Band to Watch: Tumbleweed Wanderers
I recently came across Oakland, CA’s Tumbleweed Wanderers at the urging of a friend. The band formed in March and has quickly developed a loyal following in the Bay area. They released the first single, “Take it Back,” from their debut, self-titled EP back in September. The track is a genre-blending blast of a song that features an addictive recurring guitar riff, gratuitous horn and harp lines and pitch perfect harmonies that meld together into one helluva promising start. Listen here:
The remainder of the Tumbleweed Wanderers EP is due out sometime this week. The good folks at S*ALT recently recorded the quartet’s cover of The Tallest Man on Earth’s “I Won’t Be Found.” The band does justice to the track by my favorite Swedish singer-songwriter. Watch below:
Written by Rob Peoni
Album Stream: Bryan John Appleby ‘Fire on the Vine’
What is it about the Pacific Northwest? From an outsider’s view, the region appears rife with talented mountain men with a knack for harmonies. The latest such bearded byproduct is Seattle’s Bryan John Appleby.
Appleby’s debut full-length release Fire on the Vine is an elegant collage of heart-felt folk that hits on all cylinders. His rich, pictorial songwriting creates a landscape of sound that has a breadth of emotion stretching beyond your typical folk singer. I use the word collage for a reason. Appleby’s songs play like snapshots without a coherent story tying it all together.
Listening to Appleby is not unlike viewing a painting. There may be a concrete image from which to begin your opinion, but the interpretation is left in the eyes of the beholder. This is not Dylan’s folk, with well-rounded stories unfolding like novels in five minutes or less. Appleby’s writing is more abstract. He had this to say in a recent interview with Common Folk Music:
“I’m excited about writing a song that messes me up and hopefully messes up some other folks. Make of that what you will. Everyone knows the feeling, when you hear a lyric or a melody or a chord that feels like it’s bending you. You feel it pushing you. I love that.”
Stream the entirety of Fire on the Vine below. It is currently featured as bandcamp’s album of the week. As such, it is available for a reduced price of $5 via Appleby’s page until November 14th. Act fast, because the price will jump back to $10 thereafter. Enjoy!
Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 
Fresh Track: Guided By Voices “The Unsinkable Fats Domino”
I currently have 1.2 days worth of Guided By Voices (GBV) content in my iTunes. The collection consists of full-lengths, EPs, live performances, and demo sessions. As time passes, my fondness for the group of lo-fi drinking buddies from Dayton grows. Most of their songs are brief snippets from the mind of front man Robert Pollard. GBV has spanned multiple decades while hosting a roulette of lineups. Somehow with all of their moving pieces, GBV has been oddly consistent. Throughout this constant transformation, Pollard has never let go of the core values of their band. GBV has always been loyal to their attitude and sound. Partying in basements until the crack of dawn while banging on electric guitars might seem juvenile, but the results have remained brilliant over the years. It is this loyalty to youthful behavior that has been embraced by their followers. Their “last” tour was suppose to occur in 2004 and many host cities, including Bloomington, Indiana dedicated their final tour stop as “Guided By Voices Day.” This is the type of influence that could make Pollard the easy vote for mayor in many progressive cities throughout the country, or at least everyone’s favorite bartender.
Pollard has always managed to maintain GBV’s authenticity while creatiting some of the best titles for songs that I have ever come across. “Gold Star for Robot Boy”, “My Valuable Hunting Knife”, “Zoo Pie”, and “Deathtrot And Warlock Riding A Rooster” are just a few of my favorite titles that come to mind. Please visit Jeff Warren’s Guided By Voices Database to gain a sense of the staggering size of the band’s catalog. The site also showcases the rabid dedication of GBV’s fan base. This database currently lists 1739 GBV songs in existence, most of which will grab your attention just by reading their titles. Their latest song “The Unsinkable Fats Domino” not only holds a spot for possible favorite title, but also gives GBV nation a special gift. “The Unsinkable Fats Domino” release displays the first new song by the original lineup since their last release in 1996 “Under the Bushes.” This brilliant, witty track is the lead single from their upcoming release Let’s Go Eat the Factory. While the title of the track is appealing, its story is even better.
Pollard and the gang decided to do what they do best and use current events to tell an amazing story. Legendary musician, Fats Domino was born, raised, and has called New Orleans home since 1928. A dedicated man not only to his music, but also his home, Fats was one of the many Crescent City residents who refused to evacuate during Hurricane Katrina. Because Fats’ home was completely flooded in one of the worst areas hit many dedicated fans thought Fats had been taken by the storm.
Initial reports indicated that Fats Domino had died. CNN quickly straightened things out with a story that brought relief to masses of music fans around the globe. Contrary to previous reports, Fats had been rescued by the Coast Guard along with the members of his family. A brilliantly buoyant story told to us by GBV.
I think this story is absolutely amazing and I honestly never heard about it until GBV chose to document it. Fats persistence and loyalty made him unsinkable despite one of the most awesome hurricanes this country has ever seen. GBV gives us an unbelievable story with an amazing name. This song is an anthem. This is an ode to the fight and desire of a living legend. While Pollard might not be held in the same breath as Fats Domino by most, I recognize him as such. After countless beers, thousands of cigarettes, and dozens of releases, I hope someone writes a song about him. “The Unsinkable Robert Pollard.”
Written by Brett McGrath