Listening for The Tin Hearts

There is something magical about the mixture of folk, country and blues.   Something hardscrabble, dusty and soulful.  Call it Americana or alt.country or whatever.  It is the music of my home, my youth and my continued passion. 

Not surprising, I count My Morning Jacket, The Felice Brothers and Wilco as guideposts for my fervor.  Mix in some Blitzen Trapper, Band of Horses, Hayes Carll and some Ryan Adams and you have a well-rounded playlist of modern Americana. 

It is time to add another to the list.  The Tin Hearts, based out of Columbus, Ohio, is a welcome addition to the club.   

The tight, five-piece band plays honest, hard-working music that will keep the honky tonk lights burning until dawn. However, it is Matthew Sullivan's gritty vocals and harmonica work that make the band stand out.  Like the aforementioned bands, The Tin Hearts possess a rollicking honesty that will take them far. 

After releasing their self-titled debut album last year, The Tin Hearts will release their second album, "No Good Deed," on Singing Moon Records on September 10th.  I can not wait to hear more from this up-and-coming band of musicians. 

“Times Like These” by The Tin Hearts (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Langerado 2009 Moves Downtown

Langerado 2009 is moving downtown in all senses of the word.

Along with the festival's physical and mental relocation to downtown Miami's Bicentennial Park (sorry campers), Langerado has continued its slow walk away from its jam-band origns. Today, festival organizers announced the most diverse line-up yet for the March 6, 7 and 8th.

Death Cab for Cutie, Ryan Adams and Snoop Dogg head up the still-evolving lineup which will play at the downtown park.  The festival's location will be a different as possible from last year's foray into the Florida Everglades.  Also, long-haired hippie kids, I would like to introduce you to the club kids and the rockers.  It should be a very interesting mix.

With a quick glance of the scene, the older acts of The Pogues, Public Enemy and Bad Brains jump out at me. The Gaslight Anthem, King Khan and the Shrines, Cloud Cult and After Hours favorite Budos Band have also peaked my interest.  For the South Beach denizens, Girl Talk will be the talk of the scene.

It will take a few days to digest it all.  But it looks like the making of a wild and weird weekend. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Here is the lineup so far:

Death Cab For Cutie • Snoop Dogg • Thievery Corporation (Live) • Slightly Stoopid • Ryan Adams and the Cardinals • Dashboard Confessional • The Pogues • Matisyahu • Flogging Molly • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Broken Social Scene • Cafe Tacuba • Umphrey's McGee • The Disco Biscuits • Robert Randolph & The Family Band • Pepper • The Faint • Cold War Kids • Steel Pulse • Public Enemy • Gym Class Heroes • Tricky • Girl Talk • Chromeo • Mute Math • Bad Brains • Ozomatli • Against Me! • George Clinton & Parliament / Funkadelic • Tortoise • DeVotchKa • Black Kids • Grupo Fantasma • Holy F*ck • Budos Band • Tokyo Police Club • Lotus • The Virgins • The Gaslight Anthem • King Khan and the Shrines • Lucero • Murs • Ra Ra Riot • Tortured Soul • Rebelution • K'Naan • The Egg • Zac Brown Band • Tigercity • The Aggrolites • Cloud Cult • Spam Allstars • Rachel Goodrich • Blue King Brown • The Heavy Pets • Awesome New Republic • The Postmarks • Suenalo Sound System

Download: Halloween Head by Ryan Adams (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Download: (How Can I Keep You) Outta Harms Way by King Kahn and The Shrines (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)