“Excelsior!” is the first LP by NYC-based singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels. Produced by Sam Evian, the album features contributions by the likes of Courtney Marie Andrews, Hannah Cohen, A.O. Gerber or Lomelda’s Hannah Read. If you’ve followed us long enough, you know this means we’ve already sticked our seal of approval five times. Come for the copious namedropping, stay for some of the best lyrics of the first half of 2021.
After a small break to record some music in the folky “superband” (we’re guilty, but can we all please forget this concept?) Bonny Light Horseman, Eric D. Johnson celebrates 20 years of Fruit Bats with a brand new record. “The Pet Parade” shows Johnson, one of the best melody crafters of the game, at his most dreamy and contemplative so far.
Aaron Frazer is best known as the drummer (and singer) for soul outfit Durand Jones & the Indications. Like so many songwriters in the past few years, he teamed up with the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and got his debut solo album, “Introducing…”, ready in no time. We’re not even halfway through January and we already have our first highlight of 2021. Feels good to be back.
Bolachas Now Playing, a new music Spotify playlist updated every Tuesday.
Anna St. Louis’ 2017 cassette “First Songs” was on heavy repeat over here late last year, and we’re pleased to present her debut LP “If Only There Was a River”, out now on Kevin Morby’s Mare imprint, on our playlist. Plus: Adrianne Lenker, Meg Baird & Mary Lattimore, Summer Salt,Girlpool, Laura Gibson, courtney barnett, HALEY, Hen Ogledd, Moonface, Les Big Byrd, Nicholas Krgovich, Micah P. Hinson, Colter Wall, Willie Nelson, Deer Tick, Kurt Vile, Phosphorescent, Gregory Alan Isakov, Valley Maker, Old Jerusalem, and Tracyanne & Danny.
Bolachas Now Playing, 35/2018 (#162):
Adrianne Lenker – what can you say
Anna St. Louis – Wind
Anna St. Louis – Paradise
Meg Baird & Mary Lattimore – Damaged Sunset
Summer Salt – Oh Dear
Girlpool – Lucy’s
Laura Gibson – Domestication
Courtney Barnett – Small Talk
HALEY – Snake Moon
Hen Ogledd – Sky Burial
Moonface – Walk the Circle in the Other Direction
Les Big Byrd – Mannen Utanför
Nicholas Krgovich – Lido
Micah P. Hinson – The Sleep of the Damned
Colter Wall – Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail
Willie Nelson – Vote ‘Em Out
Deer Tick – Hey! Yeah!
Kurt Vile – Rollin With The Flow
Phosphorescent – My Beautiful Boy
Gregory Alan Isakov – Bullet Holes
Valley Maker – A Couple Days
Old Jerusalem – Oleander
Tracyanne & Danny – Baby’s Got It Bad
Ever wondered why we’re posting less and less stuff nowadays? Yes, we’ve been busing getting other things done. Like this all star lineup for a month of concerts at Mercado Negro, in Aveiro, Portugal. After a wonderful Old Jerusalem concert last week, tonight we host Matt Elliott yet again, this time with a new album. Next Wednesday we bring one of our favorite songwriters to Portugal for the first time ever: Will Stratton. Finally, on Friday 30, we welcome back Micah Blue Smaldone, who hasn’t played in Portugal in the last six years, and we’re also proud to present, for the first time in concert, his Fire on Fire and Cerebrus Shoal bandmate Tom Kovacevic, who has just released one of the most surprising albums of the year, Universe Thin as Skin, on Immune Recordings. More info and links in the Facebook event page.
DSS