I’ve dropped the ball on sharing the greatness of Roman Candle with you earlier. Their 2009 release Oh Tall Tree in the Ear has to be in consideration for most underrated album of the year. The Chapel Hill group carries the North Carolina torch from Whiskeytown to the present day with their own blend of folk and Americana.

Below, we’re happy to present 5 records Roman Candle enjoys via Skip Matheny:

John Hartford – Aereo-Plain
A couple years ago I found two mp3′s from this record — “Presbyterian guitar” and “Back in the Goodle Days”, and became obsessed with trying to get a copy of the whole (out of print) record. For several months I couldn’t find it anywhere legal or illegal, until Timshel and I had our kids at the Nashville public library and they had one CD copy in their system. This record has ever since owned an active portion of my brain. John Hartford was a such a clever, instinctual, deceptively-simple songwriter that I think it may be another 30-40 years before people chit chat about how good he was. Having scored a ton of cash from writing “Gentle on My Mind,” he was pretty much free to make whatever music he wanted to make. Unfortunately most people didn’t know what to do with this particular record, then or now (it’s still out of print). Every time I hear this recording of “Steam Powered Aeroplane,” I wish it was played at funerals and weddings.

Fat Boys – Self/Titled
This was the first cassette tape Logan and I ever bought, in a Roses’s in Wilkesboro, NC. I was 7 and Logan was 5, and my mom was kind enough to let us listen to this non-stop for a year in our Datsun hatchback (until we bought another tape). This record used to boggle our minds, with these epic 8 minute raps, introducing us to some of the biggies in life – hip-hop, beatboxing, being in jail with no bail and wishing you had a pizza. To this day it’s probably still in our top 10 records we’ve heard the most (if you consider number of listens straight through). I think it really informed/influenced how we consider rhythms and vocal delivery – I hope so at least.

Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
Of newer music, this record (apart from Keegan DeWitt + Megafaun), is what we’ve probably listened to the most this year. First heard it on BBC radio 6 months ago, and we were fortunate enough to share a bill with them in New York in Sept. Seeing them do the songs live, really made the whole album get under our brains and sprout like a bunch of mushrooms in the woods.

Oasis – Definitely Maybe
When we were younger, this record and its accompanying b-sides had a profound influence on our band. I had almost forgotten how much so until we watched the 10 year anniversary DVD when it came out. Being in high school in Wilkes county, NC, and hearing “Slide Away” “Cigarettes and Alcohol” “Listen Up,” etc., made us begin to think about *songwriting* as a thing that was much more interesting in the setting of a band (as opposed to somebody lighting an infinity candle and writing about their feelings on an acoustic guitar).

Joni Mitchell – Clouds
Timshel bought this record on vinyl when we were in college at UNC, and it was our first experience of Joni outside of people playing the Blue record in their dorm rooms (which is also a record that gets better every year, no matter how many times I’ve heard it). There’s a couple of solid hippie tunes, but for the most part these songs are out of this world. Lyrically, the level at which she is writing here is often as unmatched as her later records, and she was barely 26.

Hearing some of these songs reminded me of the first time I saw an Alfred Hitchcock movie marathon — Watching all of these movies made in the 50′s / 60′s which were so unquestionably more “modern” than any film I’d seen in my life up to that point. Both were confusing and educational. Alfred Hitchcock and Joni Mitchell probably made us re-think any connection we had presumed between quality of art and chronology.

Buy: Roman Candle – Oh Tall Tree in the Ear
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MP3: Roman Candle – “They Say”

After every concert from The Avett Brothers I spend a good number of days tracing back through their albums rediscovering old favorites and (usually) finding new ones. This catalog mining also brought me back to the Jim Avett and Family album that was released last year on Ramsuer Records. The record is comprised of “gospel standards and covers featuring performances with his sons, Scott and Seth Avett (The Avett Brothers), and his daughter, Bonnie Avett Rini.”

Above, watch Jim Avett show off his guitar collection and perform an acoustic number in Harvey’s Kitchen.

MP3: Jim Avett & Family – “Down By The Riverside”

Buy: Jim Avett and Family

Here are the Wisconsin and Chicago shows we recommend you take in this week. Check them out below and let us know which ones you’ll be attending or ones you think should really make our list. This week’s recommended new releases include offerings from Devendra Banhart, R.E.M., and Tegan and Sara.

Upcoming Wisconsin Shows:

10/27 – David Bazan + Say Hi – High Noon Saloon, Madison
10/27 – Alejandro Escovedo – Oneida Casino, Green Bay
10/27 – Fran Healy & Andy Dunlop (Travis) – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
10/27 – Emmylou Harris + Buddy Miller – Overture Hall, Madison
10/27 – Pete Yorn – Majestic Theatre, Madison
10/28 – Thao & the Get Down Stay Down – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee
10/28 – Noah & The Whale + Richard Francis – Majestic Theatre, Madison
10/29 – Disco Biscuits – Union Theater, Madison
10/30 – Loudon Wainwright III + Richard Thompson – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
10/30 – Los Lobos – Norther Lights Theater, Milwaukee
10/30 – Ben Folds – Overture Center, Madison
10/31 – Great Lake Swimmers – Turner Hall Ballroom
10/31 – Matisyahu – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
11/1 – The Swell Season – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee

Upcoming Chicago Shows:

10/26 – Ben Gibbard + Jay Farrar – Lincoln Hall
10/26 – Atlas Sound – Bottom Lounge
10/28 – Great Lake Swimmers + The Wooden Birds – Lincoln Hall
10/29 – Noah and the Whale – Lakeshore Theater
10/29 – David Gray/Lisa Hannigan – Chicago Auditorium Theatre
10/29 – The Very Best – Bottom Lounge
10/29 – Bob Dylan – Aragon Ballroom
10/30 – Bob Dylan – Aragon Ballroom
10/30 – Monsters of Folk – Auditorium Theatre
10/30 – Mason Jennings – House of Blues
10/31 – Bob Dylan – Aragon Ballroom
11/1 – Los Lobos – Symphony Center

Upcoming Champaign-Urbana Shows

10/25 – David Bazan – Highdive
10/25 – Yonder Mountain String Band – Canopy Club
10/27 – Mason Jennings – Highdive
10/29 – Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – Canopy Club

Just Announced:

11/2 – Throw Me the Statue + Bishop Allen – High Noon Saloon, Madison
11/18 – 311 – Aragon Ballroom
12/3 – Weezer – Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee
12/15 – Andrew Bird – 4th Presbyterian Church (Gezellig & Gezelligheid)
12/16 – Andrew Bird – 4th Presbyterian Church (Gezellig & Gezelligheid)
12/17 – Andrew Bird – 4th Presbyterian Church (Gezellig & Gezelligheid)

New Releases:

Devendra Banhart – What Will Be, R.E.M. – Live at the Olympia, Tegan and Sara – Sainthood,

+Bookmark our Wisconsin and Chicago shows pages for all your concert announcements+

We’ve got a a couple pairs of VIP passes to giveaway to next month’s Peter Bjorn & John + El Perro Del Mar show at the Metro in Chicago on Thursday, November 12th.

To enter, drop a comment including a link to a current favorite music video/YouTube/Vimeo clip. I’ll start things off by sharing El Perro Del Mar’s new video for “Change Of Heart.” We’ll select our winners randomly and notify them by e-mail before the show.

Each of the 2 winners will receive:

Two Tickets
VIP Pass
Silkscreen Show Poster

Buy: Peter Bjorn & John – Living Thing | El Perro del Mar – Love Is Not Pop

We’re pretty excited to present the above video of A.A. Bondy and Marquis Toliver on “Killed Myself When I was Young” captured backstage at Club Garibaldi when he came through Milwaukee in June with Holly Miranda.

A.A. Bondy returns to Club Garibaldi on Tuesday, November 24th. Tickets are $10 and available here. The show is selling briskly and we expect it to sell out. Get your tickets soon!

Video + editing by Erik Ljung. Future installments in the weeks and months to come. Thanks for watching.

Buy: A.A. Bondy – When the Devil’s Loose
MP3: A.A. Bondy – “I Can See The Pines Are Dancing”
MP3: AA Bondy :: “When The Devil’s Loose”

By Ryan Matteson | Photos Ed Oliver

Waking up this morning I wondered if the Avett Brothers ever have an off night. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen the band, but I have to say that they always manage to reach higher and deliver more than the previous time. Last night, in front of a sold out crowd at Madison’s Barrymore Theatre, The Avett Brothers do what they always do – deliver. Big time. Here’s our 9 favorite moments from last night’s show.

1. Nicole Atkins – If you were in the building early you have to agree that the opening set from Nicole Atkins and the Black sea was a great way to start the evening. That band was absolutely on fire behind forthcoming new material. Check out her recent guest dj set on our most recent podcast.

2. “A Lot Of Moving” – I loved that they dipped into their first album, Country Was and I couldn’t have wished for a better song. A traditional bluegrass/country tune that remind me I’ve got an album to revisit.

3. “If I Get Murdered In The City” – Always a favorite. Tonight it was performed solo by Scott Avett with updated lyrics “make sure my daughter knows I loved her, make sure her mother knows the same.”

4. “I Am A Breathing Time Machine, I’ll Take You All For A Ride” There was plenty of new material from I and Love and You, but this was one that rose to the top for me. It’s become one of my favorite songs in their catalog and the harmonies at the conclusion of the song are stellar.

5. Joe Kwan & Bob Crawford – You can’t forget how much these guys bring to the table. They are just as much essential to the formula that embodies the beauty of Avett Brothers albums and the live experience. Their contributions can’t be overlooked or under appreciated.

6. “Slight Figure Of Speech” – Probably my favorite song on the new album. It’s become an anthem in concert. Lots of energy, seemingly gone before it even appears. I love the lyric “They said I hope that you will never change, I went and cut my hair.”

7. “4 Thieves Gone” – The closeout song to the 2006 release Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions also brought the house lights up concluding the show. It was the first time I’d ever heard them play it. Pretty special.

8. “I and Love and You” – Tonight’s put their new album in the spotlight. It’s an amazing album that I am so thrilled is taking them to new levels and increasing their audience base. Let’s not hold success against our favorite bands, we should embrace it and be happy that after years of delivering their dreams are coming true. They made a great record with an amazing producer, that’s not something to be disappointed in or see in a negative light.

9. Drag your friends, they’ll become fans Over the course of about 20 text messages I managed to convince my over thirty friend out of the house and away from his family. The permanent smile on his face throughout the show, seeing the Avett Brothers for the first time was priceless. The last text I received from him, just before midnight reads, “Great Night. Totally Unexpected.”

Discuss: Drop a comment with your thoughts and reviews on the show. What were the highlights for you?

Buy: The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You