The Alamosa Live Music Association proudly presents
The Black Lillies on July 24
th, as Sundays at Six continues in Cole Park, Alamosa.
The genre-mashing Americana band hits the road with their critically praised CD Hard to Please.
The Black Lillies’ new album Hard to Please (Attack Monkey/Thirty Tigers) has been racking up the accolades since its October 2015 release. Rolling Stone Country hailed it as “country music with a soul-rock infusion, supported by smart songwriting and tight musicianship” while American Songwriter praised the “soulful mix of upbeat Americana and tender ballads that makes the album a rejuvenating fourth release.” Pop Matters declared that the Knoxville group created “an authentic sound that’s guided by their best instincts,” and called the CD their “most confident set yet.”
Hard to Please stands as the Black Lillies’ most varied set of music. The ten-song set opens with the title track’s unexpected twangy funk and rolls on with the fierce country rocker “That’s the Way It Goes Down,” the Southern-style soul Contreras/Brady duet “Mercy” and the horn-fueled “The First Time,” on which Brady handles lead vocals. The disc deftly balances introspective numbers like “Desire” and “Bound to Roam” with the boot-scootin’ country tune “Dancin'” and the rockin’ on-the-road rave-up “40 Days.” The Black Lillies’ musical breadth is best captured in “Broken Shore.” This entrancing song ebbs and flows as a wild fiddle and psychedelic-like guitar lines lead listeners on a harrowing journey inspired by Contreras’ grandfather fighting in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
The band has built their grassroots popularity by taking their music to the people. They have been averaging 200 gigs a year since forming in 2009, playing small clubs as well as big festivals like Bonnaroo, Stagecoach and the Americana Music Festival. NPR’s Ann Powers made the group one of her top picks at 2014’s SXSW and no other independent band has played the prestigious Grand Ole Opry as many times as the Black Lillies have.
The album’s musical evolution will be reflected in the group’s concerts as the Black Lillies have grown into a six-piece with lead guitarist Mike Seal (Jeff Sipe Trio, Larkin Poe), bassist Sam Quinn (the everybodyfields) and pedal steel man Jonathan Keeney (Robinella) joining the core trio of Cruz Contreras, Trisha Gene Brady and Bowman Townsend.
ALMA “Builds Community through Quality Live Music.” For more information like ALMA on Facebook or go to www.almaonline.org.
Sundays at Six is sponsored by Comfort Inn & Suites, Valley Motel, Movie Manor, Arby’s, Super 8, IHOP, KRZA, City of Alamosa, Alamosa Local Marketing District Board, The Crestone Eagle, Myers Brothers Truck & Tractor, Alamosa Home, Body Tune Up, KW Farms, SLV Health, Colorado Health, Treasure Alley, Rio Grande Savings & Loan, 1st Southwest Bank, Valley Wide Health Systems, Alamosa State Bank, Jay Meyer State Farm Insurance, SLV Federal Bank, SLVREC & Ciello, and 2016 ALMA Members.
Sundays at Six is a free outdoor concert series in Cole Park, Alamosa. Concerts start at 6 p.m. Check out this year’s lineup. In case of bad weather, go to ALMA’s website and Facebook page to find out about cancellations or change of venue.
