Friday Dose of Amazing

This video combines everything I love. Thank you Numero. Thank you.

TONIGHT! No post needs to introduce the amazing bill of Hayes Carll, with Caitlin Rose. Caitlin hits at 9, and Hayes after that. You can pre-order Caitlin's 'Own Side Now' on vinyl (finally) HERE. Ships on Nov 8. Hayes' KMAG YOYO is own sale NOW as well. Both can't be recommended enough. See you out there kids.

Caitlin Rose Does It All, Signs to ATO

[mp3] Caitlin Rose: "Own Side Now"

[mp3] Caitlin Rose: "Shanghai Cigarettes"

What can't Caitlin Rose do? After releasing her debut record earlier this year, Own Side Now, Rose took the UK by storm ruffling feathers at NME, BBC and Q Magazine. Shortly thereafter, she returned to the states garnering album reviews from the New York Times, NPR, LA Weekly and more. Doing what a good young artist does best, Rose kept to the road spreading her crystalline voice, cheekily-creative lyrics and southern charm. This Nashville-native was making friends in the right places; ultimately those friendships landed her a record deal with ATO Records. Home, or former home, to such artists as Drive By Truckers, Dawes, My Morning Jacket and Gomez, ATO will add a much needed stiff-label backing to Rose's exponential career path. Soon to join the likes of Justin Townes Earle/Jason Isbell and Hayes Carll on a Fall tour, Rose is poised and positioned for continued success; keep your eye on her...we have for the past four years and it is paying off.

Tour dates with Justin Townes Earl/Jason Isbell and Hayes Carll after the jump!

Hayes Carll Vinyl Giveaway!

In conjunction with Filter and Lost Highway Records, we are happy announce a vinyl giveaway of Hayes Carll's sophomore record, KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories).

The first lucky fan to tweet "@Hayescarll! Vinyl Giveaway of 'KMAG YOYO' via @thestarkonline" will win a copy of this fantastic release. Tweet to win.

On that note, we had the pleasure of spending a lovely Saturday afternoon with this Texas-native at what was Stark's first concert in the Stuyvesant Town Oval. Opening for Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller, Carll played to a sun-soaked, family-heavy, seated, NYC crowd; for those familiar with Carll's musical stylings, you know he likens himself to lyrical topics such as booze, women, sex, drugs, money, travel and more. Needless to say, a few cocked heads and awkwardness could not be avoided at this venue, especially when tots are bopping around to his killer new track 'One Bed, Two Women, Three Bottles of Wine.' We on the other hand, loved every minute of Carll's hilarious stage banter, well-crafted americana tunes and creatively written lyrics. There was also a Tom Waits cover thrown in for good measure, always a plus. The pure hilarity and enjoyment of the day was driven home by Carll's super-pro band of pickers and ultimately solidified by a post-show debriefing with the man himself. Be sure to TWEET TO WIN! and check out any and all things Hayes Carll.

[mp3] Hayes Carll: "Another Like You"

"You Said Dylan's Overrated"

[mp3] Hayes Carll: "Another Like You"

Yes, this does mark like 15 video posts in a row, but who cares. Hayes Carll is easily one of our favorite "newish" artists over the past few years, and his new album KMAG YOYO [Army for: "Kiss My Ass Guys, You're On Your Own] is a perfect slice of everything great about Hayes. They songs are sharp, the lyrics are astute and relevant, and as you can see in the above video, dude has a wickedly excellent sense of humor. "Another Like You" is a duet with the fantastic Cary Ann Hearst and the video features production from Aqua Teen Hunger Force co-creator David Willis, and cameo appearances by Mary Matalin and James Carville. We're still wondering how that relationship works. KMAG YOYO is out now.

Bring Me Home Through Those Alabama Pines

[mp3] Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: "When My Baby's Beside Me (Big Star Cover)

Maybe it's that new record smell -- those excited first listens when you're just happy to be hearing new music from one of your favorites, but damn we've been enjoying the hell out of Jason Isbell's new album 'Here We Rest' on what's been a bleak and snow-bound day in New York. Perhaps it's the weather, but there's seems to be a melancholy inherent through this new set of tracks, a tension, a resolution, and a sadness that hasn't been in every Isbell album we've heard. Of course, the production here is impeccable. That full-bodied Muscle Shoals sound rounds out every track with swelling organs, warm bass, and ringing guitars. Again, maybe it's too early to say, but these tracks seem to be some of the best Jason Isbell has composed in years. If they're enough to be counted with "Dress Blues", "Godamn Lonely Love", "Seven Mile Island", "Decoration Day" and "The Day John Henry Died" remains to be seen.

'Here We Rest' comes out April 12th on Lightning Rod Records. Jason Isbell and his band The 400 Unit have also just announced a slew of tour dates, including a run with the excellent Hayes Carll.

Country in NYC

Texan Hayes Carll just announced he will return to New York on December 6 to play at Union Hall. Carll is touring behind his most recent Lost Highway effort Trouble in Mind which has been receiving rave reviews in major music publications. The Americana Music Association awarded him the song of the year for the track "She Left Me for Jesus." Even Mr. Crumudegeon himself, Robert Christgau offered up some praise here...

"...a familiar type-a mushmouthed drawler who's smarter about the beat than his shambling ways would make you think and funnier than shit when he wants to be, which is often." 4 STARS - Robert Christgau, Blender

Trouble in Mind is out now...

Elsewhere in the Universal Music world is fellow country counterpart Jamey Johnson. Johnson's excellent record That Lonesome Song is too good to be lumped in with the other commercial stock that comes out of Nashville these days. Johnson dedicated this record to his ex-wife, without whom most of these songs of heartbreak and loss would not be possible. I'm sure both Johnson and Carll will end up on more than a few year end lists.

Johnson (2nd from right) and some other people at Stark hangout Robert's in Nashvegas