Desolation Angel Radio

I'm gonna live forever. . . . .

This week's show starts with a very appropriate and timely tribute to The Big Man, Clarence Clemons, who walked across the veil last weekend, and some reflections on his contribution as the soul of the E Street Band.
Then, we crank it into gear and hit all the notes with those artists that you're probably not hearing on any mainstream radio, pushed hard on the web or TV by corporate labels, fiercely independent artists. True musicians who aren't afraid to follow their muse, and pay their dues, and have no use for the words "should sound like" or "the fans want to hear" or "well, if you want it to be mainstream. . . ".
The Tedeschi Trucks Band ( a true collaboration, sublime)
Cody Canada & The Departed (my most highly anticipated release of the year so far)
Bob Geldof (yes, that Bob Geldof; The Boomtown Rats, Live Aid, etc.)
Joe Ely ( a Texas treasure)
Sarah Jaffe ( and a big thanks to Leif Rayburn for turning me on to her, from Denton, Texas, by the way)
Justin Townes Earle
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights (Dallas and Oklahoma)
Ty Stone (downriver Michigan)
Jason Aldean w/ Ludacris (totally amped up version you heard at the close of the CMA's the other night, a tip of the hat to my son Caleb Williams for turning me on to this cut)
The man himself, Shooter, plus Jason Isbell, the Drive-By Truckers, Leroy Powell and others
I'll stick with what I've said and gotten myself in trouble for, (and truly don't give a shit); American rock and roll is the most important contribution to culture and the development of the human spirit in the history of the world, period. Musicians are out our ghost poets, our conductors on the mystery train, our sages and philosophers and they reflect who we are on the inside. We need to support these younger artists who are trying to develop their own sound, and not be close minded, and turn into the parents of another generation who always said of The Beatles and Stones "Turn that shit down", and I see and hear way too many people of my own generation playing that same note and tune, and being narrow, close-minded and in so doing, try to kill the spirit that is music.
Remember to kiss your kids, tell the ones you love that you do, out loud. This rodeo, this flying circus we're in called life is a guaranteed one-way ticket and no one, absolutely no one, not you, not me, gets out alive. What it means is that this ain't no dress rehearsal, the curtain's gone up on the real deal baby, and the pyro's lit and screaming, so you get up on the side of that chute, get on, suicide wrap your right hand in, wait for the gate and then hang on for all you're worth to get to that cowbell and that 8 seconds, period. Wring every last drop of joy and juice out of life you can, everyday.
As always, a big shout-out to Shooter Jennings and his website, givememyxxx.com, where a lot of these artists can be found, and a shitload more that deserve your ears attention for a while. You can subscribe to this broadcast in iTunes, just look up Kip Williams in podcasts, and you can fan up and "Like" either "Music that doesn't suck canal water" on FB, or "The Desolation Angel - An Idiot's Ravings" there too, either one. You can always send a friend request to me, Kip Williams, just make sure to put a note with it that you're friending me because of the broadcast.
Till then, enjoy. See you again, this side or the other.
Kip

Raw guitar

American music; rock and roll, blues, country, bluegrass is authentic and real. The songwriters, musicians and guitar slingers that this country has produced are some of the most real, raw, authentic, passionate people around. I'll quote St. Christopher, a Nebraska rock and roller:
American music is the most important art form in the history of mankind. Period.
This statement will probably cause me to be labeled as an ignorant, nationalistic red-neck…… and there might be some truth to that.
I can appreciate classical music. I don’t understand it, but I like. Furthermore, I’ve been to Jamaica and got a small taste as to what Bob Marley was talking about and why Reggae has the sound it does. And let’s call it what it is, bands like The Motherfuck’n Saints wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Englishmen like Tony Iomi and Lemmy Kilmister hammering out Black Sabbath and Motorhead albums.
The fact is, our country be it as it may with all our hyper-conservative bullshit, ridiculous blind patriotism, and grandiose religious nonsense, has produced the best musicians and songwriters in the history of the world. Country, blues, American folk, bluegrass, and rock & roll are poetry that came from the soul of a unique breed of people that will never be repeated or duplicated.
So, this week, more of those unknown, unsigned, underappreciated artists:
Tyler Bryant
Jeff Ray
American Graveyard
The Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band
Lissie
American Bang
Taddy Porter
The South Memphis String Band
Warren Haynes
Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real
Masters and savants of American music: Robert Earl Keen, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John Mellencamp, Steve Earle and Gregg Allman
Don't think, just listen and feel. Support these artists and check out givememyxxx.com over at Shooter's place, download this 'cast here or on iTunes and turn your friends on to these artists. Remember to Share this and let your people's in on the secret, American music is alive, well and kicking ass.
Kip
. . . .Come out of the gate each morning with both barrels blazing, pedal-to-metal, full-tilt boogie, all-in and balls-out, what's stopping you? Do you want to live forever? That'd be boring.
. . . .Got your back. somewhere out there in the night
. . . .Kiss your kids, tell the ones you love out loud that you do. Seize the precious moments before they're ripped away from you. This rodeo is a one-way ticket and no one, absolutely no one gets out alive. There aren't a lot of second chances, and we don't get to dictate terms and circumstances of how the ticket gets punched. This ain't no dress rehearsal, and the curtain's gone up, it's real and right now. It's not about yesterday or tomorrow. It's about right fucking here, right fucking now. This, what you're reading, what you're hearing, is the proof, the words, the sounds and the sights of someone changing his own life and his own world and not being afraid to put it out there. What have you done for yourself lately and why are you waiting? Do it now.
The Desolation Angel
from somewhere halfway to Heaven, and just a mile out of Hell
You know someone like me, there's still a few of us left. If we have to, we'll stand at the gates of Hell and hold the last train home for you.. . . . . .
[where: 29.52N, 91.57W]
Chelsea, MI 48118

Mr. Dylan, I presume. . . .

This week, through the magic of technology, a broadcast from the far reaches. Based on the current magazine stand edition of Rolling Stone with it's list of the Top 70 Bob Dylan songs of all time. Covers of Bob, 9 of the Top 10 songs by Bob himself, and a crazy, convoluted theme to all of it, you'll just have to listen to get it. Enjoy!!!!!
Because I'm doing this remotely, please, please, please click the little green Share button below and Share this on FB and Twitter, I'm unable to from where I am.

Life does have a soundtrack you know

This week. . .well, the common statement from people is that they need a soundtrack. Life does have one, you know, it's called rock and roll. The first half of the show today is my soundtrack, with an interesting offer for you listeners to have and get your own. As well this week:
Warren Haynes (the new one)
Leroy Powell and the Messengers
Steve Earle (new and old)
American Bang
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Versions of Desperado and Ol' 55 you've probably never heard before
And a host of others.
Click Listen Now, Play in Pop-up or Download. Use the little green "Share" button to share this on FB, Twitter, Google Buzz and other social media. Remember that comments and ratings are always appreciated. Thanks for letting me do this.
Remember that you can support these artists by heading over to Shooter Jenning's project and it's page, givememyxxx.com.

My own kind of royalty

This one got put together the night before I leave to watch my youngest son graduate from college. My heart's on my sleeve with it, and I suppose that touches the playlist, for he is my royalty, one of my two princes. It also is being put together 24 hours after tornadoes ripped through Alabama and much of the South, leaving a trail of death and destruction, and there's a way to help out those who been hit by this disaster in here this week.
Steve Earle - the newly released one; I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Tab Benoit - New stuff
My Morning Jacket - A sneak peek at the new album
Taddy Porter - another unsigned, unknown artist out of Oklahoma who rocks
Ty Stone -  a homeboy, from downriver Detroit
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - another supremely talented relatively unknown artist
Gary C. Carter, Jr., Raphael Saadiq,
The Foo Fighters - Rock is reborn, simply epic
More of the new Robbie Robertson
Stick around this week, you'll find out how to help out down South, get a little music history, and support those artists who are flying just below the radar, and you don't hear that often. Click Share on the little green button below, or share it on Facebook, the idea is to get some airtime for these guys, and break the hold that corporate labels and producers have on music.
Click Listen Now, or Play in Pop-up, or Download, and remember that you can get it on iTunes too.
Become a fan on Facebook of The Desolation Angel or Music that doesn't suck canal water, and get notified whenever a new 'cast is put out and archived here. Thanks for being a fan of music, and supporting these guys.

Closer to the edge . . . . . . .

This week's show, artists with new releases, old friends with new tunes and forgotten ones, and the dependably warped look at the world
The Old 97's
Lucinda Williams
The Band of Heathens
R.E.M.
New work from old masters
John Lee Hooker
The New York Dolls
Garland Jeffreys
Graham Parker
Warren Zevon
And the normal gaggle of pleasant surprises.
The commentary today takes on a week's worth of what's been unfolding in the world, and my own take on it, which, somehow never seems to match anyone else's, anyone at all.
Make it a good week, settle in and spend a couple of hours with it free here, so you don't have to buy satellite radio and search for it. The broadcast is also available now in iTunes, either as single episodes or a subscription, and it's free.
Please leave a comment, or a rating, or send me an e-mail using any of the handy tools on this site to do it with, your input is what helps shape the show and it's content. Use the green "Share" button to share this with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz, MySpace and a number of other social media.
You can also become a "fan" of the broadcast on Facebook and like it there. Do a search for Desolation Angel, and you can hit the fan page for it.
Take care, have a great one, get shit done, and make it count.

That trumpet and that wall. . . .

This week's broadcast is a look at the sound of brass, and the contributions of horns to the driving sound of rock and roll.
Chicago
The Muscle Shoals Horns and Rhythm Section
Blood, Sweat and Tears
The Electric Flag
The Memphis Horns
The Grass Roots
Sly and The Family Stone
The contributions of all the other instruments are often overlooked, or minimized in favor of believing that it's only the guitar, and the drums that make up a song.
Not true, it's about passion, musical ability and the ability to channel the musical muse. Every band, every rock and roller stated out as a band kid, and truth be told, it goes all the way back. Look at Joshua and that fuckin' set of trumpets, blew a damn wall down and it all started there.
Enjoy, and get it, hit it and let it rock.

Train kept a rollin' . . . . .

This week's show - the enduring imagery of trains and the American landscape. Mr. Dylan, telling us it takes a train to cry, Mr. Robertson and The Band taking a last waltz on the Mystery Train; the dearly departed Lowell George and Little Feat riding that Red Streamliner; and a host of others.
In the second hour, songs for the working men and women of America, and an epic (even for me, #EPIC) rant that came up earlier this week with a heavy dose of The Dropkick Murphys, America's favorite Irish workingman's band.
Remember to share this free edition with your friends and neighbors, and comments and ratings take you right up the scale in terms of featuring an artist or band that you may want more focus on next week. Remember to Like the fan page over on Facebook (just look up Desolation Angel) and remember that you can always get this as a free subscription on iTunes.
Enjoy, till next week