Honky Tonk Happy Hour October 1st!

The Tin Hearts and The Songbirds at Honky Tonk Happy Hour

The Honky Tonk Happy Hour at The Shrunken Head enters its seventh consecutive month of delivering outstanding neo-traditional country music to Columbus roots music lovers on Friday, October 1st. This happy hour is bound to please, featuring The Tin Hearts at 6pm and The Songbirds at 7pm. As always, we’ll be raffling off one of Jamie Lyn’s homemade pies, and the Shrunken Head offers the Honky Tonk Special: a Budweiser and a shot of Jack Daniels for $4.

The Tin Hearts play the happy hour hot on the heels of their new album, “No Good Deed” which debuted on September 10th at the Independent Spirits showcase. The Tin Hearts feature the intricate guitar work of Andy Frederick and Ryan Combs’ strident bass. Angela Sutton (keyboards) reels from sensitively rendered melodies to rollicking barrelhouse stomp, with Mark Sims moving it all forward on drums, bringing Honky Tonk Happy Hour fans a solid Americana Country sound that is infused with lively electric blues.

The Songbirds’ delicious blend of harmonies have served to establish a solid following for this band among Columbus country fans. They specialize in toe-tappin', sing along originals with a few covers thrown in for your listening pleasure. Their cover of “Jolene” is a crowd-pleasin’ favorite, as they move the crowd from soul touching melodies to rowdy, drunken hillbilly hoedown tunes.

The Shrunken Head is a full-service restaurant and bar located in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, offering happy hour specials daily: half price draft beers, $1 off top shelf liquor, $1 hot dogs, and $5 prime organic hamburgers. Admission to this event is free, and all ages are welcome, although those under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Chris Bingman of Springfield Special: Great Gobs of Goose Feathers....

SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR SONGWRITERS


What makes you write?
well sometimes i just get an idea in my head and if i think its good enough to make a legitamite song then i write it down and start adding little structural pieces until there it is: a new song!

Who is the greatest unknown influence on your music?
well i do more than just bluegrass, i'm in a couple bands, but i'd say for bluegrass probably charlie lily of the lily brothers and for everything else tiny moore (he did a lot of solo stuff that's not very well known but he made it big w/ bob wills & the texas playboys)

What is your most closeted, secret, guilty and humiliating musical pleasure?
well i don't know that its humiliating per say, but i get a real kick out of stealing licks that people do, especially when i'm playing with them at the time haha it makes me feel good knowin i can pick up on something like that that quick but i also like to do it to sort of "challenge" the other player like "is that all you got?" haha in one of my last groups, in fact, i was known as "the lick stealer"

What established artist made you want to write songs, and why?
well ever since i heard of bluegrass i was immediately drawn to bill monroe, i think in part because he was a mandolin player as well.. and i would study his stuff and learn the patterns, etc. and one day i got an idea in my head and kinda used a familiar pattern to write that first song and though i definitely think its a unique song (not trying to rip off the old stuff!) it does hint back to old bill songs.. and i suppose the why is because if you're going to play a particular style of music, why not play like the original artists played?

Advice for just-starting songwriters?
i don't know if i'm enough of an established songwriter to be giving advice, but i guess if i were to i'd say just write what comes naturally to you and have fun doing it.. and if people don't like what you do then screw em, cause there are people out there that will.. "don't get discouraged" is the nicer way of putting that i think haha

Why country?
why not? haha country music (including bluegrass) has that deep rooted old-timey tradition to it that just really speaks to me.. in a lot of ways its very relatable to the listener even stuff written 50 years before you were born (in my case at least).. plus i just thoroughly enjoy it.

Favorite backwoods expression?
well my grandpa myron always would exclaim "great gobs of goose feathers!" in exchange for "hot damn" or the like and i always liked that.. but i'm also very partial to "i'm feelin rougher than a corn cob" to describe bein hungover

Lydia Loveless answers 7 Questions for Songwriters!

LYDIA LOVELESS ANSWERS SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR SONGWRITERS
1. What makes you write?
Usually things that amuse me in private. It sounds cheesy, but generally I am really "moved to write" at random times. It's more like being possessed than consciously writing something.

2. Who is the greatest unknown influence on your music?
Todd May

3. What is your most closeted, secret, guilty and humiliating musical pleasure?
I am really shameless...I am listening to Enrique Iglesias as I type this.

4. What established artist made you want to write songs, and why?
Cliché, but Hank Williams. I had a record of his songs that just kind of opened a dam for me.

5. Advice for just-starting songwriters?
Be yourself. Hold back on the "cooooountry" clothes and over the top accents, unless of course you're being honest. And don't let people knock you around on show line-ups, money, or anything at the last minute, or you will get a reputation as a pushover.

6. Why country?
Because it's simple, raw, and everyone likes at least one country song.

7. Favorite backwoods expression?
So-and-so is so ugly she/he could make a train take a dirt road

Lydia Loveless, ladies and gents. Catch her Friday afternoon at 7pm at the Shrunken Head, 251 W. 5th Avenue!

love,
Jamie Lyn

Whatcha doin' Friday? There's no Honky Tonk Happy Hour, so do this instead!

Singing Moon Records Presents Capitol City Electric Blues & Rock Review

On Friday, August 20th, Singing Moon records pairs up with The Shrunken Head to present Capitol City Electric Blues & Rock Review from 8pm-1am.

Angela Perley and The Howlin' Moons’ live shows are high energy Americana-tumble- and-roll. Miller-Kelton brings a mixture of electric and acoustic instruments and three-part vocal harmonies to a wide range of Americana, folk-rock and traditional country music. The Tin Hearts follow, with their jangly five-piece electric blues and Americana band playing new music like old music used to be played: with raw emotion, and lots of soul. The Wells get rowdy at 11pm, with Mark Sims and Friends headlining at midnight.

Singing Moon Records is dedicated to producing and distributing a diverse collection of music created by artists committed to quality for their community and the world at large. Whether it's the music of solitude created by Mark Sims, the rambunctious folk-rock of The Wells, finely tailored acoustic and electric rock of Miller-Kelton, or bluesy Americana of The Tin Hearts, Singing Moon Records believes that what sounds good is good and invites you to take part.

With no cover, a friendly staff, and great food the Capitol City Electric Blues and Rock Review promises to be a rockin’ evening of great entertainment, good food, and good people. The Shrunken Head is located at 251 W. Fifth Avenue in Columbus, and is a full-service bar and restaurant with a patio and kitchen that features many local and organically cultivated products.

Got Labor Day? Come to the Honky Tonk Happy Hour!

If you aren’t sure what to do with your Labor Day Weekend and you’d like a chance to win a free pie and hear some great, old-school country music come to the Honky Tonk Happy Hour, at The Shrunken Head. This holiday weekend happy hour will feature Jamie Lyn & Fort Knox at 6pm, with The Idiot Boys at 7pm.

Kicking the show off, songwriter Jamie Lyn’s band Fort Knox will bring you stinging lyrics and wry humor. Jamie Lyn channels June Carter and Loretta Lynn in her own brand of neo-traditional "Deep Woods Off" country, with Fort Knox (Ryan Combs, bass; Chris Bechtol, drums; Chase Potter, lead guitar and fiddle) following wherever she leads. Brooklyn Country.com stating “Jamie Lyn infuses her honky-tonk story songs with a whole lot of humor, feeling and good-time energy”.

The Idiot Boys have been playing a number of gigs around town at the Ranch Party Roundup, and even at the Ohio State House Music series this summer. You can catch their old-time string band tunes and tap your boots to some swingin’ bluegrass music starting at 7pm on September 3rd. The Idiot Boys feature Mike Allen (Mandolin and vocals), Brian Tucker (Lead guitar & vocals), Jeff Kinder (rhythm guitar and vocals), Steve Ball (upright bass) and Joey Bishop (percussion).

The Shrunken Head is a full-service restaurant and bar located in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, offering happy hour specials daily: half price draft beers, $1 off top shelf liquor, $1 hot dogs, and $5 prime organic hamburgers. The Honky Tonk Happy Hour special is $4 for a Budweiser and shot of Jack Daniels whiskey. Admission to this event is free, and all ages are welcome, although those under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Billy Zenn: Seven Questions for Songwriters

SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR SONGWRITERS (Billy Zenn)
1. What makes you write?
I am troubled by bad dreams and find that writing, in whatever form---songs, prose, scripts or whatever---is somewhat cathartic. Alternative answer: I’m a compulsive liar.
Actually, I write because I’m kind of compelled to it, even though I have a love/hate relationship with the process. I hate doing it/I love it when it’s finished.
2. Who is the greatest unknown influence on your music?
When I was a kid, there was a man who lived briefly next door to us who played and sang in country bands. There were often guys around his house, drinking and picking and generally having a good time into the wee hours. I thought this was a pretty damned glamorous thing to be doing.
Growing up in the Methodist Church I sang in the choir, and learning to hear melody in relation to harmony has been integral to my songwriting.
3. What is your most closeted, secret, guilty and humiliating musical pleasure?
I like really aggressive punk music; stupid and out of tune a must. I’m a sucker for Stephen Sondheim, although that’s hardly something to feel either guilty or humiliated about. I still get a chill when I hear “Disco Inferno” for some unearthly reason.
4. What established artist made you want to write songs, and why?
Well, pretty much the majors: Lennon-McCartney, Dylan, Cash, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye

5. Advice for just‐starting songwriters?
Stop thinking. Thought is the enemy of creativity, at least in the beginning. When you’re playing around and a melody or some lyrics find their way into your head, keep going. There’ll be plenty of time to obsessively edit when the first pass at it is done.
Always marry the lyrics to the melody.
Don’t send money to anyone who promises to critique your work for a fee. Ever.
6. Why country?
I live in Columbus, Ohio. Is this a trick question? We’re all immersed in country music around here from the time we’re old enough to notice. Personally, I dig that.

7. Favorite backwoods expression?
It’s colder than bat piss on a Sunday morning!

Honky Tonk Happy Hour August 6th!

This Friday August 6th at the Honky Tonk Happy Hour, Miller Kelton and Billy Zenn will present two hours of fine entertainment for your boot-scootin’ pleasure. So belly up to the bar at The Shrunken Head for some raucously original neo-traditional country music --- and you may even win a homemade pie in the weekly raffle, hosted by the lovely Miss Margot. As a special treat this week, Jamie Lyn is disobeying doctor’s orders to rest, and sitting in with both Miller-Kelton and Billy Zenn. Come prepared to hear some rowdy renditions of “Jackson” and “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly”.

Miller-Kelton kicks the show off at 6:00pm, with Julia O'Keefe on vocals, Reilley Forman on Guitar and Banjo, Charlie Forman on slide guitar, Randal Webber, II on drums and keys and Chase Hurlow on bass. The Other Paper’s Rick Allen says “The band plays a pleasant blend of banjo-led Americana wrapped around the honey-sweet vocals of Julia O’Keefe…Keep your ears peeled, however, and you’ll realize the band uses that sort of inoffensive musical language to convey much more mature lyrical themes.” Not only that, but they do a hell of a good cover of “Up Against the Wall Redneck Mothers”, which is no mean feat in and of itself.

With a voice as strong as his experience is deep, and songs that resonate across time and place, Billy Zenn is a performer who means what he says, and delivers it every time. Steadfastly clinging to his roots in the rich, dark soul of America, Billy kicks the tried and true into the 21st century and brings it back home, fresh and new. With his killer band---Billy Zenn & The Ringers---the effect is the same; an infectious, foot stompin’, true heart rave up that’s guaranteed to go for the throat and shake audiences to their feet. If you’re looking for the real thing, look no further—and get there at 7pm sharp when Billy brings it all home to you right here at the Honky Tonk Happy Hour.