From the Dorks' Soundtrack: ("Turn the Goddamn Radio Down, Thank You." –The Felice Brothers)

Music from Episode # 35:

Frankie's Gun! -performed by The Felice Brothers

From time to time we hear a person or a group that brings new life to the same three chords we have been hearing forever. I’M NOT KNOCKING THREE CHORD SONGS; actually, I live my life by them. I believed Woody when he said, “If you play more than two chords, you’re showing off.” (I think that was Woody but either way, a genius fo’sho.) The Felice Brothers show off a bit, but only by a chord or two and they do it in the old school K.I.S.S. fashion. (that’s Keep It Simple Stupid) Now sit back why I try to make you understand the greatness of these guys, I have never met.

Picture three brothers Ian, Simone, and James. Now, throw in some friends like Christmas and Farley. Then, Sprinkle in some gitbox, bass, drums, keys, accordion, horns, and some fiddle. At Last, sink your teeth into a nice treat called The Felice Brothers. They come at you with a sound that could come from anywhere, but in this case the Catskill, Upstate New York area. Whether you heard them play at a family BBQ, in the subway, at the Newport Folk Festival, or Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble you know these guys will be playing music until death comes creeping. They are the kind of band that possesses that lovely living room sound. (a.k.a the dark, dank basement sound) Their songs are loose but not sloppy and accessible to anyone who enjoys tales of adventure and woe. The greatest thing about bands like The Felice Brothers is in the knowing that if they weren’t out there playing their songs for us, they would be at home playing their songs for themselves.

I recommend anyone who enjoys music like Bob Dylan, The Band, Bob Dylan and the Band, Ronnie Lane, Tom Waits, or any of the plethoras of people you can find in the Folk genre, to check out The Felice Brothers. I kept with the vague Folk genre because labeling music has gotten out of hand and beyond my understanding. I’m sure these guys fall into many of different categories but good old Folk gets the job done for me. You can find them on My Space, You Tube, or on the road in their short bus. Take my advice and look into these guys, you will thank me later. Maybe you will want to “put some whiskey into my whiskey" or "some heartbreak into my heart” but you will most definitely want to put The Felice Brothers into your ears. Sew another patch on the quilt of great American Music and call it The Felice Brothers. – Captain Clet



www.myspace.com/thefelicebrothers

Blog Log # 2 (The Greater Tater or Don't Blame the Dealer, If You Can't Lay Your Cards Down Right)

howdjido, howdydueceldoodledooji, howdjidoo! Just wanted to give ya'll some advice on how to spend your hard earned cash. Go to the I tunes store (where you subscribed to the awesome show you listen to every week now. You know, by those Y list celebs. Darren is in a band so we climbed off the Z list,thank you Darren!) and purchase Ryan Spearman's "Take Any Road." I believe I paid 11 bucks and some change for this, pretty cheap for a disc these days. This album (yep, i still use the term album... so what!) is absoulutely the definition of what good ol' American music should sound like. I'm not gonna get in to his back story, because he has a wonderful web page where you can learn all about the man, the myth, and the legend. While your on his page you will notice a forum (which is the most genius forum known to man), feel free to join in or at least enjoy his music while on his site.(yeah you can hear songs that aren't on the cd you just bought) http://www.ryanspearman.net/ So do you want a little taste of Spearman yet? I am sitting here listening to "Take Any Road" with a big ol' grin and spontaneous chills up the spine.(from the songs not the grave danceing) What I hear is a heathly mix of traditionals and originals, at times original traditionals.(has anyone coined the phrase original traditionals yet? if not those rights are mine. original traditionals are public domain songs that you play in your own style and in turn make them your own.) With the originals... Ryan is one of those people who was born to do a specific thing. He has no choice. He didn't choose this world, this world chose him. This world chose him to write songs and write songs is what he does. (I believe there may be a style of song writing named Ryan Spearman. The catch is, no one else can duplicate it.) Not only that, he writes songs that makes me not able to write songs. Know what I mean? Did you buy the cd yet? Good then you know about his pickin' and fiddlin' too. In closing, I would like to thank you for buying Ryan' s album. A lil while back I wrote about doing your part. You guys read that blog log? If not listen, there are people out there doing amazing shit and not getting any love.(love here means money) Ryan deserves your love! A lot of your love! Maybe, all of your love!( i deserve your love. i'm cool with just a little bit, i don't need the whole shebang) Think about how much money we give to... well, any fast food chains, gas stations, overpriced music stores, and well... yeah... bars. So If you haven't bought "Take Any Road" yet, here is what you do. Next time your all like let's go out and party, fa getta bout it! Buy a case of beer, fifth of whiskaney, bottle of wine, twelve pack of Dr. Pepper, or what ever your crutch is. Then, purchase Ryan Spearman "Take Any Road" and realize what you have been missing out on. After all that, go back to http://www.ryanspearman.net/ and check out the discs he has in his store. You will thank me later, so your welcome. In closing, ( i know i said that already... like a half hour ago. don't judge me!) I want to thank Ryan for helping me come to terms with the whole "I gotta get outta this state...maaaan" rut, with the most comforting words I have ever heard. To paraphrase,"Missouri is the only place Jesse James ever felt safe." Not so bad any more is it? (remember, the heart of any town is in the people that you know. just don't get gunned down.) So all that's left to say is, do what I say and do it now!- Captain Cletus for more info check out http://www.ryanspearman.net/ and www.myspace.com/tatercooks

Blog Log # 2 (she's my best girl she's got six strings and she knows all about these heartbreakin things)

What can I say that Scotty didn't say better, so if you haven't read the post before this stop and read it now. (you fools!) Lucero totally rocked. Since Scotty did such a fine job of letting you know how the show was I will use this blog log to mention a few other things. A band like Lucero or any number of other "van bands" are out there traveling around trying to bring joy to the hearts of us music lovers. Most of the time broke, hungry, lonely, and livin it. So next time you see a band like this do your part. Buy merch (cds, shirts, pins etc.) and help these guys keep on keepin on. I understand better than anyone what it's like to be broke and spend your last dollar to get into a show (the dirty looks from bartenders when you ask for water is thanks enough) so don't take it to hard. Another thing, be aware of your surroundings. If you are big and notice a small person behind you let them get in front. You don't want to not be able to see, so don't help someone else not be able to see. Just think, if you are standing in front of a short person they might be looking at your ass all night. (you know what they say about first impressions) Look out for Ben (front man for Lucero), with Chuck (from Hot Water Music), and Tim Barry doing a solo tour together. That's all folks... for now.- Captain Cletus

Blog Log # 2 (One white dude without his shirt on shakin it while trying to fly away using his shirt as a helicopter!)

Here we are night two of this blog log. Jeff- many nice guitars and voice, John- Bass, Guitar, and Voice, Nels- Lap steel and guitars, Glenn- percussion, Pat- keys, guitar, shaky type instruments, and voice, Mikael- keys a.k.a Wilco. What can I say... except they rocked it. Nels Cline is a monster!!! Tommygun was right. Nels is not from this planet. Dare I say it? Nels Cline is God! Now that I got that out, I will move right along with this blog log of greatness. Wilco looks like a band of six guys who love being able to do what they do with their friends and make the most wonderful sounds while doing it. We are lucky enough to be included in this equation. I got to catch the first two nights of the three night stand. ( I'm gonna go ahead and say this was a hometown show. Check yo'self fool!) I'm sure tonight was pretty excellent. Helm told me all the songs I didn't get to hear. The two that stung most were Pick up the Change and Bob Dylan's Beard, which Tweedy wore his white jumpsuit( in the fasion of Gram) with what appeared to be roses embroidered all over it to perform these numbers as well as the rest of the show. Still I remain a man of stone. It doesn't even matter. An 8 yr old dream of mine was fulfilled. John singing It's Just That Simple with Tweedy strapping on the Bass. Wow!!! I tried to rip Molly's arm right out of the socket ( which she found very romantic) as screams of a 12 yr old little girl came out of my lungs. (this too, very sexy) This is the third and most tight Wilco I have seen. Seeing Hotel Arizona @ the Blue Note when Jay was still around was pretty cool but Wilco is 100% professional when it comes to the music nowadays. Pat gives us The windmill as well as the duck walk, Glenn is the hardest working man in rock and roll (sorry Wayne) Molly used the Animal comparison. She's right, you muppet freaks need to realize. Animal learned some control and is now playing in Wilco under an alias, Mikael's keys are steller, Nels ( I believe I said enough about Nels earlier) John (one of the two constants in this band) is steady as a mule, Jeff a true showman if I ever had seen one, and together they are unstoppable. Wilco is to be seen live and not taken for granted. Their albums are great but their shows are undeniable. I'm proud to say that I stand witness to hearing these words escape Tweedy's lips, " It's good to be home." You said it, I heard it, and I'm holding you to it. As St. Louisians ( obviously counting as far out as Wentzville even Troy) we get to hear Jeff sing songs for his dad. We get Casino Queen. We get New Madrid. We are truley lucky, don't forget it! Do we whine and complain too much? You tell me. So... Wilco... let's crank out a new album and be back in the fall? What do you say guys? You wanna come back home? I know you just left but this is home right? Alright enough,Thanks Wilco for rocking- Captain Cletus Whiteheart

P.S. The titles of these blog logs are based on a true story. I was there. I sat behind him. It was awesome if I have ever seen awesome.

for more info or to see pictures of handsome men check out http://www.wilcoweb.com/

Blog Log # 2 (What's more funner than a bunch of white people dancin?)

Since Mr. Does and Mr. Don't seem to be to depressed to tell you about the Radiohead show ( don't worry guys captain cletus is here to make things better) I will let you know what you have missed the last two nights in the STL. Wilco, one of the best live rock and roll shows out there, @ the Pagent. For some lucky people Wilco is playing three nights in a row and they get to go. Not me ( can you hear the tears hit the keyboard) I get to go back to the job. Beings it took two nights to see what I saw, this review will come at you in two parts. This is the end of part one. Stay tuned, Captain Cletus

Blog Log # 2 (my old friend the blues, there's nothin lonelier than that)

It has been a sweet folkin' start to a summer of great shows. Tonight I write you still in awe of what I witnessed. Steve Earle solo (well almost) and acoustic. His wife opened up for him, I would tell you her name but then you wouldn't be forced to check this stuff out. She has a beautiful voice and great fingerpickin style of playing. As Steve strolled out on stage I was on the verge of exploding all over my friends as well as everyone within a 100 yards of me, in all directions. Yeah I did just say that, I only talk in truth. For years I have been a Steve Earle fan, that can't get into the Dukes stuff. Therefore, I would only see him solo acoustic like a Texan song writer should. Little did I know I would get my chance. The real dream is to see Townes play live and Steve is as closest as I see possible to this. (beyond dvds) Steve is to Townes as Ramblin Jack is to Woody or Zimmerman to Woody for you younger folks. Speaking of Dylan good job Scotty, "don't critize what you can't understand, your sons and your daughters are beyond your command your old road's rapidly aging please get outta the new one if you can't lend a hand" (on piano! it kinda made me a bit puffy) Back to Steve, this is about Steve right? he unleashed an arsenal on us tonight; a couple sweet axes made by Mr. Martin, a steel gitbox all nice and chrome like, a banjo, a Bazooky ( i can't spell or talk for that matter. the word I just made up is for an instrument sorta like a large mandolin) and a mandolin. Did I mention he blew harp in about 85% of the the songs he played. If that hasn't got your goat, he had an Athens fella on turntables supply beats on a handful of songs.(again find out for yourself what his name is. you got a computer right?) We even got to see all three sing together. Any fans of the Wire should know who Steve Earle is. He makes appearences in shows as well as the theme song for the show, which was written by Tom Waits "way down in a hole" off of the album frank's wild years. I, unfortunately, have not watched the Wire due to the fact that there is 10,000 hours of Homicide Life on the Street to go through first. So, you Wire fans that missed the show, you know who you are, shame on you. Lastly, I would like to mention that this is two shows in a row that have been smoke free. Sorry smokers but it is pretty awesome leaving a show without burning eyes and reeking of your bad habits. Say what you will but my bad habits smell fantastic. There you have it another great show in STL. your pal, Captain Cletus Whiteheart

Blog Log #2 (Cold and Dead In STL)

Last night folks, an amazing thing happened. Wlliam Elliott Whitmore @ Off Broadway! Willy is a man who has a voice that has lived many a lifetimes all sustained on chain smoking and jugs of whisk-a-ney. One man, one tenor banjo, and an acoustic gitbox under a swing, filled the stage. To set the mood he opened with an accapella number called Cold and Dead. I was lucky enough to be standing next to the legendary Joe Metro who was wearing a smile and sporting whiskey breath, all at the same time. Iowa has surely given birth to a man that has the job to keep the music this country was raised on alive. Stay tuned to blog log #2 to hear me mention another fella. If you are alive you should be checking out Whitmore. As Scotty would say if you don't like Willy you dont have a soul. He deserves all your money, so don't be greedy, buy his albums. You can check him out on my space, i tunes, or walk into your local cd store and demand them to order his cds. lastly, I would be be doing a great disservice to the female gender if I didn't mention how appreciated the tattooed rocker chicks beautiful dresses were. They don't hold a candle to my gal (I love you baby!!!) but lets keep this trend alive. Now don't be gettin dirty on me these dresses are classy, not made for a modern age floozy if you know what I mean. So check out William Elliott Whitmore or else!!! your pal, Captain Cletus Whiteheart