Hayes Carll was on CBS Saturday Morning today, performing 3 songs from his new album. Videos, review, older article

[highplainsdem]

Folk Alley review:
https://folkalley.com/album-review-hayes-carll-were-only-human/

A songwriter’s songwriter, Hayes Carll gazes steadily at the world around him and stares deeply into the human soul, especially his own, and with the heart of storyteller he juxtaposes images and words to create a portrait of the individuals often struggling to find peace, hope, and love in their lives. On his tenth album, We’re Only Human, Carll delivers a collection of riveting short stories and lyrics that quietly probe the ways we can find avenues of grace as we confront the our own shortcomings and the challenges of the world.

Layers of lilting pedal steel weave under and around stately piano chords and B3 strains on the title track, providing a cinematic foundation for Carll’s gravely, crackling, straight-from-the-heart vocals. The song spirals to a crescendo in the final chorus before fading slowly into twinkling piano notes, reminding us of our common struggles to find and revel in the humanity we all share. Gentle mandolin strums open and flow beneath the swaying “Stay Here a While,” an ode to staying attentive and being present in the moment: “The pace these days suits my style/ So I think I’ll stay here awhile.” Fiddles propel the good old front porch hoedown, “Progress of Man (Bitcoin and Cattle),” a not-so-ironic lament that making “big money on bitcoin and cattle” is dividing us though we’re constantly told that “it’s all for the progress of man.” The atmospheric blues “I Got Away with It,” soars with regret and pain while shining with luminous self-knowledge. The sparse “Making Amends” acts as a riposte to “I Got Away with It”; it’s a plaintive pledge, fueled by layers of aching pedal steel, to “try to do better.” The album closes with “May I Never,” which sonically recalls The Kingston Trio’s “It Takes a Worried Man.” Carll is joined on the song by Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shovels & Rope, Darrell Scott, Nicole Atkins, and The Band of Heathens’ Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi, who each take verses. On the penultimate refrain Carll and company sing ethereally: “Holdin’ on to the wonder and the glory/ Of a world and a spirit open wide/ Holdin’ on long enough to tell the story/ Of the love I have discovered deep inside.”

-snip-

And from the Vancouver Sun in 2019:

https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/western-and-woke-hayes-carll-tells-it-like-it-is-on-what-it-is

Western and woke: Hayes Carll tells it like it is on What It Is
Q&A: Country musician's songs are rootsy and rebellious against the prevailing political winds

Author of the article:By Stuart Derdeyn
Published Aug 20, 2019
Last updated Aug 20, 2019


Patriarchy is not the sort of word you would ever expect to come out of the mouth of an outlaw country singer. But Texan Hayes Carll is not your usual bill of fare. On his latest album, What It Is, the critically acclaimed songwriter puts contemporary America under the spotlight and digs deep.

The result is a dozen songs that are really rootsy and have something to say.

When the majority of artists in the genre are bending over to drape themselves in the Stars and Stripes and kneel for President Donald Trump, Carll asks “in times like these do I really need a billionaire/Just taking up my time trying to tell me he’s treated unfair.”

It’s not the usual country and western music, to be sure. Instead, the musician appears to be mining a genre that could be called western and woke. It’s refreshingly honest and aware. On the road from Kansas City to his next gig, Carll chatted and also answered questions by email when his phone crapped out.

-snip-

Much more at the link.

[The Polack MSgt]

1. Very nice - I'd heard his name - He did a show at my favorite venue in St Louis recently

But I was on the road, and my wife is not a fan of country, so I probably would've missed it anyway.

But this is the 1st time I listened to him. Thanks for the turn on

[highplainsdem]

2. Same here - had heard his name but not his music. I found it immediately appealing...and I

immediately thought of your taste in music and guessed you'd like these videos even if you hadn't heard him before.

I wanted to know more about him - you know I like to research artists - and the first artist who'd come to mind when I was listening to him was Willie Nelson. But the Wikipedia article on him didn't mention Willie, other than Hayes recording his debut album at Willie's Pedernales Studio.

So I googled

hayes carll willie nelson

and saw a number of results on the first page about him being influenced by Willie (and Kris Kristifferson, Bob Dylan, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Rogers, among others).

But it was the first result on the page that really got my attention, with its headline:

Hayes Carll Responds to Steve Earle Diss with New Song at Willie’s 4th of July Picnic
https://savingcountrymusic.com/hayes-carll-responds-to-steve-earle-diss-with-new-song-at-willies-4th-of-july-picnic/

When Steve Earle threw Hayes Carll under the bus in mid June by calling Hayes a “younger, skinnier, less talented singer-songwriter” than himself, it set up a potential showdown at Willie Nelson’s annual 4th of July Picnic where both men were scheduled to play this year. Held just outside of Austin at the Circuit of the Americas, Willie’s 2017 lineup included Jamey Johnson, the Turnpike Troubadours, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, as well as Earle and Carll.

The original Steve Earle quote came from The Guardian, and was in the context of Earle’s ex-wife Allison Moorer leaving him for Hayes. It was also in the midst of the roll out of Steve’s latest record So You Wanna Be An Outlaw where Earle went on the warpath against numerous individuals, including Noel Gallagher, Richard Buckner, and others.

This left many wondering how awkward it would be if Hayes and Earle crossed paths backstage. However the two men were set to play on different stages, with Carll playing on the main pavilion stage, and Steve Earle headlining the plaza stage. Carll played first at about 4:30 p.m., and according to numerous accounts, near the end of his set, said he was going to play a song he hadn’t done before live, and it prominently included the lyric, “I think she left you because you wouldn’t shut your mouth.” Hayes didn’t say the title of the song, or if it might show up on a future project.

This put all eyes on the always-outspoken Steve Earle, who played about two hours later. But no gruff was returned from the 62-year-old, at least not Hayes Carll’s way.

-snip-

Noel Gallagher of Oasis was about the last person whose name I'd've expected to run across, reading about Hayes or Steve Earle. But I found that interview Steve had done for The Guardian

Steve Earle: 'My wife left me for a younger, skinnier, less talented singer'
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jun/14/steve-earle-so-you-wanna-be-an-outlaw-interview

where, with a lot of other complaining, he had taken a swipe at Noel and Oasis:

Not that Earle has ever needed encouragement to say what he thinks. A keen Arsenal fan, he pulls a face when I mention I support Manchester City. “I dislike Man City because it is Oasis’s club. Noel Gallagher is the most overrated songwriter in the whole history of pop music. They were perfect for the Brit press because they behaved badly and got all the attention. Blur were really great. That guy Damon Albarn is a real fuckin’ songwriter.”

He sounded more than a little childish and jealous there (disliking a football team because someone you're jealous of supports it? really?).

And Noel responded - https://www.stereogum.com/1971921/noel-gallagher-has-a-new-album-so-we-talked-to-him-about-taylor-swift-morrissey-and-his-latest-beef-with-liam/interviews/ - in an interview with Stereogum:

STEREOGUM: Do you know Steve Earle? He called you the most overrated songwriter in pop history this year.

GALLAGHER: I’ve heard of his name. Yeah. I’d probably tend to agree with him. I do get a lot of adulation and it makes me uncomfortable. But Steve Earle should enjoy what’s left of his fucking hairdo. D’you know what I mean? Yeah, just enjoy what’s left of his hairdo and write a decent chorus.

Anyway, I will be learning more about Hayes. Really like what I've learned so far.

[kevinbgoode1]

3. I really enjoyed these. . .

I was not familiar with him at all, but what great delivery and sound. He kept my attention and seemed soothing in some way. Thanks for sharing his work!

[highplainsdem]

4. You're welcome! His music was new to me, too, as I explained in the reply above. I'm glad I woke

early enough yesterday to catch the last hour of that show (the musical guests are usually in the last 15-20 minutes).