Even though I don’t know the man personally, it feels like Otis Gibbs is a dear friend of mine. Actually it feels like his whole family (pets included of course) are friends of mine. The reason for this one-sided friendship and affection is of course his brilliant Thanks for Giving a Damn podcast where he chats with wonderful singer-songwriters, musicians etc and tells little stories about his life and his pets. I’ve never had any ads on this page, because I kind of hate them, but sometimes I think of adding a gigantic unpaid Thanks For Giving a Damn with Otis Gibbs banner on the front page. That podcast is something that I believe so strongly that I actually might change my no ads policy.

Besides being the world’s greatest podcast host (and even more importantly), Otis Gibbs is obviously a first class singer-songwriter as well. That’s how I first got to know him. I bought his album Joe Hill’s Ashes back in 2010 and have bought each and every release ever since. Therefore I was also happy to participate in the Kickstarter project for his latest album Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth. The album is now officially out in Europe. US release will follow in August. Otis Gibbs is also regularly touring in Europe. Maybe next time he is going to Sweden/Norway, we need to try and convince him to visit Finland as well. Meanwhile we can listen to his new album Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth. This is excellent Ghosts Of Our Fathers from the new album.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc4zWf7AnGU]

Otis Gibbs Website

I’ve been waiting for this one for quite a while. Well ever since I first heard Michael Claytor and Sam Moss singing Hairpins several years ago. Something like 2011 or thereabouts. That little youtube video is something that I always return to time and time again. This folk singer-songwriter from Gainesville, Florida won my heart that easily. Therefore I youtube search the name Michael Claytor every now and then and thankfully I’ve found several new videos over the last few years (mostly thanks to Eric Atria). This time there’s something far more exciting than just a video though. Michael Claytor just released his new album My Trespasses this weekend. At the moment it’s available in digital format at Bandcamp (CDs will be there later as well). I bought and downloaded it earlier today. The task for the next few days is to fall in love with it. I’m not expecting that to be hard at all. I’m fairly sure it’s going to be one of the easiest tasks I’ve had this summer. This is Pines, Pines, Pines from the new Michael Claytor album.

Yeah yeah yeah! There’s a new Frontier Ruckus single out there. It’s called Sad Modernity and it obviously sounds fantastic. Frontier Ruckus took the album of the year award here at onechord.net last year with their amazing double-album Eternity Of Dimming. Therefore I better not start compiling this year’s list until the new Frontier Ruckus album Sitcom Afterlife hits the record stores and my heart in November. I’m really eager to hear the new album. Even more so after I red that the new album was influenced by bands/artists like Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and Matthew Sweet. And if you know me or have been reading this blog, you are aware that it is the kind of music I love the most. So it’s kind of like my new favourite band being influenced by my all-time favourite bands. Nothing can go wrong. This is the first single Sad Modernity. The album will come out in the US on Quite Scientific. I’m not sure will Loose Music or someone else put it out in the Europe.

Frontier Ruckus Website