Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

Like many Americans, your honorable editor spent Thanksgiving Day eating and watching football, as well as reading, even while facing the all-too-imminent arrival of December and the ever-busy Christmas season. Before that lands in our laps, here's a bit of catching up on November's music news, all the while noting that we are headed into that time of the year in Louisville when the live music slows down considerably – usually. Whether that happens in this year of hyper-saturation is yet to be determined. Happy Holidays!

Sean Bailey, proprietor of the Louisville MusiCULTURE page, announced at the end of November that he was taking an extended hiatus from the page, taking with him one of the few remaining Louisville music-oriented websites. As Baily no doubt discovered, keeping up with the Louisville music scene, even in a limited fashion, can become a grinding chore. Several other Lousiville music-oriented sites that began with the best of intentions have faded away, leaving mostly LMN and the Never Nervous blog, where chief writer Syd Bishop has added a child to his list of responsibilities, which does not bode well for the blog. Fortunately, he has help. LEO continues minimal coverage and InsiderLouisville.com has signed Kevin Gibson on as a free-lancing, covering music and alcohol-related activities, so there is still some coverage. The problem for all, of course, is that there is little in the way of advertising revenue to support such activities. How this will all shake out remains an open question.

The Nappy Roots crew have released another tune in the #somethingsgottagive series. The crew is working on an album, The 40 Akerz Project , with SMKA that is set to drop in March of 2015. In the meantime, have a listen here: http://www.soundcloud.com/keepitnappy/facts

The peculiar rock ensemble Sapat has a new record that was released at the end of November by Sophomore Lounge, called A Posthuman Guide to the Advent Calendar Origins of the Peep Show. Oookaay.

Here's "Rock Track" from the new record: https://soundcloud.com/sophomorelounge/sapat-rock-face

My Morning Jacket has told RollingStone – in the current issue – that the band is back in the studio, working on two new albums. We can hardly wait.

Mulligan's closed abruptly last month, with no warning and no explanation. The details will likely leak out in dribs and drabs over the next few days. Stay tuned.

Here's a new track from the upcoming Gubbey Records' Head Cleaner compilation, from Ultra Pulverize - "Hate Ta Iron": https://soundcloud.com/gubbeyrecords/ultra-pulverize-hate-ta-iron

The latest song and video released from Nicole Sherzinger's Big Fat Lie album is for "Run," about an episode in her life. Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L0Vh8Bgicao

Ut Gret's founder and longtime leader Joee Conroy gave a thumbs-down to Mitch McConnell at the polling place and made national news. Good going, Joee.

In case you've wondered what kind of band would name inself after a dead Egyptian President, listen to this new tune from Anwar Sadat here: https://soundcloud.com/anwarsadat/01-rotted-out/s-oDUQ9

The Foxery has a new video for "Broken Vessels," which features quite a food fight. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TOwmDGX-H6c

Drag City Records has released a new (second) video for "New Black Rich (Tusks)," from Bonnie "Prince" Billy 's recent Singer's Grave a Sea of Tongues. Watch it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUOxV9BCCIQU6HLev3oLH1Tg&feature=player_embedded&v=tIWWsreneG8

Louisville's favorite electro-pop band The Pass has released a single, "The Future," from their upcoming home-recorded EP, High Road, out December 9. Give it a listen: https://soundcloud.com/the-pass/the-future

Usually, tribute bands play songs by some once-famous / influential band that is well-known enough to draw a crowd. Per Never Nervous, however, a group called American Lesion, which featured members of Coliseum, Nixon, Lords, Great Floods and Hedge, with original OUT. guitarist Dave Bird, played a "tribute show" at the New Vintage a while back. Somebody videoed it, so here 'tis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=W4ZajlhLGeg

The 23-String Band has decided to detune and pack their instruments for the last time together.

CODAS

Benson, Craig C. died in Louisville on November 16, 2014. He was a guitarist who played with Lou Dog Revival, Gentlemen Hounds and Come On Pilgrim.