Mountain Blog

This week’s broadcast of Mountain Stage features the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama, Bell X-1, Marti Jones & Don Dixon, Amy LaVere, and Tristen; recorded live at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center.

After singing quartet-style gospel together for more than 65 years, The Blind Boys of Alabama need little introduction. They recently released Take the High Road, their first ever album of country tunes, featuring collaborations with Hank Williams Jr., Vince Gill and others. Their rousing, soulful performance brought -- and kept -- this Mountain Stage audience on its feet for nearly their entire set.

Second only to U2 as Ireland’s most popular rock band, sophisticated indie rockers Bell X1 evoke early Radiohead, Coldplay and the Talking Heads. With two guitar players pulling double duty on keyboards and laptop computers, Bell X1 creates melodic rock that is layered and complex, but completely uncluttered. Their most recent record is Bloodless Coup.

After hearing husband and wife duo Marti Jones and Don Dixon, you will understand why they’ve earned a reputation as the first family of jangle-pop. Dixon has produced bands ranging from R.E.M. and the Smithereens to James McMurtry, and spent much of the last two years playing bass in Mary Chapin Carpenter’s touring band.

Marti Jones (who is also an accomplished painter) music career began with the Ohio-based band Color Me Gone, and has continued with a string of solo releases and a tour with singer-songwriter Amy Rigby in 2005. The duo’s album of duets is called Living Stereo.

Singer/songwriter and upright bassist Amy LaVere was born near the Texas and Louisiana border, and moved 13 times before she finished high school in Detroit. After stops in Louisiana and Nashville, LaVere settled in Memphis, where she began to perform as a solo artist.

She played pioneering rockabilly femme Wanda Jackson in Walk the Line and appeared in the film Black Snake Moan. Her forthcoming record Stranger Me (available July 19) was produced by Craig Silvey, who also produced Arcade Fire’s Grammy winning release The Suburbs.

Tristen has been rapidly making a name for herself throughout the indie music scene. Fronted by Tristen Gaspadarek, the group’s debut album Charlatans At the Garden Gate boasts twang-infused pop sound and rich vocal hooks.

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