The Civil Wars: Unplugged

The Civil Wars
Unplugged
(Sensibility Music)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For a band that only has one full album to their credit, Unplugged, released exclusively through iTunes, marks the The Civil Wars fourth official live release. What fans of the group can be most excited about is that it’s the best sounding of the bunch to date. The previous two live EPs included a SXSW set (also an iTunes exclusive) from March 2011 that sounded like it was recorded from a cell phone and this past April’s Record Store Day release that featured a live performance from Amoeba Records in Hollywood from June 2011 whose sound was better but still rather muffled. Stunningly, their first live release, Live At Eddie’s Attic was the best of the bunch showcasing not only their songwriting prowess but their adoring chemistry. However, Unplugged, which aired on VH1 back in May, is the best document yet to be released of the duo under the spotlights.
> Included are four songs from the award-winning and critically-praised Barton Hollow as well as one of their entries to the Hunger Games soundtrack (“Kingdom Come”) and two cover songs. The group is well-known for their adventurous takes on covers. There’s a version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” almost unrecognizable at the start as John Paul White strums chords on his acoustic guitar, and a cover of Portishead’s “Sour Times,” a favorite band of both Joy and John Paul. It marks the first stateside release of the song by The Civil Wars, although it did appear on a 45 in the UK for a Record Store Day release in April 2012. The group’s harmonies are beautiful, giving light to a song that lingered in the shadows in its original version.

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The Civil Wars Cancel All Tour Dates Due To “Internal Discord”

Strange news from The Civil Wars’camp today. Citing “internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition,” the Grammy-winning Americana duo announced that they would be cancelling all of their remaining tour dates. With such vague language, one could speculate that the band is in danger of breaking up; however, they add that they hope to have new music out in 2013.

The Civil Wars postponed European tour dates earlier this year due to a serious family illness. Singer Joy Williams gave birth to her first child in July. The band’s debut album, Barton Hollow, was recently certified gold,
and they’ll release a VH1 Unplugged EP next week.

According to the concert industry magazine Pollstar, the band is still slated to perform tonight at the Roadhouse in London.

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Tour Diary: The Staves’ Bon Iver-Fueled Summer

The Staves (Emily, Jessica and Camilla Stavely-Taylor) are a UK sibling act who were discovered by producers Glyn and Ethan Johns (The Rolling Stones, Ray LaMontagne). After opening for The Civil Wars, the three sisters landed a slot supporting Bon Iver during his recent U.S. tour. Their trek included stops at Bonnaroo and Sasquatch.

This was taken during Bon Iver’s incredible set at Deer Lake Park in Vancouver. We became obsessed (well, mainly Camilla really) with this app that lets you put cats into your photos and we highly recommend (again, mainly Camilla) that everyone uses it.

Check out the rest of the photos here. Pick up their latest EP Motherload here.

The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams Gives Birth to Baby Boy

Sometimes babies bring joy into the  world, and sometimes Joys bring babies into the world.

Last Saturday, Joy Williams of the Civil Wars gave birth to son Miles Alexander. The baby boy is the first child for her and her husband/band manager, Nate Yetton. A statement released by the band says that everyone is happy, healthy, and learning the meaning of love.

The Civil Wars’ flawless Bonnaroo set will be their last for a while, as the band goes on a break from touring. That doesn’t mean the band will stop working though. Rumor has it, the next thing Williams will deliver is a follow-up album with bandmate John Paul White.

The Top Ten Artists We’re Excited To See At Bonnaroo

Last week, Bonnaroo unveiled the preliminary lineup for the summer festival’s 2012 installment (and their 11th overall). The sprawling outdoor event, which encompasses a stretch of farm in Manchester, TN, will run from June 7 – 10. Out of the 120-plus artists on this year’s docket, here are the ten we’re most psyched to see. Check out our top ten here.

Stream the Newport Folk Festival: Gillian Welch, Amos Lee, and More

NPR Music spent the weekend simulcasting performances from this year’s Newport Folk Festival. Currently, you can listen to audio from Gillian Welch, The Decemberists, The Civil Wars, Emmylou Harris Justin Townes Earle, Amos Lee and many more.

Learn more here.

Announcing the Country Way Digital Sampler Vol 2, present by CMT

In conjunction with our new country music issue, American Songwriter and CMT proudly present The Country Way Digital Volume 2, featuring 31 must-hear tracks from some of our favorite artists. And the best thing about it? It’s free!
 

Click HERE To Download

Check out the full track listing here: 

1.       The Apache Relay - “American Nomad”

2.       Jessica Lea Mayfeld - “Our Hearts Are Wrong”

3.       Dylan LeBlanc - “Emma Hartley”

4.       Caitlin Rose - “Shanghai Cigarettes”

5.       Justin Townes Earle - “Learning To Cry”

6.       Hayes Carll - “Stomp & Holler”

7.       Sunny Sweeney - “From a Table Away”

8.       Sons of Bill - “The Rain”

9.       Jonny Corndawg - “Night Rider”

10.   Joe Pug -“How Good You Are”

11.   The Civil Wars - “Barton Hollow”

12.   Matraca Berg - “Racing The Angels”

13.   Steve Earle - “Waitin’ On The Sky”

14.   Middle Brother - “Me, Me, Me”

15.   Ponderosa - “I Don’t Mind (Live from American Songwriter)”

16.   Randy Montana - “1000 Faces”

17.   Walker Hayes - “Why Wait For Summer”

18.   Miss Willie Brown - “Couyon Crazy”

19.   Randy Rogers Band - “Interstate”

20.   Josh Kelley - “Gone Like That”

21.   Diana Jones - “High Atmosphere”

22.   Andrew Combs - “Wanderin’ Heart”

23.   Charlie Louvin - “Weapon Of Prayer”

24.   Robert Ellis - “Westbound Train”

25.   Wrinkle Neck Mules - “Catfish And Color TVs”

26.   Ryan Tanner - “I Never Did My Best”

27.   Marty Stuart - “Hummingbyrd”

28.   Jim Lauderdale - “Patchwork River”

29.   Lori McKenna - “Still Down Here”

30.   Buddy Miller - “God’s Winged Horse”

31.   Jason Isbell - “Codeine” 

VIDEO: Relive our swinging day party at #SXSW with Hayes Carll, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Civil Wars, Jason Isbell & more! 

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Inside The Billy Reid Shindig w/ Hayes Carll, Civil Wars, & Jessica Lea Mayfield

It’s so easy to hate on South By Southwest…Too big, too corporate, too much, too too too…And it’s true, kind of. But not really…

Check out Holly Gelason’s blog on the SXSW Billy Reid K-Swiss Shindig featuring Jessica Lea Mayfield, Hayes Carll, The Civil Wars, Caitlin Rose, Jason Isbell, The Apache Relay, Keegan Dewitt & The Romany Rye. 

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The Billy Reid & K-Swiss SXSW Shindig, Presented by American Songwriter 

Well butter our buns and call us a biscuit, but it’s that time again. With the 25th Anniversary of SXSW less than a month away, we’re happy to announce the line-up for The Billy Reid & K-Swiss SXSW Shindig, presented by American Songwriter.

This year’s line-up will include performances by Hayes Carll, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Jason Isbell, Caitlin Rose, The Civil Wars, The Romany Rye, Keegan DeWitt and The Apache Relay.

Join us at The Swan Dive on Wednesday, March 16th, from noon to six, for a drink and the chance to catch some of the best music coming out of the Southland. The event is free, but you gotta RSVP right away.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP