New music from Sumner James (Bombadil solo project)

You probably know that Bombadil is playing again, and they have a show on Sept. 1 at Cat's Cradle. Well, Bombadil drummer James Phillips also has a new electronic solo project called Sumner James, and the debut solo album "29 Days" will come a couple of days before that Cradle show. 

Phillips says he wrote, arranged, and recorded these the album during the month of February as a "personal challenge," and to explore his newfound interest in electronica. "To eliminate distractions, I moved into the barn on Pendervis Farm outside of Portland, OR (the same barn where we did Rain Promises). It was really cold most of the time, so I had a circle of instruments and recording gear around a wood stove." The album is available for pre-order, and there are two songs streaming on the Sumner James Bandcamp. My favorite song on the album is the one below, "I Told You Not to Stay Here Anymore."

Sumner James - "I Told You Not to Stay Here Anymore"

From Ear Farm: Scott Avett sings Bombadil

Thanks to Ear Farm for this gem. A must for Avetts and/or Bombadil fans.

A new video from Bombadil

Yes, two videos in two days from a couple of my favorite local bands.

Today's video is for Bombadil's song "So Many Ways to Die," and like the band's music,

it's charming and a bit disturbing at the same time. Still no word on a live show as bass player

Daniel Michalak is still dealing with severe tendonitis. 

Bad news regarding Bombadil

Rick Cornell reports in this week's Indy that Bombadil, having just released a stellar new album (also reviewed in this week's issue) is having to put off touring due to an as-yet-undiagnosed ailment with Daniel Michalak's hands.

Music news round up

Megafaun, HNMTF and many more to play this year's TRK Fest out at Piedmont Biofuels.

The Love Language's video premieres on Spin.com.

Someone caught video of The Avett Brothers playing National Record Store Day at a store in Nashville (New Raleigh).

Hear a sneak peek from Bombadil's new album (Triangle Music).

"A Buzz, A Buzz" by Bombadil

First off, I want to apologize to the good folks in Bombadil because they sent me this CD months ago, and even though I've been listening to it, I'm just now getting around to writing about it. Now that things are settling down for me a bit, I plan to start reviewing CDs and including .mp3s again on the blog. That said, I'm not sure these guys NEED me to write anything about their new CD, which is very aptly titled "A Buzz, A Buzz." With write-ups in Paste and Ear Farm and a crazy touring schedule that includes this weekend's Floydfest, they're doing just fine on their own. (If you want to see them in North Carolina any time soon, they'll be at Finnegan's Wake in Winston this Friday.) Another problem: This CD is damn hard to describe. Paste mentioned international folk and mountain blues, which I guess is accurate, though I don't hear much international influence. In fact, "A Buzz, A Buzz" seems entirely homegrown in its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink winsome weirdness. "Johnny," by Bombadil