Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band - Join Us For A Few

Let's play a game of "good news/bad news." I'll deal with the bad news first: Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band have gone on an indefinite hiatus. The good news is that Join Us For A Few, the band's third studio album, is finally available digitally after being a vinyl-only release for a few months. I hear a phrase like "indefinite hiatus" and can't help but wonder if I'll ever have the chance to review this band again. I suppose that depends on how long I keep wiring about music. As it is, an album release from Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band is a rare occurrence. There was a six-year gap between Promises To Deliver and Flyover and nearly a seven-year gap between Flyover and Join Us For A Few. I've spoken frequently about Promises To Deliver being one of my favorite records of this particular century, and I think my personal connection to that album has led me to undervalue its successor, Flyover. It's never quite fair to judge one record in comparison to another, and I don't want to make the mistake of putting Join Us For A Few in competition with either of its predecessors. 

So let's talk about what Join Us For A Few is: it's the work of a great American rock 'n' roll band led by a songwriter who always knows how to balance heart & grit with tuneful melodies and sing-along choruses. Over the years, this band has honed its craft and established itself as a quintessential rootsy bar band. The punk roots are still there in spirit, but the songs on this record are given plenty of room to breathe, typically falling into the four–five minute range. The band is again pulling from 20th century meat & potatoes Americana — blending early rock 'n' roll with country, rhythm & blues, and folk rock influences. The band, seasoned by years and years on the road, has never sounded better. And Nato Coles has fully come into his own as a songwriter. I probably did him a disservice in the past by emphasizing some of his musical influences rather than focusing on what's unique and appealing about him as an artist. He personifies heart-on-sleeve sincerity, and time and life have only amplified his talents. This album has some top-quality punchy rockers in "Hiraeth" and "Can't Get My Mind Off Of You." But it's the ballads and semi-ballads that are the real heart and soul of the record. When a songwriter can get to the point where their ballads are songs you actually look forward to as opposed to merely tolerate, that's when you know they've mastered their craft. You have to be pretty confident to start an album with a five-minute mellow jam like "The 4th of July," but there's no doubt that this was the perfect opener. It's anthemic, soulful, and moving. Similarly, "Strangers' Backyards" and "Fire Without a Flame" are as powerful and poignant as any song Nato has ever written. The band also reworked one of its most beloved songs, "Midnight In Memphis" (from its split with State Drugs), and made it even better. And how about a cover of The Brains' new wave hit "Money Changes Everything" (famously covered by Cyndi Lauper) completely revamped to conjure late night barroom regret? 

Let's be clear: a hiatus, even when indefinite, is not necessarily a closing of the book. If I had to put money on it, I'd bet on this not being the last we hear from Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band. But if this is the last we hear from the band for a good while, they are are hitting pause on a high note. The album title is welcoming by design. It summarizes the very spirit of this band. These are guys who will play their hearts out for you and then sit and drink with you. Join Us For A Few is essentially a hang session with your drinking buddies. These songs mix sadness and heartache with hope and joy. They tell stories and reflect on life. They represent what is best about music: its capacity to form connections between people. This band can still rock with the best of 'em, but it's the songs that really stand out. If you're a longtime fan and have been waiting, as I have, for Join Us For A Few to make its way to a digital platform, you will not be disappointed. And if you've yet to be initiated into the world of Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band, this is a fine place to start. In a year full of great rock 'n' roll albums, this one is very worthy of your consideration.

-L.R.

https://natocoles.bandcamp.com/album/join-us-for-a-few
https://www.facebook.com/natocolesmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/natocoles/

Miss Georgia Peach - "The Hockey Song"

In honor of the two-time Walter Cup champions The Minnesota Frost and the gold medal–winning U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey team, Miss Georgia Peach has released her own version of Stompin' Tom Connors' iconic "The Hockey Song"! This single is backed by a cover of Sonny James' "A Little Bit South of Saskatoon," a song featured in the movie Slapshot. So we've got ourselves a fully hockey-themed release here, and it was recorded in Eveleth, Minnesota, home of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame! This Travis Ramin production features MGP on lead vocals, Baby Grant Johnson on lead guitar, John Ewing on guitar, Mike Bennett on bass, Ramin on drums, Steve Sokola on piano and accordion, and Germaine Gemberling on background vocals. MGP and her medal-worthy teammates make "The Hockey Song" their own, giving it a full-on country feel with a touch of upper-Midwest chill. Of course the vocals are stellar, and overall this is a wonderfully robust rendition of a classic. MGP took a shot from the point and really sniped it! This makes me wish I could have a six-pack of Surly Hell! If you've worn out your copies of Aloha from Kentucky and Class Out the Ass and are still left wanting more of that '60s/'70s country music magic, "A Little Bit South of Saskatoon" will be everything you want. This is a fun single that arrives at the perfect time, as its release came just one day after the U.S. Women captured Olympic gold — and just two days before the U.S. men play for Olympic gold. A special shout-out must go out to Kendall Coyne Schofield, Lee Stecklein, Kelly Pannek, Grace Zumwinkle, Britta Curl-Salemme, and Taylor Heise — who play for the Frost and the Olympic team! A vinyl release of this single is in the works. In the meantime, the digital release is available from Rum Bar Records just in time for the NHL stretch run. Now that Georgia and Travis have proven themselves masters of the novelty record, perhaps we can convince them to cover "Go Joe Charboneau" one of these years!

-L.R.  

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-hockey-song-ep
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fmYErr1YHg3VpwiVGkcZb
https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

Miss Georgia Peach - Class out the Ass

Holy smokes, they pulled it off! Miss Georgia Peach, Travis Ramin, and the Nashville Pussy/Nine Pound Hammer gang joined forces three years ago to bring us Aloha from Kentucky — which I recently proclaimed to be one of my four favorite albums of the decade. These folks had such a blast making Aloha from Kentucky that they decided to assemble once more and make another country record. Luckily, getting the band together went a lot better for Miss Georgia Peach than it did for Doyle Hargraves. Class out the Ass, out today on Rum Bar Records, is that rare sequel that's even better than the original! If you want to hear some great country music with a rock 'n' roll edge, stop reading my drivel and go listen to this album! 

Backing Miss Georgia Peach on Class out the Ass is a true super-group. In addition to producing, Travis Ramin is on drums. Ruyter Suys is on lead guitar. Blaine Cartwright is on rhythm guitar. Mark Hendricks is on bass. Earl Crimm is on guitar. A.J. Srubas is on fiddle and pedal steel. Heather Parrish is on backing vocals. Suys, Cartwright, and Scott Luallen all make appearances on vocals. All that formidable talent is a big part of what makes this record such a treat. Another big part is the song selection — which is absolutely bulletproof. In terms of cover choices, this album leans more to deeper cuts. As was the case with Aloha from Kentucky, Class out the Ass largely draws its material from the 1960s and '70s glory days of country music but also ventures into some pleasantly surprising territory. "Shut Up And Drink Your Beer," a punched-up take on Norman Wade's mid-'80s country hit, is a perfect album opener that establishes the swaggering vibe of this record. Other standout covers include Ira Louvin's "Who Throw Dat Rock?" (you know I'm always a fan of dark humor!), a blistering take on Janis and Her Boyfriends' "Bang Bang," the wonderfully snarky Bobby George/Bonita Stevens number "Take Your Guitar and Git," and a stunning version of the Mike Nesmith/Stone Poneys classic "Some of Shelly's Blues." And I have to say it was a genius move to include a Pat Todd song ("Somewhere Down the Line") on a country album! As was the case last time, the duets alone justify the price of admission. Suys joins MGP on a spirited rendition of the Richard Dobson song "Baby Ride Easy" (a hit for Carlene Carter and Dave Edmunds). Luallen plays the perfect two-timer on the Nat Stuckey–penned "Sweet Thang." Cartwright and MGP are an absolute hoot as they do their best Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn on "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly." Two MGP original songs, "Dusty" and "Honeywagon," fit perfectly on the record. The former, of course, is a new arrangement of an old Beebe Gallini favorite. The latter is clever as hell and such a gem that I assumed it was a cover of some lost classic the first time I played the record!

Now that I've absolutely loved not one but two Miss Georgia Peach solo albums, I'm trying to put a finger on what it is about these records that I find so delightful. Obviously, a lot of that comes down to the lead artist here. MGP is simply a fantastic singer, and the country genre really suits her talents well. Whether she's channeling a fed-up bartender or the frustrated girlfriend of a wannabe musician, tapping into the depths of heartbreak, playfully engaging with her duet partners, or taking us to church on the Elvis live favorite "Let Me Be There," she's equally in her element. Beyond that, the joy that all these individuals put into making this album is palpable. You can truly feel the love in these performances. This is simply a fun album to listen to. While I would describe this music not as alt country but rather as country, period, there's an efficiency to these songs that has the spirit of punk or garage rock. 11 of 14 songs clock in at under three minutes, and the ones that don't only miss the cut by a little. There's no waiting around for the good parts on these songs. Every tune gets right down to business. If you love country music, you'll be reminded why. And if you don't, perhaps this record will have you softening your stance. The album title says it all, doesn't it?

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/class-out-the-ass
https://open.spotify.com/album/4iqs5sZeWezQ4TAqqkmuvk
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords/

Miss Georgia Peach - "Shut Up And Drink Your Beer"

2024 isn't even over yet, and already one of my most highly-anticipated albums of 2025 is on my mind! Miss Georgia Peach's Aloha from Kentucky has been one of my favorite albums of the decade, and now a sequel is imminent! Class Out the Ass will be out in February on Rum Bar Records. Once again, MGP and Travis Ramin have collaborated with Ruyter Suys, Blaine Cartwright, Mark Hendricks, Earl Crimm, and Scott Luallen of Nine Pound Hammer & Nashville Pussy fame on a rockin' old school country record. The album's first single is a cover of Norman Wade's classic "Shut Up And Drink Your Beer." This is an inspired take on every dive bartender's personal anthem, and it certainly suggests that Class Out the Ass (produced by Ramin and recorded by Brian Pulito at his studio in Kentucky) will be every bit the killer its predecessor was. I can't wait! Head up to the bar and pre-order the album now! 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/shut-up-and-drink-your-beer
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Miss Georgia Peach - Aloha from Kentucky

When I heard that world-class crooner Miss Georgia Peach was making a country album with her pals from Nashville Pussy, I expected something special. A long time in the making, Aloha from Kentucky finally releases today on Rum Bar Records. And sure enough, it's an absolute monster of an album! This collaboration features two of the most beloved husband-and-wife teams in the rock and roll universe. Miss Georgia Peach and Travis Ramin (The Short Fuses, Beebe Gallini) are on lead vocals and drums. Ruyter Suys and Blaine Cartwright are on guitar. Also on board are former Nine Pound Hammer members Mark Hendricks (bass), Scott Luallen (vocals on "Bull and the Beaver"), and Brian Pulito (co-production and mixing). Now that, my friends, is a star-studded cast! 

Aloha from Kentucky traces its roots back to Rhinestone Chassis, Georgia and Travis's country/rockabilly trio from many moons ago. Many of these songs were in that band's setlist. A mutual love for classic country music eventually brought all of these talented individuals together, and their efforts do not disappoint. I'm sure someone will describe this record as "alt country". But that term makes me think of dad rock. Aloha from Kentucky isn't your parents' music -- it's your grandparents' music! And that makes it five times as cool. This album is right in the wheelhouse of 1960s and '70s country music with a rock and roll edge. 12 of 15 tracks are covers, and the song selection is formidable. MGP and friends serve up stellar renditions of songs made famous by the likes of Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard & Leona Williams, Jeannie C. Riley, and Johnny Cash & June Carter. A full third of the covers are drawn from the catalog of Wanda Jackson -- one of the greatest of all the country rock and rollers and undeniably a major influence on this album. 

Over the years, MGP has proven herself adept at musical genres ranging from punk to garage to hard rock to rhythm & blues. On Aloha from Kentucky, she sounds like she was born to sing country music. Over the course of this record, she's everything you want a singer to be: tough, tender, sweet, sassy, fun, and feisty. Whether she's belting out classic feminist country anthems like "Big Iron Skillet" or "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)", showing her flair for storytelling on "The Back Side of Dallas", or tearing your heart out on the tearjerker originals "Adam Neal Waltz" and "Don't Stay Away", she sounds 100% in her element. The covers show great respect for these songs' classic versions without being straight copies -- an example of what you can do with great material, exceptional musicians, and a dynamite singer. The original songs are strong enough to fit right in, and honestly the album would not be the same without them. Standout cuts are hard to identify because every song seems essential. But I've got a particularly soft spot for the duets (come on: you can't do classic country without duets!). MGP and Scott Luallen sound so great together on "Bull and the Beaver" that we all might have to demand a full album called Georgia and Scott Sing the Classics! Ruyter Suys absolutely slays the Johnny Cash lines on a rocked-up, super fun version of "Jackson". Blaine Cartwright and MGP fill massive shoes on the Conway Twitty/Loretta Lynn number "You Blow My Mind" and make an absolutely adorable pairing on Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan's 1970 hit "Tennessee Bird Walk". 

While Miss Georgia Peach's name is on the cover, Aloha from Kentucky is the ultimate full band effort. Nobody was trying to reinvent the wheel here. These fine folks turned out a top-notch rockin' country record -- the likes of which have rarely been heard in recent decades. I choose to believe that these recording sessions were fueled by barbeque and cheap beer. All stops were pulled out to make this album a complete package. Aloha from Kentucky features cover art by the legendary Rockin Jelly Bean and amazing liner notes by WFMU radio personality Dave the Spazz. A vinyl edition of this album (a rare thing for Rum Bar Records) is set for a July release and already close to selling out. Get your preorders in while you still can! Having already released the best two albums of 2022 so far, Malibu Lou has now gone three for three! If you rightfully believe that Dolly Parton belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Aloha from Kentucky is the album for you.

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/aloha-from-kentucky
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/people/Miss-Georgia-Peach/100063540663762/

The Ergs! - Renovations

As I conclude my trilogy of 2022 Ergs! reviews, this is a fine time to reflect on what a special band The Ergs! truly are. The band's breakup proved to be a blessing in disguise; without it, the world may have never experienced the greatness of Night Birds, Black Wine, and albums like Tentative Decisions. That said, it was even greater blessing that the disbandment of The Ergs! proved not to be permanent. There's something magical that happens when these three individuals get together to make music. The band's new EP Renovations is a perfect case in point. It's the product of three guys' unique musical talents and collective influences. Mikey and Jeff's vocal styles are about a million miles apart yet so perfectly complementary that one can only conclude that their partnership was willed by the musical gods. And if Mike's lovelorn vocals are the most immediately recognizable component of an Ergs! song, Jeff's guitar tone comes a very close second. Joe's bass work, always some of the best in the business, provides the unsung heroics. If you remove any of the three players from the equation, it's just not the same band. 

While by no means mischaracterized as a country record, Renovations sounds like The Ergs! more than anything else. The Lew Houston artwork had me feeling "classic Ergs!" vibes, and the music follows suit. Opening track "Tonight's the Night" manages to sound like a country song and a pop-punk song at the same time. I know that sounds completely impossible. But in the world of The Ergs!, nothing is impossible. Mikey Erg is hard to beat when it comes to writing songs about heartbreak and love gone sour, and he's in top form on this song. What could be more country (or more pop-punk) than waxing poetic on the pain of a devastating breakup? As the title of the EP suggests, "Renovations" is the centerpiece of this record. It's a vintage Jeff Schroeck composition and quite possibly the most personal and profound song he has ever written. Here the country stylings mix seamlessly with SST Records influences as Jeff laments the regretful consequences of actions never taken. The song is both an earworm and a lyrical masterpiece. Rounding out the EP, "Penny in the Jukebox" is the most conventionally country song of the bunch -- with an additional hint of Paul Westerberg at his most soul-crushing. On this simple, sincere song, Mikey tackles themes of loneliness and failure in a way that's sure to break your heart. 

There's no telling if and when we'll ever get more music from The Ergs!. For the moment, the band has left off with one of its finest releases yet. I don't think Mikey or Jeff could have written songs like these 20 or 15 years ago. Call it punk, country, country punk, or whatever you like. These are tunes we can all relate to as human beings. The big myth about pop-punk is that it can't grow up and still be good. Well the older, wiser Ergs! are sounding pretty, pretty, pretty good. I have the sneaking suspicion that I have yet to write my final words on this band. Renovations is available on vinyl from Wallride Records while supplies last! 

-L.R.

https://theergs.bandcamp.com/album/renovations
https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Ergs/100063796026629/
https://wallriderecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-ergs-renovations-ep
http://www.wallriderecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wallriderecords/

Miss Georgia Peach - "The Back Side Of Dallas"

We now have a release date and pre-order link for Miss Georgia Peach's new album Aloha from Kentucky! On March 18th, the album will release on compact disc on Rum Bar Records -- with an vinyl release to follow this summer! To celebrate, Malibu Lou has leaked another advance single. It's a cover of Jeannie C. Riley's legendary 1969 single "The Back Side Of Dalllas". You've got to have some kind of voice to even think about covering this song, but of course MGP is up to the task! She absolutely crushes this song, which she and her all-star supporting cast rock up quite a bit. This, my friends, is how you do a cover tune! For those unfamiliar with "The Back Side Of Dallas", I won't spoil the song for you. I'll just say that if you hate newer country music because it's too lightweight, this should be way more to your liking! And with the '60s/'70s era of country music being my favorite, I'm psyched that it's going to be such a big influence on Aloha from Kentucky! $1.50 will get you the digital track, or you can spring for the pre-order now and get two more songs. It's a long way to Dallas for a small town girl from the middle of Tennessee...

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/the-back-side-of-dallas
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Scrimshanders - Songs That Never Were

One of the things that makes Rum Bar Records my favorite label is the way Lou likes to bring new life to music he's passionate about. A case in point is the new album by John Magee & Scrimshanders. Songs That Never Were is essentially a compilation of choice material from the Boston band's two albums (2000's Longneck and 2008's The Way You Never Are) rounded out by a couple of unreleased tracks. Back in the first decade of this century, Scrimshanders were one of the best bands going in the alt-country & Americana universe. Well here we are already in the third decade of the century, and the time seems right for the legend of Scrimshanders to spread to younger generations and wider audiences. Featuring Magee's distinctive singing voice and formidable, down-to-earth songwriting, these 12 songs write the book on how to blend country music with roots rock and roll. "SXMW", a true classic of modern-day underground country, was the perfect choice for a leadoff track. Those lyrics, and the way Magee sings them, give me chills every time. But as songs such as "Hard To Find", "The Way You Never Are", "No Angel", "Cheap Wine and Nicotine", and the haunting "The Man You Want To Kill" demonstrate, Scrimshanders are no one-hit wonder! 

I'm sometimes loathe to invoke the term "alt-country" because it brings up visions of boring middle of the road drivel championed by aging hipsters. So I'll just call Scrimshanders a really great country rock band with a catalog of songs that will rip your heart out. Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts may be a long way from Middle America, but spiritually Scrimshanders are as heartland as it gets. Songs That Never Were ought to be a fixture on every dive bar jukebox across the nation...and beyond!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/songs-that-never-were
https://scrimshanders.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/scrimshanders
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Miss Georgia Peach - "You Blow My Mind" b​/​w "Do You Know What Love Means?"

I've got some good stuff for you today! Back in August, I mentioned that Miss Georgia Peach had a new solo album in the works. The good news is that the album has been completed and is slated for release on Rum Bar Records. It's gonna be a country record, and I'm so pumped to hear it! Georgia and her total babe husband Travis Ramin recorded the album with Blaine Cartwright and Ruyter Suys from Nashville Pussy. With Mark and Scott from Nine Pound Hammer also featured on this release, it's no exaggeration to say that MGP has assembled a supergroup! In advance of the album, "You Blow My Mind" b​/​w "Do You Know What Love Means?" has been released as a teaser single. Both of these tracks are in right in my '60s/'70s sweet spot of classic country music. The latter, an exuberant sing-along, was previously featured on Rum Bar's XOXOXO Volume One compilation CD. The former, a rollicking & punkified duet with Cartwright, justifies your chosen purchase price even if you already own the comp. MGP is not just one of the greatest voices in contemporary music -- she's also one of the most versatile. Whether she's singing garage rock, heavy punk rock and roll, or old school country, Georgia is always a force to be reckoned with. If these teaser tracks are any indication, the full album is gonna be hot!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/you-blow-my-mind-b-w-do-you-know-what-love-means
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Justine's Black Threads - Cheap Vacation

If you're a fan of Justine Covault's terrific pop/rock/punk outfit Justine and the Unclean, perhaps you've expressed the thought that she would be a great country singer. She certainly has the perfect voice for country music. And of course her lyrics about heartache and doomed romance translate beautifully to that particular genre. I am happy to report that Justine's Black Threads confirm everything that we suspected. The trio features Covault on vocals and guitar along side Jimmy Scoppa on guitar and Johnny Sciascia on upright bass. Out today on Rum Bar Records, Cheap Vacation is the band's debut EP. The sound is old school '50s/'60s country with really no hint of a modern influence (thank god). The production is really raw and "live", which puts all the focus on Covault's voice & lyrics along with the truly outstanding musicianship of her two band mates. Sometimes people hear the term "alt country" and think of something from 20 years ago. Black Threads are more along the lines of Loretta Lynn or Sun Records era Johnny Cash. But even without punchy guitars and slamming drums (or any drums at all!), this is vintage Justine Covault music. She excels as always at writing relatable songs about lousy boyfriends, love gone bad, and the plight of the brokenhearted. And if you never fully grasped what an exceptional singer she is, you'll get it now. The original songs are terrific. "He Never Reminds Me Of You" is a spirited and scathing kiss-off that you may find yourself dedicating to some of your own exes. "You and Me Against You and Me" is more of a straight bitter pill chronicling the downfall of a relationship that once seemed invincible. This is a timeless theme in country music, and it couldn't be any more in Covault's wheelhouse. Capping off this EP are two truly excellent covers. "Needles And Pins", of course, is the Jackie DeShannon/Searchers classic from the early '60s. The way Black Threads play it, you'd swear it was written to be a country song! This is my favorite version of this song ever done by a band not named the Ramones, and it perfectly fits the tone of the EP. "The Other Side of a Six Pack" is more of a modern classic, originally written and recorded by label mate Tad Overbaugh. I love this rawer, stripped-down version. It's a toe-tapper for sure, and Covault's vocal really taps into the song's darker undercurrents. 

Four songs about heartbreak and one about drinking is pretty much a can't-miss recipe for a great country record. And as far as the ratio of originals to covers goes, I think Justine's Black Threads have it just right. I like a 60/40 mix of new material and creative interpretations of really great songs. These three musicians sound absolutely tremendous together, and Covault really does sound like she was born to play this kind of music. My only complaint about Cheap Vacation is that five tracks of this band is not nearly enough. What a great little EP!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cheap-vacation
https://www.facebook.com/JustinesBlackThreads/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords