What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1323916
JANUARY 3-9, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 39 Local Rocker urges 'Let The Monster Sleep' LISTEN HERE! "Monster" Angela Edge Local multi-instrumentalist and rocker Angela Edge's new single, "Monster," was released Oct. 31. The song begins with an ethereal dreaminess, which then leads to an abrupt charge and sense of urgency, as the drums and lead guitar take the reigns. This is not a song about any typical monster. This Monster is one that creeps into the psyche — burrowing deep within one's self. Edge wrote this song about childhood trauma (the monster within) with the intent of letting other survivors know that they are not alone in their pain. In a time when many people may feel even more alone than ever, Edge has focused her isolation and continues to create the music she loves. Today's technology allowed Edge to perform and produce her latest single using her home computer and a small audio interface. Edge also collaborated with local percussionist, Derek Weiand, via virtual methods, to add his unique talent to "Monster." The official music video for "Monster" was released soon after, most of which was filmed by Edge, herself. Weiand filmed himself performing on drums and sent the resulting film to Edge, before she produced the final video edit. The video shows Edge at her home and in various states of sleepless angst as she urges the viewer to "let the monster sleep." "Monster" is now available on several different music streaming platforms and the official video for the single can be seen on Angela Edge's YouTube page. "Fever Dreams" Scott H. Biram Bloodshot Records "Fever Dreams," the 12th album from Central Texas singer/songwriter/guitarist/footstomper/harmonica player/preacher/hellraiser Scott H. Biram, AKA The Dirty Old One Man Band, is a fervent yet intimate collection of blues, classic country and rock 'n' roll sealed with punk, heavy metal and, frankly, whatever Biram wants. As the man himself says, "You're gonna want to pop open a cold tallboy for this one." The surprise album dropped on Nov. 27. Engineered and produced by Biram between 2017 and 2019 at his studio, Hiram's Hell Hole, in Austin, Texas, "Fever Dreams" delivers another gritty glimpse into the salty world of roadworn hearts and misman- aged emotions. Honestly laying down his bare soul at the people's feet once again in a way that very few can, this record dips and sways, as always, in true Biram fashion — with tales of hard, homesick traveling, lost love, overindulgence, spiritual rejoice and of course some tributes to some of his favorite music pioneers. "Force Majeure" Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger International Anthem Bassist Dezron Douglas and harpist Brandee Younger released their debut album as a duo, "Force Majeure," on Dec. 4. A comforting album that cathartically encapsulates an all-too-familiar human experience of 2020, "Force Majeure" features 11 pieces performed by Douglas and Younger across a series of live-streamed shows from their living room in Harlem, N.Y., all self-re- corded by the pair using just a single microphone. Parsing through their weekly "Force Majeure: Brunch in the Crib with Brandee & Dezron" live streams, the duo worked alongside International Anthem to review the recordings; together they compiled, edited and eventually arrived at the stream-to-songbook of "Force Majeure." Between the choicest takes of tunes chosen for the final album sequence, they put excerpts of their sometimes cute or comedic, often profound banter. Notably Douglas's voice ends both Side A and Side B with off-the-cuff variations of: "Black Music cannot be replicated, it can only be expressed." Like poetic book- ends for "Force Majeure," his words could also serve as foundational principles for the work, underscoring the importance of authenticity and integrity in music. "J.T." Steve Earle & The Dukes New West Records On the forthcoming album, "J.T.," Steve Earle & The Dukes pay tribute to Earle's late son, Justin Townes Earle (J.T.), who passed away on Aug. 20 of this year in Nashville. The album will be released digitally Jan. 4, what would have been Justin's 39th birthday. "J.T." finds Steve Earle & The Dukes covering 10 of Justin's songs and closes with "Last Words," a song Steve wrote for Justin. Penning Justin's obituary for The New York Times, Ben Sisario noted, "from the start Mr. Earle drew the respect of critics and a…devoted following, writing songs of heartbreak, loss and family with a dark narra- tive undertow and a sepia-toned folk-rock style that could hark back to Mr. [Townes] Van Zandt or Hank Williams." All of the artist advances and royalties from "J.T." will be donated to a trust for Etta St. James Earle, the three-year-old daughter of Justin and Jenn Earle. While somber in parts, the album is ultimately a rousing cele- bration of a life lived with passion and purpose.