2012

Hey Shredder

7 questions for guitarists

Will Bernard

1 Reply

Will Bernard

Will Bernard

No matter how much practice and thought has gone into his playing, Will Bernard possesses an inescapable immediacy. As the licks fly and his fingers knot, the music coming out of his guitar seems to form in the moment. That sly smile Bernard sports so much of the time contributes to this impression, as if he’s just figuring something cool out to share with us. In general, it’s hard to pin down where exactly Bernard’s picking comes from, his style very much a modern thing that draws from the smooth, technical world of high end jazz mixed with the rawness of blues and the up-in-your-grill feel of rock, topped with melting scoops of space funk and New Orleans soul. Wherever he’s getting it from Bernard is a near endless pleasure for listeners, the kind of musician one can just dreamily let take the reins and feel comfortable knowing the ride is gonna be good and cover a lot of ground.

If one isn’t already a steadfast fan, a fab primer in all things Will Bernard can be had in the new Outdoor Living (released March 20 on Dreck To Disk Records), where the guitarist spars ably with his fellow West Coast shredders Wil Blades (Hammond B3) and Simon Lott (drums). The trio – who hits the road again in April (dates over here) – shimmies all over the map, one minute serving up something like a classic 60s soul-jazz trio and at others stretching space and time in a softly cosmic way. The one constant is a conversational feel that makes for delightful eavesdropping; one tied closely to each turn and change of topic, the three men bouncing with seemingly effortless dexterity between bursts of bubbling excitement and passages of calming restraint. It is, in a word, a blast, and a fine jumping on point for Bernard (and his regular collaborators).

We lobbed DI’s guitarist survey to Mr. Bernard and this is what he had to say.

read on for Will’s answers

We'll Do It Live

Leroy Justice

02.04.12 | Brooklyn, NY

Comments Off

Not many bands have made such a positive first impression or continued to stoke our faith in them over the years as NYC’s Leroy Justice. The essence of greats like The Black Crowes and The Band murmur in their bones, and they look just like we think a rock band should – there’s something of an archetype about them. Judge for yourself in these super sweet photos from Joe Russo captured at the band’s February performance at Brooklyn Bowl with guests God Street Wine’s Lo Faber and saxophonist Michael Kammers guesting. There’s a new performance video of an unreleased track from this show below the photos, too.

Leroy Justice returns to the Bowl to open for the North Mississippi Allstars next Friday, April 6th, along with a handful of opening slots for NMA this week and some other gigs the next – dates & details. And if you haven’t already, y’all need to get familiar with Leroy Justice’s two albums, Revolution’s Son and The Loho Sessions as we wait impatiently for record number three (which we think is gonna be pretty fucking great based on the new tunes they’re doing live).

Set One: Worry Me No More, Blue Eyed Blues, Light Cigarette, Evil K, Bender, So Long, Watch Him Fall, Domino

Set Two: Before I Die > Revolution’s Son, Swingtown *@, Belt Buckle *@, Let’s Go Get Stoned *@, Love The One You’re With *@, Temporary Cure *@, The Ocean *

Encore: Sea Jam > Out To Sea

* – w/ Lo Faber on guitar.
@ – w/ Michael Kammers on sax.

In Your Eye

you gotta see this

Michael Kiwanuka

Tell Me A Tale

Comments Off

Michael Kiwanuka had a musical epiphany after hearing Bill Withers’ landmark 1973 soul-folk double album Live At Carnegie Hall. While many have tried to conjure the same subtle magic as Withers and his crack band, East London’s Kiwanuka comes closer than anyone DI has ever heard, also touching on landmark figures like Terry Callier and the jazzier end of John Martyn. His debut album, Home Again was released in the United Kingdom today and is scheduled for U.S. release on July 31st. The Impound is currently getting its first listen to the full album and we’re pretty knocked out. For now, check out a live take on a standout cut captured in London earlier this year. Kiwanuka’s first U.S. tour dates were also announced today with a string of shows in June. Dates and details here.

In Your Eye

you gotta see this

Jordan Cook aka Reignwolf

Dead of Night

1 Reply

DI really loves our readers. You’re the kinda folks that pick up on the vibe we’re laying down here AND then turn US onto cool new rock! Thanks to Steve Kennedy-Williams (who handled the quality sound on this video) for pointing us to this blazing clip of Jordan Cook aka Reignwolf. This is just the kind of sweaty, impolite, beautifully messy rock ‘n’ roll we live for…and live to share with others. Apparently, Reignwolf is working on a new single and there’s a 2010 album called Seven Deadly Sins we’ll be checking out pronto. Like his fellow Canadian DI fave Lions In The Street, Reignwolf is keeping things good ‘n’ gritty and we thank him for it and hope he gets around America a bit more in days ahead. However, folks in Seattle have a couple chances to see him in April (4/7 at the Comet Tavern and 4/21 at Easy Street Records).

Mix Tape

Poundings LXXX

Comments Off

While our weekly mix series usually likes to dip heartily into the past and mingle it with the new, this installment is exclusively focused on fresh sounds that are making us kick up our heels. If DI hasn’t already, we’ll be spilling ink on all these artists soon. For now, here are some choice bits from the sonic onslaught out there.

Poundings LXXX from dirtyimpound on 8tracks.

If you experience playback problems, pop over to the 8tracks mix page and it should play fine.

track listing

We'll Do It Live

The Bridge Session

03.24.12 | San Rafael, CA

Comments Off

Last weekend, Grateful Dead seasoned vet Bob Weir joined together with a handpicked group of young Brooklyn musicians in an East Coast/West Coast musical and political summit held at Weir’s Marin-based TRI Studios. The HeadCount organized event was put together around the theme of bridging differences and finding common ground. The night also included a roundtable discussion with political heavyweights Buddy Roemer, Mark McKinnon, Jessy Tolkan and John Perry Barlow, and you can read a full report on the happening over here.

The musicians playing with Weir at this Session were chosen by The National’s bass and drum playing brothers Scott and Bryan Devendorf and included The National’s Aaron Dessner (guitar, electric mandolin), Kyle Resnick (trumpet) and Thomas “Doveman” Bartlett (keys) with Yellowbirds’ Sam Cohen (guitar) and Josh Kaufman (guitar, lap steel), The Walkmen’s Walt Martin (keys), and Taka Taka’s Conrad Doucette (drums).

What transpired was inspirational and thought provoking, and against some expectations the musical union of Weir and the indie world players proved really satisfying and a fine fit. A happy surprise to be sure. Check out a few of the performances in the videos – including Weir doing a boffo job on The National’s “Daughters of the Soho Riots” – below this swell action-capturing gallery from DI chum Jay Blakesberg. And by all means pop over to HeadCount and get registered to vote and explore ways to get involved with real democracy!

Setlist

Set I: Help on the Way, Love Thine Enemy, Looks Like Rain, El Paso, Friend of the Devil, Cassidy, Daughters of the SoHo Riots, My Brother Esau

Set II: Me and My Uncle, Fake Empire, Most of the Time, Brown Eyed Women, The Other One, Standing on the Moon, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider

Encore: Ripple, Uncle John’s Band, Brokedown Palace

In Your Eye

you gotta see this

Beth Jeans Houghton

Atlas

Comments Off

“Red wine and whiskey are no good for me.” Many of us have mumbled something along these lines the morning after a night of good-bad behavior. Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny concisely capture the euphoria and aftermath of such stretches in their new video off the curiously titled Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose (released February 28). The clip has the feel of a mad Monkees segment with a dented next morning undertow, and the music shimmies somewhere between Shocking Blue and early Throwing Muses. Much to snag one’s attentions here, not the least the comely Ms. Houghton and hooky chorus: “Dissecting the atlas for places we’ve been/Your list is longer but you’ve got more years on me.”