Nature lovin,’ tree-huggin, hippy musician and artist Graham Wilkinson put together a fascinating group of Austin-based musicians to accompany his original and inspirational songs on the new album Yearbook. Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Township make beautiful music for mountain drives and nature hikes, but also for boisterous bars across North America. The music is original. Some might claim it is a kaleidoscope of roots music, folk, rock, Americana, jazz, and reggae, but really Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Township melt away genres and make new and exciting music.
On Yearbook Graham Wilkinson writes beautiful ballads like “Star Blue” and blues tunes like “The Corner Store” underscoring his brilliance at song writing. Drummer Matt Morris, bassist Wayne Dalchau, guitarist P.J. Herrington, and Chris Stringer on keys make up the backbone of the Underground Township on this particular album with Graham playing a range of instruments from harmonica and guitars to percussion. The Township is joined by a revolving cast of musicians from the Austin scene including Hayes Carll, Alejandro Escovedo, Ray Hilner, Meg Kemp, Mista Swift, Margaret Whitt-Harn, Joe Fallhaeber, Trisha Keefer, Mark Levine, Nick Warrechuk, Mark Wilson, Kyle Clayton, Will Duppy, Leila Henley, Heidi Johnson, Danny Malone, David Moss, Hector Munoz, Ron Weisberg, Dawnerin Wilkinson, Sarah Lu Wilkinson, and even legendary Texan musician Lloyd Maines.
The track “Ragamuffin” sticks out as a particular favorite of mine. I’ve always liked this song, but when it came up on my iPod (in a random shuffle mode) while cruising through the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming it seemed to be the perfect song at the perfect time. Hayes Carll and Graham Wilkinson share vocals on the song with Lloyd Maines playing a beautiful steel guitar. The gliding pace of the song helped me to glide smoothly over the meadows and mountain lakes.
The tracks on Yearbook like “La Brisa,” “Let It Go,” and “Boys and Girls” are not only great songs, but they also have been well produced here by Township Records. Township Records, run by bassist Wayne Dalchau, is a great local Austin indie label with talented new artists like Danny Malone, James Levy, and Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Township.
Yearbook is a concept album that takes a look back at the collaborations and music of 2008 in South Austin. The previous release from the band was the self-titled Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township
| Aug 2 2009 6:00P | Freds Texas Cafe | Ft. Worth, Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 5 2009 8:00P | The Whitewater Tavern | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Aug 6 2009 9:00P | Tres Hombres | Carbondale, Illinois |
| Aug 7 2009 9:00P | Duke’s Hideaway | Chicago, Illinois |
| Aug 8 2009 9:00P | Duke’s Hideaway | Chicaco, Illinois |
| Aug 9 2009 8:00P | Village Inn | Suttons Bay, MI |
| Aug 10 2009 8:00P | Village Inn | Suttons Bay, MI |
| Aug 11 2009 8:00P | Village Inn | Suttons Bay, MI |
| Aug 12 2009 9:00P | The Happy Dog | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Aug 13 2009 9:00P | Hill Country BBQ | New York, New York |
| Aug 14 2009 10:00P | Blak Oak Tavern | Oneonta, New York |
| Aug 15 2009 8:00P | Fred Fest | Oneonta, New York |
| Aug 19 2009 9:00P | Northside Tavern | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Aug 20 2009 9:00P | Boone Saloon | Boone, North Carolina |
| Aug 21 2009 9:00P | Tasty World | Athens, Georgia |
| Aug 22 2009 9:00P | Westville Pub | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Aug 25 2009 9:00P | Lynagh’s Irish Pub | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Aug 26 2009 10:00P | The Basement w/ Rufus Huff (Kentucky Headhunters) | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Aug 27 2009 8:00P | The Whitewater Tavern | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Aug 28 2009 8:00P | Smoke and Barrel Tavern | Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| Aug 29 2009 8:00P | The Parish w/ The Blue Hit & Danny Malone | Austin, TX |
