The Inaugural ‘Fajita Lounge Showdown’ will feature five local chefs competing for the ‘Best Fajita Taco’ title. Photo: txtroublemaker, used with permission.
The Squeezeboxis excited to announce its inaugural “Fajita Lounge Showdown” featuring five local chefs competing head-to-head for the title of “Best Fajita Tacos” in San Antonio. All summer long The Squeezebox has been throwing Sunday carne asadas that have become the popular Fajita Lounge adored by all its fans with free fajita tacos for all customers, hosted by Chefs Aaron Peña, Matt Garcia and Jake Gonzales. This event will take place on Sunday, September 4, 2022 and door open at 8p.m. (The Squeezebox, 2022)
To commemorate the Labor Day holiday weekend, a competition will take place with five local chefs featuring their best take on the fajita taco. With a $10 cover at the door, tacos will be free for all on a first come, first served basis and will feature the following chefs:
Kenny Loo of Golden Kirin Restaurant
Sergio Flores of La Tortuga Cocina Latina
Eddie Barrera of Sijang Korean Corn Dogs
Rory Torres of Crispy Bao Gang
Steve Lopez
In addition to traditional fajita tacos, a “wildcard protein delicacy” will also be provided to test out the chefs’ creativity. The chefs will compete for a grand prize of $500, with Peña, Garcia and Gonzales as the judges. Live music by local favorite The Texases will keep the party going as well as music by DJ Plata. The Texases will play at 9:30p.m. This event will have a $10 cover per person at the door, must be 21 or older.
The Squeezebox 2806 N St Mary’s St. San Antonio, TX 78212
The Liar will be out September 30 via Blue Dirt Records and Thirty Tigers. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Since his critically acclaimed album Songs, the public at large has not heard much from John Fullbright. Eight years seems unthinkable for someone with so much hype—including a GRAMMY nod, an Americana Music Association Emerging Artist nomination and awards from ASCAP and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame—surrounding his early career. On September 30, Fullbright is set to end the dry spell with the release of his new LP, The Liar, opening up his newfound trust in musical collaboration for the world to hear. (John Fullbright, 2022)
Fullbright released the first taste of The Liar with the album’s ever-developing second track. “Paranoid Heart” starts out as a plaintive little folk song and explodes into a memorable, Petty-esque rocker bolstered by drummer Paddy Ryan and Jesse Aycock’s just-unhinged-enough slide guitar solo. “Paranoid Heart” is an indicator of what is to come from Fullbright’s newly minted, community-driven output. Fans can hear “Paranoid Heart” now and pre-order or pre-saveThe Liar ahead of its September 30 release via Blue Dirt Records and Thirty Tigers.
The Liar was recorded at Steve and Charlene Ripley’s farm-to-studio compound in northeastern Oklahoma. After Steve’s passing, Charlene flirted with the idea of selling the studio property, so Fullbright quickly mobilized to make sure he was able to record there before it changed hands. He threw together a band made up of, as Fullbright calls them, “the usual suspects.” Anyone vaguely familiar with Oklahoma music will recognize the roster, which includes Jesse Aycock, Aaron Boehler, Paul Wilkes, Stephen Lee, and Paddy Ryan, all of whom are in more bands than seems possible. Along with a few more friends stopping in to lay down takes, they finished the songs and tracked the album with engineer Jason Weinheimer in a whirlwind four days.
The grab-and-go momentum landed Fullbright in the studio with some old songs (“Unlocked Doors” also appeared in 2009’s Live at the Blue Door), some new, and some unfinished, making his newfound trust in musical collaboration essential to the arrangements and reflected fully on the final album. The Liar, as a result, utilizes emotional and instrumental dynamics in ways Fullbright has not allowed himself to fully explore before. There is a noticeable slack here, an indulgent instrumental break there, and the general feeling that the tight-lipped John Fullbright who agonized over the writing process and then hesitated to talk about the meanings behind his songs in the past has eased up.
The Liar track list: 1. Bearden, 1645 2. Paranoid Heart 3. Stars 4. The Liar 5. Unlocked Doors 6. Where We Belong 7. Social Skills 8. Lucky 9. Blameless 10. Poster Child 11. Safe To Say 12. Gasoline
Catch John Fullbright on tour: August 26 – Muskogee, OK – Hatbox Field August 27 – Enid, OK – Park Street Palooza September 3 – Martinsville, OH – Nowhere Else Festival September 8 – Tahlequah, OK – Diamond Head Resort September 25 – Glen Ellen, CA – Jack London State Park September 30 – Oklahoma City, OK – Blue Door October 1 – Oklahoma City, OK – Blue Door October 2 – Tulsa, OK – Fassler Hall October 8 – Austin, TX – C-Boys Heart & Soul October 9 – The Woodlands, TX – Dosey Doe October 13 – Kansas, OK – Bushyhead Farm Fall Festival October 23 – Pittsburgh, KS – Mountain Stage
David Beck’s new album Bloom & Fade will be out September 30, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
When it came time to take his new collection of songs into the studio, noted bassist, songwriter, producer, and recording artist David Beck started the process with a simple, albeit off-the-wall, question that led the entire project into a new, adventurous atmosphere. “I’d discovered this idea with my buddy Ryan Quiet when I was producing his single,” says Beck. “We talked about these hypothetical situations—what if Dwight Yoakam did a record that was produced by The War On Drugs? What if Robert Earl Keen-like stories were seen through a Coldplay soundscape lens?” Having an affinity for both Texas storytellers like Keen, Guy Clark, and Rodney Crowell and the modern indie rock of Coldplay, The War on Drugs, and Big Thief, Beck’s upcoming album Bloom & Fade creates a cinematic world built around endearing storytelling and a soft, airy sonic palette. While Keen and Coldplay may seem like polar opposites of the musical spectrum, finding the connective tissue between those two worlds gave Beck additional perspective for Bloom & Fade’s pensive, visceral reflective nature. (David Beck, 2022)
BrooklynVegan premiered the first single off of Bloom & Fade, “Miner’s Song” hailing the first single stating “ it embraces country tradition but fits in with modern indie rock too.” “This song is about acquiring burdens and living through them, the pushing on from hard times to good. It took on an old west vibe, which happens when you get two boys from Texas in the same room,” Beck says of the song which was written with Conner Arthur of The Droptines. While the lyrics do occasionally mention ponies, the sonic characteristics of the song are more akin to the melodic indie rock of yesteryear; pumping bass and drums under a soaring instrumental hook.
Bloom & Fade plays out like a patchwork quilt where each scrap of fabric is another story inspired by cherished love tales, heart-worn narratives, familiar helping hands, and words of wisdom passed down from one generation to the next. Nestled within, Beck melds contemplative, self-discovery, and the occasional Hill Country haiku for splendid moments that stimulate and reassure.
Throughout his illustrious career, artist David Beck has been a daydreamer. Reared in the Texas Hill Country, Beck was raised by a musical family who continuously encouraged and reassured his fearless pursuit of creativity as a songwriter, noted bass player, and emerging producer. From his days as co-front man of the dynamic and electrifying alt-country outfit Sons of Fathers to his Tex-Mex border-blending Tejano crew David Beck’s Tejano Weekend, Beck’s diverse range and imaginative style have been prevailing characteristics. A gifted storyteller, Beck’s introspective lyrics and infectious melodies feel right at home on a burgeoning San Antonio boardwalk as they do a crowded honky tonk night, or riveting summer festival stage.
Over the past decade, the multifaceted Beck has repeatedly delivered albums that have been praised by critics and a devout fanbase. Armed with a bold, organic, and rootsy brand of Americana music, Sons of Fathers saw Beck and company play at renowned establishments such as The Grand Ole Opry, Gruene Hall, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits. David Beck’s Tejano Weekend has garnered approval from acclaimed legends such as David Lee Garza for their authenticity and sincerity. As a budding producer and engineer, the Tall Texan has worked with the likes of Eric Burton of Black Pumas, The Droptines, and Pake Rossi. His latest solo efforts, the cosmic storyteller Bloom & Fade, mirrors his artistic mantra and spirit and honors the familial past with Texas singer-songwriter precision and a robust sonic palette that shimmers and radiates.
Tickets are now on sale for Mabon, taking place September 16 – 18 in Lyons, Colorado. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Planet Bluegrass, organizers of Rockygrass, Lyons Folks Fest, and the famed Telluride Bluegrass Festival—which has coincided with the summer solstice for 5 decades—are pleased to announce Mabon, a new concert series programmed in conjunction with longtime Planet Bluegrass fan-favorite, Watchhouse. Mabon will take place September 16-18 in Lyons, Colorado, at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch during the Autumn equinox. Tickets are on-sale now. (Planet Bluegrass, 2022)
The series kicks off on Friday, September 16 with Regina Spektor and a special duo set from hosts Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz—aka Watchhouse. Saturday, September 17 continues with a could-only-be-at-Planet-Bluegrass billing of Emmylou Harris with Watchhouse as her backing band and sets from Thee Sacred Souls, Big Richard, and a performance from one half of Watchhouse, Andrew Marlin with his instrumental string band. Sunday will kick off with Yasmin Williams and fans will ease into the fall season and afternoon with Waxahatchee and The Lil’ Smokies. The weekend will be bookended by a final, full band Watchhouse set.
“We are so excited to be curating this series with Watchhouse!,” says Grace Barrett, Planet Bluegrass’ director of partnerships and communications. “They are dear friends whose music has inspired us for years. The Planet Bluegrass calendar really functions around the sun, and we can’t think of a better way to say ‘so long’ to summer.”
Frantz and Marlin share in that enthusiasm. They add, “We’ve been lucky enough to play so many festivals and events and have always loved the ones hosted by Planet Bluegrass. We haven’t been able to sit in on the curation side until now and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to reach out to artists whose songs have meant a lot to us over the years, or just recently. Autumn solstice feels like the perfect time to cozy up and sink into some feely songs together.”
For over 30 years, Planet Bluegrass has been redefining the musical festival by creating exceptional experiences that protect the planet through environmental leadership and a strong community. Fiercely and decidedly independent, their three festivals make a unique musical mark: each takes place in breathtaking natural Colorado environments, each features the world’s finest musicians and songwriters, and each embraces a “Leave No Trace” ethic that defines Planet Bluegrass as a leader in Sustainable Festivation. Planet Bluegrass presents Telluride Bluegrass, Rockygrass, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, all bucket list musical gatherings for artists and fans alike. Planet Bluegrass is invested in the next generation of songwriters and musicians as evidenced by Rockygrass Academy and Song School.
Another World is a guitar-driven foray into the world of hard rock music. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
New Jersey rocker Chris Luciani, founder, and leader of the hard rock band Lucidity, and his label Precision Records have formally announced the release of a brand new solo side-project for the artist. Another World is the eponymous debut single from his solo album of the same name which is now available for purchase. An inquisitive composition that not only externally asks the age-old question of, “Is there really anyone out there?” but also the self-doubting inner conundrum of, “Is there really anyone in here?” Some of the conclusions Luciani arrives at are sure to unsettle quite a few who hear this song. (Mia Mind Music, 2022)
Another World is a guitar-driven foray into the world of hard rock music. Chris works with a flesh and blood ensemble of live musicians who come together to help him forge molten lyrics and metal riffs together to allow the artist to get the heavy edge into the track and take it into the realm of mainstream active rock.
Artist: Chris Luciani Release: Another World Genre: Hard Rock Label: Precision Records
‘All Back’ is Ali McGuirk’s prayer for hope and resilience from upcoming album Til It’s Gone due out September 16 via Signature Sounds. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
While soulful songsmith Ali McGuirk loves to dip into a multitude of genres and sub-genres, her upcoming album Til It’s Gone never gets too far away from from its rhythm and blues essence; a well that many artists have drawn from over the years, but few deliver with such a spellbinding conviction as McGuirk. Acting as co-producer along with celebrated folk-blues songwriter Jonah Tolchin, McGuirk let the songs of Til It’s Gone wander from shadowy emotional spaces to big, bad guitar workouts to delicate little confessions. But her bold and buttery voice carries each song to the next until the album’s end. The easy-grooving “All Back” is the first single from Til It’s Gone—out September 16 via Signature Sounds. (Ali McGuirk, 2022)
Fans can watch the music video for “All Back” now and pre-order or pre-saveTil It’s Gone ahead of its September release. On the recommendation of producer Jonah Tolchin, McGuirk traveled from her adopted home of Burlington, Vermont, to the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake to track much of Til It’s Gone. A sublime set of songs that pairs McGuirk’s trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours, the album began to bloom at the L.A. sessions. McGuirk remembers describing to Tolchin the vibe she envisioned for the record. She mentioned something about it being akin to the cool fusion of styles that Little Feat achieved in the ’70s—that funky, twangy, jazzy and thoroughly-authentic feel. Tolchin suggested they just call up legendary Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett and get him to lay down a few parts. The nine tracks—songs that run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice—succeed because McGuirk has composed dynamic, hypnotic frames for her vocals. Til It’s Gone also features key contributions from McGuirk’s Boston bandmates such as guitar ace Jeffrey Lockhart.
Catch Ali McGuirk on tour: September16 – Nashville, TN – Five Spot (AMERICANAFEST) September17 – Easthampton, MA – Arcadia Music Festival October1 – Albany, NY – The Linda October2 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room October5 – Lancaster, PA – Tellus360 October6 – Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House October7 – Somerville, MA – The Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville October8 – New Haven, CT – Cafe Nine October14 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Lounge October19 – Syracuse, NY – 443 Listening Room October22 – Rochester, NY – The Abilene October23 – Buffalo, NY – Sportsmen’s Tavern October29 – Portland, ME – One Longfellow Square
Growing up just outside Boston, Ali McGuirk does not remember a time when she did not want to be a singer. In her teenage years, she found inspiration from vocalists like Lauryn Hill and Aretha Franklin, eventually gravitating towards powerhouses like Sarah Vaughan and Abbey Lincoln in college. After a couple decades of absorbing ’90s r&b,’70s singer-songwriters, and classic soul and jazz of every era, McGuirk found her own aesthetic: earthy, pure, propelled by a voice capable of whispering dark truths or belting out big hooks on her originals. Boston responded with a wave of love. The Boston Globe named her an “artist to hear.” She racked up nominations and wins at both the Boston Music Awards and New England Music Awards. Her standing-room-only residency at Somerville’s Bull McCabe’s Pub delivered electric performances.
Lilly Winwood’s new album Talking Walls will be out August 25, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Leading up to the writing of her new album, Talking Walls, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Lilly Winwood had all but resigned herself from continuing her music career. Burned out after her last album cycle and in the midst of a pandemic, Winwood took a job to pay the bills—but she could not stop writing. She knew she was on the cusp of something important. When Winwood decided to get sober, the floodgates opened. Talking Walls captures that tumultuous period, with Winwood literally “talking to the walls” as she looked inward with new purpose. Penned over long sleepless nights, with clear eyes and a willingness to ask tough questions, each song takes a different tack into the introspective wind, backed by a minimalist-roots sound. The now East Nashville-based artist (and daughter of Grammy-winning British rocker Steve Winwood) simply wrote her story and brought it to her band at Nashville’s Trace Horse studio—no producer needed. (Lilly Winwood, 2022)
The Boot premiered “Brighter Days,” a swaggering, pedal-steel laden track showcasing Lilly’s soulful voice and the simple, organic feel that the band landed on in the studio. Praising the first single, The Boot said, “Americana standout Lilly Winwood is ready to soak up the moment.” Fans can listen to “Brighter Days,” check out the official video for Winwood’s previously released single, “Sleep Issues,” and pre-order or pre-saveTalking Walls ahead of its August 25 release. Winwood will be joining singer/songwriter Jackie Greene for a selection of late summer dates and will also be joining singer/songwriter Todd Snider for a selection of early fall dates.
Talking Walls track list: Sleep Issues Good Old Days Keep it Spinning Long Haul Airplane A Paper Trail of Broken Hearts Brighter Days Idastoned Laundry Day
Catch Lilly Winwood on tour: September7 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center* September9 – Norfolk, CT – Infinity Hall Norfolk* September10 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center for the Arts* September11 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall Hartford* September13 – Albany, NY – The Egg – Swyer Theatre* September15 – Fairfield, CT – StageOne* September16 – Natick, MA – Center for Arts In Natick* September17 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theatre* September18 – Wilmington, DE – The Queen* October 13 – Sarasota, FL – Big Top Brewing Company October 14 – Bradenton, FL – Big Top Brewing Company October 20 – Rochester, NY – Abilene Bar & Lounge October 21 – New York, NY – The Bitter End * = opening for Todd Snider
The daughter of Grammy winning British rocker Steve Winwood, Lilly grew up splitting time between the U.K. and Nashville’s neon-lit streets. Back then music was ever present, she says, and whether performing with her older brother, writing teenaged odes to young love or just soaking in her father’s work, it gave Winwood a unique creative perspective – one that felt more in line with Nashville than London. Moving to Music City for good at 18, Winwood soon gravitated to the alternative-minded enclave of East Nashville, and after forming creative partnerships with locals like Boo Ray and Don Gallardo, released her Silver Stage EP in 2017. Time Well Spent followed in 2021, backed by East Nashville household names Alex Munoz and Allen Thompson, earning accolades from tastemakers like Rolling Stone Country as she solidified a go-your-own-way sense of earthy pop.
3Sirens Presents: With Love Part 1 featuring Andrew Combs, Dylan LeBlanc, Caitlin Rose, and more is available now digitally. It is the first of a two part EP series from 3Sirens Music Group; 6-song compilation of artist-chosen cover songs. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The team behind East Nashville-based independent label and recording studio 3Sirens strives to adhere to a simple mission statement: build community and celebrate great artists all while having a little fun. Revolving around 3Sirens’ physical space/incognito recording studio/creative salon, the record label began as an outlet for the prolific output that artists dream up within its walls.
“Building a 1960s style Laurel Canyon music community or a 1920s Parisian artistic movement, a la Gertrude Stein, has always been the dream of 3Sirens. A nostalgic fantasy perhaps but a good pursuit nonetheless,” say 3Sirens founders and head-dreamers, The Grahams. The beginnings of their efforts will be reaped in the form of 3Sirens Presents: With Love Part 1, a six-song digital mixtape of sorts all in the name of making music and having a good time doing so. Featuring artists like Andrew Combs, Dylan LeBlanc, and Caitlin Rose covering some of their favorite off-the-beaten-path songs from the 80s and 90s, With Love: Part 1 was recorded live with little to no overdubs. Stream and/or save3Sirens Presents: With Love Part 1 now.
The EP’s first single was Andrew Combs’ cover of Radiohead’s “High and Dry,” of which Glide Magazine wrote that he “does a fine job of channeling Thom Yorke while letting his own gorgeously vulnerable vocals shine.” The EP’s second single was The Grahams’ cover of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” Alyssa Graham shares of the recording, “I always always wanted to cover that song. It spoke to me in a way that allowed me to wander through the magical world the band set up.” Hear their version here.
The Grahams also sat down with the Bluegrass Situation to share their intention and inspiration for 3Sirens studio where this project was recorded. Read the full interview here and watch a studio tour of the space here.
Want more of what 3Sirens is cooking up? Americana and alt-country music fans should keep eyes peeled for the upcoming full length from East Nashville hero Derek Hoke, the first official 3Sirens Music Group Artist.
3Sirens Presents: With Love Part 1 track list: “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac, performed by Dylan LeBlanc “One Way Or Another” by Blondie, performed by Caitlin Rose “High and Dry” by Radiohead, performed by Andrew Combs “Somebody to Shove” by Soul Asylum, performed by Kevin Kinney “Something So Strong” by Crowded House, performed by Derek Hoke “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star, performed by The Grahams
3Sirens is a gathering spot for creatives and dreamers, a social salon. A studio built with the premise that to be creative one must exist in a creative space. Of course the state of the art gear and the thoughtfully curated collection of vintage and specialty instruments abound but it goes beyond the material into something less tangible. That such a space was dreamt up by lifelong lovers and dreamers, The Grahams, who themselves longed for a space to gather, to create art and play music, to collaborate, to stretch out and explore the “impossible,” and to let the intangible and unexplainable just happen. 3Sirens is a living, breathing space in East Nashville, Tennessee made better and more storied by each artist who creates within its walls. Welcome.
‘Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero of the Five-String Banjo’ by Max Wareham will be released August 23, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Whether on archaeological digs or translating medieval poetry, the past has always been a north star for banjo player Max Wareham. Following years of performance with the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Wareham digs into the early history of bluegrass music with his debut book, “Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero of the Five-String Banjo,” which presents an intricate and surprising portrait of a nearly forgotten master. It will be released on Tuesday August 23, 2022. (Max Wareham, 2022)
“I began this project as a way to root my own playing more firmly in the tradition,” explains Wareham, “but quickly came to realize that despite Rudy’s tremendous influence on the development of bluegrass music, he’s been nearly forgotten.” What began as a music instruction book of banjo tablature became a deep dive into Lyle’s impact on an entire genre of music and generations of banjo players.
“Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero of the Five-String Banjo” paints a vivid picture of the life and musical significance of the early bluegrass giant. The book features exhaustive and largely never-before-published transcriptions and analyses of every break Lyle recorded with Bill Monroe, the “father of bluegrass.” Lyle’s historical significance is explored in the final interviews given by late banjo legends Sonny Osborne and Bill Emerson, as well as interviews with several other prominent banjo players and members of Lyle’s family. Beautiful portraits of each interviewee are included alongside several never-before-published photos of Lyle himself.
In addition to the 19 main transcriptions, the book features chapters on Rudy’s style and its historical importance, his approach to backup playing, a thorough comparison of his breaks on every alternate take of Monroe’s classic “Raw Hide,” and several live transcriptions from before and after his time as a Blue Grass Boy.
Fans of bluegrass music, banjo players, and curious readers can pre-order “Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero of the Five-String Banjo” ahead of its August 23 release date.
Title: “Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero of the Five-String Banjo” ISBN: 364215376135191 Pages: 148 Publisher: Gateless Gate Music Publishing
Max Wareham studied with banjo masters Tony Trischka and Bill Keith and was introduced as a significant voice on the instrument with the release of Peter Rowan’s latest album, Calling You From My Mountain, on which he plays banjo and sings harmony. Prior to joining the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Wareham taught music extensively, played bass with the psych-pop outfit Sun Parade, and wrote songs and produced several albums under various aliases. Much of his work in bluegrass and education is focused on early bluegrass banjo styles and how they can offer alternative paths to expression within the bluegrass idiom
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Fiona Apple Joins Watkins Family Hour On “(Remember Me) I’m The One Who Loves You” From Upcoming Album Vol. II due out August 19, 2022. Vol. II features guests Jackson Browne, Lucius, Madison Cunningham, and many more. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Watkins Family Hour is a collaborative musical project founded by musicians and siblings Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins and traditionally held at the beloved Los Angeles club Largo. Since the first Watkins Family Hour show in 2002, the duo has released three studio albums, debuting with their self-titled album in 2015, following with Brother Sister in 2020, and, most recently, releasing Vol. II in August 2022. Sean and Sara recorded Vol. II at Los Angeles’ East West Studios in early 2022 alongside a stacked roster of longtime and new Family Hour collaborators, including Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Madison Cunningham, Lucius, Jon Brion, and more. As with their debut, the band will tour in support of Vol. II, bringing the Watkins Family Hour experiences to stages far and wide. Vol. II will be released August 19, 2022. (Watkins Family Hour, 2022)
The group shared “(Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You” from Vol. II; a track that features former Family Hour touring band member, longtime fixture at Largo, and wholly singular artist in her own right, Fiona Apple. Watkins Family Hour’s “(Remember Me)” kicks off with long-time Heartbreaker Benmont Tench’s honky-tonk piano and ends with Greg Leisz’s slinky pedal steel; the two enveloping a smile-inducing performance crowned by Sara, Sean, and Fiona’s three-part blend in the song’s iconic choruses. “I first heard this Stuart Hamblen song while going down an Ernest Tubb rabbit hole,” remembers Sara. “It’s hard for us to resist a country shuffle with attitude like this one. It’s our favorite kind of thing to sing with Fiona Apple.”
Vol. II follows Watkins Family Hour’s sophomore album Brother Sister, which they released as the COVID-19 pandemic began taking hold of the globe and, in turn, shut down the live music industry. That record was, serendipitously, a quieter affair, showcasing the musical interplay between Sara and Sean that keeps the Family Hour heart beating. In many ways, it is also a successor to Watkins Family Hour, the self-titled 2015 album that introduced the band to a broader audience and sent them, along with some of their closest collaborators, out on the road to tour.
As both Sean and Sara continue to work on their own solo music, as well as with their other bands like Nickel Creek and I’m With Her, Watkins Family Hour remains an invaluable resource and respite for them both, offering a familiar but ever-evolving space to test new ideas, meet new collaborators and, most importantly, have a good time doing what they love.
“It’s been really exciting to be part of this thing that is happening and growing and enables us to dig deep into this musical community,” Sean says. “The consistency has been invaluable to both of us, as musicians.” Sara adds, “But also, in life, the Family Hour has been and continues to be a huge part of making us feel anchored in the crazy city of Los Angeles.”
Vol. II track list: The Way I Feel Inside (Ft. Lucius) Hypnotized Pitseleh (Feat. Madison Cunningham) Thanks a Lot (Ft. Jon Brion) The Late Show (Ft. Jackson Browne) Tennessee Waltz (Ft. Benmont Tench) She Left Me Standing on the Mountain (Ft. Willie Watson) We Were Meant to Be Together On the Outside (Ft. Gaby Moreno) (Remember Me) I’m the One Who Loves You (Ft. Fiona Apple) Grief and Praise (Ft. Madison Cunningham)
Catch Watkins Family Hour on tour: August 13 – Lexington, VA – Lime Kiln Theater August 14 – York, PA – Susquehanna Folk Festival September 16 – Cincinnati, OH – Longworth-Anderson Series at Memorial Hall September 17 – Nashville, TN – Americana Fest September 18 – Indianapolis, IN – The Toby Theatre September 20 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark September 21 – Kent, OH – Kent Stage September 22 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Clyde Theatre September 23 – Bay Harbor, MI – Great Lakes Center for the Arts September 24 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music September 25 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music November 13 – Beaverton, OR – The Reser
SA Examiner 