Rams Head The Blog

Solid. I look at this announce and all I can think of is solid. Going down the list I see one soulful songwriter after another, and some of the best voices I’ve ever heard! Enough from me though, here’s what went on sale today…

Thursday, July 28 | Marc Broussard w. Scars On 45, Sarah and Christian Dugas

The son of Boogie Kings guitarist (and Louisiana Hall of Fame member) Ted Broussard, singer/songwriter Marc Broussard was seemingly destined for a life as a music man. His upbringing in Lafayette, LA, instilled in him an affinity for R&B alongside the Cajun trappings of southern Louisiana. Drawing vocal and stylistic influence from Otis Redding and Brian McKnight while bearing the preternaturally gruff vocals of John Hiatt and Dr. John, Broussard was barely 20 at the time of his first album’s release.

Thursday, August 4 | Toad The Wet Sprocket

Named in honor of a sketch by the Monty Python comedy troupe, Toad the Wet Sprocket became one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the early ’90s, boasting a contemporary folk-pop sound that wielded enough melody and R.E.M.-styled jangle to straddle both the modern rock and adult contemporary markets. Their breakthrough single “All I Want” became a Top 20 hit. After “Fear” went platinum, another single, “Walk on the Ocean,” also became a major hit on the pop charts. The band continues to actively tour and since 2006, the band has played to enthusiastic crowds of all ages across the country, proving that great music truly is timeless.

Tuesday, August 9 | Steve Earle & the Dukes (and Duchesses) feat. Allison Moorer New Show Added by Popular Demand!

In the strictest sense, Steve Earle isn’t a country artist; he’s a roots rocker. Earle emerged in the mid-’80s, after Springsteen had popularized populist rock & roll and Dwight Yoakam had kick-started the neo-traditionalist movement in country music. At first, Earle appeared to be more indebted to the rock side than country, as he played a stripped-down, neo-rockabilly style that occasionally verged on outlaw country. However, his unwillingness to conform to the rules of Nashville or rock & roll meant that he never broke through into either genre’s mainstream. Instead, he cultivated a dedicated cult following, drawing from both the country and rock audiences.

Sunday, August 21 | Joan Osborne (duo)

“It’s good to strip down to the bare bones again – just voice and piano. The experience of these duo tours is, for me, so much about interaction with the fans, being in intimate venues, and meeting people after the shows. Road life can be a grind – it’s hard to be away from my daughter when she needs to stay in school – but on the last tour connecting with fans never failed to lift my spirits and make me grateful for still being able to live a life in music. There’s also something great about reimagining songs I’ve done with a band hundreds of times as piano/vocal pieces.

Sunday, September 11 | The Yardbirds

Three years after their 1992 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (“We had roast duck,” Chris Dreja says of that special night), the Yardbirds reformed, but they chose to stay below the radar, tweaking their lineup and working up material. That has changed with the release of their first new studio recording since 1967′s Little Games. What’s surprising about the new longplayer, Birdland, is that, a full 35 years later, the sound remains distinctly and electrifyingly that of the Yardbirds. It’s also very much of the moment, as another generation of gritty, guitar-slinging units like the White Stripes, the Hives, the Strokes and the Vines connects with the reinvigorated rock audience.

Friday, September 23 | Suzy Bogguss

“You can’t deal me the aces and think I wouldn’t play,” says Suzy Bogguss with a twinkle in her eye as she discusses her latest studio album Sweet Danger. It’s a line from one of her signature songs, but it’s also the philosophy with which the Illinois-born singer manages her career, and the stepping-off point for a collection of her strongest songwriting and most evocative vocals to date. She’s always been the type of artist to boldly listen to her instinct and chase that wily muse where it leads her — and her latest offerings are no exception. Gracefully stepping across genre lines, Suzy Bogguss’ has always, and will always take the road less traveled…and that has made all the difference.

Saturday, October 1 | Livingston Taylor w. Seth Glier

Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of thirteen, beginning a forty-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting and teaching.From top-forty hits “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running,” to “I Can Dream of You” and “Boatman” both recorded by his brother James, Livingston’s creative output has continued unabated. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres–folk, pop, gospel, jazz–and from upbeat storytelling to touching ballads.