News

The South By Southwest Music Festival 2012 in Austin TX on March 15-19th is starting to take shape.

We don't have all the details ironed out yet (oy! It's like herding cats...) but we can tell you a few things for certain and promise to keep you updated.

Our official showcase is Saturday March 17th at Red Eyed Fly

Performing will be JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Lydia Loveless, The Waco Brothers w/ Paul Burch, Cory Branan, Maggie Bjorklund, and Kurt--The Deadstring Brother.

Our 17th (!) annual Yard Dog Party will be happening on Friday, starting at noon.

In addition to the above folks, we'll have Southeast Engine, Rosie Flores and other surprises.  Also scheduled to be in Austin performing will be Jon Langford's Skull Orchard, Justin Townes Earle and Deano & the Purvs.

Keep an eye peeled for more specifics as we get them.  We'll try and keep you busy and entertained for the weekend.

So, last weekend, members of the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir put together a going away party for Elia at the Whistler in Chicago.  Proceeds went to charity: Dave Egger's literacy project 826.

What did the band get for their efforts?  Some POND SCUM stole Ethan's violin and guitars from the trunk of a car.

Hey!  FILTH BAG! I hope karmic vengeance is swift and convincing.

Here's a description of the stolen gear, so if you see it around, or know anything about it, help us track it down and help out some cool folks who were in the process of HELPING OTHERS.

VIOLIN: The table is made from medium-grained European spruce, and the ribs, head and two-piece back from well-flamed European maple.

The back has the following measurements: 35,2 cm, 16,5 cm, 11,1 cm, 20,3 cm.    The linseed oil based varnish is a warm orange-brown color on a golden ground.     The instrument is entirely hand-made by me and bears my label as follows:

Samuel Giovanni Casco in OÌ√rebro Anno 2010 For Ethan Adelsman

The Bow: Handmade by E. Herrmann of Brazilian pernambuco wood with silver mounted hardware. the bow bears the following inscription: E. HERRMANN ***   These were both in a Bam Lotus case, black with grayish stripes on the top and black backpack-style straps.

The Guitars:

Fender Mustang, 1966 model. Pale blue with black pickguard, one of the pickups is black, the other is white. had a red strap with black lightning bolt patern when last seen. Answers to Priscilla.

Fender Telecaster, black with white pickguard, made in Mexico. Has a chip in the finish near the bottom strap mount.

Today, January 20th, in 1978, the Mekons released their first single "Never Been In A Riot"  on the indie Fast Records.

That first incarnation of the The Mekons consisted of Kevin Lycette and Tom Greenhalgh on guitar, Jon Langford on drums, Mary on bass and Mark White and Andrew Corrigan sharing vocals.

It was described in NME as "making the Sex Pistols look like Paper Lace.'"

So, in honor of this day in music history, we're offering up ANY Waco Brothers or Jon Langford CD on a buy one get one free basis.  Order any of these fine albums, and then write in the comments section of the order form which freebie you'd like!

Act fast, this is for today only (I'll take down the offer whenever I wake up tomorrow morning, so as to give all you folks in UK and Australia who are already asleep a chance to act on this.)

And keep in mind, this is for CDS ONLY (no books, or LPs)

Look out! Scott H. Biram and Lydia Loveless join forces for the double bill of the winter: The aptly titled Bad Machine Tour.  Hot on the heels of their outstanding new albums in Biram’s Bad Ingredients and Loveless’ Indestructible Machine, The Bad Machine Tour begins in Dallas, TX on January 26 and circles around the Southeastern US before looping back to Houston, Texas  two weeks later.

Full tour dates HERE as well as FREE MP3s from their respective albums.

...well not her, but her music....

Her song "How Many Women" from her wicked debut album Indestructible Machine will be featured on Fox TV's show Alcatraz on Monday, January 16th. 9pm eastern, 8pm central.

They tell us it'll be the "background music in the gun shop."   Sounds promising!

So, here's a sentence I'd never thought I'd type: Make sure to tune into Fox TV!

Check out the trailer to Justin Townes Earle's upcoming album, Nothing's Going To Change The Way You Feel About Me Now, out on Bloodshot on March 27.

You can download the title track by visiting justintownesearle.com.

Or visit the exclusive announcement on Rolling Stone and download the title track HERE

We’ve had our eye on Cory for just about as long as he’s been honing his air-tight, clever version of the perfect storysong. For those who don’t know him, though, Branan is the owner of two well-crafted, kinetically charged albums—2002’s The Hell You Say and 2006’s 12 Songs—on Madjack Records. From the two releases came standouts ("The Prettiest Waitress in Memphis," "A Girl Named Go," "Tall Green Grass," and many others) that we’ve listened to in embarrassing amounts, and then probably annoyed our friends with to boot. He has garnered praise from Rolling Stone, GQ, Billboard, and performed on Late Night with David Letterman.

Cory has a well-documented history with groups like former label mates Lucero, musicians of his ilk who trend toward the rawer end of roots music (The Loved Ones’ Dave Hause, Chuck Ragan, Two Cow Garage, Drag the River’s Jon Snodgrass), and rock stars like Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional), who has covered Cory’s gorgeous "Tall Green Grass" and been a reoccurring tour mate.

And that touring element was just the icing on the cake for us. Never one to shy away from an itinerary of non-stop cross-country shows, Cory possesses a unique performance style that enables him to gravelly sing a coy double entendre in one ear of the audience, while yelling the most beautiful love song into the other. So after falling in love (!!!) with a demo of his new material, we jumped at the chance to add him to the fold. We’re excited to say that his label debut is on its way in May 2012 under the title Mutt.

Visit Cory's website.

Good hearted peoples,

So, every year I do the Letters to Santa charity thru the Chicago Sun-Times. I get a few letters from kids asking for Bratz dolls, Barbies, trucks, cars, Hot Wheels and the like. I make a harrowing run to Toys R Us or wherever, wrap them up, and send them away.

In 2008 (remember that year?  When the economy was cratering?) I got a letter from a girl who asked for a warm hat. She was SIX and was asking for A HAT. A toy or a stuffed animal didn't even make her radar. Since then, shopping for toys for a couple of Santa letters hasn't seemed like enough.  Even in these tough times, most of us are doing pretty ok comparatively. I find it unconscionable that any child in this country, a country of so much, should be wanting for something so basic as a stuffed animal at this time of year (or any time, really).

Thus, we are once again reaching out to you all, our friends and fans in Chicago, to perhaps spend some time going thru back closets, or overloaded toy boxes and shelves for gently used stuffed animals.

The recipient will be Nicholson Technology Academy. NTA is pre-school thru 8th grade school in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago where Hideout co-owner Katie Tuten works.

Last year, we collected enough so that EVERY child in the kindergarten program received their own stuffed animal.

This year, we're doing the same and are hoping to gather enough stuffies to cover more than just one grade.

We'll be collecting at the Hideout Craft Fair on December 13th.

If you can't make it, you can drop off at Bloodshot Records, 3039 W Irving Park Road, our office hours are M-F, 10a-6P---a lot of the time we are here later, so call to check (773-604-5300) .

Either way, in exchange, we'll give you a little goodie in the form of a Bloodshot sampler or t shirt.

We'd like to have the donations in our mitts by Friday, December 15th so they can be distributed in a timely manner

PLEASE HELP

Thanks
Rob
Bloodshot Records

Here are the general guidelines for stuffed animals,
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION AND DONATE ONLY ITEMS THAT FIT THE BILL.  
THIS ISN'T A GARAGE SALE.

NOTE:  
We are ONLY accepting stuffed animals.  No toys, games, clothing or other items.  Gotta stay focused...

a) New or very gently used and in excellent, unsoiled, condition;
b) Must be soft and cuddly, not stiff;
c) Not smaller than 6'' or bigger than 18'' tall (they can be a little
taller if they are squishy-soft and can pack down;
d) No Beanie Babies;
e) Not animated or talking (battery operated);
f) No TV cartoon characters (i.e.: Sponge Bob, Sesame Street characters, Action Characters, etc.) Exceptions: soft classic Disney characters like Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore; Snoopy, etc.;
g) No sea animals, bugs, or reptiles;
h) Holiday-styled animals with seasonal trimmings removed are OK (snip off Santa hats, Valentine hearts, etc.).

Happy Repeal Day! Today, we celebrate the 21st Amendment, which overturned the nationwide Prohibition of 1919. I'd like to think that if the Bloodshot crew was around in the 20s, you would've found us in one of the nation's speakeasies.

In honor of Repeal Day, we lift a glass and name our favorite drinking songs from these Bloodshot artists:

SCOTT:
Jon Langford and Skull Orchard, "Pill Sailor" from Skull Orchard Revisited

NAN:
"Aren't they all drinking songs?" (Touché, Nan)

PETE:
Scott H Biram, "Whiskey" from Dirty Old One Man Band

SWANK:
The Meat Purveyors, "Liquor Store" from Someday Soon Things Will Be Much Worse

JP:
Sally Timms, "Drunk By Noon" (Handsome Family cover) from Cowboy Sally

ROB:
Whitey Morgan and The 78s, "Turn Up The Bottle" from S/T

LEIGH ANN:
Lydia Loveless, "Jesus Was A Wino" from Indestructible Machine

ANTHONY:
Whitey Morgan and the 78s, "I Ain't Drunk" from S/T

Listen to these Bloodshot drinking songs and more via this Spotify playlist!

CONTEST! If you buy ANY Waco Brothers album in an order totaling $40 or more, you'll be entered to win one of 3 Waco Brothers flasks! But hurry, this contest ends Tuesday, December 6 at 6pm CST.

Get yourself a Black Friday treat without even leaving the couch! For the next week, Amazon is offering deep discounts on the following MP3 albums:

Alejandro Escovedo, A Man Under The Influence ($5.99)

Old 97s, Wreck Your Life ($5.99)

Scott H Biram, Bad Ingredients ($6.99)

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Want More ($6.99)

Justin Townes Earle, Harlem River Blues ($6.99)

Go here for all Amazon.com Black Friday Deals.