People Get Old - Lori McKenna

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘People Get Old’- Lori McKenna

If you haven’t already checked out Lori‘s new album ‘The Tree’ released back in July, it should be on your wishlist. A beautiful written album from one of the best US songwriters. The tender, heartfelt and reflective ‘People Get Old’ is a great introduction. We love Lori’s vocals and cinematic songwriting and it reminds me a lot of Gretchen Peters.

Home and the people who make it have captivated Lori McKenna for years. Over the last three decades, as she became a wife and mother of five, she has also emerged as one of the most respected, prolific singer-songwriters in popular music. Her 2016 release ‘The Bird and the Rifle’ netted three Grammy nominations, along with Americana Music Association nods, all firsts for McKenna as an artist. Then, she made history: In 2016, she became the first woman ever to win the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year two years in a row thanks to co-writing Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and penning Tim McGraw’s no. 1 “Humble and Kind” solo. Both songs also clinched back-to-back Grammy wins for Best Country Song. In 2017, she became the Academy of Country Music’s first female Songwriter of the Year. ‘The Tree’ is her much-anticipated eleventh studio album. Produced by Dave Cobb, The Tree takes one of McKenna’s signature themes family and builds a tapestry of experiences she has lived and overheard, been told and dreamed up, to create a stunning ode to life’s defining relationships.

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Lonesome Friends Of Science - John Prine

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Lonesome Friends Of Science’ - John Prine

John Prine has always been an excellent songwriter and we love the lyrics to this song from John’s latest album ‘The Tree Of Forgiveness’. They are very clever and guaranteed to make you smile. This live version was filmed at a ‘‘Live From Here’ concert back in January.

The lonesome friends of science say
"The world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog, my kids, and me

Poor ol' planet Pluto now
He never stood a chance no how
When he got uninvited to
The interplanetary dance
Once a mighty planet there
Now just an ordinary star
Hangin' out in Hollywood
In some ol' funky sushi bar

The lonesome friends of science say
"The world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog and my family

The Vulcan lives in Birmingham
Sometimes he just don't give a damn
His head is full of bumblebees
His pride hangs down below his knees
Venus left him long ago
For a guy named Mars from Idaho
The Vulcan sent a wedding gift
Three-legged stool and a wheelchair lift

The lonesome friends of science say
"This world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog and my family

Those bastards in their white lab coats
Who experiment with mountain goats
Should leave the universe alone
It's not their business, not their home
I go to sleep and it never rains
My dog predicts hurricanes
She can smell a storm a mile away
That's all the news we have today

The lonesome friends of science say
"The world will end most any day"
Well, if it does, then that's okay
'Cause I don't live here anyway
I live down deep inside my head
Well, long ago I made my bed
I get my mail in Tennessee
My wife, my dog and my family

Talkin' Bout A Revolution - Wildwood Kin

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Talkin’ Bout A Revolution’ - Wildwood Kin

We love this new live acoustic cover of Tracey Chapman’s classic ‘Talkin Bout A Revolution’ from fast rising West Country family trio Wildwood Kin. It’s taken from their brand new recently released EP ‘Voices Of Equilibrium’, which is well worth checking out if you haven’t already.

Over Rainbows And Rainier - Damien Jurado

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Over Rainbows and Rainier’ - Damien Jurado

We love this wonderful song from US singer-songwriter Damien Jurado taken from this latest album ‘The Horizon Just Laughed’ released back in May.

Based in Seattle, urban folk singer/songwriter Damien Jurado has quietly built up one of the strongest catalogues on the indie scene earning high critical praise. Nick Drake had a definite impact on much of his work, but Damien modeled his career on more idiosyncratic, unpredictable figures like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, and Randy Newman. Songwriters who followed their own muse wherever it took them, whether fans and critics enjoyed it or not.

His independence was born at least in part from the influence of punk, and one of the results was a concern for emotional authenticity that led him to delve into other people's lives instead of his own. Many of Damiens’s best songs spun concise, literate tales of quiet, everyday despair, which often earned him comparisons to short story writer Raymond Carver. But his storytelling bent, not to mention his ambivalence toward confessional material, arose from a stronger grounding in traditional folk than spiritual compatriots like Elliott Smith or Cat Power.

With detours into pop, roots rock, full-fledged electric indie rock, psychedelia, and even found-sound experiments, Damien has ensured that his body of work was impossible to accurately pin down.

Photo credit: Elise Tyler

http://damienjurado.com

Tell Me That You Love Me - James Smith

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Tell Me That You Love Me’ - James Smith

We first featured the fast rising Upminster based singer-songwriter James Smith after he released his excellent debut single ‘Little Love back in May. We love his brand new single, the classy and soulful piano ballad ‘Tell Me That Love Me’.

The 19-year-old James signed this year to Virgin EMI Records, We think James has a very bright future and he is one of our ‘LCM ones to watch in 2019’. Watch out for new music from James next year.

River - Cara Dillon

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘River’ - Cara Dillon

Our featured track today is a beautiful cover version of Joni Mitchell’s ‘River’ by the multi-award winning Cara Dillon, which also features John Smith on acoustic guitar and John Garrison on keys

Cara is currently on her ‘Upon A Winter’s Night’ UK tour featuring songs from her new Christmas album which was released in mid-November. Catch her if you can.

Broken Wheel - Isaac Gracie

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Broken Wheel’ - Isaac Gracie

Currently on a European tour with the wonderful First Aid Kit, our next LCM featured artist is the very talented London based singer-songwriter Isaac Gracie. We love the retro CSNY sound of Isaac’s latest single ‘Broken Wheel’ taken from his self titled debut album.

Also check out Isaac’s new EP ‘Close Up - Looking Down’ released back in October.

Purchase Isaac’s debut album below >>>

https://www.isaacgraciemusic.com

I Can't Go On Without You - Kaleo

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘I Can’t Go On Without You’ - Kaleo

Icelandic born but now US based Kaleo are always a firm favourite here at LCM HQ. We love this live version of ‘I Can’t Go On Without You’ taken from a 89.3 The Current radio session. The song is from their debut album A/B.

Every story has two sides, and that adage is certainly true for Kaleo, the four-piece band from Iceland who now call the US home. Call it a split upbringing: the isolated heritage that results from coming of age in Iceland has paired with the fresh inspiration of moving to America, and the band has built a sound to match the disparate landscapes.

A gorgeous and raucous blend of rock, folk and blues, Kaleo’s debut album embodies that very spirit of duality: titled A/B, the album showcases the band’s multi-layered dynamics and ability to play different genres with equal skill.

Best friends since attending elementary school outside of Reykjavik, bandleader JJ Julius Son, drummer David Antonsson, and bassist Daniel Kristjansson began playing together at the age of 17 before adding guitarist Rubin Pollock to the mix in 2012. They named the band Kaleo, which means “the sound” in Hawaiian, and started their career in with a handful of well-received shows at the 2012 Iceland Airwaves music festival.

The band signed to Elektra/Atlantic and moved to the States in early 2015, choosing Austin as their new base. “It has obviously been a big change coming from a small country of 300 thousand people in Iceland to the USA with over 300 million people,” says JJ Julius Son. “We’ve learned a lot, and we are more experienced now than when we first came. Overall it’s been a great adventure.” The past year has been a busy one for the band, as they’ve played nearly nonstop—including over 45 US states—as well as notching a spot on the soundtrack to HBO’s hit show Vinyl and recording a full length album with the producer Jacquire King in Nashville.

The concept behind A/B comes from Julius Son’s love of the split sides of vinyl records and their ability to showcase an artist’s different sides. “I write very different songs that many would like to label into different genres,” he says. “The idea of A/B is to show the diversity and the two sides of the band.” The “A” side is more rock and roll and blues (opener “No Good,” “Way Down We Go,” “Hot Blood”), while the “B” side is a bit softer with more ballads (“All the Pretty Girls,” “Vor I Vaglaskogi,” and closer “I Can’t Go On Without You”). But no matter which side you’re on and which song is playing, the sound can only be that of Kaleo.

Real Life - The Deep Hollow

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Real Life’ - The Deep Hollow

Described as ‘stripped down harmony-laden classic Folk and Americana’ our next LCM featured artists are the great Illinois based acoustic trio of Micah Walk, Elizabeth Eckert and Dave Littrell better known collectively as The Deep Hollow. ‘Real Life’ is new single taken from their recently released album ‘Weary Traveler’.

Beginning with a win in the American Songwriter magazine songwriting contest in 2014 to a well-produced Kickstarter-launched album in 2015 that reached number three on the Folk DJ charts in early 2016, the terrific threesome continues to move forward. September saw the release of their second album ‘Weary Traveler’.

http://thedeephollow.com

San Luis - Gregory Alan Isakov

LCM '#SongOfTheDay: ‘San Luis’ - Gregory Alan Isakov

Our next LCM featured artist South African born singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov has been travelling all his life but currently calls Colorado home. His songs share a masterful quality which tell a story of the miles and landscapes, and the search for a sense of place.

Our featured track is the beautiful ‘San Luis’ taken from his recently released album ‘Evening Machines’.Gregory’s songs are deep lyrical masterpieces, with hints of his influences Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen.

If you would like to see Gregory live, he is currently on tour with his London date on December 4th at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

Photo Credit: Little Green Eyes

https://gregoryalanisakov.com

Nothing Comes Easy - Sons Of The East

LCM '#SongOfTheDay: ‘Nothing Comes Easy’ - Sons Of The East

Sons Of The East release their brand new single, ‘Nothing Comes Easy’ today. The single is another soulful and infectious anthem from a band who are winning the hearts of fans worldwide. It’s also the first single from the band’s upcoming third EP.

Sons Of The East are an indie-folk band from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. Band mates Dan Wallage, Nic Johnston and Jack Rollins have seen their popularity soar in 2018 with over 50 million streams, 14 million YouTube view and an ever growing international fan base.

The Australian trio have had a huge year, heading to the USA for the SXSW festival and an extensive promotional tour before returning home to sellout shows in Sydney and Melbourne. In August, the band embarked on a sold out UK & European Tour that spanned fourteen dates across seven countries including some of the biggest headline shows of their career. With two critically acclaimed EPs and a multitude of singles under their belt, the band’s motley acoustic- electric sound has developed into a unique and charismatic trademark, driven by soulful vocals and an infectious spirit that draws on everything from Neil Young and Johnny Cash to Fleetwood Mac and The Kinks.

http://www.sonsoftheeast.com

LA Rain - Max Jury

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘LA Rain’ - Max Jury

We first featured Max’s music back in 2016 after the release of his excellent self titled debut album. Now Max is back with a new EP of acoustic demos entitled ‘Notes from California’. Our LCM featured track today is the first single, the atmospheric and wonderful ‘LA Rain’

Max Jury is a young singer-songwriter from Des Moines, Iowa. His music is almost vintage Laurel Canyon country-soul with at times touches of Hozier. A graduate of Berklee School of Music, Max grew up listening to all sorts of music including country, soul, gospel and rock ‘n’ roll. This fusion of musical styles coupled with excellent production has lead to his debut album. Max is a self confessed Gram Parsons geek who has turned his obsession into one of the most exciting new talents since those heady days of the Byrds, the Burrito Brothers and Gram infused Rolling Stones. His songs are effortless examples of heartfelt, country tinged, beautifully sung and perfectly executed American music at its finest.

Max has now London based and is currently on tour with Tom Odell.

http://www.maxjury.com

Nothing Else - Angus and Julia Stone

LCM #SongOfTheDay - ‘Nothing Else’ - Angus and Julia Stone

We are ‘down under’ today as we take a quick trip to Sydney the home of Australian brother and sister duo Angus & Julia Stone. The beautiful and reflective ‘Nothing Else’ is the new single from their latest album ‘Snow’, released in September last year. We think that It has a real Fleetwood Mac vibe.

'Snow' continues a process the siblings began at the suggestion of producer Rick Rubin on their self-titled album of 2014. "That was the first time that we actually started writing together, in the same room, and I guess we took a leaf from that chapter into this record. This time round though, every song on the record we wrote together" Angus says. The Sydney-born siblings produced and largely engineered it themselves, in Angus's cottage studio, Belafonte, in the Byron Bay hinterland. "It was quite magical because Angus and I have never spent that much time together, just the two of us," says Julia. "There's always at least an engineer or tour manager but the last phase of writing and recording was just eight weeks of him and me and the quiet of the land. It was a beautiful time."

http://angusandjuliastone.com

Photo Credit: James Adams

London's Blues - Ferris And Sylvester

LCM #SongOfTheDay: - ‘London’s Blues’ - Ferris & Sylvester

Issy Ferris and Archie Sylvester are a fast rising London duo. Their music references the mid-60s sounds of Greenwich Village combined with their meatier blues tones. They sit somewhere between Jack White and First Aid Kit, with their clever combination of blues, folk and rock n roll. We really like their latest single ‘London’s Blues’ taken from their latest EP ‘Made In Streatham’.

The London-based pair met two and a half years ago and have since won over the capital with their ever-growing live presence and songwriting. This year, the duo released their highly anticipated EP 'Made In Streatham' which they self-produced in their South London flat. Released through their own label 'Archtop Records', the EP has clocked up over 2.5 million Spotify streams, rose to No.1 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart and received widespread praise across the board. The duo also reached the final of the UMA awards in the Folk & Country category, with the final results yet to be announced.

After a packed summer of Festivals including appearances at BST with Eric Clapton, Bath Fest with Robert Plant and main stage at Wilderness with BBC Introducing, the pair are moving into the next phase of their exciting career with new music coming soon.

http://www.ferrisandsylvester.com/

Photo Credit: Daniel Alexander Harris

Eagle Bear Buffalo - Passenger

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Eagle Bear Buffalo’ - Passenger

We take a trip to the stunning Yellowstone National Park today to meet Mike Rosenberg (Passenger). We love Mike’s new single which is a very fitting tribute to the park. The great video was filmed on location and directed by Jarrad Seng and the track is taken from Mike’s latest album ‘Runaway’ which was released at the end of August via Black Crow Records. Please let us know what you think?

Mike has also teamed up with the amazing people at Sierra Club who are battling to keep places like Yellowstone as beautiful as they are. Please go and check them out or support if you can.

https://passengermusic.com/

https://www.sierraclub.org/

You're Not Alone - Lucy May Walker

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘You’re Not Alone’ - Lucy May Walker

Opening the Sunday programme at the recent Music Makers Festival was the very talented Lucy May Walker, a folk pop singer-songwriter originally from Worcestershire but now London based. You can often find Lucy busking around London, if you do please say hello. We really like our featured track today ‘You’re Not Alone’ which was written about her life in the capital. It’s taken from Lucy’s EP ‘Heartbreak Songs’, which reached No.3 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart chart and received numerous plays on BBC Introducing across the Midlands.

Catch Lucy on 31st October at 1:30 PM as she performs a live session and has an interview with Jeremy Vine’s on his BBC Radio 2 show.

April 2018 saw Lucy set off on her debut UK headline tour, selling out in both Birmingham & London. She has also supported the likes of The Dunwells, Mark Wilkinson & most recently Lucy Spraggan.

http://www.lucymaywalkerofficial.com/

I Got The Lonely - Mel Parsons

LCM #SongOfTheDay - ‘I Got The Lonely’ - Mel Parsons

We take a trip today to Wellington in New Zealand to meet our next featured artist the multi-award winning and very talented Mel Parson. ‘I Got The Lonely’ is the first single from Mel’s forthcoming new album due in late 2018. It was produced by the excellent Mitchell Froom. We have been a big fan of Mel’s music for a few years now. Mel is one of New Zealand’s fast rising songwriting indie-folk singer-songwriter stars.

With a dynamite live show - solo, duo, or with her dynamic band, Mel is an engaging performer with a natural emotive voice that allows the listener to become part of the story. With a wide breadth of material, Parsons has a dynamic songwriting range: from the gutsy & rhythmic hand-clappers like audience favourite ‘Far Away’, through to pin-drop ballads like ‘Don’t Wait’, featuring Canadian songwriting royalty Ron Sexsmith.

Mel is a two-time NZ Music Award (VNZMA) finalist for ‘Folk Album of the Year’, and a current finalist for the coveted APRA Silver Scroll award. With home as a hotel room and a suitcase, she has built up a solid fan base the old fashioned way - winning over audiences on the live circuit. Along with NZ performances, Parsons has had recent tours in Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and Germany. She is also a cast member of Kiwi musical collective ‘Fly My Pretties‘, with tours and festival performances including the prestigious Byron Bay Bluesfest.

http://melparsons.com/

Big Blue Sky - Holly Redford Jones

Written by Holly Redford Jones Vocals and Guitar - Holly Redford Jones Bass Guitar - Hunter Mulkey Drums - Simon Knudtson BGVs - Hollie Hammel Organ - Athena Kulb Lead Guitar - Adam McPhail Grand Piano - Will Houchens Pedal Steel - Tyler Sutphen Mixing Engineer - Ben O'Neill Tracking Engineer - Chris Hickman Cover Art by Athena Kulb

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Big Blue Sky’ - Holly Redford Jones

Originally from Chesterfield, Holly Redford Jones is an indie folk artist possessed of a dry wit and deep, soulful voice. She released her debut single, ‘Big Blue Sky’ on the 24th of August, a track recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. We like this song a lot here at LCM HQ. The track is also getting a lot of support from BBC Introducing. Let us know what you think?

Vocals and Guitar - Holly Redford Jones, Bass Guitar - Hunter Mulkey, Drums - Simon Knudtson, BGVs - Hollie Hammel, Organ - Athena Kulb, Lead Guitar - Adam McPhail, Grand Piano - Will Houchens and Pedal Steel - Tyler Sutphen

https://hollyredfordjones.co.uk/

https://hollyredfordjones.bandcamp.com/releases

Wonderfully Made - Besides Daniel

Restful and simple, "Wonderfully Made" by Besides Daniel is an unveiling of the imposter in most all of us. With the whispers of "you're not enough," "cover your flaws," and "be someone else," the song blooms into the resolving refrain, "You are wonderfully made," as a disarming invitation into self-acceptance in a melodic exhale of relief. Acoustic video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVNKqXhjxjI www.BesidesDaniel.com www.facebook.com/BesidesDaniel www.instagram.com/BesidesDaniel www.noisetrade.com/BesidesDaniel 'T E E M I N G' from Besides Daniel is a stripped away and subtle reflection on the adventure of putting roots in the ground, committing to love, healing through long-suffering, and the celebration of new life. This collection of songs humbly put into perspective the weight of life lessons, true friendship, the risks of marriage, and the triumph of a heart that has healed. Genres: Folk, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic, Coffeehouse, Pop-Folk RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Wilder Adkins, Tyler Lyle, Iron And Wine, Milk Carton Kids, Death Cab for Cutie

LCM #SongOfTheDay - ‘Wonderfully Made’ - Besides Daniel

We take a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to meet our today’s featured artist Danny Brewer and his band collectively known as Besides Daniel. Danny has just released his latest EP ‘Teeming’ in late August and one of our favourite tracks is the reflective ‘Wonderfully Made’.

Besides Daniel is an independent eclectic folk band based around its front man and creative force Danny Brewer. Every great artistic talent stems from a great love, is cultivated by the intrigue of influence, and thrives on passion for human experience. Besides Daniel front man Danny Brewer’s immense talent is no exception. His poetic lyricism, natural-sounding acoustic riffs, and evocative voice combine to produce truly masterful melodies. Not only are his songs beautifully composed, but they also possess a deep emotion that is rarely seen with such clear precision from a musical artist. In other words, he has the ability to create music straight from the soul, with naked honesty.

http://besidesdaniel.virb.com/

Pomp and Swell - Annie Oakley

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Pomp & Swell’ - Annie Oakley

With a brand new album ‘Words We Mean’ set for release on the 12th October our featured band today are the award winning Oklahoma City-based indie folk and folk-rock trio Annie Oakley. We really like the beautiful first single ‘Pomp and Swell’. If you like the Wailling Jenny’s, you could like these ladies as well.

Big thanks to our friends at At The Helm PR in Brighton for the recommendation

In the works for three years, the album follows the all-girl band from youth to womanhood through songs with remarkable artistic range. Immaculate, perfectly-matched vocal harmonies and sharply observant lyrics embody themes of grief, recovery, wistful regrets, misplaced hopes, and new love in this much-anticipated release.

The award-winning band is fronted by twin sisters Sophia and Grace Babb on rhythm and lead guitars and vocals, with Nia Personette on violin and third-part harmony. Singing together since childhood, Sophia and Grace were given guitars and started songwriting at their mum’s urging after their father’s death compelled them to find an emotional outlet. They were 14 years old. A year later, they were joined by friend Nia on violin, herself no stranger to loss; she, too, had lost her father shortly before joining the band. Since the band’s formation, wise, emotive lyrics and sophisticated instrumentation have been hallmarks of their style.

Lyrics and music are written by these sisters who begin on their own, but afterward bring their work to each other for suggestions and to orchestrate instrumentation. “We tell stories that are quite personal,” says Sophia. “People who come out to hear us live will hear songs that cut to the bone because they come out of real-life events and relationships.” Examples are “Ghost” written by Sophia from the experience of living with a grief-stricken mother, and “Into the Light,” which Grace wrote about enduring love. “I felt an overwhelming sense of love for someone I’d only known for a short time,” Grace explained, “but I knew the feeling was potent. I wrote it one night while full of feelings, thinking about my parents and what they must have felt.”

The chemistry among this trio who have grown up together is tangible, their music an intimate invitation into an inner circle that makes live shows feel like a reunion of friends and family. “You’re hopefully going to leave having laughed a lot, been provoked more than once, and maybe having shed a tear or two,” Grace says.

Official showcase artists at SWRFA and Folk Alliance International in 2017, the trio tours on weekends and college breaks. University seniors who plan to tour full-time in 2019-20, Annie Oakley plays regularly to sold-out venues throughout the United States.

Photo Credit: Madi Jones

http://www.theannieoakley.com/index.html