Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

For all the songwriters out there who would like to connect up with other writers, there's a new organization currently forming, called Kentucky Association of Songwriters, Lyricists, And Composers. It's being set up by Fairdale writer Jack Johnson, who was a member of the old Louisville Area Songwriters Cooperative , back in the Nineties.

It's a group for networking, education and related songwriter activities. For more information, read his brochure text at http://www.issues.louisvillemusicnews.net/2014/2014August/KASLACBROCHUREINSIDE.doc (Microsoft Word docs)

An application is at http://www.issues.louisvillemusicnews.net/2014/2014August/KASLACMEMBERSHIPAPPLICATION.doc

Band News

My Morning Jacket has announced the latest installment of their live archival series, which features the band's June 17, 2008 performance from Le National in Montreal.

The recording is available for sale at http://www.livedownloads.com/live-music/0,10899/My-Morning-Jacket-mp3-flac-download-6-17-2008-Le-National--Montreal-QB.html.

Drag City Records posted a video of Squirrel Bait performing "Sun God" at The Jockey Club in Newport, Kentucky, on May 8, 1985. The video was shot by shot by David Hintz; Lance Bangs (Breadcrumb Trail) handled the restoration. Peter Searcy was just a very young boy then.

Watch it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oukbq4f_oqI

Nicole Sherzinger's latest pop single, "Your Love," is doing very well in Britain; here's a video a more-or-less acoustic version, sans assorted pop tweaks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUWLC2LPh-OckvkBV5zzJwgA&v=LrkOl-1dsYA

Seattle-based Spartan Records has added Louisville based alternative rock band The Foxery to the roster and will release the group's debut record, Unless, on September 9. The record's first new song, "Broken Vessels," is at Diffuser.fm.

Coliseu m has re-signed with Deathwish Records, which is releasing a deluxe reissue of the band's self-titled debut plus eight bonus tracks, a full remix by Toxic Holocaust's Joel Grind, extensive liner notes and cover artwork by John Baizley of Baroness. The release date is August 19. Preorder page is here.

Louisville's White Reaper has a new video, titled "Cool." Watch at at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6x_b5BB6NM

Concert announcements this month:

Better Than Ezra will play at the Mercury Ballroom on November 22. Tickets are $25 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at noon.

The Tedeshi Trucks Band will play Iroquois Amphitheater on September 4; tickets range from $17.50-$69.50 and go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

Yonder Mountain String Band will appear at the Mercury Ballroom on Wednesday, October 29. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 day of show and go on sale Friday, August 8 at noon.
Relient K will play the Mercury Ballroom the next day, October 30, along with Blondefire. Tickets will cost you 18.50 advance, $20 day of show and go on sale Friday, August 1.

Governor's Awards

Danville's most famous gospel singer, songerwriter and producer Larnelle Harris and Louisville's My Morning Jacket have been named as recipients of the 2014 Governor's Awards in the Arts. The awards will be presented at a public ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in October during National Arts and Humanities Month, according to the Kentucky Arts Council.

From the press release:
"Danville native and Louisville resident Larnelle Harris has achieved broad acclaim and won multiple awards during his 30-year career in gospel music, both as a singer and composer. Throughout his career, Larnelle has written numerous songs and recorded 18 award-winning albums. He has been honored with five Grammy Awards and 11 Dove Awards. Larnelle is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and is in the Western Kentucky University Hall of Distinguished Alumni. He will be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame this year."

"My Morning Jacket is considered one of the top live rock acts in the world and can claim a discography with a depth of artistry that rivals many in the great American lexicon of popular music. Their music combines experimentalism, heartfelt emotion and unforgettable songs. Their collective interplay is rooted in a decade of friendship and music making forged in their hometown of Louisville. From their early days playing clubs, parties and community centers in Louisville, to recording their first three albums in Shelbyville, My Morning Jacket has brought much acclaim to their home state during the last decade. The members of My Morning Jacket are Jim James, Tom Blankenship, Patrick Hallahan, Bo Koster and Carl Broemel."

A Headstone For Sara

Here's a fundraiser for all Louisville music fans – and I mean EVERYBODY - to pay attention and donate a few shekels toward: Louisville blues singer Sara Martin, noted for her early 20th Century recordings which earned her the nickname of "The Famous Moanin' Mama" (and "The Colored Sophie Tucker"), is buried in an unmarked grave in Louisville Cemetary. The Kentuckiana Blues Society and the National Jugband Jubilee have joined forces to raise money to buy a headstone for Martin's grave. Head over to https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/9oW4c?psid=8b32454f8b9d46c69ecec87b5f0ad9e2 for all the details and images of the proposed headstone, then donate. It's long past time for all the performers in Louisville's music history get recognition and, as often has been the case, shamefully, a gravestone for those now gone. (Most of the time, that would mean black performers, of course. The KBS has funded headstones for Sylvester Weaver and Henry Woodruff.)
For more about Martin, check this Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Martin

Codas

Bechtloft, Kenneth "Ken" died in Louisville on July 26, 2014. He was a longtime Louisville saxophonist, who played with a number of Louisville area bands in the Sixties and Seventies, including Soul, Inc. He had also worked as a music teacher at Trinity High School.

Sharpe, Douglas E. "Mr. Doug," 56, died in Louisville on July 14, 2014. He was a musician who played with the Omega Show Band, Snap Band, Dennis Ervin Band, Unlimited Show Band and Mandy O & Co .

Young, Valerie M. PhD, 62, died in Louisville on July 9, 2014. She played Celtic harp, piano and percussion in the Celtic band Keltricity.