We first saw Kopecky Family Band last year on the first night we ever recorded The Warm Up. They were playing with Nashville’s now defunct Parachute Musical and Star & Micey, and we knew as soon as they played their first song that we just had to have them come to Ardent to record with us! That’s a lot of firsts!

We finally got our chance this afternoon when they visited us before their first show at The Hi-tone Cafe tonight. Not only were they a delight to spend the afternoon with, they played a brand new song off their forthcoming album, Kids Raising Kids. It was their first time to premiere it outside of recording it – how lucky are we?

Check out the show and then catch the band at a festival near you this summer – including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits!

Like all families, Kopecky Family Band beats with the same heart and writes in the same blood. ‘The Family’ began creating music together in Nashville, Tennessee in the Fall of 2007. What began as late night talks about life and dreams gradually flowed into eccentric and beautiful music that has led to numerous tours, including adventures to CMJ, SXSW and Bonnaroo, three EP releases and friendships across the country.

Leading the family are singers Gabe and Kelsey, along with Steven (lead guitar), Corey (bass), Markus (cello), and David (drums). The music is emotive, and evokes raw honesty and vulnerability, whilst capturing your attention through its unmistakable power and presence. The sounds created by the booming and orchestral-like 6-piece challenge the listener’s ear while still offering sweet melodies to sing along with.

We’ve been a huge fan of Tristen since we saw her play Bonnaroo last year, and so we were thrilled when we heard she was playing in Memphis at The Hi-tone with the Memphis Dawls and La Guerre.

We spent the afternoon recording songs and touring the Stax Museum of American Soul. Then we sent the band off  to have dinner at the Bar-B-Q Shop while we put the show together (that’s where we send all the bands that have a craving for Memphis barbecue!). And while we would love to sit here and write about how amazing a songwriter and performer she is, we’re gonna let you listen to the show and decide for yourself. Afterall, we have to get to a show. Tristen goes on at 10:30 – Hope to see you there!

Tristen is about to embark on a 3 week tour – see her in a town near you and look for her new album, Cave, in the fall!

With her warm, guileless vocals and earnest, evocative songwriting, Tristen has emerged as a truly individual talent, bridging genres and emotions to create a distinctive sound all her own. The Nashville-based songstress’ American Myth debut, Charlatans At The Garden Gate, is an ambitious and impassioned collection of finely honed modern pop, rich with exquisite arrangements and a remarkably intuitive lyrical approach. Weaving classic country, traditional rock ‘n’ roll, and reflective singer/songwriter balladry, songs such as the elegiac “Baby Drugs” and the spectral folk-tinged “Battle of the Gods” display an exceptional new artist opening herself to the world through heartfelt melodies and glorious hooks.

Katlyn Conroy is known to many as a member of indie-rock band Cowboy Indian Bear, but when that band isn’t touring, she fills her time working on her solo project La Guerre. 

Named after a vocal piece she sang in high school which is French for “The War,” Conroy recently released a three song EP that is a prelude to a full length album that is due to come out in the fall. We fell in love with her voice when she played for us this afternoon at Ardent Studios. We were not surprised when we heard that she was just nominated for a 2012 Pitch Music Award for Female Singer/Songwriter!

Take a listen to the show to see what we mean and then come down to The Hi-Tone and hear her incredible voice live! Show starts at 8PM~

The truth about honesty is it can be uncomfortable. But when this discomfort is embraced, when it is exposed and a spotlight is shown upon it, it can turn into something else entirely; even something considered beautiful. That’s what Katlyn Conroy has set as her mission throughout her years writing and playing music, dating back to when she was 11. Music, and all of art for that matter, is no stranger to sad tales of loss and regret, but Conroy manages to bring a childlike gaze to it, backing her honest words with light-hearted music of keyboards, percussion and other sounds. Can a kazoo accompany the notion of being pulled down with no chance of release? Can kitchen pans beat upon with drumsticks work as a backdrop for a song about feeling foolish? Conroy thinks so, and that’s what she plans to continue to do under her new name, La Guerre.

After years leading bands or in supporting roles, such as Cowboy Indian Bear, Another Holiday, Katlyn Conroy & The Wild &Wooly, One More Cheerful Action and The Ultraviolets, Conroy felt ready for anew identity. Named after a vocal piece she sang in high school, La Guerre — French for “the war”— embodies the themes she’s always brought to her music, but with a fresh sense of longing and desire behind it. La Guerre, which draws upon varied influences, such as Miranda July, Conor Obsert and Jason Lytle, utilizes a rotating cast of musicians, but one thing is always front and center: as long as the truth is uncomfortable, Conroy will show it can also be beautiful.

This has been a big week for our friends in Star & Micey.

On Wednesday, they were named the #1 band in Tennessee to “See Now” by Paste Magazine, so today we invited them to hang out with us and record three unreleased songs for your listening pleasure. They’ll be playing the Overton Square Block Party this afternoon at 6:30 before they hit the road to go back on tour. If you’re on the east coast, they’ll be heading your way soon – so keep a look out. You can even sign up for a reminder on their brand new website.

Take a listen to the show to get details on their upcoming EP and their secret plans to dig up the bones of Hank Williams.

It was a dark night, like many before it in Memphis, Tennessee. Joshua Andrew Cosby walked home from rehearsal with his guitar, case-less, slung over his back. A local homeless man flagged him down, not for money but for a story. He explained to Cosby how he had written a song about his ex-wife Micey. There, on that dimly lit street occurred an exchange, two men playing each other songs of heartbreak and the ultimate sacrifice. Upon parting ways, this man revealed his name to be Star. That name became the fixture for one of Memphis’ most inventive bands: Star & Micey. Its core members are listed as two brothers without the same last name, Geoff Smith and Joshua Cosby. It was merely coincidence that Cosby later met Nick Redmond at a local pub and began a relationship based on music and above all, brotherhood.

Star & Micey’s self titled debut album features a revolving door of fantastic musicians including Luther Dickinson (The Black Crowes, North Mississippi Allstars), Jody Stephens (Big Star) and Rick Steff (Cat Power, Lucero), just to name a few. However, when the sun sets, it is Cosby, Smith, and Redmond that work relentlessly night after night. Hopefully, the music they make can transcend material possessions, and exhibit something that is always tangible between these three troubadours; that thing is love.

It’s no secret that The Memphis Dawls are one of our favorite bands, so of course, we were really excited to get them back on the show and see what the latest news is since they were our guests last September.

In addition to their debut EP ending up being listed as New & Noteworthy on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Page and opening for Jack White back in the spring, they’ve been keeping busy with appearances on BalconyTV Nashville, Lindsay Street Hall Presents and Oxford’s Music in the Hall. Yesterday they were listed as #7 on Paste Magazine‘s 12 Tennessee Bands You Should Listen To Now! and on September 22nd they’ll be opening for one of their heroes, Emmylou Harris, at The Levitt Shell.

If you haven’t seen the band live, you’ll have two chances in Memphis this weekend. The Memphis Dawls will be playing a free show tomorrow afternoon 4PM at The Overton Square Block Party with Star & Micey, and then they’ll open for the amazing Tristen on Sunday at The Hi-Tone. If you want to be able to say that you saw them before they were huge, now’s your chance…

And be sure to take a listen to the show to hear TWO brand new songs…

Holly Cole, Jana Misener & Krista Wroten began creating music together in high school. Although the surroundings were less than romantic, their sound was powerful even then. The three rejoined after roaming the country for college and other bands. The girls took some cues from artists like Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. Folk and classic country provide a foundation while the heavy string laden R&B songs from Otis Redding to Minnie Riperton make up the walls and roof. Including Jonathan McLaren on vibraphone and drums and Nahshon Benford on trumpet and euphonium allowed the band to explore more territory. A typical show can take a listener from a warm morning in the arms of a lover to a cold night alone lost in a desert and, thankfully, back again. 

They all take inspiration from outside influences: Cole with a degree in sculpture and Misener and Wroten involvement with several film soundtracks. The band continues to play across the country and their sound continues to grow bigger and more graceful than it’s humble beginnings.

We first saw The Winter Sounds about 5 years ago at The P&H Cafe. We liked them so much that when we created our podcast The Ardent Sessions, they were the first band we invited to play it. 

Unfortunately,  we couldn’t work out the date, so here it is half a decade later, and we finally got them into the studio. The music game is a long and winding road. Just take a listen to the show to hear about how long it sometimes takes to put a record out. We also discussed touring tips and mosquito bites. And of course, they shared some songs with us.

If you dig the tunes, they’re playing later tonight at Kudzu’s with The Kernal and Kate Lawson. Who could ask for a better line-up? See ya there!

The Winter Sounds play epic indie/new wave/dance/folk and punk anthems with unique instrumentation and have a high energy live show. They’ll be releasing their new album, Runners, in the fall. Catch them on tour in a town near you.

We’ve been rushing around all afternoon, because William Beckett is playing an early show at The Hi-Tone and we don’t want to miss it. He just released a new EP in April, called Walk the Talk, that we’ve had on repeat the past several days, and now having seen him perform live in Studio C, we’re pretty sure the show is going to fantastic.

After dragging him and his posse through the Stax Museum of American Soul music like we were on some kind of speed date, who do we run into back at Ardent but Don Nix?

So, of course we hung out for a little bit to check out the new Mark Massey album he’s producing. When Don Nix tells you to have a seat on the couch and listen to the playback – you do it! And before we headed over to record, he treated us to one of his classic John Fry stories. We need to remember to write these moments down…

Anyway, take a listen to the show where we talk about why he decided to do the new EP without a band and what it’s like to be a tall, white rock star in Japan (he’s headed there for the 7th time in just a few days) Plus,  Beckett plays a brand new song called, “Great Night.” We’ll see you at the Hi-tone!

William Beckett is a singer/songwriter from Chicago. You can follow him on Tumblr.

It’s always fun to have old friends visit, and that’s exactly what happened with John Elliott, Raina Rose, Anthony da Costa and Andrew Pressman showed up early this morning before they headed to Fayetteville.  Elliott, Rose and da Costa have all stopped through Ardent over the past 5 years to record their own Ardent Presents sessions, and now they’re on the road together and getting ready to release a new album on Family Records.

They didn’t play any songs from their upcoming EP, unfortunately, but they did play some great tunes, including the new single from Anthony da Costa’s new solo album, Secret Handshake.

Keep your eyes and ears open for more amazing music coming from these guys in 2012, they’ll be playing all over the world for the rest of the year – both together and apart!

And, don’t forget to check out our solo podcasts with Anthony da Costa, Raina Rose and John Elliott!

John Elliott, Raina Rose and Anthony da Costa first sang together in the Kerrville campgrounds in 2007. They wish they were trains. Their songs and sensibilities are as different as the states they call home (California, Texas & New York), resulting in a captivating and unpredictable live show. Andrew Pressman (CA native, TX transplant) joins them on bass to complete and elevate the vibe. Also to father and co-parent Raina’s first child, Emmett.

Their début collective EP was produced by Tony Berg (Bruce Hornsby, Nickel Creek, Edie Brickell) and is soon to be released by Family Records (Rosi Golan, Pearl & The Beard). WHATTA SOUND!!! They have toured nationwide and will be featured in a forthcoming documentary about folk music creatively entitled FOLK. They are proud to be sponsored by Bayard Guitars. They have each released several albums independently and are active touring artists with visible presences on the internet (including, but not limited to: YouTube, iTunes, Facebook & Twitter). Hate the game, not the player; believe the hype.

We’ve been hearing great things about Casey Shea from our friends at Family Records for a few years now. So, when we heard he was stopping in Memphis to play Kudzu’s in support of his new album, In Your Head, we knew we had to invite him to Ardent to record some songs.  And of course, we were thrilled to take him on his first tour of Stax.

Shea is playing solo on this outing, playing the vintage blues riff he was brought up on. You can hear the classic rock influences in his voice,  but the songs still have a modern flare. Check out our podcast and you’ll hear what we mean. We also chatted about the price of Rock and Roll versus gas these days, and about listening to the audio book Life by Keith Richards on those long and winding roads.

Following the release of one self-produced, home-recorded album and the mellow full-band follow-up, Love Is Here To Stay, Shea’s third full-length effort, In Your Head, is a deliberately cleaner, harder edged version of what his fans have come to expect: irresistible hooks, airtight melodies, and masterfully crafted, heartfelt lyrics. In Your Head is the result of a year dedicated to honing a cohesive, genuine rock n’ roll sound, and the final product is ultimately a mix of classic and modern rock calling to mind The Beatles, Kings of Leon, and Tom Petty. A self-proclaimed explorer of genres, he effortlessly moves through time periods and styles, all the while staying true to his own unique songwriting voice.

Having fronted numerous rock bands in Nashville and Tallahassee, Shea has established himself as a New York staple, both as a solo act and frontman of his five-piece rock outfit. A gifted performer with undeniable charm, he is known for engaging his audience and filling the stage with a charismatic performance that knows no boundaries. He is at once quirky and heart wrenching, and the result is a rare treat that is both musically gratifying and raucously entertaining.

When we heard our friend Christian Mader from Brass Bed, one of our earliest guests on The Warm Up, had joined up with former Okkervil River alum Jonathan  Meiberg in Shearwater, we knew we had to reach out and ask them to stop by Ardent before their gig with St Vincent at Minglewood Hall tonight.

It turns out most of the band are fans of Big Star and were excited to get to stop in and spend some time chatting with studio manager Jody Stephens. We also were thrilled to get to take the guys to Stax and share a little bit of Memphis’ musical heritage with them.

Shearwater will be on tour with St. Vincent for another week and decided to play their own version of one of her songs while they were here. Check out their rendition of “Cheerleader” along with two other cuts off their new SubPop album, Animal Joy. We also talked about their recording process and what their plans are for the rest of the summer. Catch them on tour in a town near you!

Shearwater is a band from Austin, TX. Their new album, Animal Joy, was released February 14, 2012 in the USA and February 27th in the UK/EU. The band will be touring throughout 2012.