A Good Day in Austin

I was going through some old notes and found my SXSW "to see" list from March 18, 2010. That was the day we caught the Drive-By Truckers at Waterloo Records, and ate at HUTS (rest in peace). If my notes can be believed, we zoomed through the New Zeland day party (I have vague memories of this), then started a killer evening with Nicole Atkins and John Hiatt at La Zona Rosa (I remember both these sets, especially Hiatt, as being outstanding). Then at 10 pm we had a choice:

• Bobby Bare Jr. at Emo's Annex

• She & Him at Cedar Street

• Drive-By Truckers (again) at Stubbs

• Cedric Burnside at the Continental Club

Remember where we went? That's right, BB Jr. in a tent, in the middle of the street. I recall this as being a surreally beautiful smoking show. We for sure made the right decision, although I bet the Burnside set at CC was pretty good. 

So many good days and nights at SXSW. This one was exceptional. 

Cruising with Chrome Dreams

I’m a mark for a good official “bootleg,” previously unreleased collection, or remix. And forget about a cover tribute album. And while I don’t buy as many CDs as I used to, I still like to buy physical copies of certain artists’ releases, including Dylan, Petty, and Neil Young, along with independent and small-label bands. As the album name implies, the tunes on Chrome Dreams are great summertime, top-down listens.

Tracklist:

1. "Pocahontas" (3:23)

2. "Will to Love" (7:11)

3. "Star of Bethlehem" (2:43)

4. "Like a Hurricane" (8:21)

5. "Too Far Gone" (2:44)

6. "Hold Back the Tears" (5:15)

7. "Homegrown" (2:23)

8. "Captain Kennedy" (2:54)

9. "Stringman" (3:32)

10. "Sedan Delivery" (5:21)

11. "Powderfinger" (3:23)

12. "Look Out for My Love" (4:01)

Buy Chrome Dreams on Amazon:

• CD

• Vinyl

These are Amazon Associates Links. Your click helps feed the dogs.

From August 2015: All Beat Farmers, All the Time

A version of this post was previously published on my Radio Barz blog.

The Beat Farmers almost ruined me for live music. Two dynamite shows at The Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio, July 1986 and September 1987, were the two most bombastic, wildly enjoyable live music experiences ever. I could have stopped going to shows right then and lived off the memories of those two performances for the rest of my life.

The Beat Farmers' music propelled me through mid- and late-1980s road trips, all-night listening parties, and summer BBQs. The band mixed country western and rockabilly sensibilities with chunky, raw power chords. Imagine Buck Owens playing with ACDC. And they had a wild card like no other band before or since -- drummer, singer, and raconteur Country Dick Montana.

I loved the originals like "Bigger Stones," "Never Going Back," "Riverside" and "Selfish Heart." And the Farmers had the best taste in covers, from Bruce Springsteen's "Reason to Believe" to Neil Young's "Powderfinger" and Country Dick's rowdy rendition of Johnny Cash's "Big River.” Here are three live performances from the Farmers.

PS: One of my life’s proudest moments was having Country Dick Montana throw a full picture of draft beer at my chest. I caught it and barely spilled a drop. Long live Country Dick. Long live Canal Street. Long live the Beat Farmers.

Old Blog, New Blog

Once upon a time, I shared playlists, favorite songs, and random thoughts about music on my Blogger site, Radio Barz. Here’s a link if you want to go through my back pages. Honestly, I was surprised to find out my last post on the site wasn’t that long ago — March 2020. But as the pandemic taught us, what is time?

I’ll be bringing some of my content from the old site to this one, maybe updating it a bit. Stay tuned and listen well.

A Night with Old Town Crier, Terrific Music and a Good Cause

Jim Lough, performing as Old Town Crier just released “A Night with Old Town Crier” on Bandcamp. Jim is donating half the proceeds to the Pine Street Inn, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness. Terrific music and a good cause. Check out “A Night with Old Town Crier.”

Heavy Rotation: I Wish I Was You by Gina Birch

COVID has been my unwelcome friend this past week. Along with lots of hot tea, honey, and rest, music has been my remedy. “I Wish I Was You,” a song of off Gina Birch’s upcoming album I Play My Bass Loud has been good medicine. I think I’ve only played it about 20 times this week. Love the crunchy guitar, big beats, Breeders’ “Cannonball” vibes, and yes, the loud bass. Fight COVID with loud music or at least go out kicking, screaming, and smiling. Stay well. Rock on.

Listen to “I Wish I Was You” on Bandcamp.

Mixtape 22-10 (Birthday Mix)

Summer Sky, August 2017, Mike Barzacchini Photo

Here’s a mix that I’m playing as the soundtrack to my birthday. A little twangy. A little country. A nice breezy feel like driving down a county road with the windows down and the summer air flooding in. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this big sweet life.

• The Local Honeys - Freight Train Blues

• Logan Ledger - (I’m Gonna Get Over This) Some Day

• Dale Hollow - I'm a Lover, but I'll Still Fight

• Fort Worth Weekly - "Bad Romantic," Summer Dean

• TK & The Holy Know-Nothings - Emmanuel

• Kristina Murray - The Great Unknown

• Sierra Ferrell - In Dreams

• Big Thief - Red Moon

• Kacy & Clayton - Just Like A Summer Cloud

• The Cactus Blossoms - Hey Baby

• Margo Cilker - Tehachapi

Listen to this mix on Bandcamp.

Mike's Mixtapes, A Music Blog (Again)

The first blog I started writing 100 years ago in Internet time was a music blog. Over the years, I’ve written about music on a variety of my own social channels and sometimes for others (does anyone else remember AOL’s Spinner?).

Mike’s Mixtapes is my latest attempt to organize my adventures in listening, share a few playlists, and spotlight some artists I genuinely love. And that’s key. I’m an aficionado, not a critic. Typically, what you’ll read about here is what I like. I hope you find something that catches your ear.