Second annual Schlitz Kickin’ Country series at Hymie’s / Some silly country 45s

October 3, 2012 in Events, Photos, Songs | 23 comments

Before today’s post here’s a quick reminder that tonight is the Hymie’s DJ night at the Turf Club. All kinds of great stuff has come into the shop this month, including a couple really great local releases and some collections of R&B, soul and classic rock that we’ll be spinning and selling at the fabulous Turf Club. 15% discount off all records, including everything the DJs spin, plus 2-for-1 rail cocktails. Plus great stoner music in the Clown Lounge with Sativa Flats.

October is country music month here at Hymie’s – last year we introduced the Schlitz Kickin Country series with in-stores by some of the best country acts in town. This year we’ve planned the same thing, and even brought back a few favorite acts!

Jennifer Markey and the Tennessee Snowpants – absolutely one of the best country acts in the Twin Cities – performing at Hymie’s last October as part of our Schlitz Kickin’ Country series.

The Flying Dorito Brothers, the Twin Cities first and only (and all too short-lived) Gram Parsons cover band. Tim Evenson, the long haired hippy on the right, has formed his own original “cosmic American” band, Pleasure Horse.

Some of last year’s bands are returning – notably the bluegrass quartet Pocahontas County, who were also here on Record Store Day. We love those guys! Some of the bands are playing here at the shop for the first time because they’re relatively new groups. Two of the great new bands will be here Sunday to start our second annual Schlitz Kickin’ Country series, Fletcher Magellan and the Great Lakes, and Pleasure Horse.

Here’s a calendar for the whole series:

10/7 Fletcher Magellan and the Great Lakes

Pleasure Horse

10/14 Whiskey Jeff and the Beer Back Band

Caitlin Robertson

10/18 A special album release event by Swallows, who will be releasing their fourth LP, Witching and Divining that week

10/21 The Bootstrap Family Band

Pocahontas County

10/28 Jack Klatt, on his first day back after touring out west with Stephanie Niles

Tree Party

(You might have noticed the Cactus Blossoms, who played as part of last year’s country music series, are not on the bill. That’s because they are the last Hymie’s-sponsored act playing at the Midtown Farmers Market on Saturday October 27. You can also catch the Cactus Blossoms – named the “best country band” in town by City Pages this year – every Monday at the Turf Club, and we’re sure they’ll be back to the shop sometime soon.)

Please note Schlitz is no longer able to offer a free can of beer to all customers during these in-stores (21+ of course). We would like to offer all City of Minneapolis employees a free copy of the Bill of Rights, however, with special attention to be paid to the ever-lovin’ First Amendment.

There’s some links to give you a taste of each band’s unique take on country and American traditional music, and we’ll post some more about them as the month goes on. We’re also looking forward to the return of “Theme Time”, hosted by Pocahontas County, at the end of the month. Each month this great bluegrass quartet picks a new theme and a new bill of bands to sing about it (the first theme at their new home, the Turf Club, is “Elections”). I hope you’ll join us all on Saturday October 28th, when the guests will be the same two bands playing here at Hymie’s in the afternoon – Jack Klatt and Tree Party! I will be spinning records between the sets (election-themed song suggestions welcome).

It’s going to be a great month!

Since we’re on the subject of country music, let’s look at a few silly 45 labels. Country music seems to have sprouted more peculiar independent labels in the 70s and 80s than any other genre. A lot of the songs aren’t really all that great, but fun for a listen or two. Here’s a few that were in a recent collection that passed through the shop.

The best part about Stone Drunk Records is that the song is called “Stone Drunk.” I wonder what they were planning to do for a second release.