News

SlossFest Will Feature Chris Stapleton, Arcade Fire, & Jason Isbell January 17, 2018 09:55

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

These is no question that the music scene in Birmingham, AL is currently thriving as much as any city in the country. Sloss Music & Arts Festival is undoubtedly a major factor in that equation. The fourth year event, which has featured the likes of Widespread Panic, Sturgill Simpson, Alabama Shakes, The Flaming Lips, and Primus, revealed its 41-band lineup earlier this morning. This year's performers include Chris Stapleton, Arcade Fire, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, GRiZ, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Vance Joy, The War on Drugs, Moon Taxi, and many more on July 14th-15th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 19th at 10:00 AM CST and can be purchased by clicking here. See below for a complete list of this year's performers.

Watch highlights from SlossFest 2017 here:

The Interstellar Series: An Interview With Daniel Hutchens October 13, 2017 14:31

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Earlier this year, the world learned of a new super group out of Athens, Georgia known as the Interstellar Boys. Led by former Widespread Panic drummer Todd Nance, this band would feature the likes of Jerry Joseph, Daniel Hutchens (Bloodkin), Sam Holt, John Neff, and Jon Mills. The band has now completed a full tour and is in the midst of a weekend run through the southeast. Over the next week, we will be rolling out a three-piece interview series with Jerry, Danny, and Todd in an effort to learn more about this new and exciting project. We're continuing this series off with our recent interview with singer/songwriter Daniel Hutchens, which can be read in full below. This run of shows kicked off on Thursday at Soul Kitcchen in Mobile (AL) on October 12th, with shows at Martin's in Jackson (MS) on October 13th, and Tipitina's in New Orleans (LA) on October 14th to follow.

The roots clearly run deep with this group. What were your initial thoughts as the Interstellar Boys came to life? Tell me about those early conversations about starting a new band.

Danny: The first motivation behind this was that Todd was ready to get back to playing music. After Panic, he didn't play for about a year. He was just reassessing and figuring out what he wanted to do next. He came to us and said, "I'm ready to do this." The people here in Athens that are involved in this: myself, John Neff, Jon Mills, and Todd, had played together a lot over the years. They were in a band called Barbara Cue, but all of those guys have also played with Bloodkin.

We've all sat in together and played music quite a bit through the years. So, it's kind of a go-to group of people, as far as the group of guys here in Athens. And then Sam...hasn't been a part of all of those projects, but he's another guy that we've known through the years and have played with a fair amount. Jerry is someone who has a pretty deep history with Todd and with me. Jerry and I wrote some songs together back in the early 90s.

So, it just kind of made sense, and this is the group of people who came together to do it. It started with Todd being ready to play again, and also, to an extent, myself. I had medical problems last year, so I kind of sat out for a while too. So, it coincided as I started to play again, and Todd was ready to go. It just kind of made sense.

It certainly seems that way. How would you say that the song selection / overall catalog played out thus far? What can fans expect with the setlists on the upcoming tour?

Danny: Well, that's always in flux. We try to keep it fresh; not do the same thing every night. We have plenty of material to draw from. Jerry and I are both pretty prolific songwriters. Sam has quite a few songs that he contributes, and so does Todd. We do some songs that were Todd-related in Panic and Barbara Cue. We do various covers, but there is not a specific song you're going to hear on a specific night. We try to change it up.

Well, how much focus have you guys put on writing new material? How has the balance in songwriting played out between you guys?

Danny: That is kind of in process. We, once again, have plenty of material to choose from. We've moved down to a number of songs. Some of mine, some of Jerry's. There's a particular song that Todd and I wrote together that we want to record. That kind of thing seems to play itself out, at least in my world, when you get in the studio. We have a number of things that we'll get in there, start playing, and kind of see what comes to life. We have several songs that are kind of...you know...to start with. We're gonna try these several new songs and see which ones of those kind of take off.

What we're shooting for, eventually, is to go in and record four or five songs. Maybe it's some kind of EP. We don't know that yet either (laughs). Maybe we go back in and finish it out, and it's a full record. I'm not sure yet, but for us right now, it's important just to get the ball rolling. It galvanizes the band. If it's working...if it's going well...it's another step up the ladder. It's what we do. So, just to get that process started is a huge step for us.

For me personally, any time I have an opportunity to go into a studio, it's fun, but it's also kind of a privilege, you know? I try to appreciate it every time I'm there. With this group of people, it would be hard for me to find a better group of people to record with...outside of my home team of Bloodkin; which a couple of these guys are a part of too. So, it's pretty close to home.

I love it, man. So while there is so much history between each of you, you're all quite accomplished within your own endeavors. What's your personal goal for The Interstellar Boys? What do you feel that the future holds for the band?

Danny: Our goal is to follow this as long as it will organically go, as long as it is a positive thing and good for everybody involved. You don't want to force that. You want to see how it grows. But the idea is to be an entity to itself; a band. In my mind, what that means is that you record great records, and you tour. We're just taking baby steps on that right now, but that is the goal. I know that everybody in the band...we've had plenty of discussions about this...and everybody feels that same way. It's not a hobby. It's our lives. So, we don't really enter into it without trying to do it seriously and with the right intents...watching it as far as it will take us. We're gonna follow it.

I know that the music industry has evolved tremendously since the early stages of your career. What are the challenges but also some advantages associated with forming a new band in this era?

Danny: Well, it's very different that from when I first came up. The main thing that's happened in my life that's different involves digital music and the structure of how royalties are paid. It used to be that that was a more direct and reliable source of income. If you put out a record, people bought the record. If it was played on the radio, and you were paid mechanical and performance royalties directly based on that. There was a direct accountability. In theory, at least, it worked that way.

With digital music, it's a completely different world. Obviously, you're able to record shows. Implicate recorded music. Pass it around. Post it online. Musicians aren't necessarily paid for that. The flip side of that is a vast, open horizon of promotion and being heard. With the internet, bands can immediately be heard by people around the world, if you do it right. That's the plus side of it, and that's what people, I think, have to work with and have to gear or skew their efforts toward. That's just the reality. That's how it is.

For me, I consider myself a songwriter first. That's my stock and trade. That's my life's work. That's what I do. I've always thought that the more people who hear my songs...I kind of think of my songs almost separately from myself, if that makes any sense. It's a body of work that I want to live on after me. I want people to hear the songs. And if it's another band playing them, like Widespread Panic, who was always generous enough to play a lot of our songs, that was always terrific to me. It means that people are hearing the songs. It's the same thing with the technology now. At the end of the day, of course I want to make a living and all that. But if I had to make a list, the most important thing to me is that people hear the songs. That's what it's about.

It really is. I wish more artists had that mentality. So, this was something that just came to mind before we hopped on this call. I feel obligated to ask about Tom Petty. From the songwriters perspective and someone who has been in the game as long as you, what did he mean to you, and what can you say about the overall impact he made on American songwriting?

Danny: It feels amazingly personal. This isn't just me. I hear this from a lot of musicians and music lovers in general when someone that you don't know personally passes away. This feels personal. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, arguably...I can't really think of an argument against this...they were the greatest mainstream American rock-and-roll band there ever was. They did it for over 40 years without ever making a bad record. The songwriting sounds so effortless. They are such perfectly crafted songs, but it's not just the technical craft of it.

They're so emotional. Whether they're tough or sweet, they seem to resonate with so many people. He was iconic. I honestly think that he's going to be remembered alongside guys like Woody Guthrie or Robert Johnson. If you had monuments to the great American songwriters and musicians, he's up there with the best. Yeah...it just feels like...it was just so unexpected. It's sad, you know? That music is so much a part of everyone's life, and that's amazing to me.

I couldn't agree more. So, just one last question. Going back to the whole new era of music. There is certainly leaves no shortage of new music to choose from. Who's been on your personal playlist this year? Who's Danny Hutchens listening to in 2017?

Danny: Man...my music tastes are so erratic and so strange. I'm not the greatest fan in terms of brand new music. I'm often just led to whatever comes my way. Sometimes it's ancient stuff. I love Warren Zevon. I've kind of had a renaissance of listening to his music lately. A lot of the ole blues guys, and things like that. You're right though. There is so much to choose from. I love the new...I guess what you would have originally called the 'alt-country' stuff: Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and those guys. I love that stuff. I think they're making incredible records. Relating to Isbell and Drive-By Truckers, I think that American Band that has been made in recent years, but those aren't really new people on the scene (laughs). That's the kind of stuff that has registered and made a difference to me lately.

I was able to see Sturgill for the first time over the summer, and I had pretty high expectations going into it. My god...I was totally blown away. He was one of the headliners the night after Panic played SlossFest in Birmingham, and I love Panic, but I feel like Sturgill kind of stole the show on that particular weekend.

Danny: Those two guys in particular, he and Jason Isbell...and Amanda Shires. There is something about the records that they've been making that is mainstream. It's become mainstream. Jason won a Grammy and all that. It kind of reminds me of reading through the history back with Waylon Jennings...and the outlaw country scene was a separate thing, but it was kind of making in-roads into the mainstream. That's what this feels like to me, and I think it's important. That's the stuff that's really been on my radar.

Time will tell, but when it's all said and done, I think that those two guys will be up there on the list of the most impactful artists of this generation, without a doubt.

Danny: I really think so. It's carrying the torch from Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and those kind of people, in my mind. I've always loved that kind of stuff. That's kind of my go-to area of music, I think.

Well I can't thank you enough for taking some time to chat with me this morning. I've been a big fan of your work for a long time, and it's been a pleasure getting this type of insight. I'm really excited to watch how things unfold with Interstellar Boys, and of course Bloodkin as well.

Watch Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit's Performance On The Late Show June 21, 2017 19:45

Fresh off last week's new album release, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit made an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night. The new album, The Nashville Sound, features singer-songwriter Jason Isbell on guitar accompanied by his wife Amanda Shires (fiddle), Derry deBorja (keyboards), Sadler Vaden (guitar), Chad Gamble (drums), and Jimbo Hart (bass). The album features 10 brand new songs, including "Hope The High Road," which was performed on The Late Show and can be streamed below. For more information on the new album and all of the latest Isbell news, head over to his official Facebook page.

Watch Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit on The Late Show here:

Looking Ahead To This Weekend's Sloss Music & Arts Festival March 20, 2017 01:55

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

Share this post from our Facebook page and tag a friend in the comments for a chance to win a pair of GA Tickets + a framed SlossFest poster from The Beveled Edge. The Beveled Edge will be on site framing posters all weekend.

These is no question that the music scene in Birmingham, AL is currently thriving as much as any city in the country. With longstanding venues such as Oak Mountain Amphitheater, Alabama Theatre, Sloss Furnace, WorkPlay, and Zydeco, you wouldn't think there would be much need for more. The continuous growth across the city has more than warranted new venues such as Iron City and Saturn, as well as the restoration of the historic Lyric Theatre. On top of the existing presence of live music on any given night, Birmingham is also the home of one of the newest major music events in the country, Sloss Music & Arts Festival.

Without spoiling all of the details, Sloss Music & Arts Festival is a two-day music and lifestyle event that takes place at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, July 14th and Sunday, July 15th, 2018. The complete lineup can be found on the graphic listed below. As we prepare for what is sure to be an epic weekend, we're listing off a handful of reasons why you simply don't want to miss SlossFest 2018.

As part of our SlossFest preview coverage, we're giving away two General Admission weekend passes to one lucky winner. In addition, the winner will also take home an official framed SlossFest poster from The Beveled Edge, who will be on site all weekend. To enter this contest, you must share this post directly from the Live & Listen Facebook page and tag a friend in the comments section of the post. Make sure that your Facebook privacy settings are designated to 'public', so we can see that you shared the post on our end A winner will be announced on Friday, July 13th.

Click Here: Purchase SlossFest Tickets Today!

SlossFest is a celebration of the unique, creative culture that makes life in Birmingham so unique. In just four short years, SlossFest has established itself as a major national event, which features many of the biggest names on the music festival circuit, while also providing a tremendous opportunity for so many promising up-and-coming acts. 40 bands on 4 stages in one centralized Birmingham location. What more could you ask for?

This year's lineup is anchored by Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire, as well as singer/songwriters Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell. The Birmingham-born talent will be featured early and often, most notably with the local legends St. Paul & The Broken Bones, as well as alt-rockers Moon Taxi, which features multiple band members who are also natives of the Iron City. Expect a powerful blend of American rock from The War on Drugs, while bands like Rainbow Kitten Surprise should provide a unique take on modern indie rock. Australian singer/songwriter Vance Joy is another performer who we expect to gain high praise from the Birmingham faithful.

While much of the hype surrounding many other festivals of this nature points toward the jam rock, folk, indy, and alternative acts, SlossFest will feature a healthy serving of major names from the electronic and hip hop scenes. This year's lineup will feature the likes of GRiZ, Vic Mensa, Louis The Child, Jai Wolf, Hippie Sabotage, amongst others.

Every major festival must have the major national names from across the musical spectrum to anchor the lineup, but filling those open daytime spots with the right acts is just as important. You never know what point in the day might be your most ideal moment, where you find yourself watching a new band who becomes the best surprise of the weekend. We're confident that you'll find just that with local performers such as Taylor Hunnicutt, Will Stewart, Dead Fingers, and Captain Kudzu this weekend.

While there will be more than enough music to keep you entertained, you can't forget that SlossFest is a true music and arts festival. Many of Birmingham's most vibrant live painters, visual artists, and specialists from all elements of the local artist community will be on site showcasing their work and helping create the festival scene.

Whether you're looking for a certain food truck, a funky clothing boutique, or even special handmade jewelry, SlossFest will feature a massive roster of vendors from across Alabama and beyond. As this festival continues to grow, the list of vendors has increased and one could spend much of the weekend simply shopping and supporting the various traveling businesses if they had enough time. One of our favorite local vendors, The Beveled Edge, will be selling a variety of posters from different shows, while also providing on-site framing for official SlossFest posters.

Starr Hill Brewery will be on site with their Craft Works area this year. Located directly next to the beer garden, Starr Hill will be showcasing beers exclusively available in the All Access area. As one of the most award-winning craft breweries on the East Coast, Starr Hill Beer was made for live music.

The Piggly Wiggly Craftly Beerly Garden will showcase a variety of the finest craft breweries from the great State of Alabama, as well as the Southeast! Whether you're a fan of the malt or the hops, this beer garden will have something for everyone. Entry to the tent is free for all guests ages 21 and older, and each brewery represented will be available for purchase at participating Piggly Wiggly stores.

Click Here: Purchase SlossFest Tickets Today!

Check out the official highlights from SlossFest 2017 here:

Watch Widespread Panic & Jason Isbell Perform "Ride Me High" in Raleigh August 19, 2016 14:36

Widespread Panic is in the midst of another monster year, one which has certainly seen the band making all kinds of noise. The band's spring tour was packed with many highlights, several of which came during the end of April, when the band shared the stage with Tedeschi Trucks Band in Birmingham, AL and Jason Isbell in Raleigh. Early in the second set in Raleigh, Panic welcomed Jason Isbell to the stage for a rousing take on the J.J. Cale classic, "Ride Me High." Fortunately, HD video footage has surfaced, and the video can be watched in full below.

Watch Widespread Panic & Jason Isbell Perform "Ride Me High" in Raleigh here:

Setlist: Widespread Panic at Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC - 4/30/16

Set 1 Travelin' Light, All Time Low, Christmas Katie > Jack, Dyin' Man, C. Brown, Bear's Gone Fishin' > Honky Red, Red Hot Mama (64 mins)

Set 2 Sell Sell, Cease Fire > Ride Me High*, Genesis, 1x1, Blight > Chilly Water > Drums > Porch Song, Blue Indian, Climb To Safety (92 mins)

Encore Walkin' (For Your Love), Heaven (11 mins)