DBT #277 Also Going Nowhere - Luke Callen
Luke Callen has graced this blog over 15 times, so you could figure that I would review his new album; especially since I've been itching to do this since December when I bought the pre-released vinyl in a show at the Root Note. Now while the LaCrosse area is a small market, it has some great entertainment within a 30 mile radius; and to see the Root Note booking again brings me such joy. While I didn't get a video from the night because I was deeper in the packed crowd, I did get a picture of Siri joining in on harmonies.
Of course if you follow me, you know all the LaCrosse hangouts that we frequent because they do show up in my 269 Around Town videos. For all the artists and agents out there reading the blog here for the first time, here are links to the venues in the playlist : The Pump House, The Trempealeau Hotel, Leo & Leona's, Ecker's Apple Farm, Elmaro Vineyards, The Main - An Event Space (who also does great Friday night comedy that I've never posted anything about), Pearl Street Brewery, Grand Hotel Ballroom, Journey Lutheran, Blood Mary Concerts, Island City Brewing, Ed's No Name Bar and of course the best listening room with the best hosts Bluff View House Concerts. Click on the picture to go to YouTube and listen to any or all live videos. (well the Harp Twins is not because we were asked not to take videos)
I mention this BECAUSE I'm excited to add The Rivoli Theatre as a concert venue when they host Luke's album release show sponsored by Great River Folk Fest. So very cool, pizza, beer, and cocktails, and Luke tells me that the Nunnery is bringing a band and doing art work on the big screen behind them. Here's an event link for tickets and address book.
Now with that all said, let's listen to some music from the album; because while he loves tongue in cheek album titles, Luke is really going somewhere.
1) Tomatoes from the Vine
This song was a Monday Morning song back in Feb 2023, and it's never one you want to listen to in the middle of winter because it just gives you an itch to plant the garden and get going.
From a show at the Grand Hotel Ballroom.
2) Fishing Song
One favorite song, followed by another. I love Luke's intro recorded during an album release show at Big River Theatre (not included in the above list because Alma is more like 60 miles from LaCrosse)
3) Some Reason
This song highlights the great finger picking that I love about Luke's music. It's also a highlights how excellently produced this record is. Erik Koskinen is a favorite musician of mine, and also a master producer of music in his studio. I had to look twice to see if that was Siri Undlin on harmonies, but that busy woman was replaced by an equally talented singer Hannah Hebl who tours as Hemma
Here's a nice acoustic version highlighting that beautiful picking from his front porch in the Twin Cities. Come on folks, subscribe to his YouTube Channel, he's at only 35 crazy.
4) Lake Street Hustle
Erik does his best Mark Knopfler guitar background to the ode to Msple Lake Street.
5) Wolves of New York
Luke talks about this being a journey of a friend Wolf Van Elfmand who was also in the infamous band Von Stomper.
Update after the Rivoli show, I captured the Wolves song that night, boy it was a fun night.
While this 100 Miles song is from an earlier 2017 album, since Wolf was mentioned here he is joining Luke.
6) 5th of July
Not sure what he's doing marrying any one but Siri on the 5th of July, but it's a fun song.
7) Clementine
This song made it into my "Tell Me a Story V2" playlist, and I couldn't find a video back then; well I fixed that by listening to this pretty rare recording from Jaclyn Knott of Adventures in Americana (plus it has no song name reference)
8) Blind Men and Fools
Luke is a teddy bear, but he really hates Fascists and the Man who suppresses people. Great use of the baritone guitar by Erik in this one too.
9) Run River Run
Here's one to dance around the kitchen.
10) High Water
Nice little rocker with a lead hook, a real throwback to music I grew up.
I was lucky to record this one at the Big River Theatre too.
(yes I'm aware I misspelled theatre inside the video, who knew? Two spellings are correct)
11) My Love and You
A little ditty ends the album and it almost could have used a clarinet to give it even more an old fashioned sound.
I found I had recorded this one and had the wrong title to the song. Here's from the night at the Grand Ballroom.
Ok we've hit the end of the album and now I know which songs I should record at the Rivoli March 30th so I can come back and add them to the post.
Next blog steps:
- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.
- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."
- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.
- See what other post have been most popular recently with our Stats Page.
- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.
- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.
- Finally, the Mission page explains why there is no advertising cluttering the page.
If you use Facebook, we have a page that will help you remember to read the next post.
You could always decide to feed my music addiction and donate to the cause. If you did, I will spend it only on music and even will buy the music you recommend if you tell me to. Here's a Paypal donate button
