March 1 , 2000 - News and Abuse, Vol. 47

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ANGRY JOHNNY & THE KILLBILLIES On tour again...mayhem and kisses from the lovable Johnny and his Killbillies.

"The most rip-roarin,' butt-kickin,' combo yet to bust out of the so-called No Depression ranks. - Holly George-Warren The Village Voice, January 1, 1999 **** (4 out of 4 stars) "

MARTIN'S FOLLY It's a good thing compact discs never wear out...

"Whomever complains rock is dead should be force-fed the new sophomore release from Martin's Folly.Nostalgia may be all the rage these days, but here's a Brooklyn-based quartet that wears a retro heart on its sleeve without giving in to unabashed imitation" Spin, February 17, 1999/Tom Semioli

Old News...

February 1 , 2000

This just in, the Ex-Husbands "All Gussied Up" has jumped another 3 spots and into the Top Ten at #9 on the Gavin Americana chart!!! Just last week, the record vaulted 7 spots to #12. Our boys have joined some select company in the Top Ten including Guy Clark, the Derailers, the Mavericks, Dolly Parton, and Alan Jackson.

Help us move up in the top ten by calling your local Americana radio station to request "All Gussied Up."

January 1, 2000 - Jeff Copetas moves to something big...

Hell, if Bill Gates can step down at Microsoft, then Jeff can certainly leave Tar Hut. Back in October, Jeff got a great opportunity to join Soundsbig.com, "an emerging music network on the fast track to becoming the most comprehensive single source of music services and selection on the Internet." I see. Well, we hope when Jeff "scoresbig" on the IPO, that he remembers us at the Hut. Sincerely though, we hope Jeff will always be proud of the label he started with the roar and mayhem of the Killbillies' chainsaw on "Hankenstein." We're just thrilled it didn't end that way!

In music news, the Ex-Husbands "All Gussied Up" has cracked the top 20 of the Gavin Americana chart at #19!!! It would really be a help to the band and to us if you'd call your local Americana radio station and request "All Gussied Up." The boys are ready to continue their "I'm Just a Honky" tour in 2000, beginning January 27th in Ashville, NC.

Carrying over into 2000, both the Ex-Husbands "All Gussied Up" and Lonesome Brothers "Diesel Therapy" have been receiving great press. In fact, a cool new internet music site, audiogalaxy.com featured both records and the label in early January. The year 2000 will also bring the music of Tar Hut Records to television, including songs from King Radio, Martin's Folly, Angry Johnny, and the Ex-Husbands. We'll let you know show times and dates when we have them for both ESPN's X-Games and the Disney Channel's Z-Games!

Twas was a good holiday season for us and we hope it was for you and yours. Our new secure on-line ordering worked flawlessly and produced good sales of the Ex-Husbands "All Gussied Up" and the Lonesome Brothers "Diesel Therapy." Jupiter Communications estimated on-line holiday shopping at a whopping $7B! As you can imagine, Tar Hut grabbed a big, steaming chunk of that. Just do the math. Internet banner advertising was also a first for us during December on twangcast.com. The ad generated quite a few visitors and sales for our site. We're looking to expand our on-line advertising presence, so if you know of some good sites, drop us a .

Onward... Leo and Dave

November 1999 - Brand New Releases and Holiday Cheer!!

Hi. Welcome to the Hut. You're here because this isn't about Gov. Jessie Ventura and other shams. You're here because this isn't about Y2K and air traffic over Three Mile Island on New Year's Eve. You're here because this isn't about Bill Gates' monopoly or the new nudes of Drew Barrymore, though we...oh, nevermind. You're here because of the music and for that we cherish you!

What's news at Tar Hut? Well, the holiday season is upon us and we're all very excited! It's time to freak! Nah...we're going to sit back, relax and toast the season! And we suggest you do the same. Legend has it that it became acceptable to toast without standing in Britain during the reign of Charles II. The king allowed that this would be acceptable after he'd risen in response to a toast in his honor while aboard the ship Royal Charles and bashed his head into a beam. We toasted Jeff once while riding in his '69 Ford Galaxy. He tried to stand and bashed his head on the floorboard. We always sit during Tar Hut toasts now. Yes, friends, sit back, relax and toast the season! Toast the season with our music! Because the simple fact is that your orders help make for a Bing Crosby Christmas here at Tar Hut, and what could be better than that?

Speaking of the season, looks like it's shaping up to be a Pokémon Christmas. If you're a parent your hut has likely been invaded by Pokémon and now your kids review poison techniques, sudden death and energy strategy, and you look on like an idiot. Fortunately, this also means you finally have time to kick back and listen to some new music. If you're not a parent, or if you don't know about Pokémon, our entire catalog is waiting for you...

The Ex-Husbands continue to log nearly as many miles as Santa Claus. Check out our tour page to see when they'll be pulling into your town.

That's about it for now. Thanks so much for all of your support. If you want a catalog just fill out our guestbook and we'll get one to you pronto. Promise. And here's to your good health...may you live a thousand years, and we be there to count them. Enjoy the music.

Best to all - Jeff, Dave and Leo

August 18, 1999 - Brand New Fall Releases!

A recent article from the Nashville Scene about the state of Country music found Luke Lewis, president of Mercury-Nashville Records observing that "flagging sales can be traced directly to country's lack of 'hip' credibility these days", and as a result, the music has lost a huge portion of its male audience. Mr Lewis notes, "I don't know that we are making records for men. You look around and wonder where the outlaws are."

Welp, we have your outlaws right here. The Ex-Husbands return to stores on November 2nd. Originally hailing from the concrete jungle of New York City, the Ex-Husbands follow up their Tar Hut Records self-titled debut with All Gussied Up, a brand new 14-song collection that compares to nothing. You hear us? Nothing. We're sick of all the other labels and bands comparing their artists to old legends. We've got new legends. This recording is as much a message to Luke Lewis and all the other fat cats in their corner offices down there in Hitsville as it is a message to all those other bands pretending to play country. It's a message to all rock music fans and all country music fans - the Ex-Husbands are ready to bring it home to you. To hell with everything else. Don't believe us? Put the CD in.

Singer/guitarist/songwriter Anders Thomsen, the object of so many ladies affections, backs up the Gussy-ness with an unforgettable, booming country baritone and a couple of hands which were built specifically for the Telecaster. Michael Howard Smith bangs the drums and looks perfect, as usual. Mark Miller, in addition to making his singing debut here ("Flat Broke in Hoboken," "All Is Fair"), is about a killer a bass player and joker that you'll find, and every now and then he'll have a beer with you and let out a yelp.

Look, it's not about us sitting here typing this crap. It's about you buying this CD, putting this CD in your player and letting this CD's music do the talking. Strap it on. You'll see. And you'll have close to 200 chances to see them live in the next year - check out our tour page to see when they'll be pulling into your town.

As far as Ray, Jim and Bob from the Lonesome Brothers, they, much like the Ex-Husbands, have crafted an excellent follow-up to their debut Tar Hut album. Titled Diesel Therapy, this work finds the Lonesome Brothers providing much of the same quirkiness that made their initial album such a popular little ditty. Right from the catchy opener by Jim Armenti, called "Going Blind," you'll find yourself humming right along with all the songs. They say that good bands have an uncanny ability to construct songs that are easy to remember - lyrically and musically. The Lonesome Brothers, together now for 13 years, have that ability and then some.

The title track itself is an amazing composition about life in prison, penned by Armenti. A local favorite for years, "Diesel Therapy" finds Jim at his lyrical best:

"If you find you've booked a room in Uncle Sam's hotel,
And you feel your lodging's bad, well keep it to yourself,
Don't you go complaining to the hack's outside your door,
'Cause whatever problems you've got, it's better than the cure,

From Owensville to Danbury, from Marion to Miami,
Morgantown to Lewisburg - pick your penitentary,
You've seen 'em all eventually right on down the line,
You won't be sitting in the bullpen long, 'cause you ain't got the time.

It's diesel therapy, it just goes round and round
Big 'ol armored buses are gonna take you out of town.
Diesel Therapy, Diesel Therapy,
you give 'em shit they'll send you all around."

Of course, Ray Mason, as you all know by now, is no slouch either. Often compared to Levon Helm, Ray's songs will conjure up images of bands like NRBQ and The Skeletons. Songs like the chugging rocker "Water Rolling off a Duck" and "All Jacked Up," simply continue Ray's journey.

Ray says, "I was born. I started playing music in the mid 60s. I'll keep playing until I die. That's it. Kind of a simple life. I'm going to go until I drop, and I'll go down face-forward, hitting one of those big twangy chords."

Yep. We couldn't have said it any better.

"Diesel Therapy" will strictly be available through Tar Hut mail order and Miles of Music beginning in mid-September. Support them. Support us. Hello!

That's about it for now. Thanks so much for all of your support. If you want a catalog, just fill out our guestbook, and we'll get one to you pronto. Promise. In the meantime, it's almost time for hockey season. And the World Series. And the leaves changing colors, and quality apple cider, and………autumn. Enjoy the music.

Best to all - Jeff, Dave and Leo