Album Review: The Traveler, by Rhett Miller ft. Black Prairie

Sun, 11/15/2015 - 11:35pm | Scott Korinke

Rhett Miller The Traveler album cover

The Traveler album cover

Rhett Miller has had a very successful musical career, as a solo artist and as lead singer of alternative-country band the Old 97's. On The Traveler, Miller's sixth solo album, Rhett partners with Black Prairie for a bluegrass- and country-inspired LP. Miller and Black Prairie work well together, making a satisfying and relaxing album infused with high energy. Millers soothing yet raw voice always keeps the album grounded and connected, through songs soft and swift. Some of the LP's tracks play like soft rock ballads, such as "Kiss Me on the Fire Escape" and "Escape Velocity," while others illustrate a bluegrass/country background with solid results, such as "Wanderlust" and "Wicked Things," both of which use the fiddle to fine effect. Overall, The Traveler further demonstrates the talent of Rhett Miller and the skills of Black Prairie. The Traveler is essential listening for fans of either of the album's contributors and very accessible to those with all type of musical tastes and backgrounds.

Live in the Loam 11/14/15 with JEREMY PINNELL

Sat, 11/14/2015 - 12:37pm | Pieter Pastoor

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live in the loam, Jeremy Pinnell, KDRT

Jeremy Pinnell will appear on KDRT's Live in the Loam pop-up program from 1:00 to 1:30 pm on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Pinnell is a Kentucky native whose dark brand of honky-tonk country music reveals a weary and lonesome rustbelt quality--a quality that is at once strikingly original and current yet travels the same roads as Hank Williams, Ray Price, and George Jones. His most recent album—called “mind-blowingly good” by reviewers—is OH/KY on Sofaburn Records. Dug Deep Hosts.

After the broadcast, Jeremy Pinnell and the 55s will appear at 3 pm at Berryessa Brewing in Winters. For more information on the artist, visit jeremypinnell.com. For more Live in the Loam, visit the archives.

 
 

KDRT Live at Armadillo ArtAbout with Misner & Smith - Fri 11/13

Fri, 11/13/2015 - 6:00pm | Pieter Pastoor

Misner & Smith

Misner & Smith

The KDRT crew broadcasts live from Armadillo Music for 2nd Friday ArtAbout with the amazing Misner & Smith, fresh from their European tour. This event is free, open to all. Stop on by at 6:30 pm, listen to the interview, enjoy the performance, meet the artists! 

Listening Lyrics, Dec 11, 2015, with Andrew Castro and Casey Groat

Fri, 11/13/2015 - 4:50pm | Pieter Pastoor

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andrew Castro comes to KDRT

Andrew Castro is a Sacramento  based singer songwriter. His new EP "RED HEARTS" is now riding on the EP chart of iTunes. Andrew has been on the show before but now as an up and coming "star" we will talk about his new release. Andrew will be joined by singer/songwriter and producer Casey Groat. Andrew's acoustic upbeat pop styled music is catchy and melodic while providing lyrics that are thoughtful and personal and can relate to anyone who has been in love and out of love in any type of relationship. His live shows are high energy and though he is a solo performer his live looping and the rhythms and sounds created on his guitar provide a sound, power and energy most songwriters don't have. 

Album of the Week - Thurs 11/12/15 at 5 pm - "THE DARK" by Guy Clark

Thu, 11/12/2015 - 4:10pm | Pieter Pastoor

This week’s AotW will feature Guy Clark’s quiet little opus The Dark from 2002.  Guy Clark has been writing amazing songs since the early ‘70s and performing regularly up until a few years ago.  His extensive body of work defines the genre of music that has come to be known as Americana.  He’s recorded 20 albums and his songs are finely honed snapshots of everyday folks and scenarios, real and imagined.  Guy Clark’s songs have been recorded by a long list of country music outsiders over the years, including Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, and Ricky Skaggs.  He’s also a master luthier, and The Dark is named after one of his guitars.  Though The Dark didn’t spawn any breakout songs, it shows Clark at the age of 60 still at the top of his powers as a writer and performer, evoking quiet moments of reflection and observation.   Dug Deep is this week's host.

Jazz After Dark November 10 2015

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 2:22pm | Don Shor

Cold weather? Time for bossa nova! Coming up at 8 pm tonight -- Classic performances by: Cal Tjader * Charlie Rouse * Kenny Burrell * Luiz Bonfa, Oscar Castro Neves and Lalo Schifrin * Paul Desmond * Jim Hall * and the master himself, Antonio Carlos Jobim. Vocals by contemporary artists Ana Caram and Eden Atwood, and a selection from a brand new album by Northern California’s own Fabiana Passoni. Jazz After Dark replays Thursdays at 11 pm, and Saturdays at 9 pm.

Davisville, 11/9/15: Feeling blue? You’re not alone

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 6:05pm | Bill Buchanan

Shades of Blue: Writers on Depression, Suicide, and Feeling Blue is a new collection of essays by 35 writers, edited by Amy Ferris. Two of the writers are Debra LoGuerico DeAngelo, Winters Express editor and columnist for the Davis Enterprise, and David Lacy, who grew up in Davis and now teaches writing in Southern California. "It is possible to find hope and solidarity in these pages, but don’t expect a feel-good trip," says the review in Publishers Weekly. "It’s a true-to-life kick in the pants designed to bring comfort to anyone who’s feeling hopeless." On today’s show, DeAngelo and Lacy talk about Shades of Blue, and the experiences behind their stories—Lacy’s “Allies in the Sky,” and DeAngelo’s “If I Love You, You’ll Leave.”

Album Review: The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You, by The Reverend Shawn Amos

Sun, 11/08/2015 - 10:11pm | Scott Korinke

Reveren Shawn Amos

The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You Album Cover

The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You is written and sung by Shawn Amos, who delivers classy, old-school blues with a raspy yet soulful voice that sounds like it came straight out of a church choir. The music on the LP is full of energy and refreshingly raw, and the production lets the musicianship and the artistry do the talking. The album has all the blues chords, with a thumping bass, saxophones, and smooth, melodical electric guitar. 

The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You is so upbeat and energetic at points that it could be mistaken for a Black Keys album, especially on the tracks "You're Gonna Miss Me (When I Get Home)" and "Joliet Bound." However, this is a blues album, and any blues album would be incomplete without some midtempo, reflective tracks like "Days of Depression" and "The Last Day I'm Loving You." Shawn Amos didn't reinvent the wheel with this LP, but it is defenitely good enough to warrant a listen or two, especially for fans of the blues.

Album of the Week (11/5/15 @ 5pm) Beach House "Thank You Lucky Stars"

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 9:05am | Pieter Pastoor

Thank Your Lucky Stars strikes a notably downcast tone and posture when stacked next to Depression Cherry. There’s nothing about these songs that is outright melancholic, but there’s also nothing that reaches the same shimmering highs as, say, “Levitation” or “Space Song” on the earlier work, either. The closest this record comes to matching that level of majesty is the album opener “Majorette” and the closing track “Somewhere Tonight.”

Sandwiched between those two songs is an array of fantastically subdued and beautifully constructed dreamy psych-pop offerings that each possess their own unique vibe. Beach House has mastered the art of space by this point and seems to have an instinct for how long to drag out a keyboard melody or a guitar line before bringing in another element to keep things from bogging down. This is especially true on “Elegy To The Void,” which is carried along at a meandering pace by the same reverb-drenched guitar melody pattern, shifted into different chords and matched by an atmospheric synth.

Album Review: Sound and Color, by Alabama Shakes

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 11:25pm | Scott Korinke

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Sound and Color

Sound and Color is the second studio album by Alabama Shakes, an American alternative rock band that has found fantastic success in their short but strong career. Sound and Color is an atmospheric and sometimes psychadelic blend of blues rock, funk rock, R&B, and soulful Americana. Lead singer Brittany Howard powerfully sings mulitple songs on the record, most notably "Gimme All Your Love" and lead single "Don't Wanna Fight." However, the songs in which Howard's vocals aren't as loud can be just as impressive, including single "Future People" and the dreamily psychadelic "Sound and Color." The group has never been more cohesive, seamlessly merging danceable funk guitar beats with blues chords in a way that feels fresh and innovative while staying grounded. Alabama Shakes have dodged a sophmore slump, creating a truly original album that will delight fans of the group while introducing the band to a broader, more diverse audience. Simply put, Sound and Color is an excellent album worthy of multiple listens and many accolades.

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