Mother Merey and the Black Dirt - Debut Album 'Down to the River'

Mother Merey Kimbrough (washboard/vocals), Eric Witthans (dobro/vocals) and Kevin Allen (harp/vocals)


There is something raw, primal and pure about Austin band, Mother Merey and The Black Dirt, with Eric strangling the Dobro and Kevin playing harp like it’s implanted in his throat, they reach right into your gut as Merey’s sizzling vocals take the Delta Blues and squeeze fresh drops of sweat and blood from them. Pay attention, Mother Merey and The Black Dirt are the real deal.

The album opens with the playful ‘Chicken Scrabble’, a song they performed at Couch By Couchwest in a chicken pen.  On the title track ‘Down To The River’ Merey beckons like a pied piper begging us to go down to the river, as the dobro and harp move our feet jollily in compliance. ‘Front Porch’ and ‘Old Rope’ highlight the minimalist approach and great vocal harmonies the three achieve on many of the songs, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Allen says it’s a tribute old-time roots. “All the old folk and blues songs only needed one riff,” he explains. “If you find another riff, you write another song.”
‘In The Fortune’, ‘Family Home’ and ‘Mother Merey's Hymnal’ feature Eric’s beautifully subtle picking and Kevin’s bluesy harping interplaying with Merey’s sweet lamentatious vocals.
On ‘Trouble In Mind’ you can feel the ghosts of bluesmen past hauntingly wandering the fields seeking out, who is this young lady with the bodacious voice capturing our souls and breathing new life, following that ‘Whistlin' up the Road’ with it’s beautiful gospel harmonies, the band is telling us ‘this is the way to go, follow us’ And I will, Mother Merey and the Black Dirt are taking wild ancient roots and planting them firmly in fresh rich black dirt and from it sprouts delicious fruit.

Mother Merey and the Black Dirt - Down to the River
self-released
Available for purchase on iTunes, Spotify, and Bandcamp May 22nd, 2013.
Produced by Justin Douglas
Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by Justin Douglas at Shine Studios in Austin, Texas



1. Chicken Scrabble
2. Down to the River
3. Front Porch
4. Old Rope
5. In the Fortune
6. Family Home
7. Mother Merey's Hymnal
8. Trouble in Mind
9. Whistlin' up the Road
10. John Henry
11. Take It In

Release Party> "Down to the River" on May 29th, 2013 at Antone's with some very special guests. $5 in advance / $7 at the door.

 50 Limited Edition 180 gram VINYL TEST PRESSINGS of "Down to the River" available for purchase the night of the party, so be sure to get there early to get your copy. 

The night will also include a cranky show, on-site screen printing of our new t-shirts, a whiskey toast, and special guest performances. Live stream and download of the show will be available through www.dejaset.com!

Mother Merey and The Black Dirt – Chicken Scrabble at Couch By Couchwest 2013

Lambchop at Warsaw in Brooklyn (June 16)

New friend of the blog Robert Johnson, (ScenicNYC and Scenic Presents.) is bringing Kurt Wagner of “Nashville’s most fucked-up country band” Lambchop to Warsaw in Brooklyn 261 Driggs Ave on Sunday June 16th as part of the 2013 Northside Festival. Get Tickets Here 

The band’s eleventh studio album Mr. M released early in 2012 is dedicated to late friend and musical collaborator Vic Chestnutt, who passed away on Christmas Day 2009. Wagner explained of Mr. M’s genesis…

“As I worked, I was approached by Mark Nevers [former full time band member & producer for the likes of Andrew Bird and Will Oldham] with the idea of making another Lambchop record. He had a concept of a sound and a method that worked with the tone of my writing. His idea was a kind of ‘psycha-Sinatra’ sound, one that involved the arranging of strings and other sounds in a more open and yet complex way.

“It was a studio creation, not a type of recording based on band performance, and this was a radical approach for us. I felt Lambchop had one more good record in us, and this time I was going to do things as directly and true to my desires as possible.”

It’s been nearly two decades since Lambchop released its first album, at the time pronouncing itself “Nashville’s most fucked-up country band.” Provocative it may have been, but the description made sense: at the heart of all that ruckus was a band at once defying and embracing the musical legacy of its hometown. Since then, Lambchop has evolved into an accomplished ensemble, adding palpable depth and substance to singer-songwriter-guitarist Kurt Wagner’s songs—and the band sounds as commanding as ever on its 11th album, Mr. M, a collection of meditations on love and loss and the detritus of everyday existence.

As on past Lambchop records, many of the songs on Mr. M are framed with lush strings, and there’s a restrained undercurrent of distortion and discord. The core of the music remains the cyclical picking of Wagner’s guitar and the soft, warm croaking of his voice. The songs are spacious, even dreamy, as on the Countrypolitan instrumental “Gar,” while the lyrics and titles are rich with allusions, some of them obvious, others seemingly unknowable.

For the fifth year in a row, Northside Music (June 13-16) is bringing 350 bands in a span of four dizzying days to nearly every music venue across Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Click here for the first look at our 2013 bands including Ava Luna, Black Flag (feat. Greg Ginn and Jealous Again-era vocalist Ron Reyes), Iceage, Kylesa, Lambchop, Mac DeMarco, Merchandise, The Men, Milk Music, Nü Sensae, Sonny & the Sunsets, Swans, The Toasters, Twin Sister, White Fence and another 300 are on the way.

The Northside Festival Needs Volunteers! 

You can score a Northside Music badge (valued at a cool $80) for literally no money at all. All that we ask is that you join the Northside Fest team as a volunteer. To sign up to be a Northside volunteer, click here. 

Morning River Band NEW Album 'To Suzie'

Morning River Band's latest release, To Suzie, described by Fields as “an ode to good riddance,” was inspired by encounters with George Jones and Jim Beam.

I am sure a lot will be made of ‘A country band from Philly?’ but let’s get past all that, this is a drinkers band from Philly. While known for great songs of booze and blues, there is a glimpse of insight and depth of character on this album that show potential for a leap of growth from the band.  Two songs stripped naked and vulnerable, the instrumental opening Suzie’s Theme and the gospel cappella track ‘Bury Me’ along with ‘Lefty’s Last Stand’ and ‘A Broken Hearted Man’ hint at the underlying seriousness the lads take to their craft. On ‘Hangover Blues’ guest vocalist Morgan Caulfield adds her twangy honky tonk Mae West meets Loretta Lynn attitude singing, “I wonder if the savior ever drank too much of that wine / I'm sure he would if he were broke like me and cryin' all the time.” And of course there are the two signature ode’s to the spirits ‘Drinking Blues, No. 4 (Pills & Pabst Blue Ribbon)’ and Drinking Blues, No. 5 (Drinking Every Day)
The closer ‘So Long, Suzie (The Damage Is Done)’ sounds like something that could have been on the The Bands Basement Tapes.
If you’re a fan of the band you will be excited about the growth and maturity of their third release, if you are new to the band this is a perfect album that highlights what they do best, make damn good music no matter how you classify it.

To Suzie will be released on May 21, 2013—digitally via Bandcamp, iTunes, and CDBaby, and on limited-edition colored vinyl.



1. Suzie's Theme
2. Lefty's Last Blues
3. A Broken-Hearted Man
4. Drinking Blues, No. 4 (Pills & Pabst Blue Ribbon)
5. Bury Me (Vocal)
6. Drinking Blues, No. 5 (Drinking Every Day)
7. Hangover Blues
8. Requiem for Suzie
9. So Long, Suzie (The Damage Is Done)

Morning River Band is Denny Barron: bass, vocals; Jeffrey Fields: acoustic guitar, vocals; Arthur Herrmann: dobro, Weissenborn; Philip Kunkle: drums, percussion; with Morgan Caulfield: ukulele, vocals; Lou DiDomencio: vocals; Sean Grexa: mandolin; Joe Kille: fiddle, vocals; Dino Lionetti: organ, piano, vocals; Bob Saunders, vocals; Steve Shomo: vocals. 

Recorded in July and October 2012 by Matt Weber and Steve Poponi at Gradwell House, Haddon Heights, NJ. Mixed by Steve Poponi and Morning River Band. Mastered by Dave Downham. Artwork by Denny Barron.

Morning River Band (Record-Release Show)

The Miners

John Train (Record-Release Show)

Fri, May 17, 2013 at Milkboy Philly

Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm

$10.00 in advance

The Doctor is out...of his mind! The Mad Doctors Fuzz Tonic

Photo by Cody Buesing

Dr. Seth Applebaum - Gtr/Vox

Dr. Josh Park - Bass/Vox

Dr. Gregory X - Drums

Cauldron’s boil and bubble as the smell of sterno and surfboard wax waft through the air and create a mist that swirls up to the rafters, eerily reflecting the haze of a dim city street light. Lo-Fi tubes flicker and glow hot and red, crackling as sonic riffs pulse and reverberate through them. Monstrous notes and melody’s blast against each other like subatomic particles shooting through the Hadron Collider. The Higgs Boson is a Fuzz Tonic and The Mad Doctors are going to release it upon the world May 31st via a limited-run cassette release by North Carolina's Doctor Gone Records.

Vocalist/guitarist Dr. Seth Applebaum, bassist Dr. Josh Park, and drummer Dr. Gregory X make up The Mad Doctors; a fusion of retro aesthetics, furious energy, and songs about barbecue. Self-described as psychofuzz, the band is a hairy snot rocket of garage punk, surf rock, and psychedelia smashed into a disgusting blender in some backwoods shanty.

MAD DOCTORS FUZZ TONIC EP RELEASE PARTY
Fri. 5/31 - Bowery Electric, Manhattan, NY
w/ Graveyard Lovers

NORTHSIDE UNOFFICIAL SHOWCASE
Sat. 6/15 - Ran Tea House, Brooklyn, NY
w/ The End Men, The Living Kills, Stolen Girls, and 45 Adapters

Thur. 6/26 - Don Pedro, Brooklyn, NY
w/ Rich Hands (TX)

Sat. 6/29 - Lamp Post Bar, Jersey City, NJ
w/ Wax Darts

Sat. 7/13 - Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
w/ The Mess Around

Kickstart The Blind Owl Band's 2nd Album

Rabble Rousing Couch By Couchwest favorites The Blind Owl Band  have announced the will be releasing their 2nd album July10th featuring 13 new orginal songs. They have just launched a Kickstarter Project to help raise the funds needed to get this album out on time. Thes guys are the best! Check out the hilarious video below and Kick In!


Touring in support of the Kickstarter Project from May 16 to May 26.  Please check us out on one of these dates.
- May 16 - Atwoods Tavern, Cambridge, MA
- May 17 - Pizza Stone, Chester, VT
- May 18 - Strawberry Jam, Northville, NY
- May 18 - Olive Ridley's, Plattsburgh, NY with Lucid
- May 19 - The Wherehouse, Newburgh, NY
- May 20 - The Living Room, NYC, NY
- May 21 - Free Range Busking Day??????
- May 22 - Underground Arts, Philly, PA with The Brummy Brothers
- May 23 - The River St. Jazz Cafe, Wilkes-Barre, PA
- May 24 - Touch Fest 2013!! South ADK's
- May 25 - The Dutch Treat, Franconia, NH
- May 26 - Rosa Flamingo's, Bethlehem, NH
- May 26 - Red Square, Burlington, VT

Formed in 2011 by Jersey lads Eric Munley (Mandolin, Vocals), Christian Cardiello (Bass) and Arthur Buezo (Guitar, Vocals), James Ford (Banjo, Vocals) from Connecticut.  They all met up together in the Adirondacks at Paul Smiths College, jamming on cheap instruments and bangin’ on trash cans the chemistry clicked and they were soon honing their craft playing live at local clubs. The result of that is this fantastic debut album ‘Rabble Rousing’ released January 2012, it is apparent that the stars aligned for these young men and we are fortunate for that.

Couch By Couchwest 2013 Session

"Rabble Rousing" is the Blind Owl Band Debut album and was released independently Jan 28, 2012. Rabble Rousing covers the first year of writing of the Blind Owl Band and consists of 13 songs. Available 'name your price'

The Express & Company - Debut Full Length 'Ontario'

Dylan Ireland ~ Guitar/Vocals

Melissa Payne ~ Fiddle/Vocals

Benj Rowland ~ Accordian/Banjo

Liam Wilson ~ Bass

Joe Hay ~ Drums

Right off the bat the debut full length 'Ontario' from ON based singer/songwriter Dylan Ireland and fiddle player Melissa Payne Express & Company hits you in your giddy yup bone.  Fast paced, knee bouncing and delightfully danceable with joyful vocal harmonies and rambunctious fiddle playing and the good timey rhythm section of Joe Hay (drums) and Liam Wilson (bass), as well the brilliant multi-instrumentalist in Benj Rowland, this is an album that keeps your attention from start to finish.
Released March '13 and available at Seventh Fire Records and on iTunes. 


1) Carry Me Along
2) The List
3) Ontario
4) Gold in Your Pockets
5) The Last Stand
6) Tall, Tall Pines
7) Montreal
8) Out By the Trees
9) Where Will You Bury Me

As a touring band with Melissa Payne on Fiddle, Joe Hay on Drums, Liam Wilson on Bass and multi-instrumentalist Benj Rowland, they have played over 200 shows including the Mariposa Folk Festival and South by Southwest. Enchanting audiences with electric, energetic concerts and playing alongside bands such as The Sadies, Whitehorse, Jenn Grant and Greg Keelor have allowed a true, organic sound to develop. As well, performances as a duo have allowed Dylan and Melissa to present their songs in a more intimate and theatrical manner. Dylan keeps the beat with his bass drum while also delivering on his vocal and guitar duties, while Melissa completes the experience with fiddle, rhythm guitar and harmonies.

Upcoming Shows:
Sat. May 25th @ The Red Dog w/ Kirty & Melissa Payne, Peterborough, Ontario (10pm)
Wed. June 12th @ C’est What (NXNE), Toronto, Ontario (9pm)
Sat. June 15th @The Central (NXNE), Toronto, Ontario (Midnight)
Fri. June 21st @ The Stinking Rose, Campbellford, Onatrio (9pm)
Sat. June 22nd @ Sessions on the River, Fort Erie, Ontario (7pm)
Fri. June 28th @ The Red Dog, Peterborough, Ontario (10pm)