Artists New to Me, Perhaps, New to You and Worth Knowing

This is Gretchen Peters. Thanks to Mary McCaslin for the heads up. Listen to the lyrics of this rich and beautiful song. If you are a woman, you will identify with her words. The arrangement is also gorgeous: orchestral, progressive folk. And, of course, there is her voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUyOFlF9K1E

These are The Gourds -- if you like Tom Waits, Tom Russell, Leon Russell, Fred Eaglesmith, Dr. John . . . you will like these guys.

http://able2know.org/reply/post-4863220

The Treacherous Orchestra . . . an introduction . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZZt6hEGVhw&feature=share

I LOVE the Gourds - they remind me of a modern day Band - The Band is probably my favorite band of all time - ever.

I like Gretchen Peters - had never heard of her - thanks for introducing me to her POM.

Yes, they do. Just a bunch of funky guys! I was thinking of so many people from Tom Russell to Leon Russell to Fred Eaglesmith.

One good piece of treachery deserves another . . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN_PfcVMLeM&feature=related

Here are The Milk Carton Kids, a duo of just guitars and voices from the Midwest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEDnGAvjQXw

Lyrics:

The clouds move over the Pontiac skies
Their silent thunder matches mine
And I know this feeling from long ago
I wondered, was it gone? But now I know

So when she calls, don’t send her my way
When it hurts, you’ll know it’s the right thing

Michigan’s in the rear view now
Keep your hands where I can see em
You took the words right out of my mouth
When you knew that I would need em
What am I supposed to do now?
Without you
Without you

It’s unannounced, like you’d expect it
Among broke down brake lines and Motown records
And all that’s left is a blind reflection
But you know what’s coming and you regret it

So when she calls, don’t send her my way
When it hurts most, it’s the right thing

Michigan’s in the rearview now
Keep your hands where I can see em
You took the words right out of my mouth
When you knew that I would need em
What am I supposed to do now?
Without you
Without you

I love songs about Michigan. This suits my mood now and that of a piece I am working on.

Ah, every time I come here, I see the thumb has gone down one more time. C'est dommage.

Here's a young man from the Orkney Islands. Big guitar and big voice. His name is Kris Drever. His dad, Ivan, had been with Wolfestone, a Celtic rock band. Kris will be at The Big Festival this year, which is shaping up as a wonderful time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xUgzNnV5ns

Here are four women who know how to rock a traditional song. They're called Runa and the only info on them in their work on youtube.

HEre they combine Child Ballad 243 with Dolly Parton's Jolene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZuERJ3tPZ4

Great thread!
The thing about Gretchen is that she wrote one of the biggest hits ever in Nashville for Martina McBride.
In this video she explains how Sarah Palin misused her song: "Independence Day"



"Independence Day"

Well she seemed alright by dawn's early light
Though she looked a little worried and weak
She tried to pretend he wasn't drinkin' again
But daddy left the proof on her cheek
And I was only eight years old that summer
And I always seemed to be in the way
So I took myself down to the fair in town
On Independence Day

Well word gets around in a small, small town
They said he was a dangerous man
But mama was proud and she stood her ground
She knew she was on the losing end
Some folks whispered,some folks talked
But everybody looked the other way
And when time ran out there was no one about
On Independence Day

Let freedom ring
Let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today
is a day of reckoning
Let the weak be strong
Let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away
Let the guilty pay
It's Independence Day

Well she lit up the sky the 4th of July
by the time that the fireman came
They just put out the flames and took down some names
And sent me to the county home
Now I ain't saying it's right or it's wrong
But maybe it's the only way
Talk about your revolution
It's Independence Day

Let freedom ring
Let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today
is a day of reckoning
let the weak be strong
Let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away
Let the guilty pay
It's Independence Day

What a terrific story! I hadn't heard it but I love it. A friend who is a disc jockey on a local station that had been all folk but is now a blend of acoustic and adult contemporary (you will still hear Richard Thompson and Townes Van Zandt daily) told me that Gretchen is actually a "heavy hitter" in NAshville.

One of the things I like about FB is meeting people who post great music that I wouldn't have heard otherwise.

Even when they post familiar stuff . . . like Bonnie Raitt's, "I Can't MAke you Love ME," it is good to explore and find what newer artists, like Bon Iver and Adele, are doing with this great material.

Let's face it . . . there is stuff that I could listen to over and over and over and do listen to repeatedly . . . but I love to hear new material and great, fresh artistry.

Thanks so much for the contribution. Love the story.

This artist, Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon and band, is probably more well known than the others I posted here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MJio3s2wFI&feature=share

This is the Bonnie Raitt classic done by Bon Iver/Justin Vernon. The voice is unusual but the simple rendering on keyboards and the brief moment of joy provided by the medley is amazing.

The Black Lillies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNH_t-ok0oc&feature=relmfu

The Civil Wars:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-g82_E6rdg&feature=related

I'm surprised that I hadn't posted Johnny Flynn. Here is a great song by him that sounded like an oysterband song in the opening strains of the cello,with a ripping electric guitar coming in. Nice post modern lyrics as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBC-KroRy5o

Great stuff. Love the Civil Wars

Here's someone you might not be familiar with: Sarah Jarosz from Texas.
Some heavy hitters accompanying her. Alison Krause, Jerry Douglas and Danny Thompson who was the bassist in Pentangle