Mason of Rickett Pass and Buck Thrailkill Jam On Nechville Banjos

Mason of Rickett Pass and Buck Thrailkill Jam On Nechville Banjos

Words below, From Mason Tinsley of Rickett Pass regarding a special gift to him from a friend and the folks at Nechville Banjos

Dig into Nechville Banjos

"Last spring at the Muddy Roots Spring Weekender I met Buck Thrailkill and instantly hit it off. Talking trash about banjo picking and taking cracks at how old he is. ( He is pretty old ) I knew he worked with Rusty Knuckles, but really knew him as a banjo master even though he will deny it. He introduced me to his good friend Steve Longan. Talk about a clown and talk about an instant friendship. All three of us had very similar jobs In the Army which is a bond only few can understand.

Stevie Tombstone and Dale Watson, On Air At WDVX 89.9, The Blue Plate Special

Stevie Tombstone and Dale Watson, On Air At WDVX 89.9, The Blue Plate Special

If you are in the Knoxville, TN area do yourself a favor and come out to a live taping at WDVX 89.9 FM tomorrow for a Blue Plate Special live radio show. On the bill is Altco's own Stevie Tombstone with Banjo Buck Thrailkill, along with Dale Watson.

Burns Bluff Live Show Documentary

 

Billy Don Burns and Buck Thrailkill making a fire in the rock house deep in the Ozark Mountains

These pic doesn't quite capture what we have up our sleeves, but what you are looking at is the location where we will be filming a live show for streaming digital download and downloadable film this fall at "Burns Bluff". We have a short list of musicians that will be a part of it and have a film and recording crew at the ready. This will be part of a new series we are going to do annually for filming and recording, to use the natural acoustics of this great location.

Buck Thrailkill hanging out in the location for the Burns Bluff music series we will be filming this fall

Muddy Roots Is A New Religion

After my brain has started to clear up from all the dust, conversations, cold beer, moonshine and remembrance of another great Muddy Roots, all I can do is smile with a shit eating grin. I personally haven't attended, worked or been a part of any other festival on the level of what Jason Galaz has created with Muddy Roots. 

Each year the festival grows with a creative exuberance that feels as contagious as a sing along at a Dropkick Murphy's show. No matter where you walk around the festival grounds, folks are saying hello and quick to offer a beer or maybe a chat about what bands are coming up. Is this a strange sort of utopia? It can feel that way at certain moments and makes me realize how much more effort we want to put in to help support such a great music festival. 

The convergence of amazing music, festive atmosphere and some of the greatest folks you would ever want to hang with, is the very reason why we signed on to build a huge lounge for Muddy Roots 2014. The sum is greater than all the parts and we as an independent music label want to contribute and help grow such a killer event.

I have so many folks to thank for their hard work on this event and it would not be possible for us without the tight inner circle within Rusty Knuckles Music. Keeping this pirate ship afloat is no easy task and our dedicated crew is always on board to help set sail and more importantly, dive in when work needs to get done. Massive thanks for all the early preparations and help in setting up and maintaining our "lounge" this year to Mrs Knuckles, Buck and Susan Thrailkill, JB Beverley, Nate, Kitty Barks, Husky and Kari Burnette, Justin, Adam, Billy, Rascal and Randy of Carolina Still, The Aussie Posse, Lauren, all of Fifth On the Floor and road crew, Billy Don Burns, Hellbound Glory, Rash, Gypsy Jody, Jeff Leigh, Mike Fiedler, Pizza Dave, Stoney, Phil, Kate, Owen Mays and anyone else that picked up trash after the huge pre-party jam and throughout the weekend, contributed a few bucks for food or booze and overall helped to keep a great camp site maintained. This was not easy and many folks put a lot of money into making this a success

If you think we did something good this year for Muddy Roots, be prepared for 2014 as we already bought our "acreage" for next year. We have a massive space to work with and in our way of thinking, now we have a mission. Go big or go home!

Also, below are a bunch of photos found on facebook from posts. I would have enjoyed taking all of our photos to represent the festival, but unfortunately in the crunch of time to get out of town, the one item needed most that was forgotten, being my camera gear. After much use of great four letter words and being pissed off for many miles, I just had to create lemonade. Thanks to everyone who took great shots as we are damn stoked to repost them. If you want photo credit, just email me via facebook and I would be happy to oblige.

Thanks again to everyone at Muddy Roots, all the folks who show up and most of all to everyone that works their asses off to make such a great event happen. Stoked to have gotten to see sets from all the bands we work with such as Carolina Still, Hellbound Glory, Husky Burnette, JB Beverley, Billy Don Burns and to also check out God Damn Gallows, Peewee Moore, Black Flag, Left Lane Cruisers, Possessed By Paul James, Shooter Jennings, Psycho DeVilles, Hellfire Revival, Dale Watson, Whitey Morgan, Ray Lawrence Jr., Ten Foot Polecats, Sarah Gayle Meech, White Trash Blues Revival and many more. Wish we could have seen every band for full sets, but our booth / lounge was a beehive of activity. SEE YA NEXT YEAR!!!!!!

Black Flag. YES, thee Black Flag on the main stage

JB Beverley and Billy Don Burns - photo by Mike Fiedler

JB, Pizza Dave in an ill fitting women's tee and Chad

A nice picture until the Aussie Posse decides to do a photo bomb! Stacks On!

Carolina Still getting ready to roll on the main stage

JB Beverley had the entire stage flanked with the Rusty Knuckles country roster for his rendition of Maggie's Farm

Never one to let a birthday slip by, Nate became a force of nature and gave us the best drunken photo in years

Billy Don Burns on stage during Shooter Jennings set

JB Beverley, Leroy Virgil and Buck Thrailkill

Buck Thrailkill on stage with Shooter Jennings on the closing night

The pool was a blessing and a curse

Husky Burnette jamming in front of the lounge

Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory and one huge sing along

The Aussie Posse does their "Stacks On"

JB Beverley on stage with Shooter Jennings

Shooter Jennings, Billy Don Burns and Lauren

Husky Burnette on stage with Shooter Jennings

Maggies Farm never sounded so good until that huge jam session

When the time comes, Rusty Knuckles Music shows up in solidarity and flanks an entire stage

Stoney and Pizza Dave proving once again why we love Ohioans

Zeke of Hellbound Glory, joining Fifth On the Floor, Buck Thrailkill and Kara Clark

Check Out A Track From J.B. Beverley's New Album On No Depression

It is always a good day when a track from an upcoming album we are releasing is being streamed on No Depression. Go have a listen to a preview track called "Bit of Pickin'" on J.B. Beverley's new album coming out next month, Stripped To The Root.

"Bit Of Pickin' feature track on No Depression by J.B. Beverley, Buck Thrailkill and more

Billy Don Burns Feature Write Up On No Depression

Billy Don Burns latest album, "Nights When I'm Sober..."

Check out the write up on No Depression 

Do yourself a favor and download his albums on Itunes

 

"I met Billy Don Burns tonight for the first time and got to see him preform with  banjo picker Buck Thrailkill. The word was he had broke his collar bone and in a sling. His partner Aaron Rodgers had a gig in Nashville and couldn't make it back to his home state of South Carolina. Upon entering I noticed Billy Don was smoking a cigarette close to the door and introduced myself to a guy who's lyrics I respected the hell out of. I asked him how he was feeling and was he able to play the guitar and with any hesitation he shook his head after a drag from his smoke and proclaimed "Hell yeah man ". It didn't take too much longer in the conversation we had in front of the venue while it drizzled rain I knew we the same limited edition assembly line. Some one brought a menu to Burns and he didn't even look at and says "Ahh just get me a Cheeseburger!" to the legendary songwriter learning they didn't have that on the menu. "Just get me whatever your having" and he handed the menu away giving me the thought he isn't a picky eater. We talked about 15 minutes of small talk before he had to get on stage. Southern Culture seem to be a ungiue place to play and the food looked top-notch and smelled like Dixie. The stage was beautiful set up with two chairs with a guitar on one side and a banjo on the other.

"If It all ended tomorrow and I am dead and gone I will have no regrets for I got to do what I love and meet and work with my heroes" proclaim Billy Don.

I felt he was telling the truth for I felt the energy drain off him like rain flows down a storm drain. He told me stories of how well Mexico would pay him to play, or how good of a boy Aaron Rodgers was and his dad owned a John Deer dealership, and about that time he sold his best guitar. The set was short but honest songwriting to I saw a select few actually got it. I was proud to know that I got it what was going on right in front of my eyes and I may never see the likes of it every again and soaked it up  as much as I could. One of my favorite Billy Don Burns song is Is he the Writer . The narrative is about a guy who sits down to write soon sits down to write a song and the song ends up becoming him in spirit. Its pure genius and I began to wonder why he doesn't he have the respected he has earned. 

He is quite charming and once you know him your never a stranger and thru out the night I keep hearing "Come over here with us brother" along with   "your a good boy and I am proud of you." Upon outside with another smoke break he begin to tell me tales of struggle, heartache, and following the lonesome highway. He told me of writing songs for his own sake and writing songs to help pay the rent. I realize that when this rebellious  dinosaur is gone that this era of pure songwriting  will be gone forever. No one can replace him not even the hipster guy who lives on the opposite side of the songs he sings and lives. I learned that once you get to where you think you wanna be its a lonely ass place that you keep trying to fill that void.

I have the up-most for Billy Don Burns as a human being and a songwriter. The place was packed out and a select few got it in which he was doing. I know for one I did for I felt it in the Carolina air.  Tonight I heard him laugh and carry on and it seem like how he was dealing with it all. The battle scars seem so deep yet the fight to keep on keeping on is a constant blessing and a curse. The highway is tough and tires don't always hold up but you keep going. He informed us he wasn't going to stay at local motel but he was going back home  400 miles to Arkansas as he grasp his bread and butter guitar and disappeared the rainy lonely night like a bandit.

He’s holed up one night as usual, alone 
he’d been drinkin’ and druggin’ and writing his wrongs 
there’s no more to lose, nothing to fear 
takes out his knife and cuts off his ear 
Poets like Dylan live in his brain
 is he a writer or is he insane
 he dresses in black and he goes it alone
 is the writer or is he a song

Billy Don Burns feature write up on No Depression

Wheelin' Towards Willie - Part 5, Western Arkansas

Interviewing Mrs. Robbie, one of Billy Don Burns oldest friends from Mountain View, AR

Local town hall in Mountain View, AR where there will be quite the acoustic show this fall, more details soon.

Billy Don Burns on an old Triumph chopper

Buck Thrailkill at the Stone County Museum by the banjo was given to the museum. Note the arrowheads on the back wall which were given to the museum, found on the White River, by Billy Don Burns brother.

Music fills the air in these mountain towns, every thursday in Mountain View the Gospel Opry is the local gig.

Stone County Museum where they have an exhibit on Billy Don Burns and an amazing town hall

Gaylor Creek Church, way down deep on the hills and where Billy Don Burns fondly remembers old family stories.

Buck, Jake and JB on the steps of Gaylor Creek Church, which is now Shady Grove Missionary

While working on the Billy Don Burns documentary we knew that Gaylor Creek Church was calling out to us. The best thing we could do was to jump in the creek for a baptismal swim and fully take in the depth of ol' BD's great song and his hometown of Mountain View, Arkansas.

Wheelin' Towards Willie Part 4 - Nashville, TN

Somehow JB ended the night with a push up contest on the sidewalk outside of Layla's

JB Beverley serenading the ladies

Jam packed stage full of talent

Cadie Calhoun and Buck Thrailkill

Kara Clark coming off the stage and JB arms full of ladies including Layla herself.

Buck Thrailkill, Geoff Firebaugh, JB Beverley, Aaron Rodgers and Billy Don Burns

Kara Clark belted out some huge songs last night

Angie Clark, Billy Don Burns and Kitty Barks in front of Layla's

JB Beverley, Aaron Rodgers and Billy Don Burns brought the heat to Layla's stage

Buck Thrailkill by the Birth of Bluegrass sign, beside the Ryman Auditorium

Filming Aaron Rodgers for the Billy Don Burns documentary

Carolina Still Feature Review On Saving Country Music

Buy your copy of The Color Of Rust

Link to review on Saving Country Music

"If you gave me only one word to describe this album, it would be “Yes!” There’s no shortage of these juggy, stompy country bands these days looking for attention. And when I say “juggy,” I don’t mean the descriptive word Mr. Nightlife might write beside a girl’s name in his little black book. I’m talking about the kind of primitive, old-school country bands that get your elbows swaying to a fro and your legs kicking in a down home good time. So many new bands with the term “still” or “whiskey” in their name have popped up, I can barely keep up with them all. Hell, there’s even a Whiskey Still, but it’s three old dudes from Dublin, so we’ll give them a pass.

The problem is many of these bands try to overcompensate for their lack of basic music skills with shrill vocals and sheer speed, while their “albums” are hampered by excessive recording flubs and cliché’s so bad they make you physically wince. Carolina Still bucks this trend by putting out a great-sounding, patient, and professional album through Rusty Knuckles Records called The Color of Rust, spiking old music with a new energy. Self proclaimed “old-time moonshier stomp,” they bring the primal enjoyment a jug-like band can evoke, without any of the grab ass garbage that can come from half efforts.

The Color of Rust will downright wear your country ass out. The first three songs will get your foot stomping so hard, you’ll piss off the downstairs neighbors irrevocably. That’s right, no more borrowed cups of brown sugar for you. “Devil’s Stomp” is especially prone to causing involuntary leg movements of the heavy stomping persuasion, and then once Carolina Still has you squared up, they hit you right between the eyes and completely off guard with the really slow and soulful “Black Lung, WV,” showing off an ear for composition.

The songs of The Color of Rust find that nice warm place where the themes are familiar, but not quite clichè. They may have “still” in their name, but there’s not an excess of moonshine-running, falling down drunk ballads in their repertoire. Instead you get cool songs like the really thoughful “Grandpa’s Guitar.” They pull out all the stops for “Old Black Crow” on the album, using chains and caws to enhance what would otherwise be a simple song. The band gets downright silly with songs like “In the Barn” and “Chicken Pie,” but never to the point where you feel stupid for listening. The Color of Rust is a really fun listen from cover to cover.

Carolina Still are not necessarily superpickers, and if they were, it might take away from the spirit of their music. Instead they rely on good ears to craft catchy elements to reel you in, like the guitar and banjo rhythm on “Grandpa’s Guitar” and the walking down bass line of “Chicken Pie.” What I’d like to hear more of with this band is the depth they touch on in “Black Lung, WV.” It’s difficult to delve too far into this direction when you’re perceived as a lively party band. Old Crow Medicine Show has struck this balance over the years, putting out fun songs right beside ones that try to say something, and elevating their stature as songwriters amongst their peers."

Good album, produced by JB Beverley and Buck Thrailkill.

1 3/4 of 2 guns up."

J.B. Beverley Records New Track For Upcoming Split 7" Record

Detail of Robert Norman's fiddle from Carolina Still

Adam Jones from Carolina Still laying down some bass lines while prepping for recording

J.B. Beverley & The Wayward Drifters new track, "I Don't Mind The Pain" is all finished up

Buck Thrailkill laying some notes for the new track

J.B. Beverley caught in the moment while in the recording studio laying down a new track

Microphones are just really cool to check out for the engineering and design details

J.B. Beverley finishing up the last elements to his new track for the split 7" record

Buck Thrailkill and J.B. Beverley of Rebel Roots Studio