The Cleverlys (L-R): Vernon Dean, Miles (not present at Station Inn), Digger, Harvey D, Otto.
It’s all right there in the name.
The Cleverlys, the faux family band brainchild of comedian-musician Paul Harris, is a novelty act in the sense that no one’s doing anything quite like them. As ringleader Digger Cleverly, Harris refers to his five-piece band as a “trio” and romps through acoustic covers of Top 40 hits. It sounds a little goofy on paper, but the band members are so committed to the concept that it transcends mere gimmickry. It’s high-concept performance art (albeit with some lowbrow humor)—a high lonesome Spinal Tap that doesn’t go to 11 because it isn’t plugged in.
The band played to a packed house at Nashville’s beloved bluegrass haunt The Station Inn on Thursday, Feb. 16. Harris came out in plain clothes as a stand-up comedian to warm up the crowd before the main event. He works in a similar vein to some of the Blue Collar guys, but it seems sincere without being so aggressively “redneck.”
On rodeos: “‘Cowboy up.’ That means something big and important when you’re 19. When you’re 40 it means, ‘You’re gonna get hurt, you idiot!”
On earthquakes in Arkansas: “Our house ain’t shook that bad since they parked it here.”
On the phenomenon of Shark Week: “Come through my living room in that speedo, I’ll bite you too!”
As Digger Cleverly, Harris is all-but unrecognizable from his civilian self. Tinted aviator glasses hide his eyes and his uniform is coordinated precisely with the other members of his band, who all wear hats of varying degrees of width. All members also have an elaborate family mythology that originates from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.
They led the show off with the family friendly version of Cee-Lo Green’s unforgettable “Forget You,” followed by Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” where the titular jewelry item becomes “rang,” and The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feelin’.” “We’re so tickled you like that good old bluegrass music,” quipped Digger.
More good old bluegrass favorites followed, including Stone Temple Pilots “Plush,” Shaggy’s “Angel,” and The Zombies’ “She’s Not There.”
As musicians, The Cleverlys are more than capable of delivering the goods. Band members include Vernon Dean “VD” Cleverly on banjo, who wowed kids of the 80s with a note-perfect rendition of the Super Mario Bros. game theme music; Monroe “Lil Mon” Cleverly on bass, filling in for absent Miles Cleverly; Harvey D Cleverly on drums, who “bit his tongue off in a donkey basketball game”; and Otto Cleverly on banjo and mandolin, who is also the face of something called Otto’s Meats. I’ll let you figure out where the punchlines went from there.
In addition to the Top 40 and R&B covers, the band does have some riotous original material. Digger set up one song by saying it was about his “dead friend who died who’s no longer with us.” That song, set to a lilting traditional country beat, was titled “Girl With No Pantyline.” “Podophiliac” branded the band as foot fetishists, and Otto Cleverly even harassed women in the front row by leering underneath the tables.
For those who hadn’t figured it out yet, The Cleverlys drew the The Spinal Tap parallel very clearly during a cover of the ‘70s obscurity “Hocus Pocus” by Focus. During one long instrumental breakdown, “VD” the banjo player kneeled and acted out a portion of the famed “Stonehenge” scene from the movie.
It was, for lack of a better way to put it, very clever.
Aspen Songwriters Festival Attracts World-Class Talent
/by Sarah SkatesSam Bush and John Oates at the 2011 festival. They will be performing together again this year.
Songwriter and mega-hit artist John Oates is bringing a little piece of Nashville to his hometown with the 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival. Inspired by the Bluebird Cafe’s in-the-round performance style, his initial one-off undertaking has evolved into a five-day cross-genre event.
“I thought it would be something people in Aspen had never seen and experienced,” recalls Oates of the festival’s original incarnation. “So I approached the people at this amazing acoustic venue called the Wheeler Opera House, it’s a Victorian theater that is perfect for this sort of thing. I called it the Stories Behind The Songs, and that year we had Patty Griffin, Bob Regan, Jimmy Wayne, Tift Merritt, and Scotty Emerick. It went over so well that people in the city asked if I would expand it into an annual event.”
As 7908 developed, Oates’ wife Aimee named the festival for their beloved city’s altitude. Set for March 21-25, the 2012 line up includes Oates, Darrell Scott, Matt Nathanson, James McMurtry, Sam Bush, Marc Broussard, Angel Snow, and The Blue Sky Riders (Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr).
“We’re a very eclectic songwriters festival,” Oates continues. “With bluegrass to pop and classic rock and everything in between. We like to have really unique pairings. This year we have JD Souther and Carrie Rodriguez doing a show together, and they’ve never even met. We try to give the audience a chance to see something they may not see anywhere else.”
Oates handpicks most of the performers along with Gram Slaton, Executive Director of the Wheeler Opera House. Along with booking top-name artists, they focus on supporting new talent. “We’re a not-for-profit organization and our mission is to nurture and perpetuate the art and craft of songwriting,” adds Oates. “Part of that is done by combining up and comers with seasoned professionals. People may come to see the headliner, but they are usually blown away by the artists they don’t know. Plus, we wanted to keep a local component, so we came up with a statewide songwriting contest. It helps rising songwriters, and also creates interest in the event from people in other parts of the state.”
Music lovers who attend 7908 range from Colorado residents to visitors from across the globe. “Aspen is a very international city,” he explains. “People come from all over the world to go skiing here. Our festival is at the height of spring break, and spring skiing, which is so popular because there is a whole winter’s worth of snow on the ground and beautiful warm sunny days. It’s an amazing time to be in Aspen.”
www.aspensongwritersfestival.com
Matt Nathanson and John Oates, who are both set to return to next month's festival. Photo: Lynn Goldsmith
Artist Updates (2/21/12)
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Gallimore, Wilkes Launch Streamsound Records
/by Sarah SkatesJaida Dreyer's debut single will be released next month.
Grammy Award winning producer Byron Gallimore and music industry veteran Jim Wilkes today announced the launch of Nashville-based Streamsound Records. The label officially formed last fall and has inked an exclusive distribution deal with Sony Music Nashville. Gallimore will focus on the creative side, while longtime business partner Wilkes will oversee company operations.
Mike Wilson will lead Streamsound’s radio division. He most recently headed up promotions at RCA Nashville and his career includes work taking over 100 country singles to the top of the charts. Regional representatives on board include Teresa Ford, Steve Pleshe, Brad Howell and Jamice Jennings. Other positions in marketing, digital media, sales and radio promotion are being filled.
Streamsound Records plans to launch one artist at a time. The debut single from Jaida Dreyer, who has been working with Gallimore in recent years, will hit airwaves next month.
“I’ve been interested in starting a label focused on and dedicated to developing artists,” said Gallimore. “The intent is to work with and nurture them—to give them the time that is needed to hone their craft. This business is all about great songs, talent, passion and drive. I really do believe that we’ve found all of that in Jaida.”
“At the end of the day, this business is all about the talent and the people that you have supporting that talent,” added Wilkes. “We intend to create a culture that takes the time needed to combine good old fashioned hard work with a strong creative business strategy.”
Gallimore has produced or co-produced nearly fifty No. 1 hits by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sugarland, Martina McBride, Lauren Alaina, and more. This isn’t his first foray into label land; Gallimore partnered with McGraw a few years ago to launch StyleSonic Records.
Ty Stone Reveals Debut Album
/by Caitlin RantalaStone recently released the video for his new single “Anywhere’s Better” on CMT.com. The video features CMT’s Sweet Home Alabama star Ashley Ann Vickers, along with cameo appearances by Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker. He also kicks off a 26-date tour on Mar. 1 with Uncle Kracker.
Stone’s American Style track listing and full list of tour dates below.
American Style track listing:
1. American Style
2. Down River
3. Smile
4. Anywhere’s Better
5. Real Thing
6. Bob Seger
7. American Dream
8. Faith In Love
9. Future
10. Line Of Blood
11. Blessed St. Anthony
Upcoming tour dates with Stone are as follows –
March:
1 – Macomb, IL – Forum Live
2 – Minneapolis, MN – Toby Keith’s
3 – Lincoln, NE – Uncle Ron’s
8 – Columbus, OH – Bluestone
9 – Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds
10 – Rootstown, OH – Dusty Armadillo
14 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
15 – Foxboro, MA – Toby Keith’s
16 – Niagara Falls, NY – Rapids Theatre
17 – Mt. Laurel, NJ – Prospectors
21 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop
22 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop
23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
24 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s
25 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
29 – San Miguel, CA – The Ranch
30 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
April :
4 – Davis, CA – The Davis Graduate
5 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
6 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theatre
7 – Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Westerner
13 – Cheyenne, WY – Outlaw Saloon
14 – Denver, CO – Toby Keith’s
17 – Flagstaff, AZ – Museum Club
19 – Mesa, AZ – Toby Keith’s
20 – Bakersfield, CA – Crystal Palace
Keith Urban Heads Down Under for The Voice
/by Eric T. ParkerWhile the current season of The Voice is well underway in the United States, the Australian version will be filming through the coming months and country superstar Keith Urban will be making the trek down under to join the cast.
Urban worked closely with the show’s production schedule in Sydney to minimize the time commitment to maintain his busy U.S. schedule, which includes his All For The Hall benefit on April 10 in Nashville.
Australia’s version of the show joins others in Albania, Holland, and the UK and includes Urban, Delta Goodrem, Joel Madden, and Seal as judges and Darren McMullen as host.
“It’ll be a blast spending a little time in Australia working on The Voice, getting the opportunity to try and help some killer raw talent blossom,” said Urban. “The good thing about the show is they focus on the strengths in people. I did a few of these things when I was younger, and I know what it’s like to just be crucified. I look at this as an opportunity to give back and help somebody. It’s working with players and trying to have a vision, and really play to their strengths. And I have a feeling that being immersed in that new kind of ‘everything is possible’ energy, will have a real inspiring and liberating effect on creating new music for my new album!”
No release date is set for the album as of yet, but Urban is said to continue working on the release throughout the year while in Nashville.
Catch a teaser of the new format below:
Juno Award Country Nominations
/by Sarah SkatesCountry Album of the Year nominees
16 & 1 Doc Walker Open Road/Universal
High Valley High Valley Open Road/Universal
Everything Jason McCoy Open Road/Universal
Forget About the World Jimmy Rankin Song Dog/Fontana North
Roots and Wings Terri Clark Bare Track/EMI
Johnny Reid scored a nod for overall Single of the Year for “Let’s Go Higher.”
Leading the nominations with four each are Drake, City and Colour, Hedley, Nickelback, Dan Mangan, and Feist. William Shatner will host the 2012 Juno Awards Broadcast, airing live on CTV the evening of Sunday, April 1 from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. Nominees who are set to perform include City and Colour, deadmau5, Feist, Hedley, Nickelback, and 2012 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Blue Rodeo.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is the organization behind the awards. Juno Week runs March 26-April 1.
See the complete nominations list.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Announces Promotions
/by Sarah SkatesIn the development division, Rachel Shapiro is promoted to development events manager; and Rachel Weingartner is promoted to membership manager.
Curb Announces Hank Jr. Retrospective
/by FreemanTitled All My Rowdy Friends, the collection features 22 of Hank Jr.’s best known songs from across the decades of his storied career. Hank Jr. is also included on the Waylon Jennings tribute album Waylon: The Music Inside, Vol. II performing “Waymore’s Blues.”
All My Rowdy Friends tracks include:
“Family Tradition”
“Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound”
“Women I’ve Never Had”
“Outlaw Women”
“Kaw-Liga”
“Old Habits”
“Dinosaur”
“The Blues Man”
“Texas Women”
“Dixie On My Mind”
“All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)”
“A Country Boy Can Survive”
“If Heaven Ain’t A Lot Like Dixie”
“The Conversation”
“All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight”
“Country State Of Mind”
“Born To Boogie”
“If The South Woulda Won”
“There’s A Tear In My Beer” (with Hank Williams)
“Red, White, & Pink-Slip Blues”
“Bartender Song (Sittin’ At The Bar)” (with Rehab)
“All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming For Monday Night Football”
MusicRowPics: For King & Country
/by FreemanWord Label Group recording artist For King & Country (brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone) stopped by MusicRow’s offices last week to perform a few songs from their new album Crave. The led MR staffers through an audience participation section on “Fine Fine Life,” and told the inspiration behind their hopeful anthem “Light It Up.” They also have, to my knowledge, the first and only MR conference room performance with glockenspiel and harmonium.
[slide]
The Cleverlys Charm Nashville’s Station Inn
/by FreemanThe Cleverlys (L-R): Vernon Dean, Miles (not present at Station Inn), Digger, Harvey D, Otto.
It’s all right there in the name.
The Cleverlys, the faux family band brainchild of comedian-musician Paul Harris, is a novelty act in the sense that no one’s doing anything quite like them. As ringleader Digger Cleverly, Harris refers to his five-piece band as a “trio” and romps through acoustic covers of Top 40 hits. It sounds a little goofy on paper, but the band members are so committed to the concept that it transcends mere gimmickry. It’s high-concept performance art (albeit with some lowbrow humor)—a high lonesome Spinal Tap that doesn’t go to 11 because it isn’t plugged in.
The band played to a packed house at Nashville’s beloved bluegrass haunt The Station Inn on Thursday, Feb. 16. Harris came out in plain clothes as a stand-up comedian to warm up the crowd before the main event. He works in a similar vein to some of the Blue Collar guys, but it seems sincere without being so aggressively “redneck.”
On rodeos: “‘Cowboy up.’ That means something big and important when you’re 19. When you’re 40 it means, ‘You’re gonna get hurt, you idiot!”
On earthquakes in Arkansas: “Our house ain’t shook that bad since they parked it here.”
On the phenomenon of Shark Week: “Come through my living room in that speedo, I’ll bite you too!”
As Digger Cleverly, Harris is all-but unrecognizable from his civilian self. Tinted aviator glasses hide his eyes and his uniform is coordinated precisely with the other members of his band, who all wear hats of varying degrees of width. All members also have an elaborate family mythology that originates from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.
They led the show off with the family friendly version of Cee-Lo Green’s unforgettable “Forget You,” followed by Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” where the titular jewelry item becomes “rang,” and The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feelin’.” “We’re so tickled you like that good old bluegrass music,” quipped Digger.
More good old bluegrass favorites followed, including Stone Temple Pilots “Plush,” Shaggy’s “Angel,” and The Zombies’ “She’s Not There.”
As musicians, The Cleverlys are more than capable of delivering the goods. Band members include Vernon Dean “VD” Cleverly on banjo, who wowed kids of the 80s with a note-perfect rendition of the Super Mario Bros. game theme music; Monroe “Lil Mon” Cleverly on bass, filling in for absent Miles Cleverly; Harvey D Cleverly on drums, who “bit his tongue off in a donkey basketball game”; and Otto Cleverly on banjo and mandolin, who is also the face of something called Otto’s Meats. I’ll let you figure out where the punchlines went from there.
In addition to the Top 40 and R&B covers, the band does have some riotous original material. Digger set up one song by saying it was about his “dead friend who died who’s no longer with us.” That song, set to a lilting traditional country beat, was titled “Girl With No Pantyline.” “Podophiliac” branded the band as foot fetishists, and Otto Cleverly even harassed women in the front row by leering underneath the tables.
For those who hadn’t figured it out yet, The Cleverlys drew the The Spinal Tap parallel very clearly during a cover of the ‘70s obscurity “Hocus Pocus” by Focus. During one long instrumental breakdown, “VD” the banjo player kneeled and acted out a portion of the famed “Stonehenge” scene from the movie.
It was, for lack of a better way to put it, very clever.