You remember when your stoner-friend convinced you to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, saying it was a bluegrass band that jammed like jazzbos? That was a bum steer. But the same guy, if he hasn’t already done so, is getting ready to tell you about Railroad Earth. The New Jersey-based band’s gained significant traction during its decade’s long career, hitting festivals in Telluride and just about anywhere else patchouli and moonshine are scents lingering in the air. Read the rest of this entry »

On the new release by the Little Willies, the New York-based country music (!) group formed by Norah Jones (piano, vocals), Richard Julian (guitar, vocals), Jim Campilongo (guitar), Lee Alexander (bass) and Dan Rieser (drums), the group tackles a selection of old classics made famous by the likes of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and others.

Among the notable tracks is “Tommy Rockwood,” an instrumental by Campilongo that is the sole original tune on the disc. The tune is mostly guitar-oriented with a country-rock vibe, but there is a smart Norah Jones solo that proves that she does have the chops to back up the acclaim some jazz snobs say is undeserved. Also very good is the cover of Parton’s classic “Jolene,” played here more organically than the original. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Old Town School of Folk Music has been the stage for countless performances for its half-century existence, hosting concerts that run the gamut from Americana to folk-rock and world music and in the meantime giving lesser-known artists a chance to showcase their talents to appreciative audiences that might not be reached otherwise.

To celebrate this, the school is releasing a four-disc box set of recordings made during these shows—some made on the sound board and others captured during radio broadcasts. The full package includes as many as 127 songs that had to be individually cleared with each artist or their estates. Read the rest of this entry »

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If there’s one band out there to induce a big dopey smile on your face, it’s the Fruit Bats. These Chicago folk rockers are masters of being breezy, led by singer/songwriter Eric D. Johnson, a former instructor at the Old Town School of Folk Music. They’re bringing it all back home on September 8, with a new album, “Tripper,” in tow. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever the rock ‘n’ roll rebel, Ha Ha Tonka’s Brian Roberts defies stringent traffic laws by chatting on his cell phone without a hands-free device while chugging down Interstate 40 through Texas en route to the annual South By Southwest Music Festival. He’s not, however, so daring that he doesn’t fling the phone down mid-sentence at the first sighting of a police officer.

“Dodged another bullet,” Roberts says sheepishly, returning to the conversation like a kid who just pulled off a cookie-jar heist. “We usually get parking tickets. I don’t know that we’ve ever gotten a speeding ticket. We’ve been pretty lucky.”

When not on chauffeur detail, Roberts fronts the quartet of childhood friends known for their seamless integration of down-home Americana and fiery bursts of amplified six-string glory, not to mention pristine four-part harmonies. Named after a Missouri state park not too far from where the members spent their formative years, Ha Ha Tonka readies for the April release of its third record, “Death of a Decade,” on Bloodshot.

“It sounds like Alabama meets Arcade Fire,” Roberts explains when asked to describe the overall feeling of the record. “Maybe that sounds like we’re just trying to be funny, but I think the Alabama/Arcade Fire reference hopefully holds some truth to it.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Soul fans must have been scratching their heads when Brit singer Adele announced that she’d picked Amos Lee to be her supporting act during her American tour. What they missed is that Lee does have a strong soul connection in his music, though he bends genres like the best of them. Those in doubt should check out his latest release, “Mission Bell” (Blue Note). Alongside his more folky material (and duets with living legends Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams), many tunes flirt with Gospel and blues, such as the touching “Jesus” and the heartbreaking “Hello Again.”

Upon its release, Mission Bell zoomed to No. 1 on the Billboard charts—a feat that few folk singers can achieve these days. In the meantime, his music was featured in TV shows and an AT&T commercial, and some young artists have followed his lead and used some of his material as part of the “American Idol” contests. With the Adele tour coming up, be sure to catch this former schoolteacher before he becomes too big for the smaller venues he’s been appearing in lately. (Ernest Barteldes)

March 26 at The Vic Theatre, 3145 North Sheffield, (773)472-0449, 7:30pm. Sold out.

Photo: Deborah Lopez

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On the tour in support of his new release, “Sunset Over Hope Street” (Mercer Street), singer-songwriter Ari Hest travels light: for every show, he’s accompanied solely by his own acoustic guitar and percussion, which gives him a chance to approach the music in a more organic form than on the record, where he plays with a full back-up.

Hest took some time to finish “Sunset,” an album that is quite different from his previous effort, “52,” in which he wrote, recorded and released a new single a week for an entire year. (The concept of “instant music” isn’t exactly new: John Lennon unsuccessfully attempted to do the same in 1969.) The songs on this record are highly personal, and deal with various topics—including “Business of America,” where he openly denounces the naysayers who see health care for all as a form of socialism. The poignant title track ponders the opportunities we’ve missed over the course of time.

Hest exudes great charm and charisma live. With great guitar technique, he plays using several different tunings (speaking to him after a gig, he mentioned using an open D). His baritone fits the music well—you can’t really pigeonhole him in a single genre, as he gravitates from folk to country rock and pop seamlessly—which makes it for a diverse and very enjoyable show. (Ernest Barteldes)

March 11 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, 7pm and 10:30pm. $15-$18.

Quiet Life

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This Americana/folk band paid their dues in their native New London, Connecticut for several years, but recently they picked up and left for the West Coast. Led by vocalist Sean Spellman, their sound has very strong country tendencies with a rock edge. Think of them as an update on Crazy Horse with tight CSN & Y harmonies, which can be heard on tunes like “Downtown”—sort of a jaded look at New York City and “Young Girls,” a tune that goes even heavier on their country side. The band is rounded out by Ryan Spellman, Craig Rupert, Jeremy Bruno, Harris Pittman and—as their official Facebook page states—friends… whatever that might mean. They have a strong following via social networks, which they use to advertise gigs, post videos and invite fans to concerts. They are currently on a major national tour in support of Seattle-based The Moondoggies, another folk group with stronger rock ‘n’ roll tendencies. (Ernest Barteldes)

February 4 at The Hideout, 1354 West Wabansia, (773)227-4433, 10pm. $10.

Photo: Nero's House of Women

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Jon Langford has grit in his voice and melody in his soul. A punk-rock pioneer, a leading light of alt-country, a troubadour for our times, a musicians’ mentor, a visual artist of uncommon skill, a singer-songwriter who writes with the authority of having lived a life rather than just having imagined it, how do you peg Langford? Is he folk, rock, country, punk, what? Yes, he’s all that. Langford is Langford, a transplanted Welshman who’s been in Chicago long enough for us to claim him, and in doing so, stake a claim to a treasure. Langford’s new album with his Skull Orchard co-conspirators, “Old Devils,” plays like the new story collection from a favorite author: engaging tales, beautiful hooks and a singular musical voice. Who else can get you humming along to a song like “Getting Used to Uselessness” like it’s “We are the Champions” or something? The Old Devils Ball, a pre-Halloween record release party with Jon Langford and Skull Orchestra, also features Andre Williams and the Gold Stars, Sally Timms and MC Danbert Nobacon. (Brian Hieggelke)

October 16 at Martyrs’, 3855 North Lincoln, (773)404-9494, martyrslive.com, 9pm. $12.

RECOMMENDED

Led by brothers Dallas and Travis Good, the Toronto-based Sadies hone a distinctive sound that’s been around since the late nineties. It’s a strange-tasting but nevertheless enjoyable alt-country, psychedelic-surf, garage-rock cocktail. Renowned for collaborations with Neko Case, fifties R&B cult singer Andre Williams and Jon Langford, the band clearly enjoys playing well with others. Their latest album, “Darker Circles,” pays homage to just that, with a rich, musically collective vibe. But 2003’s “Mayor Of The Moon” is probably still their best—Jon Langford’s rough, Welsh bellowing couldn’t be better suited for keeping The Sadies from getting bogged down with under-developed country melodies. Their concert together is going to be great for anyone who enjoys supporting and paying homage to making music in Chicago in the now. (Dee Fabbricatore)

August 21 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, 10pm. $12-$14.