Andy the Door Bum CD release The man in the Milestone booth aka Andy Fenstermaker delivers us another set of home-fried country rock that should, if history holds, shame most Americana troubadorks into just shutting the fuck up, please. Though we've only been privy to one MySpace cut press leaks have been tighter than a multinational bank's credit spigot it has all the characteristics of another ADB winner: passionate playing, a slyly textured arrangement, throat-lozenge vocals, and a story worth listening to for a change. With Lisa's Sons and KpSoloMan5000. Milestone (John Schacht)
Lamb Handler Playing the first hometown show in Charlotte since the release of its CD Jingle Jangle back in January, the Lamb Handler crew (former members of Loaf faves Dirty Box, Semi-Pro and it could be nothing) are bringing along fellow Coma Gun Records labelmates New Killer Stars, a Netherlands troupe who've opened shows for the likes of Dino Jr. and Eagles of Death Metal. Given the stone(d) free(ly) live shows the Handler boys are known for, having a few flying Dutchmen around probably won't phase them one whit. The band describes its new, more Southern-fried sound as lying somewhere "between Queens of the Stone Age and Rev. Horton Heat." Stoned and heated, indeed. With New Killer Stars. Snug Harbor (Timothy C. Davis)
Vertigo This Tennessee quartet sometimes doesn't quite know which way to go. Musically that is. But with harder edged pop-rock, effects-laden guitar work and a fairly potent female vocalist, they manage to find their way back. Their moody pop holds promise and the new recording, And Miles to Go Before We Sleep, has several worthy cuts touched lightly with '80s punk and alt.rock ethos. With Charlotte's Sugar Glyder. Double Door Inn (Samir Shukla)
The Corduroy Road The chatty banjo, rolling harmonies, the acoustic guitar and melodic, Southern vocals are the name of the game for Athens quartet The Corduroy Road. The music is so damn, well comfy, that the quaint country and roots music peppered with folk rock sounds warmly familiar. The gents are releasing an E.P., Just One Drop (April) and a full-length Love Is a War (June) recorded with veteran Athens knobs-twirler John Keane. Puckett's Farm Equipment (Shukla)
The New Familiars The guys may have lost one teammate banjo/guitarist/singer Eric-Scott Guthrie amicabily left the group in March but they've been in the studio working hard on a new album. It'll be interesting to hear how the sound has changed and maybe get a glimpse at some of the new stuff I'm guessing it won't include the Bojangles fish anthem though. Neighborhood Theatre (Jeff Hahne)