Tuesday, November 6, 2012

No Depression Magazine Interview


Hello everybody,

Here’s an interview with John Cohen and Eli Smith for the No Depression roots music magazine about the Dust Busters album “Old Man Below” recently out on the Smithsonian Folkways label.  The interview was done by Chris Mateer who has the excellent Uprooted Music Revue blog site: http://www.uprootedmusicrevue.com.



The Dust Busters and John Cohen (of The New Lost City Ramblers) recently released their new album, Old Man Below, on the legendary Smithsonian Folkwayslabel. I am thrilled to present this interview with John Cohen and Eli Smith (of The Dust Busters) regarding their friendship, admiration for old time music, and musical collaboration together.

Eli, before we dig into The Dust Busters’ work with John Cohen, I’d like to ask you if you can you discuss your own personal musical history with the work of The New Lost City Ramblers and John Cohen?

Eli Smith: I’ve been very appreciative of the New Lost City Ramblers and John Cohen’s work in particular as a musician, field recordist, photographer and film maker for years.
I first became acquainted with the New Lost City Ramblers’ and John Cohen’s work when I was first starting out as a musician and fan of folk, blues and old time music back in high school in the late 1990′s. I loved the sound of the New Lost City Ramblers, thought and still think they are an incredible band and I also greatly appreciated the information about their sources for their music.
The Ramblers led me back to the original recorded sources of the music and those recordings have in turn become the core of my favorite music. I also greatly appreciate the field work that each of the Ramblers, of most particular note: John Cohen’s work in recording and making known Roscoe Holcomb, Wade Ward, Frank Proffitt and so many others.

Can you discuss what drew you to this genre of music initially and what keeps it fresh to you?

John: I first got involved with old time music in 1948 when I first heard re-issues of 1920s string band recordings. It was music that excited me, and music I could perform, or learn to play it. It still excites me today, and the challenges I felt in 1948 are still with me.
There is a quality of music contained in the old stuff that is lost in today’s music scene (it  has  been lost throughout the Folksong movement and revival.) It’s lost quality is what fed the New Lost City Ramblers for 50 years, and continues to feed me  today.

Eli: I liked music since I was a kid and I started playing guitar when I was quite young. However, it was not until my high school era when I heard old time music and authentic American folk music that I really cared about music specifically. I had heard music on the radio and television, my parent’s listened to some music around the house, but I didn’t care about any of it too much. I thought it was my fault that I couldn’t like any of that plastic garbage you hear everywhere.
Music is very close to the human soul, and when I heard old folk music that really spoke to me it hit me real hard. The music gave me a clarity in my mind that I required, and it was a lot of fun! And if you listened to the words you could learn a lot about some gritty subjects, about getting through life, and one can connect with people and history that you don’t hear about or get to feel anywhere else.

You met and toured together before the release of Old Man Below. I’d like to dig into your back story including how you met, hit it off, and what led up to your collaboration.
… Read More At: http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/interview-john-cohen-new-lost-city-ramblers-and-eli-smith-dust

Friday, September 14, 2012

Woody Guthrie Centennial Concert


We are very pleased to be included on the following concert, comin' up at Brooklyn College.  Gonna be fun!  
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
Welcome Woody Guthrie back to Brooklyn!
Walt Whitman Theater
Brooklyn College, NYC

September 22, 2012
with
JUDY COLLINS
BILLY BRAGG
STEVE EARLE
TONY TRISCHKA BAND
THE KLEZMATICS
JOHN COHEN & THE DUST BUSTERS
MIKE + RUTHY
JAY UNGAR & MOLLY MASON
and special surprise guests!
WALT WHITMAN THEATER
Brooklyn College
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
Tickets Onsale now!*Artists subject to change without prior notice

Here's the website for more information: http://www.woody100.com/concerts.htm

Thursday, June 28, 2012

"Old Man Below" CD Release Show!



Hello everybody,

  Look out for the Dust Busters' brand new album, "Old Man Below" on the Smithsonian Folkways record label.  We are very proud of it!  We've been working hard on this album which we recorded with our friend John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers and are very pleased to see it due out for release on August 14th.  Making a guest appearance on several tracks is another one of our favorite musicians, Frank Fairfield.

  We are playing a CD release concert at the Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday Sept. 6th.  8pm showtime, opening band TBD!  Look out for more details on that show comin' up soon...

  Hope to see ya there,

- The Dust Busters

P.S. for the next few days you can listen to the album for free as a promotion on the No Depression magazine's website:
http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/exclusive-listen-the-dust-busters-with-john-cohen-on-smithsonian

Hope you will enjoy!


Friday, February 10, 2012

Folk Alliance + Tour Dates in NC and TN

Fa Logo 2012 Final
Hello everybody,

Well The Dust Busters are taking a drive down through North Carolina and across Tennessee, playing shows and making our way to the yearly Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis. Once there we will be playing a bunch of showcases including our official show case on the evening of Friday the 24th.... All the information is below. See ya down the road....

Thursday Feb. 16th
All Day Records
112a E. Main Carrboro 27510
Shows starts 8pm
$$ by donation
Opening band: Ezekiel Graves

Friday Feb. 17th
House concert, potluck and old timey dance party...
33 Carolina Lane, Asheville, NC 28801.
$$ by donation
Show starts at 8pm

Sugarfoot Seranaders will be opening (http://sugarfootserenaders.com
Dust Busters at 9pm

Sweet-treats and snacks will be provided from Firestorm Cafe.

Saturday Feb. 18th
The Down Home
300 W. Main St. Johnson City, TN
Show starts at 9:00pm - 2 sets
http://www.downhome.com

Sunday Feb. 19th
Afternoon Brunch Concert
Details TBA

Monday Feb. 20th
11am-2pm Old Time String Band workshop at Eastern Tennessee State University

6-9pm “String-Band” class in Gate City


Folk Alliance Conference
Thursday Feb 22nd - Saturday Feb. 25th
Memphis Downtown Marriott, Memphis TN

Showcase Schedule:

Thursday
3:40pm Texas Sugarbaby Room
11:30pm 12x12 room #1928

Friday
Official Showcase is at 7:30pm in the Chattanooga room. 

11:30pm Hootenanny Hall First Timers showcase
12:30am Realistic Recordings room #1926

Saturday
12:30am Trad Room # 1905


More gigs:

Sunday Feb. 26 
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum 
The Museum is located between 4th and 5th Avenue on Demonbreun
Nashville, TN
1-2pm
Free Show**
This show will be a public program as part of the CMHFM instrument demonstration series

Friday, January 13, 2012

Opening for Steve Earle Feb. 6th...

Earl-dustbusters-banner
Steve Earle & Allison Moorer w / The Dust Busters - Monday, February 6th.

"Join City Winery in welcoming the very talented Steve Earle for a Winter esidency this January and February. The five-week run will see Steve play a special series of shows, and will feature a roster of invited guest and friends."

We are very excited to be playing at the City Winery with Steve Earle, comin' up on Feb. 6th.  Check it out!

More info at:
http://citywinery.com/events/193329 

City Winery 
155 Varick Street
New York, NY

Sunday, January 1, 2012

On Tour in the Pacific North West...


Hello Everybody -

  Here we are again, The Dust Busters - on tour in the Pacific North West!  This time we are very pleased indeed to be on the road with Peter Stampfel and Jeffrey Lewis. It's gonna be a big show!

Here's our dates:

Jan 19 Seattle, WA

The VERA project
Warren Ave N corner of Republican St. $11 all ages 

8 Dust Busters with Kristin Andreassen

8:45 Jeffrey Lewis
9:30 Peter Stampfel and the Ether Frolic Mob (2 Sets)

Feb 1 Cottage Grove, WA

The Arcade Theater 513 Main St. 7$ 
7 Holy Modal Rounders Sing-A-Long 
8:15 The Dust Busters 
9:15 Jeffrey Lewis
10 Peter Stampfel and the Ether Frolic Mob

Feb 2 Eugene, OR
The Last Stop Cafe 298 Blair Blvd $5 Suggested Donation
6pm Holy Modal Rounders Sing-A-Long 

Sam Bonds Garage 407 Blair Blvd $7
9pm Dust Busters
9:45pm Jeffrey Lewis
10:30pm Peter Stampfel and the Ether Frolic Mob (2 Sets!)

Feb 3 Olympia, WA

The West Bay
1325 West Bay Drive.
Show starts at 9pm
The Dust Busters
Jeffrey Lewis
Peter Stampfel and the Ether Frolic Mob
Feb 4 Bellingham, WA
Pickford Cinema 1318 Bay St. $12, Members $10
9pm The Dust Busters
9:40pm Peter Stampfel and the Ether Frolic Mob