American Patrol go Ameripolitan

AP General Jerry Sikorski tells me he just entered his group's "I Ain't Never Been a Cheater" in the Rockabilly classification of the Dale Watson-founded Ameripolitan's 2027 Award competition. 

Previous awards winners include Nick Curran, Kyle Eldridge, Jane Rose, The Lucky Stars, and Nic Roulette.

In reviewing AP's recent platter last May, I wrote "Sandburg's line about coming in on 'little cat feet' has no relevance here. Opening track 'I Ain't Never Been a Cheater' makes like a lion with its tail stuck in a wall socket." 

"I Ain't Never Been a Cheater" (live)

The Ameripolitan Awards nomination period is now open, and will remain so until late summer / early fall. Nominees can be put forward not only by bands themselves, but also by peers and fans.

Following the nomination term's conclusion, top nominees will be compiled. Official voting on final nominees will end in October or November. General Ballot Blaster voting will then be open until late December or early January.

The Ameripolitan Awards ceremony is set for February. 

Ameripolitan

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Memphis Lightning

Personal Obsession

(Self-issued)

"Built on the Blues, wired for Rock'n'Roll" would be an irresponsibly hifalutin' claim, were it to issue from most mouths. But it only begins to capture the jump-back phenomenon now before us. Motivatin' in zeal and at high volume are robust travels in the key of damn straight. (Darren "Lil' Bluesman" Thiboutot Jr's solos will make big toes jump up in boots.) To quote the rousters themselves: "The Blues has built us into the band we are today." 

"My sound is a blend of all of my heroes and influences from genre to genre, mixed together to form a sound that purely comes from my soul," Lil' Bluesman told Blues GR last April. "I write a lot of music with my old man [Grammy-nominated Big Red], and you’ll hear elements of Blues, Rock, Pop, Roots, Country and more! I write music that has meaning and feeling to me, and my songs range from rockers, to soulful ones, tear jerkers, to pure guitar pyrotechnics!"

Recommended: "Personal Obsession," "The Road is My Home," "The Rock and Roll," "Good Man," "Perfect World," "You Got Nothing," "Come Back Home," "Halloween in July," "The King of Cool"

Videos: "The Road is My Home"   "You Got Nothing"   "Good Man"    "The King of Cool"

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SHAZAM

Deezer

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The Nite Howlers

Rockin' & Reelin', Pts 1 and 2   7" vinyl

(Sleazy Records)

As these singles hardly represent their first rodeo, the Nite Howlers' hard-grained know-how strides and struts. No unfamiliar postures are present here, which is indeed a gladsome note. Instead, four jumpers whose hearts are rightly placed put 110% into Rockabilly jaunts that aren't one solitary lick ashamed of their Country heritage -- a characteristic that waves howdy hi from each bent-string barn stomp. 

Recommended: "Don't Be Square," "Long Tall Jeannie," "Wide River," "Longin' For Your Smile," "You Believe Everyone But Me"

Videos: "Don't Be So Square"   "Long Tall Jeannie"   "Longin' For Your Smile"   "You Believe Everyone But Me"

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Sleazy Records

Wix

beatport

Copasetic Mailorder

imusic

Crazy Times Music

Bear Family

Alan Vega

Deluxe Edition

(Sacred Bones Records)

Alan "Vega" Bermowitz died only months ago. His and Suicide partner Martin Rev's 1970s NYC synth/vocals/rhythm box ear-graffiti repulsed/seduced like a pile-up you could neither bear to scrutinize nor turn from. It was, in passages, that good. On his own, Alan continued to turn loose the Rockabilly gleeps and throat-catch histrionics for which he was infamous. The synth was replaced by more orthodox guitar/bass/percussion, and arrangements largely respected tradition. Still, unanniness roamed shadows. 

Included are seven demo versions. Available as CD, digital, and black-splatter vinyl.

Recommended: "Jukebox Babe," "Kung Foo Cowboy," "Fireball," "Speedway," "Ice Drummer," "Bye Bye Bayou"

Videos: "Jukebox Babe"   "Kung Foo Cowboy"   "Ice Drummer"   "Bye Bye Bayou"   live (1:01:39 London 1986)   

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Sacred Bones Records

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Juno

Rough Trade

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The Coffin Fits

There's a Snake in My Boot(leg)   Digital 

(Self-issued)

Cooked up in an Enzed Garage, spookiness rides the wild surf. Triple-time snare hustles, while ominous acoustic negotiations explore long-desolate and spider-webbed manses. Voices suddenly pounce; the lead is surly, the chorus ones, spectral. 

Recommended: "Crankenstein," "Baby I've Changed," "Werewolf Island," "Poltergassed," "Mortal Acoustic"

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Nine Lives

"Tomorrow's a better day!" Antti reassures. Knocking negativism into the rearview is friend Rockabilly, its shoe-leather swing irresistable. Versed-in-Goneness axe-choppers tip incomers as to how best to deal in heptitude, their slap-back hedonism given surplus sinew by cameo saxophone exploits.

Video: "Keep On Keeping On"

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Blue Light Records

Zotal

Indignation glides atop punch-chords, under which head-thrashings of resoluteness pound incessantly. Cool as ice, a declarer shoots commentary in brusque espanol.

Video: "Fascistis agudo (Hate At First Sting)" 

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Xonix Records