The rock of Tom Petty returns, as the Heartbreakers hit Indianapolis July 10 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre w/ Drive-By Truckers as openers. Petty will release the new album "Mojo", the band's first together in eight years, this spring before embarking on a summer tour starting May 6th in Raleigh, North Carolina. The slow-burn cut Good Enough is streaming now at Pettys official site (link is below). My Morning Jacket, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, Drive-By Truckers and Crosby, Stills and Nash will all join Petty on the road at various points throughout the tour.
Listen to "Good Enough" here

NOTES:
Indiana singer/songwriter/guitarist Jason Wilber is again on the road with John Prine, in Texas for a show in Dallas tonight and two in Austin this weekend. He'll be opening some shows for Greg Brown in April.

Indianapolis's Henry French will play a birthday show on March 4 at Locals Only. No cover charge. Billed as Henry French and Friends, it's an opportunity to see a guy who has plenty of talent, and has moved on from his previous band. We'll see how he's doing Thursday.

Johnny Cashs Guess Things Happen That Way was the 10 billionth song sold through Apples itunes music store. Seems a little more than a coincidence that it was happened on what would have been Cash's birthday, but I'll let that go.... This milestone download earned 71- year-old Louie Sulcer a congratulatory phone call from Steve Jobs, a $10,000 iTunes gift card, a call from Rosanne Cash, and then Cash's husband, musician John Leventhal, played the winning song live over the phone. Pretty cool.

VIDEO OF THE DAY:
Speaking of John Prine - one of the best singer/songwriters of the last 50 years - here's one recorded last week in Philadelphia. (acoustic performance during band show):

Roots Rock - Three For the Road - Roots shows to see

Thurs., Feb. 25 - Jethro Easyfields - a solo show Claude and Annie's in Fishers 9pm - One of our favorite roots-rockers breaks away from his gigs at Locals Only to play an acoustic show on the northside.

Read the story I wrote about Jethro

Fri., Feb. 26 - Jennie Devoe - at the Rathskeller's new music room in the Antheneum - This is the type of venue that Jennie excels in, with her stroytelling and singing. Theatre-type setting, but intimate room. Sne played a houseparty in Madison, IN last week, and heard from friends that she was great. Check her out in the hometown.

Sat., Feb. 27 - Cash Bash - at Radio Radio - one of the best events of the year for fans of the kind of music we like: Americana, roots, country, rock and attitude. The 6th Annual tribute/blowout honoring the Man in Black. Mandy Marie and the Cool Hand Lukes headline. Cash's new album, "American VI: Aint No Grave", will be released on Friday (would have been Cash's birthday) and features Scott and Seth Avett of the Avett Brothers playing on the LP, along with Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was recorded shortly before Johnny's death. The Avett Brothers play a sold-out show at the Murat Sunday night

"Ain't No Grave" from the upcoming album

AMERICANA/ROOTS-ROCK ALBUM NEWS: They've been coming to Indianapolis for more than 20 years. Look for a return trip this spring or summer, as the BoDeans have record coming April 6, called "Mr. Sad Clown". They started work about a year ago and recorded 23 songs in a 8-month stretch, and got it down to 15 tracks for the release. Kurt Nuemann and Sam Llanas, the two behind the BoDeans, cut it themselves in Austin, with Sam commuting from Milwaukee. Billboard Magazine notes they brought in horns for two of the songs.
see more here

HOT AMERICANA BAND YOU SHOULD KNOW: Somebody's Darling's debut LP was recorded in Nashville, TN with producer Dan Baird from the Georgia Satellites. The one girl, three guys band features a blistering guitar sound, and the whiskey and cigarette vocals of Amber Farris. Think Black Crowes and Cross Canadian Ragweed, with some female twang. Or Joplin fronting the Stones. You got it. Anything produced by Baird gets me to take notice. The record has cracked the Americana Top 40, and was at #31 last week.

Here's a taste:

YOU KNOW MARAH? - Philly's old school-type rockers Marah new album will be called "Life Is A Problem", due on June 1st. They have a deal on their website that if you tell five people about the music, you can have some cuts that didn't make the record.

From their website:
"We are making these unreleased recordings available to you because you deserve 'em. As music fans you've displayed the rare quality of really giving a shit about our music through the years and that means a lot to us."

Watch nice little film they made on the road....

LIVE WEBCAST PLUS BRIAN HENNEMAN INTERVIEW - The Bottle Rockets will play a show that will be webcast live on Wednesday night - LISTEN HERE - ....they played an acoustic set on Knoxville, TN radio station WDVX Tuesday, and featured cuts from their recent album "Lean Forward". After the performance, front man Brian Henneman talked about the history of the band, his involvement in the glory days of the alt-country movement, and the band's new record. Hear the interview

Here's a preview track, "Foxglove," from Murder by Death's upcoming album Good Morning, Magpie, due April 6 on Vagrant. It's the Bloomington band's sixth full-length, and was recorded at Farm Fresh Studios.

The track is trapped in the flash jukebox a little ways down the page http://www.punknews.org/bands/murderbydeath

I'm listening to the rest of the album now one of those perks of the job and digging on a mighty fine drinking song "As Long As There is Whiskey In The World" that's perfect for a sheets-to-the-wind sing-along. As long as there's Maker's Mark underneath my desk, I'll make it through another Wednesday.

Bloomington's Americana singer/songwriter Bobbie Lancaster hit Memphis over the weekend, and took part in the Memphis Folk Alliance gathering, performing a number of showcases at the festival. Her early morning (2am) performance on Friday night was captured live and is available online at gogirlsmusic.com (and below). With most festivals and showcases, performers get thrown into some unfamiliar situations, and it's up to the singer to get their talent across to the audience, no matter the circumstance. This audience was online and a small one in a conference/hotel room.

Bobbie seemed able to throw herself into the songs and the Hoosier girl did well. They also played some kid's music as part of the festival, (a morning showcase following a 2am show) as Bobbie's dual audience (Kids and big people) both got served. Haven't talked to her yet, but we'll catch up with her later in the week for more details.

She has an album of her own songs finished, and is expected to release it this year.

Watch showcase here

Did I just hear someone from the back of the room yell something? What was it? What sucks? Nothing to do tonight? Let me tell you, Mr. Bad Mood, Dr. Rob here is gonna prescribe some medicine. The dose is the show of your choice and a three beers. And a shot. Of liquor.

Traveling musicians decided to make Indy their home for one night. There is one outlandsish cast of guitar (and banjo) players, legends and rock and roll in central Indiana.

And I don't want to.. - yeah, I'm talking to you in the back of the room - I don't want to hear about there ain't nothing to do and Indianapolis gets too few great shows. Sometimes we get passed by. But for one night, it seems there is some roots rock and roll love in the middle of Indiana.

TONIGHT (2.19.10)

Show with Best Musicianship: Bela Fleck: The Africa Project is at Clowes Hall tonight. One of those guys who seemingly breezes through a show with an effortlessness that belies the work to build a career-long exquisite catalog of music.

Show with Best Pairing of Chuck Berry riffs and Punk Noise: Bon Brawl (A Tribute to Bon Scott) w/The Nabs, King Deuce, Stealing Volume at Locals Only, 9pm.
Let's just steal what NUVO Music Editor Scott Shoger wrote in NUVO's Soundcheck this week: "The second edition of the Bon Brawl kind of turns the anniversary celebration thing on its head. The 33-year-old Bon Scott, then lead singer and lyricist for ACDC, died of alcohol poisoning on Feb. 19, 1980. So this tribute show is a chance to celebrate his life on the anniversary of his death, which seems like a punk rock (or hard rock) thing to do."
And I bet someone plays "Problem Child"... so what more do you want?

Show with Biggest Legend: Loretta Lynn is at Ball State tonight, playing Emens Auditorium. Now this is a legend. Still tough, still in good voice, still wearing those long, flowing, flowery dresses, and still able to scare the shit out of me with some of her lyrics. One of the greats of not just country, but based on her great writing, of the last 100 years of recorded music.

Best Pop Punk: The Ataris play at ES Jungle ( on Central Ave) at 7pm. For the kids... Vets of Warped Tour return for show and then to release an upcoming studio album later this year.

Best Minor Chord Rock: Chevelle is a bit angst-y for me, but the Chicago trio does like their guitars. At the Egyptian Room at 8pm.

Best Rowdy Country Rock: Gretchen Wilson at the 8 Seconds Saloon. Redneck Girl is really a rock chick with an accent and a country attitude. Perfect. Couldn't live up to (record label) expectations after her mammoth first record. Now you can see her is a club. Perfect. May be the best show of the night, for those looking for some shit-kickin' country rock and roll. If you don't have tickets, go see the ticket broker if you still wanna go - it's sold out.

And the winner is... Green River Ordinance at Radio Radio. Hey, I like roots rock, and these Fort Worth, Texas boys do it right; an anthemic, melodic, crunchy sound, along with some great pop hooks. Playing live gives them a dirty little edge that polishes off the shine of the record. Sleeperstar and Sun Domingo open. Doors at 8pm. It is my "Double Down, Sure Thing, Pick to Click Show of the Week".

Here are two of the guys, on the tour bus, performing acoustic....

Here's one worth a couple hours in the car: A tremendous lineup for fans of Americana/folk/roots music, as the schedule and artists has been announced for 4th Annual Ohio River Valley Folk Festival in Madison, Indiana on May 21 and 22.

On Friday, The Asylum Street Spankers are the final band of four, with Americana darling Eilen Jewel (her album "Sea of Tears" was #1 in the top 100 of 2009 at WFHB in Bloomington) playing a full set preceding the Spankers.

Then Saturday, it's the buzzworthy Carolina Chocolate Drops, the sublime Loudon Wainwright III, and legendary Subdudes. They play from 6-10pm, each with 90-minute sets. Damn good lineup for the still growing festival. Best yet, and not many festivals in Indiana could do better. And there is music on stage all day, preceding these shows.

I used to live in Madison - first job after college and ended up doing mornings at WORX radio in town. Had a blast. Fun place, and easy to get to from Indy. South on 65, and turn left at the Austin exit. Just head to the river...
go to EVENT WEBSITE

www.ohiorivervalleyfolkfestival.com

Need some great Subdudes music? Yeah, you do.