Tag: Ray Wylie Hubbard

Ronny Spears: “North of Mexico”

Texas singer-songwriter Ronny Spears passed away this week on October 20, 2014. Although not as well known as the many of those he performed with, Spears had a genuine Texas sound and the man was admired by those who knew him.

Spears often collaborated with songwriters like Ray Wylie Hubbard. Most recently, Spears worked with Robby White as part of White & Spears. The duo often performed around north Texas, and as recently as Saturday, October 18 were scheduled to play at Hank’s Texas Grill in McKinney, Texas.

In the video below from June 2011, Spears appears on “Texas Renegade Radio” on KNON 89.3 FM in Dallas, Texas, hosted by Mark Mundy. Here, he performs “North of Mexico,” which he wrote. If you have never heard Spears, check it out.


RIP Mr. Spears.

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    Andrew Combs Need Not Be A “Worried Man” (CD Review)

    Andrew Combs Worried Man

    I do not quite get the album art on Worried Man (2012), the debut full-length CD by Andrew Combs. Is he cold? Is it supposed to be a picture of a “Worried Man”? I do not think the album cover adequately prepared me for what to expect when I heard the music. One thing I do know, though, is that it is the best album by a new artist I have heard in a long time.

    Because Worried Man came out in October 2012, I realize I am a little slow in discovering Andrew Combs. But seeing a video of Andrew Combs performing on the Twang Nation website recently led me to check out his album. Listening to Worried Man starting with the first track of “Devil’s Got My Woman” has been one of those periodic experiences that restores my faith in new music.

    Combs, who is originally from Texas and now resides in Nashville, wrote all of the songs on the album, and he sings with an ache in his voice in the best country and Americana tradition. The album includes heartbreak, whiskey, and pedal steel, and the title track reminds one of an old murder ballad (even if the violence stops short of killing). You can hear the influences of Combs’s heroes who include Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, Mickey Newbury, Guy Clark, Jackson Browne, and Tom T. Hall. Combs pulls off connecting to these past influences while also sounding modern at the same time, as he does in this performance of “Please, Please, Please.”

    Every artist is different, of course, but for comparison purposes, a lot of the songs remind me of another artist I like a lot, Slaid Cleaves. “Please, Please, Please” sounds like it could be a great Heartbreaker-era Ryan Adams track. The song “Worried Man” sounds like it is off of the album of another Texan, Ray Wylie Hubbard . For now, Andrew Combs has made a stream of the album available so you can listen for yourself below Check it out.

    Combs, who released the album on his own Coin Records, also co-produced the album with Mike Odmark. Singer-songwriter Caitlin Rose adds her voice to several of the tracks. I look forward to more music from Andrew Combs, whatever the cover looks like.

    What is your favorite track off of Worried Man? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Tribute to Guy Clark CD is “Stuff That Works”

    This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark

    One of my favorite recent CD purchases is This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark (2011), which I have had on repeat play since I got it in December. This One’s for Him is a solid 2-CD collection of songs by the wonderful Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark. Although tribute albums often are hit-and-miss affairs with an uneven collection of interpretations by various artists, this one maintains a nice consistency throughout. One reason the CDs work so well is the consistency of Guy Clark’s writing, although tribute albums usually consist of well-written songs. Another reason that the listening experience is like listening to a CD by one artist is because the producers recorded live with the band and a limited number of overdubs, giving consistency throughout. Finally, the great collection holds up due to the group of artists assembled for the project. Although there are some famous singers on the collection, the producers clearly opted for talented musicians who love Clark’s music instead of just seeking big names, and the love comes through the music.

    It is hard to choose a favorite song, but one of mine is Jack Ingram’s version of “Stuff that Works.” In a video no longer available on YouTube, Jack Ingram talked about his love of Guy Clark’s music, noting that the music feels “like the Truth.” The great thing about Clark’s songs is that he writes beautiful words to go with his beautiful music.

    Stuff that works, stuff that holds up;
    The kind of stuff you don’t hang on the wall;
    Stuff that’s real, stuff you feel;
    The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall.

    Artists on the CD include a who’s who of great singers and songwriters: Rodney Crowell, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Earl Keen, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John Prine, and many more. [UPDATE: In a promotional video no longer on YouTube, Hayes Carll, who sings “Worry B Gone” on the tribute CD, talked about hanging out with Clark.]

    If you are already a fan of Guy Clark’s music, you will love the CD. But if you are new to his music, the tribute CD is a great place to start. One of my favorite songs of all-time is Guy Clark’s “LA Freeway.” Radney Foster does an excellent job covering the song on the CD. I could not find his version on Youtube, so here is the songwriter’s version. He does a pretty good job too.

    If I can just get off of this LA freeway,
    Without getting killed or caught;
    I’d be down that road in a cloud of smoke,
    For some land that I ain’t bought — bought — bought.

    “LA Freeway” captures the common longing for running off and being free. Even if you cannot make that kind of escape, you might come a little closer if while you’re on the road you pop in this CD.

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    Buy from Amazon

    Pop Culture Roundup (April 2012 Edition)

    a night to remember blu ray Unfortunately, some of the biggest pop culture news recently has been about the deaths of Mike Wallace, Dick Clark and Levon Helm. But in case you missed some of the other recent news, check out the following.

    –Movies–

    The Titanic anniversary prompted some film revivals. Salon critics debated: Is the film Titanic a classic or crap? Also, check out a review of that “other” Titanic movie on Blu-ray, A Night to Remember.

    Captain America will return to screens in his own sequel in April 2014.

    Universal is rebooting the Mummy films that starred Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.

    Really? As if he doesn’t have enough going for him, Ryan Gosling saved a woman from a speeding car.

    Where are the stars of the movie Grease now? (slide show)

    Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks is going to be made into a film.

    Daniel Craig wants to continue to play James Bond as long as he can.

    Watch the trailer for Oliver Stone’s upcoming film about a drug cartel and a kidnapping, Savages.

    –Television–

    Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz is considering more seasons because of Netflix.

    Paul Feig offered his thoughts on each episode of the great TV series, Freaks and Geeks. (Onion A.V. Club)

    Jeopardy has lined up celebrity “Power Players” to compete in May, including Lewis Black and Chris Matthews.

    Interview with Denny McBride of HBO’s Eastbound & Down.

    From Chipwich to Hummer: 10 iconic brands that disappeared.

    Jonathan Frid, who played vampire Barnabas Collins on the original Dark Shadows series (and frightened me as a kid) has died. RIP.

    –Music–

    Ted Nugent is pleading guilty to transporting a black bear he illegally killed in Alaska.

    10 best breakup albums of all time.

    Scott Fedor writes about Bruce Springsteen connecting with a paralyzed fan this week. (Thanks to Mike S. from Cleveland)

    The neuroscience of Bob Dylan’s genius via @guardian (Thanks @sonjathegreat)

    Review of Johnny Cash – Bootleg Vol. IV: The Soul of Truth. (from Hyperbolium)

    Review of Ray Wylie Hubbard’s new CD, Grifter’s Hymnal. (No Depression)

    Greg Ham of the band Men Down Under was found dead in his home in Australia.

    Musician Herbie Hancock is writing a memoir.

    Hear Lisa Marie Presley’s new single, “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet,” from her upcoming Storm & Grace CD.

    The tragedy of country singer Johnny Paycheck (from No Depression).

    The 10 best cover songs you didn’t know were cover songs: (from Popdose)

    A hologram of Tupac Shakur performed at the Coachella festival. How did they do that?

    –Other Pop Culture News–

    Slide show of the Space Shuttle Discovery on its final flight, past several DC landmarks. (The Guardian)

    Pulitzer Prize nominations were announced, giving a nod to growing online journalism.

    11 Athletes Who Had Their Own Cereals. (Thanks @mental_floss)

    J.K. Rowling’s new novel, The Casual Vacancy, will be published September 27.

    Did you know crows and squirrels are among the 10 smartest animals? (from Animal Planet)

    Soon, you will no longer be able to buy thoughts in Canada, as the country is withdrawing the penny from circulation.

    Finally, Levon Helm passed away last week. In Marc Coh’s song about Helm, he sings “I was was lost/ I was gone/ Listening to Levon/ I was looking at the girl/ But I was listening to Levon.” -Marc Cohn.

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