When you read the book This Wheel On Fire written by Levon Helm you have the best rock and roll story ever. The Music of the Band is a big influence for a lot of new Americana bands. The Last Walz was their goodbye gig  25 years ago and they do that with the big stars where they worked with. Names like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchel, Eric Clapton or Muddy Waters a few names out of a long list of the famous people. On the boxset you can hear 24 songs who never where in the movie or the album. The Last Walz is also coming out on DVD and it got a lot of extra's. It is great to hear those songs and even after 25 years they sound like new. It Make No Difference sung by the late Rick Danko bring you in tears again and Joni Mitchel and Neil Young are doing a supurb version of Furry Sings the Blues and Dr John made you smile again with Such A Night. I can talk a long time about this great document but I can tell you it's paradise when you hear this.

Jan the Lazyman
 

Tommy Womack – Circus Town

Tommy Womack is from Nashville but got nothing to do with the Nashville sound. His music rocks, got blues and have all the Americana stuff in it what make a record great? Humour and balls that is what you hear on his albums. Tommy Womack wrote also a book “Cheese Chronicles” about his first band Government Cheese. His first solo album Positively Na Na is a mix between Steve Earl and the Kinks. His second Stubborn is one of the highlights of that year. On that album you can find guests like Dan Baird, Al Perkins and Jason Ringenberg. I was waiting for the new one and was happy when I saw in Austin Texas that the new album comes out soon. Circus Town is in the shop right now and again it is a masterpiece. It rocks and got more funny stories than the other two albums. When you want to know more about this man and his music go to his homepage and check it out. www.tommywomack.com  . You can also find Tommy Womack on the kinks tribute This is Where I Belong: The songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks.

Jan the Lazyman

Countryblues from the good heard that is what you hear in the music from Guy Davis. Guy Davis got a voice who made you feel home and the rhythm is groovy. The personnel note about his friend Davey Steele from Scotland is the Blues on his own and brings a tear in the eye and than you know this is real. Give In Kind opened with a drinking song “Good Liquor“ and after that song you want a beer. The whole album is a journey and you can find roots music from the highest level. On his album “Butt Naked Free” Guy Davis got help from Levon Helm from the Band and that album bring me into the music of this Bluesman. Whit this new album Give In Time the tradition is bigger and I put this CD again in my top 10 for this year.

Jan the Lazyman

Los Lobos – Good morning Aztlan

1999 was the last record “This Time”of Los Lobos and after that their was a box set and the CD recorded in 1978 Los Lobos Del Este Los Angeles: (Just Another Band From East L.A.). With Good Morning Aztlas is Los Lobos back and the sound is what you want to hear. There is no band in the world who got this sound what make you feel being on holiday for the rest of your live. Los Lobos is back and the only thing I can say about this album is that you have to go to your record store and buy it before it is to late. This is great music.

Jan the Lazyman 

Cosmic Dust Devils – Cosmic Dust Devils

Don’t mess with Texas the slogan you can find everywhere in Texas. I take it music wise because this part of America is giving us a lot of beautiful stuff. The Cosmic Dust Devils are from Austin Texas and they making music what got that special sound form the Lone Star State. Rock and Roll, Blues, Country and Mexican Border music all in one.  This is Americana music at his best.  The vocals on this record got 3 lead singers Kevin Higgings, Barabara Malteze and Hilary Jean Smith and they sound good in perfect harmony. When you hear the Guitar player Mark Tokach you can hear Eddy Shaver back.  I hope the Cosmic Dust Devils find their way to Europe and give us a taste of their music.

Jan the Lazyman