonchalant attitude, maybe it’s because I was bored. Whatever, this record is fucking cool, like throwback cool, without being retro.

Bones In The Desert is a collaboration between Jack Logan and Scott Baxendale. If you’re familiar with Jack Logan then you’re probably sick of reading the same story of his debut record so I’ll just link to it and you probably know something about Scott Baxendale, but you might not realize it.

If there was a genre called cool gray-haired rockers these guys would be featured alongside Bob Mould and Robert Pollard, and could hold their own. From being around awhile, Logan and Baxendale have honed in on the type and sound of the songs they want to write. It’s slacker cool but it isn’t lazy. These two know how to write songs.

On a side note, current and former members of DBT are the backing band here. Bones In The Desert is out on Vinyl and as a download and if enough copies are sold they’ll make another record. So go drop some cash.

Jack Logan & Scott Baxendale – What Have You Been Up To
Jack Logan & Scott Baxendale – Head Of Little Jack Frost
Jack Logan & Scott Baxendale – Run For Your Life

Jack’s Official Site, JL & SB on Facebook, Buy Bones In The Desert

With the new John Moreland (9b review) and the new Jason Isbell it’s been a week of monster releases and truth be told; amongst all the (deserved) press and gushing those two albums are gonna get, the debut from Brothers Of The Last Watch is bound to come and go with barely a notice.

And that’s why ninebullets.net exists….

Brothers of The Last Watch is ninebullets’ beloved Scott McDougall and John Johnson of none other than Hillstomp. I’ve been wanting an album from these fellas ever since a buddy made me aware of them and I ripped “Frank T. James” and “The Wind” off their reverbnation page. Since that day, 8 months ago, they’ve been in regular rotation on Ninebullets Radio and the Ninebullets.net Podcast. Hell, it could be said that this was my most anticipated album of this year and I did not even know it was coming until a promo copy of it landed in my inbox.

Now in a moment of full disclosure; I’ve found thus far that Scott McDougall can do no wrong when a guitar is in his hands and he’s singing. Brothers Of The Last Watch is no different. It’s a bigger, more orchestrated version of McDougall, but that road-weary optimism and pro-human lyrical styling is fully present for all 11 tracks. So, once again, in my mind, McDougall has done no wrong.

So, buy your Isbell albums and your Moreland albums. They’re both awesome and deserve your undivided attention. Then once they’re both well-worn and you need to change gears, put on your ass-shaking pants and buy the Essential Listening sound that is the Brothers Of The Last Watch debut.

Brothers Of The Last Watch – Frank T. James
Brothers Of The Last Watch – Book Of John
Brothers Of The Last Watch – The Wind

Brothers Of The Last Watch’s Official Site, Brothers Of The Last Watch on Facebook, Stream & Buy The Entire Album

This one dropped via e-mail and unlike the stuff I’ve been writing about this year it’s got a little bit more of a rough edge. Odd Man Out isn’t Essential Listening nor is it all that polished but it shows a hell of a lot of potential. Elwood Kuddles is kid from Atlanta who is writing and playing what he describes as “Mediocre Songs for Mediocre Ears” and doing a damn fine job of it. The punk ethos of this one is what keeps dragging me back to it and yet the only way I can think to describe it is to say that Killing Kuddles is good right now and has a lot potential to be more than good. Odd Man Out is an EP that’s worth your time and I think Killing Kuddles will make more appearances here on 9B if he keeps going in this vein.

Killing Kuddles – Not Coming Back
Killing Kuddles – Rock & Roll is Dead

Killing Kuddles on Facebook
Killing Kuddles on Twitter
Killing Kuddles official website

The June installment of the Feel Bad For You Mixtape is up and streaming. The FBFY mixtape has entered a new segment of it’s life moving from a message board tape curated by Ms. Rockstar Aimz, of My Aimz Is True, to a mixtape put together by a collection of (mostly) like minded bloggers now curated by @BoogieStudio22. For a complete track listing, who submitted each song and why….click the more link.

1. Title: You’ve Got Your Head On Backwards
Artist: The Sonics
Album (Year): Introducing the Sonics (1967)
Submitted By: @popa2unes
Comments: Feel bad for you, You’ve Got Your Head On Backwards

2. Title: Skinny Little Bitch
Artist: Hole
Album (year): Nobody’s Daughter [2010]
Submitted By: hoosier buddy
Comments: I love how the song gradually speeds up at the end. And the lyric just drips with derision. And it’s easy to dance to!

3. Track: Bad Feeling
Artist: The Beat Up
Album: Black Rays Defence (2005)
Submitted By: Mad Mackerel Music Blog
Comments: Originally known as The Beatings, the band then evolved into The Beat Up, and formed part of the UK’s contribution to the first garage rock revival led by the White Stripes and Von Bondies. Unfortunately, they soon disappeared after the release of their debut album, which means the 2005 release Black Rays Defence is now a bit of a lost classic. A shame as Bad Feeling, the record’s stand out single is as ferocious, raw and visceral as anything that was served up then let alone in the past couple of years. It channels the spirit of the Seeds, the Stooges, and punk rock in a breathless, chaotic and wholly satisfying way.

4. Title: Chano Pozo’s Shoes
Artist: Tom Mason
Album: East Nashville 3: More Music From The Other Side (2010)
Submitted By: @toomuchcountry
Comments: Cuban-born Chano Pozo was instrumental in defining Latin Jazz. He immigrated to the US, and became the first in a long time of Latin percussionists in Dizzy Gillespie’s band. Despite his talent and influence, Chano Pozo apparently was hot-headed – especially when it came to money. And sure enough, he was murdered at the age of 33 because of an argument over money and debts. His age matched the spinning RPMs of a full-length vinyl LP.

5. Title: I Feel Bad For You
Artist: The High Score
Album (year): Sexy Losers (2003)
Submitted By: @annieTUFF
Comments: How about a song that fits the theme by going so far as to have “Feel Bad For You” in the title? This was a no brainer for me, and the song that pops in my head almost every time I type in the web address for this blog. It’s off an old High Score CD (man, 10 years can go by in a flash). A bonus of this theme is it made me revisit the other songs off the Sexy Losers CD (which are all pretty amazing) and reminisce about going to soooo many High Score shows the year this CD came out. Lots of sweaty nights at the Corner Lounge and Pilot Light, with the smell of stale beer and fresh cigarettes. Fond memories.

6. Title: Better Hope you Die Young
Artist: Hellbound Glory
Album (year): Damaged Goods (2012)
Submitted By: Bryan Childs (ninebullets.net)
Comments: A cautionary tale.

7. Title: Bring Me Backwards
Artist: Ellis Paul
Album (year): Translucent Soul (1998)
Submitted By: @philnorman
Comments: From one of my favorite “wallow in it” records.

8. Title: Broken Objects
Artist: 13ghosts
Album: Liar’s Melody (2011)
Submitted by: Corey Flegel (This Is American Music)
Comments: this feels like bad times to me….

9. Title: Capsized
Artist: Richmond Fontaine
Album (year): Thirteen Cities (2007)
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: When I read this month’s theme I instantly thought of Willy Vlautin’s writing and the characters and themes that populate his songs and novels.

10. Title: I Don’t Give A Shit
Artist: The Apes Party
Album (Year): Noises From the Hideout – The Best of the GaragePunk Hideout, Vol. 6 (2011)
Submitted by: @BoogieStudio22
Comments: Short, sweet and to the point.

11. Title: Idiot Wind
Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: Blood On The Tracks (1975)
Submitted by: Adam Dawson (@BrokenJukebox)
Comment: I went with a classic Dylan song here. Feel Bad For You can go so many different directions and I think “Idiot Wind” covers most if not all of them. He feels bad for her because of her faults. He feels bad for himself because she’s leaving. He feels a pang of sadness for her, for just knowing him. The protagonist in the song also wants the listener to feel bad for him and her. I realize I didn’t go out of the box on my first submission, but “Idiot Wind” was the song that immediately came to mind when thinking of the phrase, “Feel Bad For You”

12. Title: Shut Up
Artist: Savages
Album (year): Silence Yourself (2013)
Submitted By: @tincanman2010
Comments: Usually when I try to tell my problems to someone they nod politely and say “there, there.” Hence, when people tell me theirs I try not to patronize them. I just tell them to shut the fuck up.

13. Title: The Last Thing I needed the First thing this Morning
Artist: Willie Nelson
Album (Year) Pilgrimages (best of 3 disc set from 2000? not sure the original album)
Submitted by: Gorrck
Comments: I know most of you probably have this programmed to play as your morning alarm or whatnot, but you just can’t help but feel bad for the singer.

14. Title: Hooray for Me…
Artist: Bad Religion
Album (year): Stranger than Fiction (1994)
Submitted By: @scratchedsoul
Comments: Hooray for me…and fuck you. Straighforward and simple.

15. Title: Ain’t My Year
Artist: Todd Farrell Jr & the Dirty Birds
Album (year): Where Fake Cowboys Go To Drink (2012)
Submitted By: @TheOtherBrit
Comments: I think of FBFY as more of a “sucks to be you” kind of thing not some deeper meaning. Pretty much this whole album could have applied for the FBFY theme cause it’s got that “life sucks but we’re gonna make the most of it and get drunk anyway” which is what I love about Todd. I picked this song because I always think it’s a Two Cow Garage song when it first starts. But seriously, this whole album rules.

16. Title: Baby Bitch
Artist: Ween
Album (year): Chocolate and Cheese (1994)
Submitted By: @TheSecondSingle
Comments: I think of Feel Bad For You as basically a sarcastic way of saying “fuck off” and/or laughing at someone else’s misfortune. This song does just that.

17. Title: I Hear You Knockin’
Artist: Lazy Lester
Album: True Blues (1966)
Submitted By: @Truersound
Comments: Feel bad for a woman who can’t take a hint

18. Title: Humiliation
Artist: The National
Album (year): Trouble Will Find Me (2013)
Submitted By: Ryan
Comments: Every song by The National has a character that exemplifies FBFY. This one is my favorite from the new album and, obviously, its about someone who is getting shit on by life. With lines like: “If I die this instant/Taken from the distance/They will probably list it down/Among other things round town” um, yeah FBFY.

John Moreland’s In The Throes is Essential Listening. I’ve been writing for Nine Bullets for about two years and in that time I’ve written thirty or so album reviews and listened to countless other records. In The Throes isn’t just the best record released so far this year, it’s the best record I’ve heard since I began with Nine Bullets and I don’t know how many years before that. That was the easy part of the review, everything after this is the hard part.

Moreland’s last several records have continuously rocked less and less but the songwriting keeps improving. There are drums and electric guitars on In The Throes but the focus is on these ten songs. And these ten songs are gigantic. A Twitter friend of mine tweeted out several weeks ago that “everyone he knows who writes songs is crazy about the new John Moreland.” Obviously, that’s not the exact quote and I can’t remember who it was. But the point was made: John Moreland is a songwriter’s songwriter.

So what makes these ten songs so great? I’ve had the record over a month, listened to it dozens and dozens of times and I don’t have an answer. There are incredible lines throughout and I considered listing a bunch here but thought it would be cooler if people listed one or two of their favorites in the comments.

There is no doubt that there is sadness and pain in these songs. And I don’t know if there is redemption here or not, but there is redemption and comfort in sad songs. There is solidarity in the fact that someone else has felt the emotions I’ve felt alone in my home and that someone was able to write about it and share. That’s one of the reasons I find so much joy in sad songs.

There’s been times in my life that things have been really shitty and one of the things that saved me was the music of Townes Van Zandt. I know that sounds melodramatic and all, but so be it. I only said it so you would appreciate what I’m about to say. With the ten songs on In The Throes, John Moreland has shown himself to be the closest thing to the ghost of Townes Van Zandt walking the earth.

If you read Nine Bullets every day, or once a week, or once a month you need to own this album. It is a monumental work in our little corner of the musical universe. Period.

John Moreland – 3:59AM
John Moreland – Oh Julia
John Moreland – Blues & Kudzu

Official Site, John Moreland on Facebook, Buy In The Throes

I like to think that the Ajax Diner Book Club is something like the bastard cousin of Nine Bullets Radio. We’ve got a facebook page, and you can listen online at www.KRFCFM.org

The show airs every other Saturday from 6-8pm mountain time. (That’s a 8pm start on the east, 7pm central, and 5pm on the west coast)

Here’s how Saturday’s show went down:

Lucero “Mom” from 1372 Overton Park
Rachel Brooke “Late Night Lover” from A Killer’s Dream
Drive-by Truckers “Nine Bullets” from Pizza Deliverance
Chimney Choir “Pie In The Sky” from (ladder)
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House “Mayberry” from Mayberry
Mother Merey And The Black Dirt “Family Home” from Down To The River
Devil Makes Three “Statesboro Blues” from Do Wrong Right
Charlie Parr “Motorcyle Blues” from Barnswallow
Tommy Womack “Guilty Snake Blues” from Now What
Otis Gibbs “Christ Number Three” from Harder Than Hammered Hell
Todd Snider “Play A Train Song” from East Nashville Skyline
Amanda Shires “Upon Hearing Violins” from West Cross Timbers
John Prine “Saddle In The Rain” from In Person & On Stage
Jack Logan And Scott Baxendale “What Have You Been Up To” from Bones In The Desert
Robert Pollard “I’ll Take The Cure” from We All Got Out Of The Army
Sebadoh “License To Confuse” from Bakesale
Pavement “Summer Babe” from Slanted & Enchanted
Jack Logan “Genius Boy” from Tinker
Guided by Voices “Everybody Thinks I’m A Raincloud” from Half Smiles of the Decomposed
Centro-Matic “Talk You Down” from Candidate Waltz
Low Anthem “Boeing 737” from Smart Flesh
Charles Mingus “The Shoes Of The Fisherman’s Wife” from Let My Children Hear Music
Morphine “So Many Ways” from The Night
Rebirth Brass Band “We Came To Party” from The Main Event: Live At The Maple Leaf
Townes Van Zandt “Still Looking For You” from Live From Union Chapel
Steve Earle “Sometimes She Forgets” from Train A Comin’
Gill Landry “Annie” from Piety & Desire

BOOM! Since I’ve been on the air at WMNF I’ve have to do 8 fund drive shows and while it wasn’t always easy the show has achieved it’s goal all 8 times. This time we smashed the goal by more than 1500 dollars and that’s a testament to each and everyone of you. A simple “thank you” seems to be too small but it’s all I can think to say. So in the words of the amazing Otis Gibbs, thank y’all for giving a damn.

If you’re a regular archive listener and you want a shirt you can still get one until 5pm on Tuesday (06.11.2013). All you need to do is click this link and send in a donation of 50 dollars or more and specify a size in the comments section (available sizes are Men’s Medium through Double XL).

Just cause it was a fund drive doesn’t mean there wasn’t good music so please tune into the archive of the show.

Below is the playlist for July 08, 2013 [Artist - Song (Album)]

01. Todd Farrell – Ninebullets Radio Theme
02. Ashley Monroe – Weed Instead Roses (Like A Rose)
03. Lucero – Kiss the Bottle (The Attic tapes)
04. Jason Isbell – Live Oak (Southeastern)
05. Brothers Of The Last Watch – Frank T. James (Brothers Of The Last Watch)
06. Left Lane Cruiser – Amy’s In The Kitchen (Bring Yo’ Ass To The Table)
07. Damion Soumi – Ghost (Damion Soumi)
08. Nook & Cranny – Woke Up In Love (Nook & Cranny)
09. Bonnie Whitemore – Too Much Too Soon (There I Go Again)
10. Scott H. Biram – Blood, Sweat & Murder (The Dirty Old One Man Band)
11. Micah Schnabel – Cut Me, Mick (When The Stage Lights Go Dim)
12. JD McPherson – North Side Gal (Signs & Signifiers)
13. Holly Williams – Waiting On June (The Highway)
14. The David Mayfield Parade – Another Year (Good Man Down)
15. Travis Labrel – Last Day On Earth (upcoming EP)
16. John Moreland & The Dustbowl Souls – Low (Everything The Hard Way)

Bold = Request

Ninebullets Radio on Facebook
You can stream Ninebullets Radio here
You can download Ninebullets Radio here: Hour 1 / Hour 2
If you like Ninebullets Radio please drop a 5 spot in the Tip Jar.

P.S.: If you like this show, do me a favor and post about it on your Facebook/Twitter/Blog. It’ll do a lot to help these bands reach new ears…and in the end, that’s what this is all about. It’ll also help bring the existence of the radio show to more people’s attention & the more people there are listening/paying attention to the show the more likely it is to stay on the air.

Episode 126: aired 06.01.2013

Three times a year the radio station does a fund raiser and WMNF only exists because of the generous support of it’s listeners and the community. If WMNF, and more specifically Ninebullets Radio, mean anything to you, please take some time and donate what you can.

After 2 years of begging from both myself and the show’s listeners the station saw fit to give Ninebullets Radio 2 hours this year. Well, with additional time comes additional expectations during marathon week. Saturday I am saddled with a $3400 dollar goal as well as a 45 call goal. I think we’ll make it but it’s gonna require support from everyone, including you.

As a form of thank you I have the fancy new Ninebullets Radio tshirt (as pictured above) made and anyone who donates 50 dollars or more will find one of them in their mailbox in a couple of weeks. The shirts are being donated to me by the fine folks at Hot Leathers. Please note that the sizes available are Men’s Medium through 2XL.

As a volunteer programmer for WMNF I appreciate you and your support, each week, tuning in to Ninebullets Radio. But now, today, right this very minute, I need your support in the way of Dollars and Cents to keep the music flowing and our little show on the air. Here are three (2) ways to do just that:

(1) Tip Jar. Just click this link. Fill out the form and BAM! you’re done. It’s like early voting but you get to feel good about yourself when you’re done. If you donate enough for a shirt please specify a size.

(2) Call me maybe? Saturday afternoon, June the 8th between the hours of 2-4pm fire up the phone app on your trusty text message machine and dial 813-238-8001. A friendly phone volunteer will answer, you two will talk and 5 minutes later I’ll probably say your name on the radio.

(3) The, “if you want it so bad, you take care of it method”. Well. I do want it and I will take care of it. If you email me the following information, I’ll take care of the rest and WMNF will send you a bill: Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone Number and (most importantly) Amount You Wish To Donate.

No matter which way you decide is best for you to invest in WMNF, I thank you all in advance for helping me keep this little hour of our Americana scene on 88.5fm.

Bryan Childs (Autopsy IV)