Sorry about the relative lack of inactivity in these here parts. I've been pretty sidetracked with some writing that isn't going to be found on the internet. As a result, I'm a bit behind here. I've got a slew of Man on Film entries that I have to get caught up on, not to mention some Reading Rainbow entries and a piece that's been in on the back burner for quite some time.
Enough excuses though; I'm not going to feel bad for working on other stuff that may conceivably pay.
Here's a sweet in-studio performance of Hayes Carll's "KMAG YOYO" recorded at KEXP. I found it while digging up tracks for a playlist and figured this was as good a time and place as any for that.
Here's another stand-out track that can be found on KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories), Hayes Carll's fucking rocking 2011 release. If you don't have this album, you are doing yourself a big disservice. It belongs on the very short list of best albums of last year, right along side Tom Waits's Bad As Me, Destroyer's Kaputt, and Bon Iver's puzzlingly named Bon Iver.
This clip is courtesy of IFC and was recorded here in Austin, Hayes Carll's homebase, during SXSW last year at some fake place called the IFC Crossroads House. The best I can tell it was up Brazos from The Driskill. I couldn't even tell you what's normally there. I can guarandamntee that Hayes Carll will be playing about 15 times in Austin during SXSW, but I'll be damned if I get to see one damn show.
Check out his tour dates here because he's probably coming to your neck of the woods soon. I know I'm gonna see what I can do about getting to that Gruene Hall show March 3rd.
While I tend to refrain from placing arbitrary rankings on things, I would not hesitate to rank Hayes Carll's 2011 release KMAG YOYO & Other American Stories among this past year's best releases. There is plenty to love on this album, so I'll just start you off with the single that has a video. I cannot recommend this album highly enough.
