Local superstars, travelin’ bands

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

By Aaron Davis

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-While you’re waiting for the abundance of live music to kick back in, take a chance to peruse this short list of local CDs that have been released in the past several months. Many are available at local retail stores, online or via the artist’s website.

Terry Yazzolino and Dan Thomasma of Medicine Tree Music released their third studio disc “Good Medicine” in December, a follow up to their first two releases - “We Preceded On” and “Trails Plowed Under.” The original tunes explore Western Americana and folk music. The duo was joined in the studio by Ed Domer, Brian Wicklund, Anne and Pete Sibley, Grae Smart, Chris Kuntz, Emily Read, Ben Winship and others. Winship also recorded, mixed and mastered the disc. For information on obtaining one of your own, check out www.medicinetreemusic.com or www.cdbaby.com.

Also in December, just in time for the holiday season, Anne and Pete Sibley released, “Winter on the Great Divide: A Christmas Album,” an 11-track disc that includes holiday standards like “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night,” “Lo How a Rose (a capella),” “Gloucestershire Wassail” and an original called “Winter on the Great Divide.” The bluegrass and folk duo also put out a lyric and chord book, “Songs of Anne and Pete Sibley,” featuring songs from their previous releases “Think of This River” and “Will You Walk With Me.” The Sibleys’ CDs can be found locally at Valley Books, Mountunes, Global Treasures and Wild Hands, or online at www.cdbaby.com and www.anneandpetesibley.com.

Margo Valiante, who sings and plays guitar with Boondocks alongside Ben Winship, released her debut studio effort, “New Blue,” early this year. The album features 10 tracks, eight of which were written by Valiante and two choice covers - “Good Morning Heartache” and Ben Harper’s “I Shall Not Walk Alone.” She received Honorable Mention at the 2007 Telluride Troubadour Competition for two of the album’s tunes, “Mama Don’t Know” and “Miriam.” You can find the disc at www.cdbaby.com and iTunes.

Dave and Kathy McCann of Star Valley just released “Emerald Ties in the West,” a collection of cowboy jaunts, Irish jigs, bluegrass medleys and original tunes. The husband and wife team play in local bluegrass bands Two Dollar Bill and The Bandits. Recorded by Greg Creamer in Driggs, Idaho, the disc includes special guests Donnie Cook on guitar and dobro, Pete Sibley on banjo, Tim Farris on mandolin and Bill Briggs on autoharp. You can find a copy at Mountunes or at one of their shows.

Gettin’ ’er done with the finest prison songs and homegrown folk-rock opuses, One Ton Pig released the live recording, “High on the Hog.” The quintet is comprised of vocalist- guitarist Michael Batdorf, vocalist-guitarist Justin Smith, bassist Andy Calder, drummer Jason Baggett and mandolin player Tim Farris. The disc was tracked live on December 22, 2007, in the Trap Bar at Grand Targhee Resort and features 12 original tracks, nine of which are credited to Batdorf. Discs are available at www.cdbaby.com and through myspace.com/onetonpig.
                                                      •
If you’re looking for a two-day getaway, there are some travel-worthy concerts coming up in our neighboring states. Wilco will be cruising through Montana, playing the Emerson Cultural Center in Bozeman on May 4 and at the Adams Center in Missoula on May 5. The Bozeman show is already sold out.

Colorado has lots to offer as well, including Medeski, Martin & Wood with the Wood Brothers at the Balch Fieldhouse in Boulder on Saturday, Roger Waters at the Pepsi Center in Denver on April 30, Phil Lesh & Friends at The Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on May 8, Hot Tuna at Belly Up in Aspen on May 9, Little Feat at the Boulder Theater on May 11 and Rilo Kiley at the Black Sheep in Colorado Springs on May 18.

For those headed to the Moab area in May, the Fourth Annual Desert Rocks Music Festival runs May 22 to 25 and features The Derek Trucks Band, Del the Funky Homosapien, Hot Buttered Rum, Eric McFadden Trio with Bernie Worrell, New Monsoon and more. Also passing through Utah is Death Cab for Cutie at Thanksgiving Point Amphitheatre in Lehi on May 26, and a singer-songwriter tour featuring Brett Dennen, Missy Higgins and Mason Jennings at Club Paladium in Salt Lake City on May 21.

Courtesy photo
Anne and Pete Sibley.

PERMALINK:
Local superstars, travelin’ bands | Planet JH News Article: Music Box

Leave a Comment