Singing the words of Georgia-born poet, Byron Herbert Reece, Jacqueline Elsner recites: “But a step before them and a step behind are people possessed of a very small mind” during this chilling rendition of If Only Lovers, recorded acapella to the traditional tune of Fair & Tender Ladies.
Byron Herbert Reece summed up his own legacy with these words:
“From chips and shards, in idle times, I made these stories, shaped these rhymes; May they engage some friendly tongue when I am past the reach of song.”
Exciting news is dead ahead for several GF artists, including Uncle Goo, who recently began tracking new music for his yet to be titled record.
“Uncle Goo” is the stage name of Garrett Carpenter, who signed with Gypsy Farm in 2012.
We caught up with Mr. Goo as he was passing through the lobby & asked for a quick comment on the new material:
“[It’s] funky enough to make a freight train take a dirt road” he proclaimed.
Meanwhile across the facility in studio Z, tensions were heating up with The Humms as sessions for their follow up to Vampire Hours continue on, despite creative concern from outside sources.
“We’ve already lost two interns” said Skud Harris, acting manager for Humms’ camp.
“They’ll [intern] get a few songs in and inevitably, at some point, get offended or their feelings hurt” he confided.
“Then some sorry fool named CJ phoned the studio’s landline & threatened to ruin the lot of them on social media” laughed Harris.
“With any growth comes questions, criticisms, opinions…we’ve certainly received a fair share of each”
Skud continued: “As standard protocol, the receptionist on duty referred CJ to the number of a highly experienced mental healthcounselor & advised they seek attention there”
The Humms’ third album, Pelzer Fuck Club is slated for release next year.
Gypsy Farm’s label sector had a productive year, releasing 10+ new titles to an actively growing catalog, including Tape Feed, a compilation cassette of GF artists that helped serve over 1000 meals while GF’s other divisions continue a diverse venture into paranormal investigation, nature conservation, & EV charging technology.
The following list is an attempt to summarize the truly numerous records spun at GF HQ throughout the year. Each song is linked, in no particular order, & we highly suggest you visit, listen, & support if able.
Here’s looking for you, 2022.
Bob Dylan – Rough And Rowdy Ways This needs no introduction, just a minimum of one (1) ear to hear and all other necessary body parts. Select track: “MyOwn Version Of You”
J. Lansdowne – Self-TitledLP Former members of The Trashcans (ATL) & recorded on a Tascam 388. Select track: “Rope Trick”
Nicholas Mallis – Artificial Irrelevance Throw it on & dance around while you burn supper on the stove. Select track: “Caveman”
Jay Gonzalez – Back To The Hive Excellent songwriting and backing accompaniment for this solo effort by JG of the DBT. Select track: “I Want To Hold You”
Mr. Husband – Sufjan, You Took Too Long So I Went Ahead & Made West Virginia You may laugh, you may cry. You will smile. Select track: “Meemaw”
Vincas – Phantasma This record showed up covered in blood. Select track: “The Witch”
Dusk – Generation Loss An old Hartwell, Ga band that no one seems to remember anything about but has been recording since at least the late 90’s. Select track: “Plastic”
Moloq – Empire/Driving A wonderful pair of tunes for sitting in Atlanta traffic. Select track: “Driving”
Jan Terri – Ave Maria Jan Terri’s take on this classic with a rather entertaining music video.
Holiday Songs In B Flat – Holy Crap Records compilation Just when you think you’ve been too bad this year, Santa stuffs this down your stocking. Select track: “Holiday Inn”
Everyone at GF and beyond appreciate your continued support and wish you a happy & safe new year.
Proceeds of Gypsy Farm’s latest release, GF012 – Tape Feed, Vol 1, have secured over 1,146 meals through donations to Feeding America, a nonprofit organization networking with around 200 Food Banks throughout the United States.
This of course, was made possible, not only by Feeding America’s excellent farmer-food bank relationship, but by you, the listener. Thank you for your support!
Tape Feed, Vol 1 is a cassette that features exclusive tracks from Vincas, Sea Of Dogs, Old Smokey, The Humms & many more.
With a digital version included, the tape is currently available & proceeds of all purchases will be donated to Feeding America!
Taken from their most recent album Vampire Hours, the Humms submit a change of weather with the strikingly somber tune, Forward Cue.
GF manager and confidant, W.JAY undertook the task of compiling over a decade’s worth of footage, packed into the song’s 3:23 window.
Of the notable clips included, viewers may recognize several blasts from the past including the band’s infamous practice trailer, where several early works were tracked, such as 2008’s Talking To A Ghost.
Whilst digging through the media vault, located some 660 feet below the GF archives, we stumbled upon an old, but not forgotten, family favorite.
Tracked in the summer of 2014, ‘Ted Bundy’ drifts in and around Helen Scott’s signature tapestry of harmony, carried on a cloud of haze, & powered by the backing of organs.
Also hitting the digital shelfs as of last month, possibly a most unsettling rendition of the old spiritual “Death Ain’t No Big Deal” by Pastor Doug Brown.
While August saw the debut of DJWJ’s I Ride The Roads:
Rounding out this GF update, we still have copies of our most recent release, a cassette titled: TAPE FEED, Vol. 1 – shipping out now, with proceeds donated to Feeding America. Check it out here:
Every now & again, between cigarette breaks, after the show, the recording machine will be left unattended and running. Sometimes, we end up with what, more often than not, becomes some sort of cherished artifact for the GF archive.
Remembering one such time when the Shoal Creek Stranglers would pick & lick their way through Sinful Sunday Singings, a free show & supper combo hosted at various churches in the Georgia & South Carolina area.
It was an occasion when associates would track their own performance, at times unbeknownst to them.
We’re proud to present one such artifact, a tune that is all too relevant.
Performed on the spot by Reverend Douglas Brown, Death Ain’t No Big Deal.
Early 90’s promotional photo of the Drovers Old Time Medicine Show
Uncle Carl was known throughout the upstate and beyond, not only for his musical abilities, but also for his soft spoken voice & loving nature.
May Uncle Carl’s memory forever permeate through the songs & jokes he would tell, within the hearts of those who remember him well, as he eternally travels that low down damp & dusty trail.
Atlanta GA’s Haint emerged some years ago from the ashes of one of the earliest Gypsy Farm groups, Ghost Lights.
The latter of this two-song release is titled Childhood and from the beginning, sets a somber tone with it’s scattered organs and a vulnerably displayed for all to hear.
Vaguely hovering above the curious tone, you’ll find a melody that holds everything together within a basket of sound, threating to rip at any moment.
“H/|][|\|T is a monster of the Immaterium. Daemon of Terminus Gap– nexus between worlds. She is apart of things and integral. She is screaming flame and burning sugar sweet.” – Bandcamp page
After last year’s successful donation to the local food bank, we staffed our producer Willie Shears with the task of assembling years worth of various recordings from deep within the Gypsy Farm vault into a tangible compilation for your enjoyment but also, the benefit of Feeding America, a nonprofit organization networking with 200 food banks.
The result is Tape Feed, Vol: 1. Each limited edition cassette is a direct, real-time copy of the original hi-fee-fi-fo-fum master recordings and even include a digital download to boot.
With appearances by Old Smokey, Vincas, Nate & the Nightmares, the Humms, Sea of Dogs, Sweet Auburn String Band, 432 Sessions, Pine Tar Rage, Koko Beware & the Haunted Head.
Shears’ selection of GF recordings span a whole decade from 2010 through 2020, and all in all recorded at GF-HQ with the exception of Nate & The Nightmares – Everyday recorded live at Georgia theatre in 2014 while opening for Charles Bradley.
With exclusive tracks like Vincas – Phantasma (Live at Gypsy Farm) and the traditional bluegrass arrangements of 432 sessions – Buffalo Skinners (Jed & Harry Clark, Cory Walker & Jeff Partin) you can rest assured that it’s going to be an eclectic sum of tracks.
Enjoy Tape Feed, Vol 1 and simultaneously help deflect hunger, food waste & climate change by donating to the local food bank.
As we round out the first half of 2021, we see a new single release from the latest group signed to Gypsy Farm, known only as “Jockey Lot Boyz” (a reference to South Carolina’s largest flea market of the same name).
Though their press release failed to include any official member list or biography for that matter, our specialists have determined that at least four (4) different voices appear on the group’s debut track “I Remember When”.
Stream & share the Jockey Lot Boyz “I Remember When” via youtube and bandcamp.
Pictured above courtesy Gregory Frederick Athens GA Live Music is GF experimental project Bat & The Bears at a 2019 performance in the now unfortunately defunct Caledonia Lounge.
This is their first single out since last September’s Roost, and we all at Gypsy Farm are just cheery to present, here and now for your listening pleasure: “Brick Walls” by Bat & The Bears!
Gypsy Farm Network 