What's Shaking - Musings from Shake-It Records - 11/20
We're very happy to have Cincinnati independant record store extraordinaire, Shake-It Records, drop some music knowledge around the BuyCincy grounds. Check back for regular columns from Billy Carter of Shake-It.
What's Shaking - 11/20/07
MUSIC FOR BOTH SIDES OF YOUR BRAIN:
Charlie Louvin - "LIVE AT SHAKE IT RECORDS" / Tompkins Square
In 1941 The Louvin Brothers made thier performing debut in Flatrock, AL. There was a talent show (they won) & a July 4th get together prior to this "professional" debut, but who's counting? They would stop and start again for a while, ya know with WWII and allgetting in the mix. But for the next two decades the boys, Charlie and Ira, would carve out a place not only in counrty music, but American music history. To list thier string of accomplishemtns and accolades would be best left to your own discovery. There is plenty there to be educated on for sure.
In 1965 Ira left us far too soon in a fatal car wreck. Charlie kept going - that's what Ira would have wanted.
So, 60 plus years after he began, Charlie Louvin walked through the doors of Shake It Records in Cincinnati, OH - his band was right behind him, he was there to play. For over an hour a packed house was treated to six
decades of a life story told in song. Nobody came out and said it, but you could feel it hanging in the air, "I was here, I got to see this this". This is the document of that May 11th evening. You can hear it for yourself in all its raw glory. And if you listen really closely you might get a itch of what was in the air that night, genuineness. And as Charlie would and did say, May the good Lord bless and keep you.
Major Stars - "MIRROR/MESSENGER" / Drag City
Wayne Rogers has been making his own brand of psycho-whig out rock since 1981 and with wife Kate Biggar
on board for the last decade, he (they) have manged to keep the same monitor for the longest spell yet. This is the band's 6th album in about 10 years, but before the Major Stars there was the Magic Hours, and before that, Vermonster, and before that, Crystallized Movements....you get the picture and can do your own googling.
The point being that Wayne Rogers knows how to peel the paint off the walls with his guitar. If you are any kind of fan of classic Dinosaur Jr. or Sonic Youth (at their most "musical") then you gotta check out the body of work the man has built. For the first time the Major Stars are a SIX PIECE with singer Sandra Barrett blowing the speakers right out of the gate. But one need only find one's self in the middle of a pure Rogers distorto-tsumani for say 7 or 8 minutes and you'll be unconsciencly air-guitaring against all better judgment.
So, Charlie Louvin & The Major Stars. I don't see them touring together anytime soon. But I highly recommend both albums. (oh....and all good thoughts to the family of Joe Nuxhall)
- Billy Carter
Both Releases can be found at:
4156 Hamilton Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45223
Categories
Columns
Stumble Upon
Local Shops - Rotating
Local Links - Rotating
Leave a comment