Newport Folk Preview: Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside

By Brian Hodge

I had the pleasure of catching Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside at Tipitina’s in New Orleans this past Saturday.  The Portland-based outfit took to the historic venue with refreshing, almost youthful enthusiasm; perhaps not surprising given their nascent musical career.  (The band has also notably opened for the Avett Brothers, notoriously riotous performers.)

Ford will quickly put you in mind of a female Buddy Holly, performing catchy, rockabilly-like tunes from behind vintage glasses, and owning a pointed, percussive singing.  Her style is unmistakeably pinned to a jukebox, sock-hop sound (see: “Cage” or “This Crew”), though she is equally capable of filling the room with soul.  “Poison Milk” and “Against the Law” make up the mid-tempo middle of her album.

But she’s at her best (and most fun) when she’s letting loose.  She ended the evening by imploring the crowd to dance on the irrepressibly catchy “Danger”  and we were happy to oblige.

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside are the perfect opening act on the bright-eyed Saturday morning at Newport: fun, fresh and owning the perfect combination of traditional, form-fitting proficiency and eager, envelope-pushing energy.

Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside - Danger

Newport Folk Preview: David Wax Museum

The following is reposted from October 2010: 

My first introduction to The David Wax Museum was at the inaugural Kitchen Session back in March.  I still remember showing up on that rainy Spring night knowing literally nothing about the band and leaving later in the night, CDs in hand, a fan.  A polite golf clap turned into raucous applause over the course of the night as David Wax, Suz Slezak, Jiro Kokubu and Jordan Wax played an energetic set of Mexican-infused folk songs.

Over the last six-plus months I've had the chance to see the band win over larger and larger audiences in the same way they did a small living room that night.  First it was the tiny Lizard Lounge and Club Passim, later it was the mighty Newport Folk Festival - in all cases the band's enthusiasm brought the crowds to their feet as they sang and danced along. 

Since Newport 2010, the band has continued to play big and prestigious stages - from NPR's Mountain Stage to Bob Boilen's famous desk, released one of the best albums of 2011 so far, has continued to tour the country tirelessly, and has shared the stage with Josh Ritter, Will Oldham, Bela Fleck, Andrew Bird and more.  They return to Newport again this year, the site of their biggest triumph and the show that thrust them into the national spotlight to open the main stage on Sunday. 

Listen to the band's set from the Paradise in October 2010, opening for fellow Newport 2011 band Carolina Chocolate Drops.  The set was a mix of songs from their last LP Carpenter Bird, and songs from their upcoming album Everything Is Saved.  The full set is available for stream/download below in fantastic sound - a pristine matrix of soundboard and audience recording.

The David Wax Museum
Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
October 16, 2010

Beatrice
The Persimmon Tree
When You Are Still
Born With A Broken Heart
Colas
Unfruitful
Lavender Street (acoustic)
Beekeeper
The Great Unawakening
Vivian Won't You Take Me In
Yes, Maria, Yes

Newport Folk Preview: The Head And The Heart

I've written before about how I first fell in love with The Head And The Heart, bleary-eyed and head-aching after a long flight followed by a longer night in a rainy Seattle.  I listened to this local band that I remembered hearing about the night before and made it my mission to learn more about them.  They happened to be playing an opening set at a tiny bar the very next day - alas, it was sold out.  So, I made it my mission to track down one of the city's last remaining copies of the self-released debut before the Sub Pop rerelease (unannounced at the time) that would surely launch them to stardom.

Well, fast forward 9 months, and they are well on their way to stardom.  Their trademark catchy, bouncy folk-pop has won them a national following - no doubt with help from the Sub Pop marketing machine, major festival appearances and opening slots for Dr. Dog, My Morning Jacket and more.  Their first national headlining tour is still a few months away, but they play Newport Folk late on Sunday.  While they drew a tough timeslot up against Elvis Costello and Middle Brother, I know I'll be carving out time to see some of their set.  They're an energetic and captivating live band - check out our recording from their opening set at the Paradise in February for proof:

The Head And The Heart
Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
February 20, 2011

Cats And Dogs 
Ghosts
Honey Come Home
Heaven Go Easy On Me
Lost In My Mind
Winter Song
Sounds Like Hallelujah
Down In The Valley
Rivers And Roads

Full set download: mp3 zip

Newport Folk 2011 Mixtape

Delta Spirit - The Flood
Gillian Welch - The Way It Goes
Justin Townes Earle - Black Eyed Suzy
Brown Bird - Bottom Of The Bottle
Trampled By Turtles - Wait So Long
The Decemberists - Of Angels And Angels
David Wax Museum - That's Not True
River City Extension - Today, I Feel Like I'm Evolving
M. Ward (featuring Zooey Deschanel - Rave On
Elvis Costello (featuring Emmylou Harris) - Scarlet Tide
Freelance Whales - The Great Estates
The Head And The Heart - Rivers And Roads

Vikesh Kapoor added to Newport Nightcap lineup!

We're excited to announce the fourth and final artist for the Newport Nightcap...VIKESH KAPOOR.  The former Bostonian and current Portlander (Oregon, that is) will make his triumphant return to the East Coast to play the Nightcap.  Armed with an acoustic guitar and personal slice-of-life songs, Kapoor's music recalls days gone by, before folk went electric and mainstream and Starbucks-approved.  If you're going to the folk festival, you're guaranteed to dig this.

Vikesh Kapoor joins Kingsley Flood, Swear and Shake and Pearl And The Beard, rounding out a lineup that I can say with certainty is arguably pretty much the best unofficial Newport Folk Afterparty ever.  There are still a handfull of advance "VIP" tickets left - for just $10 these get you guaranteed admission, a poster and some CDs and other goodies (BUY HERE).  There will also be tickets available at the door for $5. Join us at 7pm to cool off and stick around for the live music all night long. 

Check out Ryan's Smashing Life for an exclusive premier of a brand new Vikesh Kapoor video!

Newport Folk Preview: Middle Brother Live

Newport Folk Festival's recent renaissance has come about, in large part, due to a willingness to embrace an exciting new generation of artists while still paying homage to the legends.  Case in point, this year's lineup features Mountain Man, Freelance Whales and Typhoon alongside Emmylou Harris, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and festival co-founder Pete Seeger.  There is no band that better represents the coalescence of likeminded contemporary folk-influenced artists than Middle Brother.  The band features the three primary songwriters from Delta Spirit (also playing this year), 2009 alums Deer Tick and one of 2010's festival standouts Dawes.  Drawing on classic rock, folk and country traditions the band found loose, collaborative sound that highlights each songwriter's strengths.  Delta Spirit's Matt Vasquez mixes gritty southern soul with classic rock, Dawes' Taylor Goldsmith brings breezy SoCal folk and Deer Tick's John McCauley pairs poignant lyrics with his casual, off-the-cuff delivery. It's one of the rare "supergroup" albums that actually delivers - it's a must listen for fans of any of the bands.

Don't miss the band's Sunday set at Newport - with no other tour dates planned, it could be your last chance.  Until then, check out our excellent live recording of the band's March 3 show at the Paradise in Boston. 

Middle Brother
Paradise Rock Club - Boston MA
March 3, 2011

Blue Eyes
Mom and Dad
Thanks For Nothing
Someday
Daydreaming
Blood and Guts
Theater
Me Me Me
Wilderness
Million Dollar Bill
Middle Brother
Portland
Twist and Shout

Full set download:  mp3 zip

Kitchen Sessions video of Dawes, featuring Matt Vasquez, John McCauley and Jonny Corndawg:

Free Summer Mixtape

The War On Drugs - Baby Missiles
The Shivers - Irrational Love
Compulsive Gamblers - Your Happiness
The Devil Whale - Magic Numbers
The Dead Trees - World Gone Global
Widowspeak - Gun Shy
Luke Temple - Ophelia
Jonny Corndawg - Chevy Beretta
Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune
The Wealthy West - Love Is Not Enough
Carlos Forster - I Walk I Talk
Cass McCombs - County Line
Pepper Rabbit - Lake House (demo)

Wilco Live at Solid Sound Festival 2011 (Night 2)

If Friday night's set was the musical equivalent of the dark storm clouds overhead - noise rock grit and flashy Nels Cline solos - then Saturday's set was the opposite.  A looser set featuring Wilco's most accessible and well-known work.  Classic rock pomp, folk-rock singalongs and Tweedy's trademark self-deprecating banter.

Catering to both the casual fans and die-hards, the set again drew from every album.  The only songs repeated from the previous night were new tracks "I Might" and "Born Alone".  Among many highlights, the standouts for me were "At Least That's What You Said" (I never tire of that solo), "Jesus, etc" which Tweedy turned over almost entirely to the crowd and "California Stars" with Sarah Lee Guthrie singing her grandfather's lyrics.

With a setlist so different from the previous night, it's not easy to pick a favorite -- Friday night felt like Wilco at their most vital and experimental.  Saturday was the victory lap - a set of crowd favorites and singalongs, played beneath finally-dry skies to a sprawling, adoring crowd. For those that were there, I'm curious which night you preferred - let me know in the comments.

Complete recording of night two is streaming below.  Sound on this is excellent - enjoy!

Wilco
Solid Sound Festival - North Adams, MA
June 25, 2011

I Love My Label (Nick Lowe cover)
Dawned On Me (new song)
A Shot In The Arm
Side With The Seeds
Company In My Back
I'll Fight
War On War
At Least That's What You Said
It's Just That Simple
What Light
Can't Stand It
Unknown (new song)
Jesus, etc
Hummingbird
I Might (new song)
Box Full Of Letters
Hate It Here
You Never Know (with Liam Finn)
(Thanks)
Born Alone (new song)
-----
The Late Greats
Heavy Metal Drummer
Passenger Side
California Stars (with Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion)
Airline To Heaven
Monday > Outtasite (Outta Mind)
Hoodoo Voodoo

Full set download:  mp3 zip

Wilco Live at Solid Sound Festival 2011 (Night 1)

Night 1 of Solid Sound was nearly a wash out.  Pouring rain had guitar techs and roadies giving each other worried looks on stage - and for a while I wasn't sure Wilco would be able to take the stage. 

They did take the stage, albeit a little late, and proceeded to put on one of the most intense shows I've seen from them.  The band mirrored the storm overhead, putting together a setlist that featured some of their noisiest, most experimental and visceral work.  Nels Cline was the star of the night, and as usual he was in top form - his solo on Hotel Arizona absolutely smoked.  Another highlight was Poor Places > Reservations, mirroring the perfect juxtaposition of the songs on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The set featured tracks from every studio album, a handful of brand new songs from the upcoming The Whole Love and closed with a cover of Split Enz "I Got You" with Neil Finn. 

Full recording is below for stream or download (right-click / save as).  Sound is generally excellent - though the pitter-patter of rain in the first few songs is audible, along with a bit of wind noise towards the end of the set.  Well worth the download if only for the full-band premier of 3 new songs.  Check back soon for my recording from night 2 which sounds even better!

Wilco
Solid Sound Festival - North Adams MA
June 24, 2011

I Might (new song)
Misunderstood
Bull Black Nova
Muzzle Of Bees
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
One Wing
Via Chicago
Whole Love (new song)
Hotel Arizona
Impossible Germany
Shouldn't Be Ashamed
Handshake Drugs
Radio Cure
Born Alone (new song)
Poor Places
Reservations
Spiders
Walken
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Red-Eyed and Blue
I Got You (At The End Of The Century)
I Got You (Split Enz cover, with Neil Finn)

Full set download:  mp3 zip