Joe Hill Louis

Hey Syphilites,


Joe Hill Louis, according to Wikipedia, "...was an American singer, guitarist, harmonica player and one-man band. He is significant, along with fellow Memphis bluesman Doctor Ross as one of only a small number of one-man blues bands to have recorded commercially in the 1950s, and as a session musician for Sun Records." Louis recorded with a band as well as a one-man-band.


Here is another great post about him over at the Hound Blog.


I tried to find some live-video of the man, but didn't come across anything. However this is what I found:




Tiger Man





We all gotta go sometime





Back Slide Boogie

Bloodshot Bill on Go-Kustom TV

Just came across this guy. Pretty sweet. More on him will follow, be sure.

Esmerelda Strange

Esmerelda Strange is a one-woman-band from San Fransisco, California. She has released two albums: 'Introducing Esmerelda Strange' (2005) and 'Strange Encounters with Esmerelda Strange' (2007), both of which are available via here via CDBaby.  She plays the accordion, which adds an interesting taste to the music. This is how she describes her music herself on her Website: 


'Just imagine an eclectic blend of Eastern European, Latin American, Urban Folk, Punk Rock, Rockabilly,and Klezmer music.  Well you don't have to imagine, because Esmerelda Strange delivers that, and so much more. 

It's an accordion-driven extravaganza! A sound that will always remind you of somthing else, no matter what that is. It's a melody that keeps sticking in your head, and beats that set your feet a-tappin. As real as smeary eyeliner, morning breath, or letting them see you sweat and just not caring; this music revels in the beauty of the imperfection of life. 

If it is somthing quixotic, undefinable and unique that you crave this could be the music to satisfy. It's a sound that evokes days long gone and places you've never been;yet a heart of rock and roll beats with wild and passionate abandon at it's center. 

Captivatingly raw and honest,these songs area celebration of life and death and every little thing that happens in beteween.  Original songs of beauty and hope, agony and desolation can all be found in the bands repitoire as well as a diverse selection of cover songs sure to suprise and entertain. 

These songs are an experience.
They are to be savored.
Provecho!'

From the website you can also Download four songs from her first album. And her Myspace is definitely worth a visit if only to listen to her haunting version of 'Wayfaring Stranger'.


I can't find any recent videos of her, but here are a few from a 2006 gig.


Wayfaring Stranger:



Cunning Linguist:



The Waltz:

O Lendario Chucrobillyman - Discography

O Lendário Chucrobillyman is a one-man-band from Brasil. Pretty damn good guitar-work. And even better: all his albums can be downloaded from his blog. Klaus Koti is the man behind this act - he is also the vocalist for Os Penitentes - a Brazilian-folk-inspired sea-shanty-flavour-infused band we will definitely cover in later posts. You can also find three albums by 'Os Penintentes' on his blog. Klaus has told us that at the moment he is also working on an untitled album for an as yet untitled act. When we know more, you will know more.

There are three "O Lendário Chucrobillyman" albums to download and all of them are great. Please find the links below. (For all downloads click 'save file to your PC' in the bottom right.) But first check this: the video of 'Chicken Flow'

And now the album,

The Chicken Album (2008):

"In his new album titled "The Chicken Album", "O Lendário Chucrobillyman" shows us new musical compositions fully based in the Brasilian country acoustic guitar sonority called “viola” introducing something about "The Chicken Style".

The Chicken Style or “O estilo da Galinha” in Portuguese speaking, it’s a kind of style based in the way of delta blues players mixed with the style of the brazilian viola players so the 10 string viola sonority came by itself. All the songs were arranged and composed with a percussive concern, in this way the percussion was composed by pieces of rubish like oil cans, washboards, cardboard boxes, a garbage can as a bassdrum, kitchen pans, and scrapmetal.Enjoy this Trash primitve country garage album with all your family and friends."

Download: The Chicken Album 

------------

Download: ...E Sua Monobanda Orquestra 

------------

Download: Rock 'n Roll Primitivo EP (2004)

And a final video to leave you with:

"Hey Garota, vamos sair por ai?!"

And Remember to share this with others!

Black Mekon

Hey Syphilites,


Black Mekon have been blowing my mind. I've been listening to both their albums: 'Free Range Hassle', their debut album, and their 2010 release 'Broke Into Always On'. Both have been released by Cold Rice Records and are bought 'by donation' - so you can name your own price - but they are definitely worth the suggested donation of £5 for each. Seriously, if the Black Keys and Black Sabbath gave birth to a bastard-child in a bath-tub full of distortion acid than Black Mekon would be their offspring. (Three times black makes a right.)


Watch these vids and judge for yourself. Then go buy their shit.


Jellyfeather:



Homeward Bound:



Get A Grip:



Brown Lullaby:



These guys have heaps of video's so be sure to check more on Youtube via Steviecopter's channel. I will certainly post more of them here on a later date.

Zombilly Videocast # 05 - Onemanbands

A videocast from zombilly.blogspot.com. The website, and a lot of the video, is in Portuguese (and Spanish) so I can't tell you much more about him/her/them, but if you check their myspace it is clear these are one-man-band afficionados too! Long live Brazil!


A battle of one-man-bands! Awesome!



According to the description these are the one-man-bands in the video: 


'Bands: El Monstro Orquestra (México), Amazing Onemanband (Uruguai), The Fabulous GoGo Boy From Alabama (SP), O Lendário Chucrobillyman (PR) and Chuck Vilence & His Onemanband (SC).'


(here is another post about the event in Portuguese)

Chuck Violence and his Oneman Band Orchestra - 'Drinking and Gambling' + live@potoma

Chuck Violence is a one-man-band who plays gritty lovely blues-punk. Tasty. This is from his garagepunk profile:

'During summertime in 2005, after listening to several Hasil Adkin’s albums, Chuck realized that he never heard it before: a very unique and particular kind of rock n’ roll music. So Chuck starts his musical career as an oneman band, playing all instruments at the same time. Using drums, electric guitar, kazoo and a megaphone to sing loud and raw as a sharp knife, it raised “Chuck Violence & His Oneman Band Orchestra”.

You gonna notice in his songs a strong flavor of punk & blues, garage rock, rockabilly, giving you a hypnotic primitive rhythm and ultra groovy moment. Chuck is all about original techniques and songs that will take you to the wild and glorious rock ‘n roll, with a greasy soul, outrageous movements of his body and clapping hands like the spirituals used to do.

Chuck Violence has participated many festivals of independent music in America and Europe, touring, playing and releasing his work in compilations and labels like Rock N’ Purgatory (USA), Turbochainsaw (United Kingdom), Mongrel (Canada), Shit In Can (France).

If you want to know about his discography check it out: “Hijo de Puta From México” (2006), “Bandolero Mexicano” (2007), “Guadalupe Hoodoo Lady” (2008).'

I could not find where we'd be able to buy his records, but when I do I'll let you know. For now, enjoy these vids!

Drinking and Gambling:



Live @ Potoma:

Myspace

Cocaine Blues - Keith Richards, Townes van Zandt, Reverend Gary Davis

Hey Syphilites,


No, I'm not suffering of the Cocaine Blues, but it is a pretty awesome song. I thought I'd find you a couple of recordings of the song done by the classics.


Pretty Nice recording of Keith Richards singing the song:



Here is Townes van Zandt doing the same:



And the ultimate classic, Reverend Gary Davis:

Scott H. Biram - Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue

Scott H. Biram's video for 'Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue' from his 2009 album 'something's wrong/lost forever'- Enjoy.

Produced by JuddFilms and edited by Milk Products Media.

More Scott H. Biram here.

Shaking Ray Levi's Festival - 1993 - Roots, Blues, Jazz

Hey Syphilites,


This is a pretty interesting mini-documentary with some nice showcases of some legendary roots musicians. It has one-man-band Abner Jay (Myspace)playing 'hambone' in the first part. I posted about Abner Jay before here. The film is by Michael Johnson. Part 1 is particularly good. Part 2 is a bit too experimental for my liking, but who knows you might be into it. 


This is part 1: "Over three days in April, 1993 at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, TN, the Shaking Ray Levi Society presented an incredibly diverse music festival with internationally acclaimed artists. 

This is the first part of a 20-minute mini-documentary about the festival, featuring footage from "the last working Southern black minstrel" Abner Jay (his final featured performance), saxophonist and MacArthur "genius grant" recipient Anthony Braxton, and Kelly Hogan (the Jody Grind, Neko Case) with Bill Taft (the Jody Grind, Hubcap City). The Documentary is by filmmaker Michael Johnson." (Description From Youtube)





And part 2: 'This is the second part of a 20-minute mini-documentary about the festival, featuring footage from free improv violist LaDonna Smith (Trans Museq, String Trek), Catherine Jauniaux and Ikue Mori (DNA, Electric Masada), Amy Denio (The Tiptons Sax Quartet & Drums), guitarist Davey Williams (Trans Museq, Curlew), cellist Tom Cora (Skeleton Crew, Curlew), Southern Improvisers, Caroliner Rainbow, the Shaking Ray Levis (Dennis Palmer and Bob Stagner), and saxophonist and MacArthur "genius grant" recipient Anthony Braxton.'



The festival was organised by the Shaking Ray Levi Society.The SLRS is 'a collective-run non-profit that supports, produces and presents diverse genres of music, film and performance art through festivals, recordings and the Internet. The SRLS is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of non-traditional artists and arts advocates who will continue to challenge local audiences and enhance the cultural growth of Chattanooga, Tennessee.' (From their Website)

Interview with STZA (Star Fucking Hipsters/ Leftover Crack)

STZA talking about the new SFH album coming out this year.

Al Foul and French Tourist

Al Foul and French Tourist playing a Black House Session. Perhaps stretching the term - one-man-band + dj? Oh well.... Nice recording.



Al Foul: Myspace

French Tourist: Myspace

NOBUNNY - BoneYard; I am a girlfriend; on Chic-a-go-go

BoneYard


I am a girlfriend


on Chic-a-go-go


MYSPACE

Evan Mitchell, One Man Band

400 pound monkey


Baby Back Drums


Bath Tub Lady


Myspace - Website (with a free download on the site)

Yeah!

Big Boi vs. The Black Keys - The Brothers of Chico Dusty (Free Download)

As my previous post about Chris King and his two free EP's here, I found this one via A Truer Sound:

A Mash-up album of Black Keys and Big Boi (Outkast)

for free

What are you still doing here?

Get this shit

http://mashville.bandcamp.com/

Chris King - Bexar County EP + This New Almanac EP (Free download)

Hey Syphilites,

I came across this one via A Truer Sound, a website that should be part of your music news foraging every day. Chris King wants you to have his two EP's for free. Nice laid-back folk-country. Just what you need as the temperatures are going up, or down, depending on which hemisphere you are on. Download them here. 

Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance

This was a surprisingly good bit of redneck-rap:


So is this:

Big Wheel Racer - Fooled you twice (Boom Boom Belam)

I like this guy, but I can't seem to find much more on him. No facebook, no myspace, no website.

Note: I wrote this a couple of weeks ago. I think this might actually 'Boom Boom Belam' - MYSPACE - HALFDOOR RECORDS - FACEBOOK - Watch a video Below of Boom Boom Belam - Same guy.)

I am in the process of finding out why the two different names. In the mean time make sure you surf to halfdoorrecords.com to download a free song of BBB here. - I think there might be an album in the brew too. More on that later as well. More on everything this guy does!

And a longer vid here of the same song from a different angle here:

Boom Boom Belam:

The exploited - Beat the Bastards/Sex and Violence (Live)

I used to be obsessed with these guys - Beat the Bastards was the first album I had of theirs - That's when my parents started thinking 'this might be interesting'. Love it.




This is the classic for me: Sex and Violence - I remember that mosh-pit in Amsterdam - Memooories!



You could keep a whole middle-sized country high for six months on the amount of speed Wattie does in a week. Fact.

Joe Buck Yourself - Piss and Vinegar

http://joebuckyourself.bigcartel.com

Hey Syphilites,

Joe Buck Yourself, hellbilly one-man-band extraordinaire, has a new album, 'Piss and Vinegar'. It is not yet available on Itunes or other MP3 outlets. You can order it here but ships within the US only. I can't really find much else about the album, apart from the EPK (electronic press kit) below, shot by Juddfilms, and an article on savingcountrymusic.com, which reports that the producer for the album is Jack Endino, who has produced albums for Nirvana and Mudhoney, amongst others. There is nothing yet about the release on his Myspace or on his Wikipedia page. I guess the proper release will be gearing up in the new year. Hopefully it will become available outside the US soon. Or perhaps us non-Americans will have to rely on the blogosphere to bring this one to us.

This is the 'Piss and Vinegar' version of 'Muddy Water' - the song also appeared on his self-titled full-length 'Joe Buck Yourself'. This seems calmer and with a bigger focus on the lyrics.

I got nothing more for you than this at the moment, but I will keep an eye on developments and report back to you as soon as it filters through to my syphilitic brain.


UPDATE

Hey Syphilites,

I wrote in my previous post about Joe Buck that I did not yet know when his new album Piss and Vinegar would be available outside the US. I received an email from his booking agency today that they are working on a distribution deal for outside the US. Until then - I hope you are from the states or have a friend there.

**Update #2**

I can tell from the traffic to SOB that a few people out there are looking for 'Piss and Vinegar' online. The album is now sold out at Joe Buck's BigCartel site and after reading the article on him on saving country music properly I now realise this album was initially meant to be distributed by Century Media - re-recorded and newly produced versions of previously recorded songs, like Bob Wayne's new one - but Buck fell out with Century Media and now the only way to get it is at shows. The album might surface on the net at one point, of course, but I always liked the raw production of Joe Buck's previous stuff and wonder whether a smoother production would really help the songs, with the emphasis on wonder.


UPDATE 2


5/9/11 finally managed to have a listen to the album Piss and Vinegar - if Buck fell out with Century Media because the production of the album completely takes away from his previous albums which are a lot stronger, with better production, then I understand why. The album features re-recordings of Buck's old songs, with a watering-down of his style that seriously takes away from Joe Buck's electricity which can be felt on his older recordings. Disappointing. I wonder if Buck has shed any light on the reasons on the falling out with Century Media since....