Rocky Votolato – Sparklers from Stereopathic on Vimeo.

Roadside Graves – Where the Water Flows from Stereopathic on Vimeo.

If you can, see these guys live. They love doing what they do, they care about their music, and most shows end with them getting in the middle of the audience, banging on drums, starting singalongs, and working for their money.

“Harlem River Blues” is a weary road song at its heart, with Earle traveling up Manhattan to go jump in the Harlem River and finish himself off. But the gospel choir and the upbeat arrangement give the song some push-and-pull. Earle may be heading up north to disappear beneath the dirty waters, but he’s gonna make damn sure that he goes out leaving a great, timeless-sounding tune in everyone’s ears.

Justin Townes Earle: Harlem River Blues from the forthcoming Harlem River Blues, due out September 14th from Bloodshot Records…

Friday to Sunday, August 6th, 7th, and 8th, Pendarvis Farm, just outside of Portland, Oregon. If you’re at all in or near the Portland area, we aren’t aware of anything else you oughtta be doing that weekend. Discounted advance tickets remain on sale until Thursday the 5th. That’s tomorrow, people.

Pickathon, dammit.

A locally-owned, family-friendly, sustainably-run indie roots music festival with a killer lineup, great food, and on-site camping. Not only that, but Stereopathic mastermind Larson Hicks will be volunteering there, so if you see a relatively sober, 6’1″ Texan concierg-ing Bonnie Prince Billy from the Beer Garden to the stage, say hello to the man. Our dear friend Nate Wolff will be there, too.

We can’t say enough nice things about Pickathon, and those of us who aren’t making it down this year (some of us so we can run the Roadside Graves’ show this Friday) deeply resent those who are.

We have a lot of love for Metuchen, New Jersey’s Roadside Graves. They released what I (Brendan) consider 2009′s finest record, My Son’s Home, and have merited mentions on this here website for fine, fine songs like Ruby and West Coast. Singer and lyricist John Gleason was good enough to have an interview with us, and one of the reasons we like Pickathon so much is that they draft bands like the Graves to play on their stages.

Well, this Friday, Stereopathic is pleased to shout it out loud that the Graves are gonna grace the stage at Mikey’s on Main Street on their way from Boise to Pickathon. Doors at 9 PM, and $5 gets you inside. Bart Budwig opens, and Mikey’s sells beer. We’re pretty excited about this show, and no one reading this has any excuse not to be there.

In the meantime, dig the Roadside Graves’ Tour Tumblr, follow them on Twitter, and get on over to Aquarium Drunkard to nab their two new cover songs. See y’all on Friday night!

Menomena’s new album, Mines, has gotten universal love from reviewers since it dropped at the end of July. It is a fantastic record. Music lovers know of Menomena as the band that records using software they developed. They are one of the few indie bands who use a saxophone. And they are from Portland. Those are the facts, but the songs are so much sweeter. For your sampling pleasure, listen to the lyrically-undermined bravado of the album’s second track, “Taos”. The song moves in a way that sounds familiar to the band’s fans, quickly segueing from chaotic rock to piano-driven introspection and back again. Menomena are still proving that they’re very good at creating highly controlled mayhem. But “Taos” takes that approach to new heights. The music’s swagger propels the song, providing a backdrop which acts like a brave face for the song’s reflective lyrics. This is the sound of a talented and hugely entertaining band doing a little maturing. Do yourself a serious favor—make Mines a part of your summer’s soundtrack.

Menomena – Taos

Here’s Joe Pug playing “In the Meantime”

Joe Pug – In the Meantime from Stereopathic on Vimeo.

Holiday Friends – Turn the Light on from Stereopathic on Vimeo.

Stay tuned – we hope to start releasing some of our Birds on a Wire Green Room Sessions soon!

Greetings!

We are pleased to announce the details of the next Justin Townes Earle record. Harlem River Blues will hit stores on September 14th.

Compared to the much-lauded Midnight at the Movies,  Harlem River Blues is more mature and increasingly nuanced, while still embracing the raw voice and clean sound of previous standout tracks like “Mama’s Eyes.” Featuring guest appearances from Jason Isbell, Bryn Davies, Ketch Secor from Old Crow Medicine Show and Calexico’s Paul Niehaus, it’s rockin’ and reelin’ at times, sweet and slow at others – and it’s great….and it was produced by JTE and his old friend Skylar Wilson.

We’re counting the days till September 14th.

Justin Townes Earle: I Don’t Care (from the Yuma EP)