The Civil Wars: "Barton Hollow" era

[Farawayhills]

I'd be interested to know if some of you like this duo (Joy Williams and John Paul White) - who have a very emotional performance act, and a remarkable mix of Progressive Mountain Music and Southern Gothic influences.

What strikes me as VERY unusual is that both the CMA and the AMA have nominated them for vocal duo (the AMA have also given them another nomination for Breakout Artist).
It must be almost a first for a Mainstream Country showcase AND a Roots Country showcase to nominate the same singers for the same award in the same year - usually the two organizations can't agree on anything, lol

Joy and John Paul write their own songs (though with "Poison and Wine" they did have a co-writer, Chris Lindsey (who also one of the writers on Carrie's "Wheel of the World")

Here are videos of the two best known songs:

[AIgrl06]

I love them!!!

I'm going to see them in October, at a theater of about 700 seats. I cannot wait. I'm so glad there's a thread for them now! My favorites from their album are "My Father's Father" and "I've Got This Friend." Incredible. I also love their cover of "Disarm."

[hjj]

I have their album and enjoy it very much.

[Farawayhills]

Although, apparently, they first met professionally, drawing straws for partners at a writers' camp, I think "My Father's Father" was the first song they seriously wrote for an album together, on Inauguration Day, 2009, in Muscle Shoals.

[AIgrl06]

^Interestingg. And that happens to be one of my favorites. I remember reading an interview where John Paul talked about when they wrote "My Father's Father," that's when he knew that he and Joy would make a great team, 'cause even though she wasn't from the south in any way, she came up with a great melody and southern-sounding lyrics for that song, or something like that.

[Farawayhills]

He said that the sounds she comes out with must mean she has Appalachian heritage way back.

In fact, though, people sometimes get the wrong idea about California (where Joy came from). It's played a very big role in the development of Country Music. The mid 20th century "Hollywood Cowboys" like Tex Ritter, Sheb Wooley and Roy Rogers may have changed Traditional Western Music too much for some people's taste - but I'd say they kept it alive and made it acceptable to a wider audience. The Dust Bowl migrations and the Bakersfield Sound were very important for the development of Honky Tonk and Country Folk. But the biggest, undeniable, influence of California and other South Western states lies in the two important fields of Country Rock and Newgrass. Without that input, we might not have had Outlaw Country, or the Hippie-Redneck fusion in Texas - and most of all, perhaps, not the Progressive Bluegrass scene that dominates the festivals today.

[Farawayhills]

Here's the Civil Wars' Christmas single "Tracks in the Snow".

(Apparently, as well as downloads, they're releasing this on white vinyl, for record collectors)

[AIgrl06]

^They also have "O Come O Come Emmanuel" available on iTunes.

I saw them in concert last night... it was amazing! One of the best shows I've ever been to. They both sounded phenomenal and they were very playful and funny between songs, they really have great chemistry. You can just tell how much they love this. Highlights were "Barton Hollow" (The place went crazy), "To Whom It May Concern," "I've Got This Feeling" and "Billie Jean." I can't wait to see them again someday...

[Farawayhills]

Fans might like to see this lovely picture of Joy Williams and her new baby:

Joy Williams Introduces Son Miles Alexander – Moms & Babies – Moms & Babies - People.com

[epicamends]

I really hope these two work out whatever differences they currently have, because I absolutely need to see them live in concert someday:

[AIgrl06]

^The video is absolutely incredible. I almost shed a tear when I heard they might be breaking up. I saw them in concert a while ago and it was one of the best I've ever been to.

If anybody needs some more Civil Wars to hold them over, they've collaborated with T-Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for A Place at the Table, a documentary about hunger in America.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pl...ign-mpt=uo%3D4

[epicamends]

^ I keep seeing tweets mentioning a second album, so I still have my hopes up. Joy's husband Nate Yetton, who is also their manager, retweeted these photos in February:





And he also responded on March 6 to a fan's tweet asking about new TCW music (not the soundtrack they did, but a full TCW album) with this:

sensibility music ‏@nateyetton: @dawa1964 stay tuned.

https://twitter.com/nateyetton/statu...79315928297472

[epicamends]

Also, TCW posted this picture to their facebook/instagram/twitter yesterday, potentially hinting at new recordings:



Then TCW facebook page 'liked' a comment on the photo from someone who said that if TCW are teasing about something (i.e. new music), there must be something to tease about.

[AIgrl06]

Niiiice. I hope you're right, then. I literally cannot wait, haha.

[epicamends]

Me neither! I really hope they tour again. Fingers crossed!

(PS - there should be more TCW fans on here. lol. I can't believe this thread's been around since 2011 and we're still on the first page!)

[Farawayhills]

Even when cancelling their tour, they did mention the possibility of new music.

It's confusing, since Nate's cryptically teasing post seems to be hinting at wrangling over a new label (whereas the original cancellation notice suggested deeper differences).

Joy is active on Twitter, and I'm pretty sure she, at least, wants to go on.

[epicamends]

Even when cancelling their tour, they did mention the possibility of new music.

It's confusing, since Nate's cryptically teasing post seems to be hinting at wrangling over a new label (whereas the original cancellation notice suggested deeper differences).

Joy is active on Twitter, and I'm pretty sure she, at least, wants to go on.

Yeah, all the hints and comments seem to be coming from Joy and Nate, whereas John Paul has been completely silent on social media since the announcement. However, he's played a few solo shows, and has another one coming up with Gregg Allman in London next month.

I just really hope they have good news for us eventually, and that whatever the issue was/is, it's something they can work out. I wonder if the "differences of ambition" had to do with the label battle? One wanting to go to a major label and one not? But still, that would affect the album itself moreso than touring, and the touring has been the one affected. It's definitely confusing. But at least Joy/Nate's hints are keeping the hope alive for me.

Edit: This was just posted to their social media accounts:


"Recording, Aug 2012"

Now, it's from before the incident, but still - the hints are being posted more and more frequently lately, which makes me think they may have an announcement coming up soon.