Support local music with Sin City Social Club

From Sin City Social Club:

Good Tidings and Holiday Blessings to you all!

It's definitely winter here in Austin...the temperature just dropped about 40 degrees since this afternoon...and I hear we have a 20% chance of SNOW - brrrr! At least it's warm and cozy in the Sin City offices! I'm getting ready to head over to The Saxon Pub to see one of my favorite Austinites, Austin Collins, so that outta keep me warm and happy. Before I head out to the rock show I wanted to share some things with the Social Club that you outta know. So, do you want the good news or bad news first... ok, I'll split it up evenly.

First off... our friend (and mentor) CHARLIE LOUVIN has some great news! Not only is his new album "Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads And Disaster Songs" out today, but it was #1 most added at Americana radio this week AND he was nominated for a Grammy last week in the "Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album" category. That nomination was for his album STEPS TO HEAVEN which was released in September!

For those of you not familiar with Charlie or how influential his work has been with The Louvin Brothers ...check out this piece from his bio.

"The Louvins' continued legacy is at least partly attributed to Gram Parsons, who, according to legend, paid people to scour LA record shops looking for their out-of-print sides. His versions of Louvins classics "The Christian Life" from the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo , or "Cash on the Barrelhead" from Grevious Angel , serve as the blueprint for so much "alt-country" that was to follow. Emmylou Harris' first hit was the Louvins' "If I Could Only Win Your Love." Uncle Tupelo covered "Great Atomic Power" on their third album, March 16-20, 1992 . "The Christian Life" has been worked into The Raconteurs' live set recently."

Gotta love the man who at 81 years has inspired generations of artists, toured with and sang on Lucinda Williams latest record, played Bonnaroo, toured with the Old 97's and release 2 records in 2008! He's my hero. ;) Those of you who live in Nashville can go celebrate with Charlie next week. Give him a hug from his friends at Sin City!

CHARLIE LOUVIN
Dec 18th
3rd & Lindsley
9:30 PM
$10

If you'd like to read more, the LA Times had some cool things to say today...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/album-review-ch.html

Now that you're all worked up ... You can buy the record here:
http://www.amazon.com/Sings-Murder-Ballads-Disaster-Songs/dp/B001JL2V2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1228847377&sr=1-1

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news but...Watusi Rodeo No Mo!
A lot of you in the LA area have heard already, but INDIE 103.1 cancelled the Sunday morning program, WATUSI RODEO, last Wednesday. Ironically, SUNDAY would've been the 3rd Anniversary of Chris Morris hosting the show that started 5 years ago with Doc Holiday. This show was one of the most entertaining and diverse programs on radio - period. It did more to support the local and national Americana and Country Rock scene than any I can remember. It was wonderful to have so many artists that we love and adore on the show...

Thank you Chris for your wealth of knowledge and good taste in music AND Thank you Doc for getting it on the air in the first place.We're all a bit shocked and bummed at the moment... thought I'd share some info. from the horses mouth.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008
From Chris Morris:
No More Watusi Rodeo

From Chris Morris' blog:
"It grieves me to inform my faithful "Watusi Rodeo" listeners that Indie 103.1 has cancelled my show, effective immediately. My third anniversary broadcast, which would have aired this coming Sunday, Dec. 7, will not take place. A sneak attack, and it isn't even Pearl Harbor Day yet!

When Max Tolkoff, the program director at Indie, called me yesterday morning to inform me that my show was being dropped, he told me it was in the interest of making the sound of the station more "consistent." So far, the Rodeo -- the only roots/Americana show on L.A. commercial radio -- is the only victim of this drive for consistency. Max magnanimously offered me a midnight slot during the week FOR ZERO COMPENSATION; this offer was declined, since I did college radio for free 40 years ago, and I don't want to revisit my penniless youth as I near retirement age.

It is my belief that more Indie specialty shows will go by the wayside as the weeks go by. Indie was ranked as the No. 46 station in the L.A. market in the last Arbitron ratings book, issued in early October. Since the departure of general manager Dawn Girocco for a senior advertising position at the L.A. Times in August, Tolkoff has reported directly to Jeff Lieberman, president of radio for the 48-station, primarily Spanish-language Entravision chain.Max is under extreme duress to improve Indie's numbers, which accounts for the current overload of "rock of the '90s" tracks and the disappearance of specialty shows like "Camp Freddy Radio," "Feel My Heat," "Community Service," and my show.

Morning show host Joe Escalante -- who ran the only a.m. drive-time program that didn't lower your IQ -- was also a casualty, though he continues to do his weekly one-hour legal show "Barely Legal" on Fridays. My former longtime producer-engineer Jose Galvan, who had moved to the morning show, was also canned. Darren Revell's shoegaze/dreampop show "Big Sonic Heaven" was axed, though Darren continues as the evening jock.

I fully anticipate that some of the other specialty programmers will eventually be fired or shuttled into the midnight hour with their salaries cut. Max is no fan of the specialty shows -- in fact, he complained about them in the very first conversation I had with him, in the spring of 2007. Some vestiges of the old Indie days -- Jonesy, of course, and some of the shows hosted by full-time staffers like Mr. Shovel (the station's music director) and Chuck P (Indie's great and godlike production director, and producer of my friend Henry Rollins' fine show) -- will likely remain. But I figure that's about as "indie" as it's going to get.

Indie 103.1 is now being styled as KROQ Jr. Get used to it.What's happening over at Indie is downright sad, but I'll save further thoughts about that for another time.

The specialty shows are what made Indie special -- that's why I went after "Watusi Rodeo" after Michael "Doc Holiday" Whited, the original host, moved to Tennessee in 2005. Indie's original PD Michael Steele had enough faith in me to let me take a weekly shift after 30 years off the pro airwaves. It was a pleasure to experience the kind of programming freedom I had in free-form FM radio during the '70s, and I had a hell of a lot of fun for 148 broadcasts and almost three years. Many thanks to all my wonderful guests and my devoted listeners.

In a happy coincidence of timing, Scion Radio, the online outlet of the Scion auto line, has offered me a monthly Web country/rockabilly show, and we're talking right now. If all proceeds as planned, I'll make my bow there in February.See you ex-Rodeo wranglers up the block. Keep your eyes on this space. And continue to check my column "Sonic Nation" in LA CityBeat every other week".

To keep up with Chris and his whereabouts VISIT HIS PAGE AT :
http://www.myspace.com/morrisaurus
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Take those lemons and make yourself some lemonade...

Dog N Pony Show- Proceeds provide medical assistance to the music community-
I'm usually not one for airing others dirty laundry but since I'm on a roll today, I thought I'd share a some info. from Nancy Sefton (event organizer) about the dark cloud that still surrounds what should have been an incredible benefit held over Labor Day weekend in LA at Safari Sam's in Hollywood, CA. For those who remember (or who were there) this was an amazing show which raised $30K from ticket sales, art sales and a raffle and the proceeds were to go to medical assistance for some of our most beloved musician friends who have fallen on hard times without enough medical insurance to cover their expenses.

There is a follow up event in Los Angeles this weekend (Dec. 13th) and I encourage you to read below and go support if you can. Do it for Gaffney (we miss you), Candye Kane, Drac Conley and our brother Duane Jarvis (who has just undergone another surgery and is preparing to face another round of chemo.)

We send out our love and prayers to all for your health and well being.

On December 3rd, Nancy writes... (the specifics of the $ still owed to the organizers have been removed as I don't feel comfortable with full disclosure and I'm not a reporter so I have not done any fact checking)...

Shilah,The post Dog & Pony events have been very trying and disheartening. I'm not sure if you heard,but Sam has not paid us the money from the advance ticket sales and still owes us $XXXX.00. He is claiming financial duress from personal andbusiness problems. I'm sure you heard his club closed. Well he has been leading us along for way too long now and at last communication, promised aninstallment plan of which he paid $XXXX . And we haven't heard from him since. I feel the only reason he even paid that was due to the negative press that is circulating and his concern for having shows pulled from him. Being so involved in the community, I urge you to read the below as CityBeat follows the story.

http://dog-ponyshow.blogspot.com/2008/11/padlock-blues.html

http://dog-ponyshow.blogspot.com/2008/11/blast-from-blaster.html

http://dog-ponyshow.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-of-us-gobble-gobble.html

Anyway, Copro Nason Art Gallery offered to help us raise more funds by hosting this holiday event on Dec 13th with lots of great artists donating proceeds from the sales to Dog & Pony!Check out the details here:

http://www.musicmenagerie.net/dogandponyshow/holiday.html

http://www.myspace.com/musicmenageriedogandponyshow

Drac & I usually host an annual private holiday party at this time of year.We usually do a toy drive and have folks like Dave Alvin, Stan Ridgway, and all of the usual suspects that you heard about around D&P do little special performances just for the close group of friends. Well under the circumstances, we can't afford to have that party, so Copro Nason also has allowed us to have that party at the same time under their roof. I'm sending you an offical Evite coming in another email.

We still have some of the CDs you send and would love to use them at this event as well.

Please feel free to pass the word....Thank you for all that you do, and your kind support of our efforts.

Best regards,
Nancy
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OK...now for some more good news!
DEAD ROCK WESTto tour the West Coast with The Knitters in January before they take off for Europe !
www.deadrockwest.com
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Teach your children well!
(talk about inspiring generations...)
Jason Ringenberg & Shilah @ The Americana Music Association Festival 2008

Congratulations are in order for JASON RINGENBERG who's Farmer Jason PBS video program just got nominated for an Emmy for Best Children’s Program, Mid South Region.

Good luck and thanks for being YOU Jason!

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Wanna come to Austin and see a taping of AUSTIN CITY LIMITS ?!
New West Records has been running a sweepstakes on their website to win a trip for 2 to see an ACL taping.
http://www.acldvd.com/
it is open until the end of the year.
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ITS SHOWTIME...
December shows we recommend

* LA *
Our friend Bliss keeps the best list of shows if you live in our are visiting LA - here are some highlights and shows that we recommend! For details/complete listing please visit www.myspace.com/americanarootsla

Mike Ness tour !
He's got loads of great bands opening and cool shows around the southland still remain! www.mikeness.com

Mike Stinson residency (Tuesdays at The Redwood)

Ranch Party Saturdays (7:30 pm) at Farmers Market - 3rd & Fairfax and more...

Neighborhood Bullies @ Taix,

Sally Jaye, Brian Wright & The Waco Tragedies, Roger McGuinn at Pepperdine,

Rancho Deluxe, Dave Gleason & Old Californio @ Pappy & Harriet's,

Weekly Americana Brunch at Redwood Bar,

Gary Jules w/ Minibar, Rami Jaffe & friends at Hotel Cafe,

Jake Labotz w/ Mario Matteoli at Redwood Bar

and I just heard that Keith Gattis is playing with Dwight in Bakersfield on New Years Eve - now there's a party!

* Austin *
Jesse Dayton - Thursdays at The Broken Spoke

Heybale! - Sundays at The Continental

Randy Weeks w/ Will Sexton & Friends 12/18 @ Antone's

Mother Truckers - 12/19 @ The Continental

Raul Malo's Holiday Shows 12/19 & 20 @ Antone's

Sin City's Holiday Ho Down (featuring Aaron from Shurman, Shawn Nelson & more) @ The Scoot Inn Saturday, December 27th

* Nashville *
Crazy Bitch night @ The Basement featuring Greta Gaines, Tonya Watts & Stacie Collins!

From Los Angeles - Leroy Powell & The Messengers @ 12th & Porter, 12/10

I'm sure there are more.. .check your local listings.

Traveling during the holidays?!
If you find yourselves on Continental, Copa or Singapore Airlines then tune into the country channel (12) and let Bryson and I keep you company while you're on your way to visit loved ones. Here's a few of the artists we're spinnin' this month - Mudcrutch, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Anne McCue, Alejandro Escovedo, Easton Stagger Phillips, Golden Smog and Bob Dylan. Perhaps it'll inspire you to give the gift of music this year!

May all your days be filled with music, love, laughter and light...
Shilah Morrow
Sin City Social Club
LA * Austin * Nashville
7800 Indian Ridge Dr.
Austin, TX 78737
213.840.3865

For more info. on events & projects please visit:
www.sincitysocialclub.com
www.myspace.com/sincityshilah
www.glencampbellshow.com
www.jessedayton.com
www.justicerecords.com
www.americanamusic.org

The Sin City Social Club is a renegade collective of musicians, fans, artists and industry executives brought together by shared appreciation of the art and culture that blur the lines between classic, outlaw & alt. country, punk rock, americana and indie singer songwriters. We turn fans around the globe onto the music and art we love thru our Sin City Social Club cd Samplers, live events, In flight audio programming and thru our home away from home on the internet.** Wherever you are, Sin City is a state of mind! **