The first time I heard Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons their music reminded me vaguely of The BoDeans, a band I used to work with at Reprise. I was about 110 miles off-- just under two hours, mostly up US 41-- from Waukesha, home of The BoDeans to Appleton, home of the Wandering Sons. People in Wisconsin know them-- their song "Born Again" was Record of the Year in 2010-- but they haven't broken out nationally yet. Their new album Old Believers will be out at the end of the month, And this summer they're doing tour dates with Murder by Death some weeks and with Norah Jones other weeks. Tomorrow they're playing the Do Division Festival in Chicago (the Damen Stage at 5:30 pm). I won't get to see them until August 10 when they open for Norah Jones at the Hollywood Bowl.
That all said, the music speaks for itself-- musically... and otherwise. A band from Wisconsin... just look at the clip they put together. In fact, listen to the song again. And remind everyone you know that Tuesday is the day to say no to the Koch brothers takeover of American democracy by voting out Scott Walker. And, if you're not in Wisconsin, please consider a contribution to help Rob Zerban stop Paul Ryan (before it's too late).
"Blue" in Blue in the Bluegrass refers to my politics, not my state of mind, although being progressive-democratic in Kentucky is not for the faint of heart.
The Bluegrass Region of Kentucky is Central Kentucky, the area around Lexington. It's also sometimes known as the Golden Triangle, the region formed by Louisville in the west, Cincinnati in the north and Lexington in the east-south corner. This is the most economically advanced, politically progressive and aesthically beautiful area of the state. Also the most overpopulated by annoying yuppies and the most endangered by urban sprawl.
A Yellow Dog Democrat is one who will vote for even a yellow dog if it is running as a Democrat. I can't claim to be quite that fanatically partisan, especially since quite a few candidates who run as Democrats in Kentucky are more Republican than a lot of Republicans I can name.
But I do love the story Kentucky House leader Rocky Adkins never tires of telling about the old-timer in Eastern Kentucky who was once accused of being willing to vote for Satan if Satan ran as a Democrat. Spat back the old-timer:
"Not in a primary, I wouldn't!"
Amen.
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