In Philadelphia I'm Terry Gross with. We go deep into our archives for some great American music. Interview with and in 1909 performance by the late. Singer who changed the way people around the world think about mountain music Watson was widely regarded as the single greatest guitar player in America he was born in North Carolina and went blind after an eye infection around his 1st birthday was only 11 when his father made his 1st banjo put it in his hands and said Son I want to learn to play this. Through the world. Review some newly released music that he likes to listen to with the volume. Live from n.p.r. News in Washington I'm Jack Speer and only a 1000 personnel are actively supporting firefighting efforts in southern Colorado as the so-called spring fire continues to burn for member station k.-r. C.c. In Colorado and rich often as more the fire has burned more than 94000 acres making it now one of the largest in Colorado state history more than 100 homes are confirmed destroyed the fire remains just 5 percent contained the spring fire is one of many burning throughout the state including the $416.00 fire near Durango which spans more than $53000.00 acres many areas in Colorado had to cancel fireworks displays due to extreme fire danger more than 65 percent of the state faces varying degrees of drought conditions for n.p.r. News I'm Andrea Chelton in Colorado Springs President Trump today tweeted a military themed Independence Day video greeting to the nation in a short recording the president said today he and the 1st lady wish everyone a happy holiday marking the nation's children 42nd birthday White House hosted a picnic for military families followed by a concert with a view of tonight's fireworks over the national mall in North Texas thousands watched Denton's Yankee Doodle parade March past the town square Bill's able with in Dallas reports just a few days ago hundreds appeared on the same square protesting border policy to separated immigrant children from their parents to those watching or marching in the central parade Independence Day means freedom of faith of speech to be who we are Santiago to meet as those says it doesn't always work out that way people come here for freedom and it's it's not to say guaranteed unfortunately but I think with the right connections or right ways it can happen others at this parade urge the president Republicans and Democrats to stop blaming each other come together and fix the immigration system and quote act like adults for n.p.r. . News I'm Bill Zebul in Dallas British police say 2 Britons who fell critically ill in town of Amesbury were exposed to the Cold War era Soviet nerd's agent Nova chalk that's the same material used to poison a former Russian spy and his daughter last spring medical officials say people in the area where the couple Been need to take precautions though Professor Sally Davis the chief medical officer for England says the risk to the general public from the toxin is low following events in months we have a well established response to this type of incident and clear processes to follow all priorities at this time on to care for the patients and to understand the circumstances surrounding how these 2 individuals came on wealth or to say the latest victims or a man and woman in their forty's or the former spy and his daughter recovered Britain's accused Russia of being behind that attack Russia has denied any involvement u.s. Financial markets are closed for the 4th of July holiday today you're listening to n.p.r. News in Washington. The co-chair of China's Asian a group of powerful conglomerate that operates the country's 4th largest airline has died in an accident during a business trip in France Fishel saying today 57 year old Wang Giana co-founder of the company apparently died after suffering severe injuries in a fall in Provence in southern France going to witness accounts Wang was standing on a high wall while taking pictures and fell dozens of meters as millions of people taxed and tweet their July 4th activities boaters are now getting the same warning as drivers when it comes to using a cell phone behind the wheel from Houston Public Radio Gail De Lauder looked at the issue of distracted boating just like on the freeway things can happen fast on the water someone can fall off a jet ski or a buoy could seemingly appear out of nowhere to it since in burner with the boat us Foundation says if you're texting or taking selfies while operating a boat it could be just as dangerous as if you were driving a car boaters could be coming at you from another direction and you just might not be prepared if you're not looking about in scanning the environment statistics from the u.s. Coast Guard show that operator inattention is a primary contributing factor in book crashes around the country for n.p.r. News I'm going to lottery in Houston yet another record for a hot dog eating King Joey Jaws Chestnut the famous Coney Island competition Chestnut took home the coveted Mustard Belt after donning a whole bunch of francs on buns in just 10 minutes 7400 dollars room and I heard it and I went over there for 35 and so forth I'm happy just not beat his old record set last year by 2 I'm Jack Speer n.p.r. News in Washington support for n.p.r. Comes from n.p.r. Stations other contributors include the John d. And Catherine t. MacArthur Foundation supporting creative people any fact of institutions committed to building a more just virgins and peaceful world more information is that Mack founded dot org and the ne e. Casey Foundation. Support for Aspen Public Radio comes from recently and company with offices in Aspen and Carbondale Reese Henry and company has provided a full range of accounting services including tax preparation audits and reviews bookkeeping and consulting since 1964 more at 9 to 537714 Reece Henry dot com. This is Fresh Air I'm Terry Gross on this 4th of July we're going to hear some great American music we're going deep in our archives for the show to feature Doc Watson who was one of America's most revered folk musicians in his prime he was considered the finest black picker in the u.s. Folklorist Ralph Rinzler who discovered him said Watson is single handedly responsible for the extraordinary increase in acoustic flat picking and finger picking guitar performance his flat picking style has no precedent in earlier country music Watson was born in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains when he was about one year old and I infection left him blind for about 15 years he toured and performed with his son Merle in 1905 Merle was killed in a tractor accident Watson organized an annual music festival in his honor in North Carolina known as Merle Fest. Doc Watson died in 2012 at the age of 89 we're going to hear the interview I recorded with Doc Watson in 1980 but we'll start with a couple of songs from the concert he recorded on our show in 1909 he brought with him guitarist Jack Lawrence who was his longtime music partner I want to welcome both of you to fresh air and Doc Watson can I ask you to introduce the 1st song I think it will do one that Merle and I Muslim world I learned from John Hurt my good old to go make me down a pallet on new floor. Down Guitar straps will squeak character that's the way that's the way it works here is a little tune but no boy that excuse me there cited he can leave home and learn to travel. And he found a pretty little girl and got married and got 2 for the process one let some day the rest of the Cole give it back my $0.15. My work than tallow worked on the farm but there was no way to sue No they're both dead by mean we zoom out in on a few months prior to looking at my mother in law but like seeing the bride going to leave the state of Arkansas and go back home and I give you back my fifty's or give it back my money give me back my $0.15 so now I don't know my. That's Doc Watson singing and playing guitar along with guitarist Jack Lawrence recorded in our studio in 1909 we'll hear more of this fresh air concert later the year before that concert Watson joined us for an interview we talk 1st about how being blind affected his life I've read you say that if you were inclined you don't think you would have ever gone on the road and I wasn't sure how to interpret that I wouldn't have because exactly what I was talking about I would rather have a job where I could go home and not out of played music of course there's no doubt about that because I think you're born with music or whatever talent that comes outfront in your blood is the old timers used to say and you just couldn't have picked 1st time a guitar came along you'd learn it but it would have been a hobby I'd like to be in a carpenter or an electrician or some kind of work like a mechanic if I could say I can do rough carpenter work anyway it's in your father make the 1st banjo that you fly Yeah he did that was another summer of 1934. Made my. First little string instrument I had a harmonica before that. But dad showed me a few of the old time frailing our claw hammer banjo style teens and when they brought it to him and put it in my hands and said Son I want you to learn to play this thing real well to me they will get you a better one he said my hip to get through the world and what was it like for you the 1st time you got the banjo into your hands what did you do with that odd don't you know I really don't remember remember how I felt but I don't remember hardly what it was like learning the 1st teens it was kind of hard for Dad to show me because I couldn't see his hands and it was a little tough but he finally got across to me. How to do the licks on the banjo and how to note the thing in Africa figure out where the notes work as it was fretless and you could slide along with the fingers and finally come to the right one you know and found out how to get there without missing and. So you were really pretty self-taught. For the most part yes I was a guitar absolutely. How did you get your 1st guitar by pulling the cross-cut saw one spring my dad told my youngest brother and I Boys if you could all those dead chestnut. Small dead chestnuts down along the road around the edge of the field there you can sell it for pulpwood to the tannery and we went it and we cut a couple of big truckloads and didn't make us a mint of money but it made me enough to buy a good little guitar from well I thought it was good at the time from Sears Roebuck and younger brother ordered him a suit of clothes. And considering that you really instruments were homemade banjos and a mail order guitar Did you ever get really obsessed with the quality of instruments that you were playing some musicians just play what they have another's really obsessed with having instruments that are just right for them or custom made for them I was fairly contented with what I had I never had had my hands on a good guitar. Back in those days and didn't for years the 1st good guitar that I got hold of that I would have considered much better than my mail order box was. Martin guitar that Richard Green used to have a music store under his he had a boarding house run in there and and I went in there one day with a little mail order thing and he said why don't you let me help you get you a good guitar and I said Gosh it cost too much and he said take a walk and do I can get you good Martin do you thing that will be a price that you can afford and I'll take the payments down to $5.00 a month and I couldn't beat that faded off quicker than that but I couldn't beat that with a stick and at that time I was playing at the little fruit stand and a couple of little being market that hadn't been making me a few shekels own cider to have a good time to pick and I paid for the guitar that summer he got me that at his cost and it cost $90.00 and I paid for a lot I was proud of that guitar but in all truth compared to my guitar and I was like fretting the thing ends. It was really hard to play. I guess it's almost good in a way to get used to something like bags that makes it seem so much easier when you get a good guitar Oh it really does and when I got into the folk revival in the 60s run into people who could set a guitar action up to where you could play it and I came on to another Martin along about that time played a Gibson 1st on the road borrowed and he came into another Martin and action was brought down to where he could play it we're listening to the interview that Doc Watson recorded in our studio in 1908 we'll continue our July 4th edition with more of our Doc Watson interview and performance after a break this is Fresh Air. 'd This is Fresh Air On this July 4th we've gone into our archive for some great American music we're featuring an interview with and performance by the late Doc Watson who was a reviewer at folk and bluegrass guitarist and singer Let's get back to our 988 interview. It was really during the folk revival that you started to become nationally known I think you'd been playing dances and you know playing played regularly music through the fifty's and played an electric guitar Les Paul was it was really interest me you were playing rockabilly an electric guitar amp a billy an old pop standards with the No one and Jack Williams Jack had a little group together and when he heard me pick he said but it don't you pick with me. Now where understand it real friends lawyer who was working at the Smithsonian Institute came down looking for traditional Southern musicians came down your way and heard about you had looking for Clarence Ashley and found him Clarence Thomas Shelley and I had played music with Tom on a few land sales a few little shows shows here and there. And raff came over and when he heard me he persuaded me or my better judgment at the time that I had something to offer in the way of entertainment in the folk revival so I jumped in there with both hands I reckon thinking well if I fail at it it won't mean I didn't try though. I'm here and Ralph was a member of the green Bible was at the time I know you had been playing you know electric guitar did you have to switch over to stick in order to make it on the folk revival Yes Which back to the acoustic Oh yeah he had a lot of you took an electric guitar on some of those festivals they would have blood you off the stage if you were supposed to be they call used to call me ethnic until I found out on you a few other teams but other than they'll hand it was you know the ballads of the good old teams that I cut my teeth on I think I really shocks some people in some of the clubs when I got my foot in the rafters and I when you get your foot in the door you can expand and play a little of the other music that you played over the years but stick strictly to traditional music to get away with next to get started so that's what I did I kind of deceived people a little you know. What I want to play something that was recorded by real friends where I mean reference to recorded it you were present in my living room in my living room yeah and this is a recording that was from the early 1960 s. And this is every day dirt tell us a little bit about the song before it has a fellow David macaron. Was living in a mill town guest on in North Carolina and he heard about some recording sessions going on down I think it was Knoxville Tennessee and he probably slung as guitarist back knowing how those poor boys fared he and a fellow Howard often got in his given name went over to Knoxville and recorded a bunch of things and every day there was one of the songs that happened in our little record collection when I was a little boy and those words are just you know they're automatic I mean have to think about the lyrics on that I did have to work at picking it I learned it off they'll send it record in the car and record it. Ok so from the early 1960 s. This is my guest Doc Watson. Yes. Now jump on the home all in the longer you read all that just like there is that Mr Hanley cried. When you must have. Record in the early 1960 s. That's my guest of last and how did you learn how to pick that way we found out yourself taught but it seems like you'd be really hard to teach yourself an intricate style well all by listening to the all records you could hear if you got . From with the instrument you could hear was drawings that were hit No no what chord they were playing in just by the sound after all music is sound and I think if anybody learns the guitar proper version as soon as they can get to where they can stop looking at the Merik. And play with the in that unless it's something really hard that year. You 1st get into you know you need to memorize the distances and the jumps on the neck well. As I said music is sound and I could tell what the guy was doing the little slide licks on there where it goes down to a certain note and jumps back up there all the chords are sound and he's like you're reading something once I was familiar with the guitar once you put down the electric guitar for the acoustic guitar How often did you pick up the electric guitar again. Very seldom after I got into to folk music and into the revival and began to play a little jobs or coffeehouses on a I seldom if ever picked up the electric guitar do you miss it at all no not I love a good electric guitar that one wasn't all that good it was a 2nd Actually it was a Les Paul Gibson but it really was a 2nd the neck on it when I like it I thought it was a great thing when I 1st got hold of it had a beautiful sound. But there are some that are so much better now than it was. Sound wise you know and as to play that I picked up a Chet Atkins model electric Gibson is that a beautiful holiday oh lord now I was interested in anything Doc Watson recorded in 1908 he died in 2012 at the age of 89 we'll hear more of his interview and his 1909 fresh air concert in the 2nd half of our show as we continue this July 4th edition Here's another song from that concert I'm Terry Gross and this is Fresh Air I like to do. A little tune here that I used here Brownie and Sonny do. It's a blues that everybody's had at one time another. It's called Stranger blues. To 3. Years in. New York. And just make calls on a story. You know how to. Read . History. Sometimes I wonder why some people treat history you're so. Fond of please just. Just go over. The. Blow a. Stranger you. Just make. Stranger you don't have to. Give them a new bar Family Foundation supports w.h.y. Wise fresh air and its commitment to sharing ideas and encouraging meaningful conversation support for n.p.r. Comes from this station and from the law firm Cooley yellow Pete with offices in the u.s. Europe and China Cooley advises entrepreneurs' investors financial institutions and established companies around the world where innovation meets the law. And from the Ford Foundation working with visionaries on the front lines of social change worldwide to address inequality in all its forms learn more at Ford Foundation dot org. Thanks for tuning in to Aspen Public Radio we have updates to the lake Christine fire near assault on our website Twitter and Facebook feeds the fire burning above downtown basalt since Tuesday afternoon as cause more than 500 evacuations the Red Cross has set up an overnight evacuation center at the basalt high school for the latest information go to Aspen Public Radio dot org Aspen pub radio on Twitter or like Aspen Public Radio on Facebook tune in during Morning Edition for live updates and interviews this is Aspen Public Radio broadcasting on Aspen and e.j. X. Carbondale. This is Fresh Air I'm Terry Gross and this July 4th of gone into our archive for some great American music We're listening back to 1988 interview with an in 1909 performance by the late bluegrass and folk a Taurus and singer Doc Watson Watson grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and in his prime was considered the greatest guitar flat picker in the u.s. Let's get back to the concert he recorded in our studio in 1909 he was backed by guitarist Jack Lawrence. In the late Jim Rogers. It his life's actions in the early thirty's he did to music that set right in the age of the big band music of the day her use of her little fuel Jim recorded cold blue jay. The Swedish girl who were. Losing my home town. We fell in love. While unknown was shouting. Has heard him ask her. Where those would ring. And she said Oh dear it seems history for this to happen here she is sure. All of me she has the story. Of her so. Blue Jay. And when the song goes. The sound is creeping all over town she needs me in the line. Play Project. Listen here Jane and I have come to say farewell open as we heard you know I love you so much more than those words to that I must go away did a 100 but won't you come with me cause I'm going to be blooming missing you longing for it day for you blue eyed j. Oh no I'm here you are the sweetest thing. I love you so. My Blue Jays. And when the sun goes not. On the shadows creeping over time. Please meet me in the living my Blue Jays. And when those song goes now. In the shadows grieving over time. Then I'll come home to you my blue jay. That's guitarist and singer Doc Watson and guitarist Jack Lawrence recorded in our studio in 1909 as you can hear we've gone deep into our archives for this July 4th edition of our show let's get back to our 1988 interview with Doc Watson once you went on the road during the folk revival now you weren't used to traveling there must have been a lot you learned how to learn how to do did you have a business manager to help you out with bookings and royal friends or did. The bookings between he and many Greenhill of folklore productions but raff traveled a lot with me and if he didn't when I would go to New York to work in the city. I came by Trailways bus someone would always meet me at the Port Authority and take me over to RAF's apartment I worked lots of times I'd work at good as Folk City a week or 2 weeks at a time doing either opening act or just playing the job straight there. It was scary I was as green as a green apple as far as the city country boy really yeah sure his old timers used to say hey seed for sure but. The scary part finally and the adventure finally got over with and the road. Became a job yeah he thinks I'm using a good audience I love. Well you know I think there's always clubs who not maybe not many but there's always some clubs willing to take advantage of of a former And I would guess that someone who was blind was a more likely target if they didn't have people who were watching out for them would you ever ever ever have any problems with I was sure was glad when my son Merle started on the road with me because if we went to a place and they didn't treat me too good dad we won't come back here in a more and that was the end of it I tell Manny tell Mr Greenhill don't don't book that more it was the end of it which we you know we didn't hit too many places that they weren't really decent but once in a great while or course I'm calling you names because we're all nationwide radio. But we were in a few places where they treated you like pieces of used equipment and that end of playing there was the do it again that's the best thing you can do you know it's not tolerate that just move away you mentioned your son Merle did you teach him how to play because no Merlot wouldn't show any interest in the guitar until it was 15 I was on my 1st concert tour a civil solo concert tour that spring and about midways of it rough called me and said Doc I've got some good news now so it will land on me and he said. Merrill has started playing the guitar his mother Rosalee started him on the guitar she told him his 1st chords and showed him how to play them in a little bit about time and he just took it and went with it. Good afternoon I'm Allison backed us this is news from Aspen Public Radio we have some updates on the lake Christine fire near basalt it's still active now about 2300 acres and 0 percent contained fire operations are continuing today flames can be seen from assault and Willits the smoke is visible and affecting air quality conditions throughout the valley over 500 homes have been evacuated there is a Red Cross overnight shelter set up a salt high school evacuation orders in place for all addresses on the north side of Midland Ave currently the town of assault is not under evacuation but the Eagle County Sheriff's Office recommends everyone imbeciles and Willits be prepared to act evacuate again that evacuation center is open at the salt high school all communities up valley of basalt are on threat of power outages that collapsed up to 72 hours crews from Carbondale Snowmass Aspen rifle and the upper Colorado River fire are currently fighting the fire on the ground and via air tact as of this time there's no report of structural or dam damage or injuries the fire started at a shooting range imbecile yesterday and 2 suspects have been identified charges are expected to be filed in relation to the amount of damage and resources that are used a community briefing on the fire has just taken place we go live to our reporter Kristen Kaye who was there Chris and how you do we have you on the phone there. You have been here all right so this was for community members people who have concerns people who have been displaced What were some of the questions and concerns you heard during this meeting I mean the biggest question of course that you heard over and over was when do we get to go back to our houses and we had at that meeting. But Paul and Rural Fire Protection District Chief Scott Thompson and the Thought Police Department Chief Greg not and both of them were very clear in saying that fire is erratic and they just are unable to predict when people are going to be able to go home they emphasized that neighborhoods have to be safe for you know things like gas and electricity that the trees in the neighborhood have to be safe and this also affects evacuation they're just really unable to let people know you know who might be evacuated next. The 2nd biggest thing that came out for the community was just how do we help there are people who are like just train as quickly like to direct traffic to help in any way and. They were like the firefighters need food do the volunteers need food and. They said they have enough enough. Sounds like but the community is really wanting to help each other and pull together and there was a Spanish translator there and she raised her hand and said her community would be meeting at the post office after this meeting to lead a perv group and they were inviting everyone so I think people are really you know pulling together and in a terrible situation. The other thing that came up with people who are wondering you know about their houses. And. Not not necessarily for their possessions which I thought was interesting that they were like How will people be if their fire spreads to our neighborhood if no one's there and there are extra patrols in all the neighborhoods from police and from fire for spotting fire and also for watching out for people to question them homes Christian what did you hear about how long this fire might last how long it will be until it's all out and safe again. The district ranger for the White River National Forest Karen sure was at the meeting because the fire had spread to national forest land this afternoon. She said this is this is not going to go out quickly this is probably going to be weeks long that we really are going to need a weather event to help put a fire like this out. We heard earlier that the cause of this was people at the gun range and assault using some trace bullets did that come up how did how could this happen to that come up during the meeting yes definitely another kind of the prized guest of the briefing was Perry will he's the c.p.w. Area manager and he would have been that would have been his office but those it sounds like 3 calls went to about shutting down the range and. People he started by saying Of course everyone's wondering why it was still open he says appropriate shooting doesn't cause fires even though the range is not supervised lots of shooting was taking place the whole day that it started without issue however he did say all the p.w. . Kind of operated or any shooting range within b.t.w. Land is now closed after the fire and this was the most tense moment of the community meeting people were really high lots of hands in the air lots of mumbling people wondering you know how long does it take to respond to a call they had been called last week about whether to close that range and they kind of had to move the meeting on because so many people had questions for him and it does sound like you know that the 2 suspects in the in the fire were using the trace bullets are being charged with 4th degree arson at this point but it sounds like there could be more charges forthcoming How does this how is this being taken statewide has a as a Governor Wade and we have some other fires going around the state are we able to get more resources from the state of Colorado to help with the fire that's a great question. The Eagle County Board of County Commissioner Kathy Chandler has Henry was here to kind of speak to that she said the governor has declared a state of emergency as of this afternoon also the work 15 I mean we have lots of fires burning in Colorado right now and the 415 fire in Durango which has been the big one is winding down were able to get some resources from trucks and some teams from both that declaration of the state of emergency and from. That for 15 fire and it sounds like this started. Kind of under the false police on the ball fire department command and now it's come to the states and they well get some resources federally but they're not quite sure if it will be managed at the federal level any other moments during this press conference of course what a great outpouring that most people wanted to ask how they can help and even that emotional moment from Mayor Jackie with that saying hey we're all neighbors here right yeah yeah I mean it was I mean I think it feels like the community is real that this is going to be a long term thing and that they're ready it really ready to support each other I mean a lot of people are following this on. Russian media and you can see people are offering their home offering transportation it's like Rafter reached out to see if they could help with transportation that it was in anyway so lots of organizations and businesses and individuals pulling together but it could be a long haul Christine thank you so much for your on the ground reporting about as reporter Kristen Kaye she is reporting live from the bus a high school which is acting as a shelter for the evening for those who are displaced because of the late Christine fire Christine thank you so much yes thanks well and of course you can stay tuned to Aspen Public Radio we'll have updates throughout the evening online Aspen Public Radio dot org Our Twitter feed Aspen pub radio or our Facebook Aspen Public Radio if you give data like that we're reporting on the Christine lay Christine fire and assault it is threatening power lines which could affect the Salton all communities of valley from basalt with up to 72 hours of power outage we return now to Fresh Air r.t.m. Progress from the concert he recorded on our show with guitarist Jack Lawrence in 1909 if you like I think a little trying song might be in order here on a member that song over there that brother Jimmy jet wrote and I'm going to plug an album right here he's opposed to this but it's on an album with it for sure he'll call Rod the midnight train a bluegrass album my 1st endeavor of pure bluegrass Green will Trussell is a song for the train buffs that the good old steam engine sounds and only good. I remember when I went to school or rather a train went by over 20 minutes on average and this song makes me think of those days. I remembered as a book how in London Mandan joy. To watch the trains as they go by. And the whistles on some sound you could hear from miles around as the rolled across 3rd Greenville truss on. The was a don't sound like good news to. Not many trends go by. Hard times across this lad we know we're borrowing a road and the Greenville trust not own seems I. Think it's. On the riverbank I'd stand with McCain poll in mind and watch the freight trains up against the sky. That black smoke trail and back as the mood along the track bathrooms across said Greenville draw so high. About there was so Bush downside like they used to. Believe there's not many trains go. On our time to crawl. I mean no work for a railroad. And the Greenville trust now don't seem so high. Where the loan somewheres and on good rambling on my mind a lot always they still sounded that way. As I turned to head for home board cheered room bolo and long door the sun cert at the close of a. Month or so those down south I used to. Live not many trains go by. Hard times across this last and me No we're all railroad. And the Greenville trust not own seems a ha. No the Greenville trolls are not on seems. Featuring a live concert today with Doc Watson and Jack Lawrence and it looks like we'll have time for one more song. Jack while we're at it there that instrumentals on pretty good list doing a little bit of something quite country here to kind of wander down with some gold but blues when we play anything it's good rhythm. Guitarist and singer Doc Watson along with guitarist Jack Lawrence recorded in our studio in 1909 Doc Watson died in 2012 at the age of 89 so today we did something we don't typically do which is to go way back in our archive for a holiday show we have some great interviews and performances from many years ago that we'd love to share with you on holidays let us know what you think of that idea you can tweet us at n.p.r. Fresh air that's all one word after we take a short break rock critic Ken Tucker will review new recordings he likes to listen to at the volume up this is Fresh Air. Support. This is Fresh Air Sometimes you just want to crank up the volume and play a piece of music real loud and that's what Ken Tucker wants to do when he listens to the recently released songs he's going to review songs from 3 different genres rock punk and funk Here's his review of music by my morning jackets Jim James the Danish band Ice Age and George Clinton's parliament. To. Cut. Cut. Jim James is best known as the front man for My Morning Jacket but he's also released a string of solo albums of which uniform distortion is the 3rd one it is overall a collection of intentionally rough loud songs backed by an efficient 2 man rhythm section there's an emphasis on James's guitar which has a ragged sometimes blaring sound in a recent interview James said I wanted to make a record that's fun and quick and wrong and as he says on this song Rock on now. A. Go in to. The Mike and I am playing on the end of that phase. Just. Then a. Good . George Clinton the long time king of funk with his bands parliament and Funkadelic is back with the 1st parliament album in 38 years it's called Medicaid fraud dog a clever concept album Clinton uses his advanced age he's 77 years old as a springboard for songs both silly and serious about government aid programs the opioid crisis and the healing power of funk music all of that combines to form Clinton's pronouncement on the health of the country or as he calls it one nation under sedation. The album's 1st single features a fine lurching rhythm dense guitar keyboard drum grooves and Clinton's gravelly voice singing the title which is I'm going to make you sick of me. Ice Age is a Danish band from Copenhagen the band started out close to a decade ago heavily influenced by 1970 s. Punk rock now more albums into their career they've expanded their sound to include horns and take in a more grand gothic tone on their new collection titled Beyond last. The key to their pleasure is that the quartet keeps its song structures tight and never neglects to include a refrain that hooks you into hanging on for the next tremulous or angry verse. The music from all 3 of these acts seeks release in letting loose in the pleasure music can give from creating wild and archaic spaces within the framework of pop music song structures there's an art to summoning up chaos and an equal reward in keeping that chaos under control Ken Tucker is critical large for Yahoo t.v. Tomorrow on fresh air we take a look back at the Supreme Court term with New York Times Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak Well talk about important decisions that didn't get much attention as well as those that did and will talk about Justice Kennedy's retirement the pack reported that the president and his allies certainly encouraged Kennedy to retire with enough time to appoint a new justice before the midterm elections I hope you'll join us. With. Fresh Air's executive producer is the any room of our $989.00 concert with Doc why . It was recorded by our technical director and engineer like you than them are says You producer for digital media is Malise even esper to reason Madden directed Today show I'm Terry Gross. Support for n.p.r. Comes from this station and from the e.c.m. See Foundation working to improve post-secondary educational outcomes for underserved students through evidence based innovation learn more at e.c. Mc Foundation dot org And from the Epstein Family Foundation in support of the David Gilkey and Zabiullah to Monem a moral fund established to support N.P.R.'s international journalists their coverage and their commitment to providing the news of the world to audiences back home. 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