It’s already 2008 in Geezerville and, like it or not, SXSW season is already in high gear. Just this week Bloodshot Records announced the next Waco Brothers album, Waco Express, a live one, due, of course, March 8.
Other upcoming releases we’re excited about: country chanteuse Tift Merritt’s debut for the Fantasy label, Another Country, due January 26. The amazingly prolific Jim Lauderdale is back with Honey Songs (Yep Roc) in mid-February. It features a band he calls the Dream Players, composed of legendary sidemen like James Burton, Glen Hardin, Al Perkins, Ron Tutt and Gary Tallent. The SteelDrivers ‘self-titled first effort on the Rounder label might garner some interest in January among the bluegrass crowd, not only because it’s the latest project of former Dead Reckoners Mike Henderson and Tammy Rogers. Last but not least, Jayhawks leader Gary Louris breaks out with his solo debut, Vagabonds (Rykodisc), set for February 19.
This article appears in December 14 • 2007.