Grayson Capps’ fifth studio album, The Lost Cause Minstrels, is set for release June 7 on Royal Potato Family. The 11-track effort finds the Mobile, Alabama-based singer-songwriter coming of age. This doesn’t mean, however, that his often unholy tales of the Southern Gothic have lost any of their sting. Quite the contrary, Capps’ Tao-tinged, philosophical reflections–revealed deep inside songs shuddering with spit, stomp and snarl–are as potent as ever. Listen no further than "Highway 42," "No Definitions" and "Rock N Roll" to hear that Capps cedes no quarter. It’s just that this time his bark and bite is more accepting of the unanswered questions mucking up the universe, while country soul textures and gospel harmonies ease the raw edges. Occasionally, even a celebratory mood prevails like the horn-fueled romp "Ol’ Slac," an ode the rebirth of the Mobile, Alabama Mardi Gras, or "Coconut Moonshine," a character sketch based on Mr. Jim who inhabits the hallowed roadside barbecue joint in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Two rare, but classic, American roots’ numbers are born again here, as well: Taj Mahal’s country-blues paen "Annie’s Lover" and Richard Rabbit Brown’s jaunty "Jane’s Alley Blues," (the original recording preserved on Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music).
Grayson Capps’ real life situation has evolved since his previous release Rott ‘n’ Roll, and it surely influences the album’s sound and spirit. In 2010, he dissolved his band The Stumpknockers, re-assembling a new cast of musicians, fittingly dubbed The Lost Cause Minstrels. The line-up features a who’s who of the finest players on the Gulf Coast music scene, including Corky Hughes on guitars, Chris Spies on keys, Christian Grizzard on bass and John Milham on drums. Capps also moved back to Alabama, where he was born and raised, in the middle of recording the album. He’d been residing in Nashville since 2007 after being driven from his longtime New Orleans’ following Hurricane Katrina. Capps co-produced the effort with his longtime partner and Grammy Award-winning engineer/producer Trina Shoemaker (Queens of the Stone Age, Dylan Leblanc, Sheryl Crow). All of these factors coalesce into a collection of songs timeless in their pursuit of truth yet well aware of how hard the truth is to find in these times. The Lost Cause Minstrels is the highly anticipated next chapter from one of the finest Southern troubadours of the day.
The Lost Cause Minstrels track listing:
1. Highway 41
2. Coconut Moonshine
3. John The Dagger
4. Jane’s Alley Blues
5. Chief Seattle
6. Yes You Are
7. Annie’s Lover
8. Ol’ Slac
9. Paris, France
10. No Definitions
11. Rock n Roll
Upcoming tour dates:
May 1 | Rosie’s Grill | Daphne, AL (*solo acoustic)
May 3 | Chickie Wah Wah’s | New Orleans, LA
May 5 | Le Petite Theater | New Orleans, LA (*Southern Troubadours also featuring Anders Osborne, Tab Benoit and Devon Allman)
May 6 | DBA | New Orleans, LA (8PM)
May 6 | Le Bon Ton Temp Roulet | New Orleans, LA (*Late Night)
May 7 | River Pub | Hurricane, AL
May 13 | The Fire | Jackson, MS
May 14 | The Hangout | Gulf Shores, AL
May 21 | Northshore Grill | Orange Beach, AL
May 25 | The Nick | Birmingham, AL
May 27 | Smith’s Olde Bar | Atlanta, GA
May 28 | Jamming At Hippy Jack’s | Crawford, TN (taping for PBS broadcast)
May 29 | Rosie’s Grill | Daphne, AL (*solo acoustic)
June 3 | Oak’s Cafe | Brewton, AL
June 4 | Pirate’s Cove | Josephine, AL
June 12 | Callaghan’s Irish Social Club | Mobile, AL
June 14 | Blue Gill | Mobile, AL
June 16 | Myers Park | Gulf Shores, AL
June 17 | DBA | New Orleans, LA
June 18 | The Porch | Lake Charles, LA
June 19 | Callaghan’s Irish Social Club | Mobile, AL
June 23 | Rhythm & Brews | Chattanooga, TN
June 24 | The Basement | Nashville, TN
June 25 | Phoenix Hill Tavern | Louisville, KY
July 16 | Chrome Horse | Silver Hill, AL
July 17 | Callaghan’s Irish Social Club | Mobile, AL
July 20 | The Grey Eagle | Asheville, NC (*solo acoustic)
July 21 | Duck Pond | Brevard, NC (*solo acoustic)
July 22 | Shenanigan’s | Dahlonega, AL (*solo acoustic)
August 4 | Woodwalk Gallery & Events Barn | Egg Harbor, WI
August 6 | Lumberjam Festival | Hayward, WI
