Jay Farrar News and Photos

Cover Classics: Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg & Wilco

Fri, April 26 2013 9:06pm - Source: Cover Me

Cover Classics takes a closer look at all-cover albums of the past, their genesis, and their legacy.

Mike Ragogna: Honky Tonk: Chatting with Son Volt's Jay Farrar, Plus Longreef's "She Likes The Girl" Video Exclusive and More

Fri, April 05 2013 7:12am - Source: The Huffington Post - Entertainment

The last time we spoke, you were working on the documentary on Kerouac.

Son Volt: Honky Tonk

Tue, March 12 2013 5:25am - Source: Pitchfork Media

Jay Farrar has always stood up for the Little Guy in America.

Album Review: Son Volt – Honky Tonk

Wed, March 06 2013 5:05am - Source: Consequence of Sound

Misery loves company, and Jay Farrar has always proven himself a suitable sidekick.

Out This Week 3/5

Tue, March 05 2013 11:03pm - Source: KEXP 90.3 Blog

Two Seattle bands top this week's list of new releases.

Mindy McCready Funeral Planned; Lauren Alaina's Special Trip + More: Country Music News Roundup

Fri, February 22 2013 9:40pm - Source: The Boot

The Boot rounds up today's country music news from around the web.

Son Volt, 'Bakersfield' -- Song Premiere

Fri, February 22 2013 5:04pm - Source: Spinner

Son Volt has returned to put a bit of country-fried rock 'n' roll in your life.

Song Premiere: Son Volt Seek Transcendence on 'Hearts and Minds'

Fri, February 15 2013 1:05pm - Source: Rolling Stone

Jay Farrar has never strayed too far from the rock & roll side of country music in his career stretching back more than 25 years, but he heads for the heart of Bakersfield on Son Volt's new album, Honky Tonk. Inspired by vintage Bakersfield-style country acts like Buck Owens and Wynn Stewart – and particularly by Ralph Mooney, the pedal steel guitarist who played with both singers – Farrar began learning the instrument a year and a half ago, which led to a batch of new songs.

This Week's Best Album Streams: 30th January 2013

Wed, January 30 2013 10:36am - Source: The Four Oh Five

Jim James – or Yim Yames, or whatever he's calling himself this week – has been flirting with albums outside of his principal act, My Morning Jacket, for a while now.

The 405 meets Ben Gibbard

Wed, January 16 2013 7:46am - Source: The Four Oh Five

I'm hunkered down into my duffel, on a bench in deserted Compton Terrace gardens, shivering in the gloaming and waiting for the call.

My favorite albums of 2012

Wed, January 09 2013 11:25pm - Source: Catfish Vegas presents....

A love song to San Francisco delivered on a hot plate of raucous rock 'n' roll, Temple Beautiful is instantly catchy.

They’re not leaving ’till they’ve seen a ghost.

Sat, January 05 2013 10:52pm - Source: Songs Save Lives

Well, first off, Shrag, one of my favorite British bands, one of my favorite rock bands, one of the only band's in this blog's history to appear on TWO end of year best-of lists, announced yesterday that they're splitting up.

Joe’s Favorite Albums 2012

Fri, December 21 2012 6:11pm - Source: Each Note Secure

The latest attempt to turn Woody Guthrie songs into modern day standards did not come from Jeff Tweedy and Billy Bragg but this time from Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, and Yim Yames.

Ben Gibbard: Former Lives

Mon, October 15 2012 5:17am - Source: Pitchfork Media

For a guy whose band is often held up as the epitome of beta-male wimpiness, Benjamin Gibbard writes a lot of mean songs; not passive-aggressive, but genuinely cruel.

Desert Island Discs with Ben Arthur

Wed, September 19 2012 5:30pm - Source: Pop Dose

This is one of my favorite albums, not just because Parker's lyrics are lovely and inventive (he compares his ex-girlfriend's orgasm to a fluttering origami crane), but because the music is so fantastically contradictory.

Wilco’s 10 Best Songs

Thu, August 16 2012 2:38pm - Source: Stereogum

Following the 1994 split of the celebrated Uncle Tupelo, the betting line amongst fans and critics alike held that between Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar — the band's two major principals — it was the latter headed for bigger and better things.

Record Store Day Recap (only a month late)

Mon, May 21 2012 6:34am - Source: The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown

As I jump back into the world of blogging (I promise, baby, this week I'll be different), I figure I need to address the biggest music event of the past few weeks...Record Store Day. I've been going every year and when I used to get to the store about 30-minutes prior to opening, I was upset that I was 5th or 6th in line.

Album Review: Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions

Fri, April 27 2012 12:08pm - Source: Consequence of Sound

This year marks Woody Guthrie's 100 th birthday, and our modern musicians have not let any commemorations fall by the wayside.

Amps Have Been Lowered to Half-Stack for Jim Marshall

Sat, April 07 2012 6:39pm - Source: The Adios Lounge

Jim Marshall , creator of the Marshall stack, died Thursday morning at the age of 88.

Quarantining The Past: Uncle Tupelo's 'March 16-20, 1992'

Tue, April 03 2012 10:20am - Source: Prefix Magazine

For all those shouting bands that cashed in and faded fast, we had an antidote in Uncle Tupelo: a band that whispered, angry and beautifully.

Mike Ragogna: Celebrating Woody Guthrie: Chatting With Arlo Guthrie & Colin Gilmore, Plus a New Multitudes Video Exclusive and More

Fri, March 30 2012 4:57am - Source: The Huffington Post - Entertainment

Under the invitation of Nora Guthrie, Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, and Yim Yames were able to tour the Guthrie archives.

Remembering March 16-20, 1992

Wed, March 21 2012 6:32am - Source: The Adios Lounge

"Halfway through the week, I thought, 'Gee, this is like working on a classic Rolling Stones album. This is going to be a great record and it's going to be around for a long time.' I felt very responsible too. It was important to get everything right. Because you only get to make a record like this once." 20 years ago today, Uncle Tupelo finished recording their third album, March 16-20, 1992.

New Multitudes (Jay Farrar, Yim Yames, Anders Parker, Will Johnson) played Webster Hall (pics, setlist)

Mon, March 19 2012 8:49pm - Source: Brooklyn Vegan

New Multitudes , a centennial tribute to Woody Guthrie , made up of the singer-songwriters Jay Farrar, Yim Yames, Anders Parker and Will Johnson , operates from within a cocoon of familiarity.

Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parks, Yim Yames - New Multitudes

Sun, March 04 2012 11:38am - Source: Uncut.co.uk

Alt Americana supergroup finish what their Daddy started.

New Multitudes: Jay Farrar

Fri, March 02 2012 5:31pm - Source: ClashMusic.com

In the one hundred years since the birth of Woody Guthrie our planet has witnessed two world wars, several recessions, the emergence of the Internet and the first African-American President of the United States.

Newport Folk Festival 2012

Thu, March 01 2012 6:59pm - Source: Pop Dose

The Newport Festivals Foundation™ has announced the lineup for the 2012 Newport Folk Festival® set to take place July 28-29 once again at the picturesque Fort Adams State Park. Tickets go on sale worldwide Thursday, March 1, at 10:00 am at www.newportfolkfest.net. The Newport Festivals Foundation continues to celebrate the festival's historic past by featuring emerging young artists alongside some of folk music's most venerable names.

New Music Releases for Tuesday 2/28/2012

Tue, February 28 2012 12:36pm - Source: Music Under Fire

While we were able to catch a solid peek at the new School of Seven Bells album, this week also features some fine musicians collaborating for New Multitudes, an old favorite in Fanfarlo and some sweet Canadian folk from Plants & Animals.

Jay Farrar/Will Johnson/Anders Parker/Yim Yames - New Multitudes

Fri, February 24 2012 6:49am - Source: The Four Oh Five

Woddy Guthrie (1912-1967): protest singer, activist, mentor to Bob Dylan, owner of fascist-killing machine.

Shorties (Musical Moments of the Presidents, A Literary-Themed Dinner Party, and more)

Thu, February 23 2012 2:34pm - Source: Largehearted Boy

Pop & Hiss shares musical moments of U.S. presidents.

Introducing... New Multitudes

Mon, February 13 2012 6:01pm - Source: ClashMusic.com

A century which has seen the United States change from a small nation still recovering from a Civil War, into perhaps the world's sole remaining superpower.

Jim James, Will Johnson, Jay Farrar & Anders Parker team for Guthrie project album & tour (dates & song stream)

Thu, January 12 2012 4:41pm - Source: Brooklyn Vegan

Jim James , Jay Farrar , Will Johnson (who previously collabroated with Jim James in Monsters of Folk), and Anders Parker (who previously collaborated with Jay Farrar in Gob Iron), have teamed up to record an album titled New Multitudes , which comes out February 28 via Rounder Records.

Woody Guthrie Tribute Arranged

Wed, November 30 2011 3:06pm - Source: ClashMusic.com

Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Yim Yames have joined forces to record a tribute to Woody Guthrie.

Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion: making their own way

Wed, November 23 2011 12:17pm - Source: The Vinyl District

This lovely duo with a remarkable heritage (Sarah Lee is the youngest daughter of folksinger Arlo Guthrie and the granddaughter of Woody Guthrie ; Johnny's aunt is married to John Steinbeck's youngest son) recently toured the UK, in support of their excellent Bright Examples album.

The Finest (Driving To) Work Song

Mon, October 03 2011 2:57am - Source: Bottom of the Glass

Maybe you so look forward to getting to work that in your dash to the car, you stop to pet the cat, deadhead the flowers that are past their prime, wave at the retired neighbors out for a walk, all while sipping your hazelnut-flavored decaf coffee while wearing the outfit that you laid out the night before.

Book Notes - Yvonne Prinz ("The Vinyl Princess")

Fri, August 05 2011 2:18pm - Source: Largehearted Boy

In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.

Book Notes - Will Lavender ("Dominance")

Tue, August 02 2011 2:54pm - Source: Largehearted Boy

In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.

Eliminate The Toxins

Tue, July 05 2011 8:29pm - Source: MOG

Listening to this fine new release by the Great White north's Mark Davis, I can't help but be impressed by how nicely his music is evolving.

Centro-matic :: The AD Interview

Mon, June 13 2011 3:41pm - Source: Aquarium Drunkard

In 2008 Centro-matic , along with their alter-ego South San Gabriel, released the sprawling double LP, Dual Hawks.

Honest Man Blues

Mon, May 02 2011 2:33pm - Source: Big Rock Candy Mountain

I am influenced directly or in spirit by lots of folks.

Best of the 90's: My Take

Mon, February 28 2011 12:18pm - Source: A Fifty Cent Lighter & A Whiskey Buzz

Last week, on NPR's All Songs Considered podcast, a panel of critics including ASC regulars Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson, and new commentator Ann Powers discussed the music of the 1990's .

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