When we start a new year I might have a couple of shows booked but I never know what is going to come our way for the bulk of it. We seem to have evolved into a venue that these artists love to play. More times than not, they are calling me.  They must be saying that this is a pretty unique place to play. For that I want to thank you, the live music patrons that attend our shows.

Looking back at the list from 2009. Robbie Fulks, Kathleen Edwards, Griffin House, Jim Lauderdale, Doug Macleod, Terry Evans, Bill Kirchen, Amy Lavere, Paul Cebar, Romi Mayes and Steve Forbert. (How many Grammy's do you think are included in that list of names?)  Never in my wildest imagination when we started doing this 4 years ago, did I think it would grow into a line up like this. Thanks again. It has been fun!

Since we are at the end of the decade I thought it might be fun to review what we, who pick the talent at the playlist theater, thought were the best CD's of the decade. When I asked Tom Ptak, my musical mentor, he was all over it. This is what he came up with.

From Tom -
This was fun, I knew I was in trouble when I already had 14 by 2005. So I wrote them all down, the ones that touched my soul at that time and had to weed them out. Trying to remember how long did they stay in my car. The car seems to be the best listening room for myself, 6 or so speakers all within Phil Jackson's arm's reach. I was glad to see that the Beatles had a few releases in the oughts' LOVE and Let it Be Naked, tough pick. Hey! so here goes, I'm starting from the beginning of the decade, not to be confused with 1 - 10 with 1 being the best. I would get a headache trying to figure that out and tomorrow it would be different. It seems that the early part of the decade was a little better, what happen to 2004? Now for my turn. As you probably have realized my tastes are more on the eclectic side. In making out this list, things that were important to me were..... Is it a great CD from begining to end? Do you have a new favorite song on the CD each time you listen to? Like Tom says the discs you go back to time and again are the best. I also love CD's that awaken me to a new genre of music. I have an aversion to big music. They suck the air out the room and leave little room for the true artists and songwriters. Here are mine, also in no particular order beside alphabetical

1-Avett Brothers - I and Love and You - 2009 - The next coming of the Beatles? Also worth a mention is "Emotionalism" from 2007
2-Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago - 2006 - Justin Vernon's debut as Bon Iver, exudes such a strong sense of loneliness and remoteness
3-Everybodyfields - Nothing is OK - 2007 - Sam and Jill after performing here twice are not together anymore, but their work will live on. A slice of Appalachia and simple life. Lonely Anywhere
4-G Love and Special Sauce - 2000 - Philadelphonic - Garret Dutton pays tribute to blues, hip hop, rap, even early Dylan. Three or Four of his Cd's were worthy of the list
5-Greg Brown - The Evening Call - 2006 - Insights into the realities and foibles of modern life. This Midwestern troubadour had several CD's in the oughts worthy of the list
6-Ike Reilly - Salesmen & Racists - 2001 - The most infectious songs you'll never hear on commercial radio.
7-Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music - 2003 - A gorgeous, streamlined piece of acoustic Americana, beautiful and fully realized.
8-Joe Strummer - Streetcore  - 2003 - This originator of The Clash, died suddenly in 02. His works keep coming out. This was what he was working on when he died
9-Lucinda Williams - Essence - 2001 - Still my favorite Luncinda, recorded with guitar slinger and past 3 time Playlist Theater performer Bo Ramsey
10-Sam Baker - Mercy - 2004 - The most interesting story in music today, everyone is at the mercy of another one's dream

Hope you enjoy!
Ray

Singer and songwriter Jeffrey Foucault has, over the course of his brief career, been compared to everyone from Townes Van Zandt to John Prine, to Greg Brown to Chris Whitley. He's racked up accolades across the country and overseas for a tersely elegant brand of Americana set apart by its haunting imagery and weatherbeaten cool. Said Uncut Magazine (UK): "The music of Wisconsin native Foucault is the kind so many aspire to but never attain: beat up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection."  The New York Times says, "Jeffrey Foucault is a young man with an old soul... contemporary and timeless."

Jeffrey himself says, "When I was seventeen my Dad brought home John Prine's first album and it became my private religion for a while. I learned to play the guitar by learning his songs, and my Dad and I still play them around the table after supper when I'm home. They've kept me company for years in hotel rooms and foreign countries, on stage and away from it, telling the truth in beautiful and unexpected ways." 

Since the 2001 release of his critically acclaimed debut, "Miles from the Lightning",  Foucault has built an independent career touring extensively in the United States, Canada, and the UK.  " Miles from the Lightning" was followed by  "Redbird" in 2003 with Peter Mulvey and Kris Delmhorst ( Jeffrey's wife) and in 2004 "Stripping Cane" a collection of bright, spare songs; an Americana bus tour that moves from Country Blues to Murder Ballad, Twelve-Bar to Gospel.

The Chicago Sun-Times gave his 2006 "Ghost Repeater" album 4 stars saying "One of the best albums of the year... Jeffrey Foucault incorporates the best of the Americana, alt-country and roots-rock genres into his third solo album... Those who recall Bruce Springsteen in the pre-"Born to Run" days will hear echoes of the Boss... as well as the best of the Texas troubadours, including Joe Ely and Butch Hancock."  This release was produced by Bo Ramsey who is not only a former Uptown Playlist artist  but has also produced the likes of Lucinda Williams and Greg Brown.  Also on this album you will hear Dave Moore on harp, another former Uptown Playlist artist.

His 2009 release, recorded in the old, wood-paneled president's office of a defunct bank in a series of late night sessions over the course of a year, "Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes: Jeffrey Foucault Sings the Songs of John Prine" offers compelling new interpretations of thirteen John Prine originals.

Country Music Roundup magazine said of one of Jeffrey's live performances..... "Jeffrey Foucault, with his wonderful country blues is a class (or two) above most. His fantastic playing and smoky, storytelling vocals of a man beyond his years is a shining beacon... one barn burner after another... superb."

He will play, Friday, April 16th as a solos. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door.

Foucault Website

Americans in Corduroys

Unwed Fathers

 Tickets on sale now.           

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