New book by Joe Nick Patoski

Local Texas writer Joe Nick Patoski’s new book, Willie Nelson: An Epic Life, came out this April and has been receiving rave reviews across the globe, from the New York Times to the UK music magazine MOJO and all points in between.

“An Epic Life comes aptly titled…. Mr. Patoski interviewed countless people close to Willie as well as the man himself, and his attention to detail is impeccable….We experience the heart of Willie Nelson.”
—Dallas Morning News

“A much-needed and well-told biography,…Nelson’s quiet determination and unwavering focus shine through the pages of this admirable biography…. He has lived a sprawling, uniquely American life, and it deserves an examination this comprehensive.”
—Alan Light, New York Times Book Review

Joe Nick has a slate of upcoming book signings and an interview on the Bob Edwards Show to air June 18th on XM 133.

Joe Nick interviewed Willie Nelson’s long-time harmonica player Mickey Rafael at SXSW this year. Watch the video here.

Original post by melissa

Posted: June 9th, 2008 under Conference, Latest News.
Comments: none

Tomorrow marks the first day of the rest of our lives with the release of My Morning Jacket’s fifth full-length Evil Urges.

To celebrate the occasion I’ll be posting a special edition of Hey Mr. YouTube DJ with Jim James. How very exciting!

So far the reviews have been mostly positive…

Will Hermes at Rolling Stone said, “James seems well aware that any definition of “classic rock” that doesn’t include Prince, Radiohead and Wilco is pretty bereft. Now, with Evil Urges, he can add My Morning Jacket to that list.”

Spin’s Shannon Zimmerman adds, “Evil Urges is easily MMJ’s most accomplished and ambitious record, masterfully sifting through genres.”

Paste writer Brian Howe agrees, “It speaks of a band working hard at its craft, continually expanding its musical vocabulary while holding fast to roots that are increasingly hard to see from the elevation to which the band has risen—but those roots, undeniably, are still there.”

And Entertainment Weekly’s Whitney Pastorek gave it an “A.”

Of course, you can’t please all of the people all of the time and Pitchfork’s Eric Harvey was not pleased.

Happy Monday to you. Please feel free to email us at musicblog@sxsw.com.

Beat the heat, lp

Original post by LP

Posted: June 9th, 2008 under SXSW Aggravator, Linda Park, Latest News.
Comments: none