There are songs that we know and love without knowing that we know and love them. At the CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree, we endeavour to play and sing as many of these songs as possible. Originally started as “a jam loud and easy enough for everyone to play along and not have to worry about making mistakes”, the CasHank continues it’s stomp-pick-and-holler along to the classics of country music on the first Thursday of every month at Freddy’s Bar on 5th Avenue in Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn. A Best of NYC pick for the Village Voice as well as a New York Magazine Critic’s Pick, The CasHank has been a honky tonk institution in Brooklyn since 2004. Festivities commence at 9pm on May 2, 2013.
Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion play B’klyn Rod & Gun, May 31, 2013
Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion, long suspected of making the records skip at everyone’s favorite private waterside honky tonk, will return there and do their best to shake the picnic tables and the concrete. Yea, it is so. At 10pm on May 31, 2013, the dogs upon high will beckon to their owners on Kent Ave. for just one more juicy Milk Bone at the Brooklyn Rod & Gun Club.
Duck! Rod’s got a gun!
Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion play Hank’s Saloon, May 25, 2013
The sentinel of Army rations, Mr. Chris Q Murphy, has asked my compliance in a Saturday evening quest for the sexiest can of Pabst. We believe it can be found at Hank’s Saloon, on 3rd Avenue in the Brooklyn section of The Big Apple. More acts TBA. Come back later, baby!
Photo by Stefano Giovannini
Thank you, Brooklyn Based!
I’d like to thank the folks at Brooklyn Based for calling me a “local folk badass” this week.
Songwriting credits for NPRMusic’s Jittery Jams list
NPR’s Jittery Jams list of songs for coffee lovers reminded me of how much I love the lyrics to the Coffee Song. Below are some facts about the songwriters on NPR’s list. (All links are ad-free to the best of my ability.)
Mississippi John Hurt wrote “Coffee Blues.”
Bob Hilliard & Dick Miles wrote “The Coffee Song“. Other notable Hilliard lyrics include “I’m Late” for Walt Disney’s Alice In Wonderland, “Our Day Will Come” most famously recorded by Ruby & The Romantics, and “In The Wee Small Hours” also recorded by Frank Sinatra. Miles collaborated with Hilliard on several other novelty songs including “Genie The Magic Record.”
Chris Difford & Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze wrote “Black Coffee In Bed.”
Heavy D’s “Black Coffee” contains a sample of James Brown’s “The Payback.” which was written by James Brown, John Starks, and Fred Wesley.
Paul Francis Webster & Sonny Burke wrote “Black Coffee.” Webster wrote the lyrics to three Academy Award winning songs and the Spider Man Theme. Burke later collaborated with Peggy Lee for the score to “Lady & The Tramp.”
Brendon Small wrote the “Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle.”
Alonzo Mathis, Terius Nash, Darnell Richard, Yung Joc, and Hosea Williams wrote “Coffee Shop.” Mathis co-wrote on the BMI-award winning song “Papers.” Nash (aka The Dream) is a massively successful pop songwriter who co-wrote Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” to name just two reasons you’d like to visit his house. Richard and Williams also c0-wrote the BMI-award winning song “Do It To It.”
DeSylva, Brown, & Henderson wrote “You’re The Cream In My Coffee“. Ray Henderson wrote the music to “Bye Bye Blackbird,” “I’m Sitting On Top Of The World,” and “Button Up Your Overcoat,” the latter also with DeSylva & Brown.
Blur wrote “Coffee and TV.”
BONUS: Milton Drake and Ben Oakland wrote “Java Jive“. Milton Drake also wrote “Mairzy Doats“. Ben Oakland was an incredibly prolific composer of film scores who also collaborated with Oscar Hammerstein II to write “I’ll Take Romance.”
Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion play The Bait & Tackle on May 18, 2013
Are you looking for a fine way to settle down your Friday affairs? Put this date on your calendar, then. May 18, 2013 when Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion shall play the Bait & Tackle in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
No Depression article on The Brooklyn Folk Festival at Bell House this weekend.
I put together a brief linkable guide to this weekend’s Brooklyn Folk Festival on No Depression. Check it out here!
Alex Battles for Mayor of New York
Good evening, New York City.
This morning I announced my candidacy for the Mayorship of New York. I believe that any New Yorker should be unashamed of wanting to be the Mayor of New York. Are you a New Yorker? Are proud of it? Announce your candidacy. It’s not that hard.
The Whisky Rebellion at the Brooklyn Folk Festival. 4/19/13
We are very, very excited and honored to be playing the opening night of the 5th Brooklyn Folk Festival. We’ll be the penultimate act of the night, following Minnesota’s Cactus Blossoms, and preceding The Brain Cloud! And that’s only half the bill! Kristen Andreassen & Critter Eldridge! Chevron Traktors! Jackson Lynch! Joey Arbata! The whole weekend is great, so look into the three day pass! Get your tickets for the show now.
Next up. Pete’s Candy Store. 4/9/13 & more
I’ll be playing solo at Pete’s Candy Store on Tuesday, April 9 at 11pm. Pete’s is a small intimate venue with delicious sandwiches and beer and cocktails. I like playing there and I’m glad to be back. I’m playing after Lily Henly who looks like a real treat. Bring all your friends who don’t gotta wake up early on Wednesday. You’ve got a couple. I know you.
Alex Battles. Photo by Jack Hirschorn.