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

Gloria - The Trials Of Cato

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Gloria’ - The Trials Of Cato

This lovely live version of ‘Gloria’ was recorded at the Stiwt Theatre and is taken from the trio’s debut album ‘Hide and Hair’ released on the 9th November.

The Trials Of Cato are a band that arrived fully formed and functioning from Beirut in the winter of 2016 and have since become one of the fast rising groups in UK Folk. Originally from North Wales and Yorkshire, whilst living in Lebanon they spent a year boiling down the roots of their sound into a hybrid of traditional influences that intrigued Lebanese audiences in the country’s biggest venues.

They moved back to the UK and have since been performing tirelessly up and down the country, leading to BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe hailing them as “one of the real discoveries on the folk circuit in recent times.” Their musical development in the run up to their debut album proper has been swift and sure, winning much praise for ‘Hide and Hair’ and receiving repeated national airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music.

Praised for the diversity of their material and influences, The Trials of Cato live show “invariably stuns audience wherever they play.” Whether plying their trade busking, performing in front of thousands at festivals across Europe, or frequently selling out their own club shows, The Trials of Cato have the wind behind them.

https://thetrialsofcato.com

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

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

Don't Waste Your Heart on Me - Worry Dolls

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Don’t Waste Your Heart On Me’ - Worry Dolls

Taken from their wonderful latest album ‘Go Get Gone’ our featured track today is the beautiful and reflective ‘Don’t Waste Your Heart On Me’ by the lovely London based duo the Worry Dolls. The song is written by Zoe, Rosie and Doak Turner and produced by Neilson Hubbard in Nashville .

With new music promised in the new year the future is looking very bright for these two very talented ladies. They are currently on a UK tour catch them if you can.

“Don’t Waste Your Heart On Me was one of the few songs we wrote to the banjo instead of guitar, giving it a different feel to the others on the record. It’s got a darkness to it because it’s about leaving someone you love, knowing you can’t ever be what they need. Knowing that continuing any longer would only result in more pain down the line.

“We got to perform the song at the U.K. Americana Awards back in February at Hackney Empire with Ethan Johns and his incredible band. Ethan specifically chose this song as his favourite on our record, and it gave it a new lease of life for us.

“The video purely focuses on the reaction of the partner in this song. We wanted long shots that didn’t cut, to really connect with the emotions he’s going through. It stars Sid Phoenix, who’s an award winning actor from the USA. We fell in love with a video he sent us which was a performance of Julia Stiles’ emotional monologue from 10 Things I Hate About You. Not only was he capable of making us feel raw, authentic emotion but we loved that it was a gender flipped performance. That echoed what we wanted to achieve with this video. You rarely see men cry on screen and we really wanted to make space for that. We want guys to watch this and know that it’s ok to cry, it isn’t a sign of weakness. Sometimes life is too much. Sometimes you get dumped.”

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

Flow - Shawn James

LCM Song Of The Day: Flow - Shawn James

While growing up in Chicago’s south side, Shawn James experienced the power of soul music. His blend of blues, folk & soul music contrasts dark and light, anger and joy, gritty and authentic. Our featured track complete with an introduction from Shawn, is a great live version of ‘Flow’ taken from a ‘Overheard’ session

Shawn James launched his career with his first full length album “Shadows” and since then he hasn’t stopped. He’s constantly on the road averaging 175 shows per year. He’s toured extensively across Europe and the United States headlining sold out shows and independently building his loyal faithful fan base.

Along with Shawn’s extensive touring, his songs have been featured on network and cable TV shows (CBS, HBO) and in Sony Playstation’s blockbuster game “The Last of Us 2”. His track “Through the Valley” garnered the top spot on Spotify’s Global Viral Charts. Shawn’s streams have topped 65 million across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and continue to rise.

With three full length works + a live album under his belt, Shawn James is set to release new music throughout the remainder of 2018 and all of 2019. Beginning in the fall of 2018, Shawn will release new work on Parts + Labor Records produced and recorded by Jimmy Messer (Awolnation, Kelly Clarkson, Kygo, The White Buffalo).

Also check out Shawn’s new ‘Live At The Heartbreak House’ album released in May.

Photo credit: Mimimavphotogrpahy

www.shawnjamesmusic.com

Goodbye Rain - Hush Kids

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Goodbye Rain’ - Hush Kids

We take a trip to Nashville to meet our next LCM featured duo Jill Andrews and Peter Groenwald better known collectively as the Hush Kids. The Hush Kids is a friendship that was founded on music. It began long before the partnership had a name, when two beloved Nashville artists with impressive solo careers were put together by their publishers to write songs for other people. In time however they discovered they had been writing for themselves all along.

A gifted composer, producer, and musician Peter has toured extensively and shared the stage with artists such as The Civil Wars, Andrew Belle, and John Mayer. Jill, a founding member of the alt-country favorite ‘The Everybodyfields’, has performed alongside The Avett Brothers, Willie Nelson, and Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors and secured television placements that include Greys Anatomy, American Idol and Nashville.

Released on the 26th October the Hush Kids self-titled debut album journeys across the unexpected, the strangeness of love rather than the sweetness, the beauty of the world rather than the bullshit. Guided by writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Ian Fitchuk and joined by some of Nashville’s most sought-after musicians, the record pairs the effortless, addictive pop sensibility of The Carpenters with the dusty, atmospheric, desert landscape of Robert Plant and Allison’s Krauss’ Americana classic, “Raising Sand.”

Despite the name, Hush Kids is not about being quiet, it’s about stepping away from the wrong kind of noise to embrace the music.

Photo Credit: Fairlight Hubbard

https://www.hushkidsmusic.com

Just Another Reason - Arielle

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Just Another Reason’ - Arielle

We head to Nashville today to meet our next featured artist, singer-songwriter and guitarist Arielle. Originally from New Jersey and raised in California & Hawaii, Arielle is a big fan of music from the 60's and 70's and that really shines through in her own music. She has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Jeff Beck among many others. Our LCM ‘Song Of The Day’ the wonderful ‘Just Another Reason’, a co-write with Sydney Maxine and Kris Bergsnes, is taken from her latest EP ‘Mind Lion’.

Arielle is currently working on a brand new 10 song ‘Classic Folk Rock’ album called ‘Suspension/Dimension’ which she is crowdfunding. She has reached her initial target, but if you would like to take part the link is below for you. The campaign ends today.

Photo Credit: Kirsten Balani

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/suspension-dimension-a-new-album-by-arielle#/

https://www.imarielle.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

How To Win - The Native Sibling

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘How To Win’ - The Native Sibling

We take a trip to Seattle today to meet award-winning brother and sister duo Ryan and Kaylee Williams, better known as The Native Sibling. ‘How To Win’ is the wonderful brand new single taken from their forthcoming second album ‘Hammer is Heart’.

Reflecting on the songs inception Kaylee comments

“How to Win’ was conceived during my time working in Pioneer Square in Seattle. I experienced a lot of confusion and heartbreak living in such an urban area and wrote the song as a call to action to acknowledge the brothers and sisters around you. I brought it to Ryan as a slow, somber piano ballad and we worked through the arrangement together, changing up the groove and tempo. It was the first song we started recording for the new LP, and it felt like a horse leaving the gate. It set the mood for us and we hope that it sets a tone for the new record.”

The duo’s previous album ‘Letters Kept to Ourselves’ received millions of plays on Spotify and secured them a ‘Daytrotter’ session along with a ‘best of’ iTunes album placement upon release.

Photo credit: Ben Blood

https://thenativesibling.com

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/

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/

Collide - Tom Speight

Produced by Chris Bond Bvs by Lydia Clowes facebook.com/tomspeightmusic

LCM #SongOfTheDay; Collide - Tom Speight

Our featured artist today is the fast rising London based indie singer-songwriter Tom Speight. We love his new single ‘Collide’ which was released today. The song also features the wonderful vocals of Lydia Mary Clowes. Tom is currently on a UK tour, with dates in Manchester tonight, Birmingham tomorrow and a London date at Thousand Islands on the 11th October. The song was written in Belfast in January and epitomises a very personal and difficult journey for Tom due to his bad health. The song pictures falling for someone and knowing it could be like this forever.

It’s very appropriate that we are featuring Tom’s music today on the eve of the Music Maker’s Festival, as that is where we first met Tom and his band last year. Tom’s back catalogue is excellent and worth checking out if you haven’t discover his music before.