Jim Lauderdale Delivers Country Rock Goodness & Southern Hospitality TONIGHT! (SPACE – Evanston, IL)

It’s been over a year since we’ve moved our hub Northwest, above the Mason-Dixon line, but Bang Bang Slang hasn’t forgotten our roots, dag-gone-it. We miss a lot about living in North Carolina: BBQ, the OBX, Asheville, Southern Belles, Sweet Tea, Chick-Fil-A, Cheap Cigs, Neighborliness, Camoflauge Bud Light Cans, but most of all we miss the presence of live “southern” music everywhere – namely, bluegrass, alternative country, and folk. Our near-decade spent in the South opened up our appreciation to bands that would’ve never got a listen in our original home base of Cleveland: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, early-Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Avett Brothers, Felice Brothers, The Minus-5, Phish, Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, Old Crow Medicine Show, and various up-and-coming modern country-rock acts that were blowing up down there.

With the indie-rock scene healthier than ever in Chicago, it’s always comforting to hear when a familiar southern bluegrass and country name hits our concert calendar.  So Bang Bang Slang threw some ice cubes in our tumblers and poured our finest bourbon when we heard that two-time grammy winner and Carolina native, Jim Lauderdale, would be stopping by SPACE in Evanston tonight. He’s touring in support of his badass, newly released album “Patchwork River” (Thirty Tigers), a collaboration with Grateful Dead lyricist, Robert Hunter.

Jim Lauderdale – “Patchwork River”

LISTEN: Jim Lauderdale – “Patchwork River”

Over the last 48 hours, Bang Bang Slang finally had a chance to devote multiple full listens to Patchwork River – and with expectations based on the previous, more acoustic Lauderdale/Hunter collaboration “Headed for the Hills” (released 6 years ago), the biggest straightaway surprise with ‘River‘ is the electric guitar approach. And the transition here from acoustic to electric is just as graceful as it is hard-hitting for the listener. This change in direction works in every way for Patchwork, especially with the musical genre and songwriting formula that Lauderdale leaned on in the past getting flipped upside down on its head – we get treated to Southern funk (“Jawbone”), 70’s gospel  (“Good Together”),  good ‘ol Americana (“Between Your Heart and Mine”), and gritty, visceral country jams that you’d come to expect (“El Dorado”, “My Lips Are Sealed”). The musical congruency between Lauderdale and Hunter is more on point than ever, evoking the artistic camaraderie that Hunter shared with Jerry Garcia– but let it be stated that this partnership stands boldly on its own dignified, boot-kickin’ platform with masterful distinction. In addition, Lauderdale‘s smooth control of instrumental and vocal melodies on these 13 studio songs makes each track shine in a big, unique way – we knew he was a powerful vocalist, but hot damn…

So, tonight brings Jim Lauderdale to the Society for the Preseravtion of Art & Culture in Evanston or SPACE for short. If you’ve never been- it’s a killer venue and one that will suit Lauderdale‘s sound to a tee. Tickets are still available  and Jim takes the stage at 8:00 PM, sharing the stage with Beausoleil Quartet.

Jim Lauderdale LIVE @ SPACE 09/02/10 – Evanston, IL!!!

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Show some love and support for Mr. Lauderdale and make him feel welcome in the mighty Midwest! We’ll be throwin on our cowboy boots and as always, let us know if you’re headed to the show and BBS will buy you a beer on us – that means free. But tonight it’s gonna be a Pabst. Nothin’ better than Southern Rock and Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. Right?

TOUR DATES

• 09/03/10: Minnesota State Fair – St. Paul, MN
• 09/04/10 : Minnesota State Fair – St. Paul, MN
• 09/09/10:The Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
• 09/ 18/10: Wheeler Opera House – Aspen, CO
• 10/09/10:  The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall – Asheville, NC

Follow Jim Lauderdale on Twitter! @jimlauderdale1

Jim Lauderdale Official Website: HERE