Taproot Blog

The Taproot Radio show airs live on Monday nights at 9pm Eastern. Local listeners in Chapel Hill can tune in to WCOM at 103.5FM.  Everyone else can tune in to the WCOM.webcast stream.

My interview guest is the lead instigator behind country music’s worst nightmare, Cornell Hurd. We’ll be talking about his long career and playing tracks from his band’s latest release, Drop In On My Dream.

Browder Holler Boy / 3:26 / Chelle Rose / Ghost Of Browder Holler
Sugar / 3:11 / Lisa Biales / Just Like Honey
Boys & Girls / 3:28 / Alabama Shakes / Boys & Girls
You Got What You Wanted / 3:37 / Janiva Magness / Stronger For It

*** Interview Guest: Cornell Hurd

Please Return To Jesus / 4:14 / Bap Kennedy / The Sailor’s Revenge
Ice Age / 4:26 / Dr. John / Locked Down
Don’t Let Me Down Again / 3:35 / Paul Thorn / What The Hell Is Goin’ On?
Badly Bent / 4:49 / JP Harris and the Tough Choices / I’ll Keep Calling
Good News / 4:20 / Addam Scott / San Diablo
Sweet Senorita / 3:29 / Hobart Brothers w Li’l Sis / At Least We Have Each Other
Morning Song / 4:17 / Milagro Saints / Chance & Circumstance
Can’t Keep You Off My Mind / 3:47 / Woody Pines / You Gotta Roll EP
Two Star Motel / 2:26 / The Two Man Gentlemen Band / Two At A Time
Maybe It’s Best / 4:48 / D.L. Marble / Not The One…
Stop Breaking Down / 5:24 / Terry Lewsader / The Beanfield Blues

Terry Lewsader’s Beanfield Blues hits the sweet spot of country rock cross over.  On some songs you get a midnight rambler kind of rock and roll feel, other songs are slow sweet twangy heartbreakers. It’s interesting that the lead artist on the CD is Terry Lewsader, but lead vocal duties are carried by 4 or 5 different singers, most notably Lydia Salnikova and David Upton whose voice sounds like a ragged Kris Kristofferson. Highlights for me are “The Lesson,” “Sad Song,” and “Stop Breaking Down.”

The thing that stands out on Cory Branan’s Bloodshot debut, Mutt, is the story-telling. Branan’s got an ear for real-world ballads, with all their contradictions, not-so-proud moments, and bittersweet ironies. The base sound here is a punk / southern rock vibe in the same vein as Paul Westerberg.

Possum Jenkins Band performs “Steel Heart” from their CD, Carolinacana, at The Garage in Winston-Salem, NC. 4-14-11. Hear Dave Willis from Possum Jenkins Band talk about Carolinacana and play three tracks from the CD on episode 85 of the Taproot Music Show.