Tunesday With George: The Whigs & Americana Wrap-uP

pick this week: 

 The Whigs -- Enjoy The Company 

plus an Americana Festival re-cap: 

Another whirlwind week of the Americana Music Conference and Festival in Nashville has come and gone, and each year it continues to grow and improve. The awards show at the Ryman Auditorium this year was an impeccable night of music, treating the audience (and this year a national TV audience as well) to this jaw-dropping lineup: 
 Booker T Lee 
Ann Womack & Tom T. Hall 
Punch Brothers 
Guy Clark 
Robert Ellis 
Kasey Chambers 
Sarah Jarosz 
Hayes Carll & Cary Ann Hearst 
Alabama Shakes 
Deep Dark Woods 
Justin Townes Earl 
Jason Isbell 
Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale 
Richard Thompson 
Bonnie Raitt & John Hiatt 
The show closed with a tribute to Levon Helm, an incredibly moving version of "The Weight"...featuring most everybody mentioned above and then some, with each of the following taking the lead on a verse: Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Larry Campbell, Brittany Howard from Alabama Shakes, and John Hiatt. As always, Buddy Miller was the leader of the house band for the night, which also included the likes of Don Was and Larry Campbell. 

We had 8 artists in town this year, so to say we were busy is an understatement: Corb Lund, The Mastersons, Richard Thompson, Max Gomez, Robert Ellis, John Hiatt, Buxton, and Buddy Miller. BUT, I was able to catch a few acts I thoroughly enjoyed outside of our shows: 
 White Horse (a husband/wife duo whom The Mastersons dubbed their Canadian dopplegangers) 
 Billy Joe Shaver 
Two Gallants

Working For The Weekday

This past week, I joined Mr. Fonty in Nashville for the Americana Music Conference (which I am sure Fonty will do a wrap up of tomorrow) and to bid 'Bon Voyage' to one of my most favorite people who is moving to Birmingham. Becca B, I think this move is going to be so amazing for you! I couldn't be more proud at how (even more) important you are now. Can't wait to visit you in your new digs. 

While in Nashville, we went to an event for The Belcourt at Imogene+Willie, a denim destination in Nashville's 12 South neighborhood. Jeans were scooped up and tailored to order by many of my girlfriends. With their higher rise and deep indigo color, the jeans are so flattering, and the ladies looked smashing. 

The company was created by Kentuckian husband and wife team - Carrie and Matt Eddmenson. The store is styled so perfectly, it feels like your really hip best friend's house. Once you go in, you will never want to leave. 

Imogene + Willie has been blowing up, including working on a collaboration men's line for J.Crew. Their BLOG is quite fabulous too. 

On a sadder note, Saturday morning, I found out that the world lost a precious person. My friend Sarah Leaf was tragically struck by a truck while riding her bike in Newport Beach. Leafie, you were such a funny girl. Every day you came home to our tiny box of a room from class or a night out, you had a ridiculous story that could only happen to you. I could always tell when you had a spat with your boyfriend, because Cher's "Strong Enough" would be blasting on repeat for at least a week. I think you are the only straight woman under 50 who would jam Cher with such conviction. I'm still in complete shock at this horrible tragedy, and my heart goes out to your family and all the friends who loved you so much. 

Hulu to the Rescue

She's Kelly Kapoor no more...

 

Mindy Kaling has a new show all to herself, The Mindy Project, and it is HYSTERICAL! I have a very hip, young, now (That is for you, GUC) friend who works for Fox. He had the pilot, so the last time I was in LA, I sneaked a peek. It is so funny - and Mr. Fonty even enjoyed it. Gasp! A show we can watch together that doesn't involve someone falling victim to / partaking in / investigating a murder.

The cast is incredible, and Mindy Kaling should be my new best friend. Seriously, watch this show, because if it gets canceled and Mr. Fonty I get divorced because all we ever did was watch husbands killing their wives, I am blaming you. 

And lucky for you, you don't need to find a friend with the hook up, HULU is streaming the first episiode 

Tunesday with George: Will Johnson & Patterson Hood

two picks this week...

Will Johnson -- Scorpion

Few folks, it seems, are as prolific as Centro-matic/South San Gabriel frontman Will Johnson. On top of last year's great Centro-matic album Candidate Waltz, Johnson was also 1/4 of the recent Woody Guthrie-covering supergroup New Multitudes (side note: their set was my favorite thing I saw at Newport Folk Festival). Now, Will is ready to unleash another solo album upon us with Scorpion.

The album was produced by longtime Centro/South San collaborator and bandmate Matt Pence...they holed up in a Denton, TX studio for just a few days, enlisting the help of multi-instrumentalist (and fellow C-M/SSG band member) Scott Danbom, Okkervil River's Howard Draper, and Magnolia Electric Company's Mikey Kapinus.

Come see Will Johnson and his friend Anders Parker at our inaugural show in the new upstairs performance space at the New West / Normaltown office this coming Monday, 9/17!

Patterson Hood -- Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance

Patterson really knocked it out of the park with his latest solo album...enough said. 

Sarah's Home Sweet Home

A few years ago, I stumbled upon Sarah's House on the DIY Network. I promptly wasted an entire Saturday watching a complete marathon.

Sarah Richardson is the Canadian designer behind  Sarah's House. Along with her partner in design, Tommy Smythe (who I'm obsessed with), Sarah buys a house and completely renovates it top to bottom. HGTV picked up the series last year, so be on the look out.

Not only are they hilarious, but Sarah and Tommy share great tips on using new pieces - from high end (Sarah has her own line) to Ikea, antiques, and reviving junk with new upholstery and paint. It's fun to watch her blow her budget - mainly because it makes me feel better about my own projects. If you go to the HGTV site, Sarah sources all the products she uses in her homes.

This last Saturday, I was shocked to see that I managed to miss an entire season of the latest home! I caught the 2 last episodes, and am on the hunt for episodes of the other rooms. This go-around, Sarah takes it to the suburbs to upgrade a builder basic home, and while it is not my favorite Sarah design, anything she does is still heads and shoulders about the rest. 

Bumped Up Builder Grade Exterior:

Entry: 

Living Room

Master: 

Master Bath:

Kitchen

Family Room Off Kitchen

If this has wet your appetite for more Sarah & Tommy, be on the look out for their show Design Inc. on DIY Network, and the other homes they have worked on together:

Sarah's House Season 1:

Sarah's House Season 2: 

Sarah's Summer House: 

Sarah's Cottage:

Sarah's House Season 3 (Farmhouse):