 Courtesy: Conqueroo KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Black Lillies’ new album Hard to Please (Attack Monkey/Thirty Tigers) has been racking up the accolades since its October release. Rolling Stone Country hailed it as “country music with a soul-rock infusion, supported by smart songwriting and tight musicianship” while American Songwriter praised the “soulful mix of upbeat Americana and tender ballads that makes the album a rejuvenating fourth release.” Given the raves, it is hard to believe that the album was born from adversity. As the Black Lillies were gearing up to record at Nashville’s historicHouse of Blues Studio D with their first outside producer, Grammy Award-winner Ryan Hewitt(Avett Brothers, Johnny Cash, The Red Hot Chili Peppers), they encountered some bumps in the road. The group realized they were short on songs that were ready to record; then they became short on musicians after two band members suddenly quit. Instead of taking the easy way out and calling the whole thing off, the remaining Black Lillies — frontman Cruz Contreras, guitarist/vocalist Trisha Gene Brady and drummer Bowman Townsenddemonstrated the same resilient determination that made them such a grassroots success. Armed with some freshly written Contreras tunes, they entered the studio with the help of talented guests: bassist Bill Reynolds (Band of Horses), pedal steel player Matt Smith (Amy Ray, Shannon Whitworth, The Honeycutters) and the young Nashville guitar whiz Daniel Donato.  Hard to Please stands as the Black Lillies’ most varied set of music. The ten-song set opens with the title track’s unexpected twangy funk and rolls on with the fierce country rocker “That’s the Way It Goes Down,” the Southern-style soul Contreras/Brady duet “Mercy” and the horn-fueled “The First Time,” on which Brady handles lead vocals. The disc deftly balances introspective numbers like “Desire” and “Bound to Roam” with the boot-scootin’ country tune “Dancin’” and the rockin’ on-the-road rave-up “40 Days.” The Black Lillies’ musical breadth is best captured in “Broken Shore.” This entrancing song ebbs and flows as a wild fiddle and psychedelic-like guitar lines lead listeners on a harrowing journey inspired by Contreras’ grandfather fighting in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
The Black Lillies’ eclecticism won’t surprise anyone who has had the pleasure of experiencing them in concert. The band’s set lists frequently contain a couple of covers, from American roots tunes like the Delmore Brothers’ “Blues Stay Away From Me” and Blind Willie Johnson’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” to classic rock’s “Time of the Season” and “For What It’s Worth” and left field choices such as “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Love Train,” and David Bowie’s “Five Years.” The band has built their grassroots popularity by taking their music to the people. They have been averaging 200 gigs a year since forming in 2009, playing small clubs as well as big festivals likeBonnaroo, Stagecoach and the Americana Music Festival. NPR’s Ann Powers made the group one of her top picks at 2014’s SXSW and no other independent band has played the prestigiousGrand Ole Opry as many times as the Black Lillies have. Known for dynamic live shows, the band will be heading out on tour to support Hard to Please. This December the Black Lillies can be found along the East Coast, performing from Vermont to West Virginia, while the New Year finds them out West, starting with the Steamboat MusicFest before swinging through Texas and winding out at sea on the popular Cayamo Cruise. The album’s musical evolution will be reflected in the group’s concerts as the Black Lillies have grown into a six-piece with lead guitarist Mike Seal (Jeff Sipe Trio, Larkin Poe), bassist Sam Quinn (the everybodyfields) and pedal steel man Jonathan Keeney (Robinella) joining the coretrio of Cruz Contreras, Trisha Gene Brady and Bowman Townsend. Tour dates: Thur., Dec. 3 HOPEWELL, VA The Beacon Theatre Fri., Dec. 4 RALEIGH, NC Lincoln Theatre Sat., Dec. 5 HARRISONBURG, VA Clementine Café Sun., Dec. 6 ASHEVILLE, SC Grey Eagle Tue. Dec. 8 PHILADELPHIA, PA World Café Live Wed. Dec. 9 CAMBRIDGE, MA The Middle East Thur., Dec. 10 BURLINGTON, VT ArtsRiot Fri., Dec. 11 ROCHESTER, NY Abilene Sat., Dec. 12 WELLSVILLE, NY Wellsville Creative Arts Center Sun., Dec. 13 NORFOLK, CT Infinity Music Hall Tue., Dec. 15 BUFFALO, NY Sportsmen’s Tavern Wed., Dec. 16 MILLDALE, CT Tipping Chair Fri., Dec. 18 WRIGHTSVILLE, PA Burning Bridge Tavern Sat., Dec. 19 SHEPHERDSTOWN, NY The Shepherdstown Opera House Mon., Jan. 4-Sat., Jan. 9 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO Steamboat MusicFest 2016 Sun., Jan. 10 DENVER, CO The Soiled Dove Underground Mon., Jan 11 DURANGO, CO Balcony, Tue., Jan. 12 RED RIVER, NM The Motherlode Saloon Wed., Jan. 13 ROSWELL, NM Pecos Flavors Winery Thur., Jan. 14 AMARILLO, TX Hoot’s Pub Fri., Jan. 15 LUBBOCK, TX The Blue Light Sat., Jan. 16 FORT WORTH, TX Magnolia Motor Lodge Wed., Jan. 20 SAN ANTONIO, TX Sam’s Burger Joint Thur., Jan. 21 AUSTIN, TX Strange Brew Fri., Jan. 22, HOUSTON, TX Bungalow Concerts Sat., Jan. 23, DALLAS, TX The Rustic Sun., Jan. 24 CONROE, TX Dosey Doe Music Cafe Fri., Jan. 29 JOHNSON CITY, TN The Willow Tree Sun., Jan. 31-Sun., Feb. 7 MIAMI, FL Cayamo Cruise Thur., Feb. 25 WARRENDALE (PITTSBURGH), PA Jergel’s Rhythm Grille Fri., Feb. 26 WASHINGTON, DC The Hamilton Sat., Feb. 27 CARRBORO, NC Cat’s Cradle http://theblacklillies.com
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
BLOGROLL
B-Sides and Badlands Hitting All The Right Notes Key Music News Dreamspider's Blog Farce the Music TJ Music Archives
October 2024
|
RSS Feed
