Bad Deacon...No Sacrament...

So, I've been a bad blogger. I truly apologize for the lack of updates. It is really my goal to keep this blog active, unfortunately school has bested me.

The The Kentucky Waterfalls and Boo Bradley show was pretty great.

The Ghost Town Council crew all had a grand excursion out and these guys did not let us down.

Boo Bradley played a great blues inspired set. I'm not much of a Blues-guy (ask Brian), but these guys have it. Delta style blues guitar with a solid rhythm section playing some classic blues tunes. One of the funner tunes of the night was a great Latin groove instrumental. It was a helluva great way to get the night going.

This all gave way to the Kentucky Waterfalls. In terms of musicality and style leanings, this is what country music is all about. Evan and Katie are about pure country. They may be the purest form of country that you can find in Madison. Evan's finger style picking hearkens back to Clarence White, and the harmonies were spot-on all night. The tune "Hello Stranger" provided as a great opener and set the tone that surprisingly (yet, amazingly fittingly) finished with "Every Rose has It's Thorn," and brought the house down. The first set also featured great originals, my favorite of which was "Your Eyes Can't Lie." I'm not kidding when I say this song could easily be inserted into any George and Tammy set.

The Second set was pretty solid, but was a tough act to follow after the first. Their renditions of "In Spite of Ourselves" by John Prine and a soulful rendition of the Splitlip Rayfield tune "Crazy" as a great answer.

Overall it was a great night. The Kentucky Waterfalls will be "Johnny and June'ing it" at the High Noon Saloon on January 2nd. I highly recommend the show!

12/2 at the Frequency

The Kentucky Waterfalls and Boo Bradley will be at the Frequency on Dececmber 2nd. It looks to be a fun show and will start at 8:30. Only $5. If you happen to be around a computer with speakers or an FM transmitter at 9am, check out WORT (89.9) or listen here. The Kentucky Waterfalls will be playing live in the studio to promote the show!

Peace,
The Deacon

Ghost Town Council Rides Again (for the first time, and soon to be second time)

Thanks to all that made it out to EVP on Saturday. We had an amazing time and never could have dreamed that it would go as well as it did. There's pics and a video available on our myspace page seen Here.

Now onto new business. Ghost Town Council got word today that our Second show will be at the High Noon Saloon (THE High Noon Saloon) on December 4th, opening for Nationally Renowned act Split Lip Rayfield! I don't know (or care) how it all happened, but we are just amazed at this opportunity. So come out and see Split Lip Rayfield and Ghost Town Council on December 4th at the High Noon!

Update from the High Noon Website:
When Split Lip Rayfield guitarist Kirk Rundstrom died after a long bout with cancer in 2007, legions of fans and friends were filled with sorrow. Then the boys decided that the best way to honor Kirk would be to keep on playing, and now they've released "I'll Be Around," their fifth full-length record. "The fearsome foursome of Split Lip combines a traditional bluegrass sound with the blazing speed and energy of punk rock, and in the process manages to improve on the formula." --(Tucson Weekly) Also playing: Ghost Town Council will open the show with an expressive, heartland country-rock sound.

Big Week!

This Saturday November, 22nd at the Crystal Corner Jim James and The Damn Shames do a Hank Williams (Jr. Sr. and III) tribute set, Danny Paris and The Shiners do a Buck Owens tribute set, and The Brown Derby does a George Jones tribute set. It's going to be absolutely huge...But I won't be there. Instead, my band Ghost Town Council will have our first show at EVP West! Show starts at 7 and some beer will be available. So east, west, no excuses. Get out and see some live music this weekend. And now some indulgent Concert posters for my show. Special Thanks to Juliette, and Lisa! They are early favorites for a Madi next year in the category of poster design.

The Big Damn Show Last week

Wow. Sorry it took so long for this update. But I wanted to have some time to devote to it. The show was awesome! And how truly fitting that it takes place the same night as the CMA awards show (as noted by Spooky of Pupy Costello's Big City Honk Tonk: Country My Ass!). After the show a small assemblage of the Madison Country Scene was represented at the Crystal Corner where The Brown Derby was doing what they do. Katie from The Kentucky Waterfalls, Danny Paris of Danny Paris and the Shiners, Pupy and Spooky of Pupy Costello & His Big City Honky Tonk, and of course Myself and Brian of Ghost Town Council (Show on November 22nd).

So in honor of the CMA's, I'm starting what will be at least a one-year tradition: the MCBA (Mad Country Blog Awards) Each winner will receive a mention in this Blog post and a Bronzed Madi (my lawyer has advised me to tell you that nobody gets a bronzed Madi)!

Best Game Face:
A close one between Earl Foss and Reverend Peyton, but the edge goes to Reverend Peyton of Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band!



Best Big City Honky Tonk Band that Performed the Haggard song "Driving Nails in my Coffin":
Pupy Costello & His Big City Honky Tonk!!!




Best Harmonica Solo while rocking the Neil Young Head Gear:
James Travis of Jim James and The Damn Shames!!!



Finally the Big one you've all been waiting for...Best Song about this drinking life....and the winner is..."This Drinking Life" by The Brown Derby featuring Brian Knapp on yelling!!!



Really, we had a great time. Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band was a great intense show. If I had to describe it, I'd say it would be the kind of show you'd expect if Gordon Gano, Les Claypool, and Joey Ramone had a kid that grew up in Appalachia learning how to play the Slide Guitar and could sing like some Delta Hobo. That's really as close as I could come. Pupy Costello & His Big City Honky Tonk had a GREAT set of Honky Tonk country and really struck a great balance between Jim James and The Damn Shames (who did an awesome job opening the night) and Rev. Peyton and His Big Damn Band (who closed it). Plus the Crystal was hopping and a great time to boot!!!

They need no introduction.

The Pale Young Gentlemen.

Anyone who has their ear to the ground in the Madison music scene has heard them, heard of them, maybe even know some of the gentlemen and ladies in this band.

The only reason I feel the need to busy myself by posting is this, besides sucking time, is that I finally broke down and purchased their most recent record, "Black Forest (Tra La La)"<~~~~insert your Thee Silver Mt. Zion joke here.

Wow. I'm glad I got this record. I've heard it a few times at work, but that really isn't the venue for such a beautiful record as this.

My name is Ian. Hopefully I will have something to contribute to this fine folksy piece of a blog.

Upcoming record of note: Charlie Louvin "Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs" comes out December 9th. Check it.

The Second Coming...What? So Soon?

A BIG country Show this Wednesday. At the Majestic, Pupy Costello And His Big City Honky Tonk, Jim James and the Damn Shames, and The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band will be putting on a huge show. Majestic bills the start time as 8:00p and tickets are $8.00 in advance.

Hope to see you there...

The Freakin' Deacon

Welcome to the Mad Country Blog

Hi there. I'm the Freakin' Deacon. I created this blog with the intention of keeping up with Madison, Wisconsin area Country (Alt-Country, Americana, Southern Rock, Bluegrass, Folk, etc.) music. It might wind up being just a vanity blog, I don't know.

Anyways...This first post will be dedicated to my favorite Madison band (country or otherwise) The Brown Derby. These guys are amazing...true country, fun loving, and the best part: they play every Wednesday night at the Crystal Corner. As a guy once yelled at them "That's Country Music!" Be sure to check out "This Drinkin' Life."

My main goal with this blog is to promote local music in all of its forms. If you don't dig country, at least try to get out and support local music.