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Jason Heath talks about the Greedy Souls’ Guthrie-esque themes, the currency of dreams and illusions, and plays three tracks from Packed For Exile.
Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls
Interview Recap
Jason Heath talks about the CD image. The band is packed up like they are going on an extended camping/hiking trip carrying an American flag. Turns out the image is mostly due to the miracle of Photoshop.
Calvin asks if the image from the Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls CD is meant to convey that the band sees themselves as a standard bearer for American music. Jason Heath says they have been drawn to themes of just whether they be personal, social, or emotional justice. Those are the themes from blues and gospel and americana. That would be the standard they stand under, working class themes of justice and liberation and honesty.
Jason Heath sets up “California Wine. from Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls second album, Packed for Exile. He says he was reading book, Devil Tree by Jerzy Kosinsky, and he says there was a line in there about a girl who travels. She as coming from South America to New York and she was enthralled with the money and the lights and she was drinking a lot of California wine at fancy parties. Being from L.A., he can relate to the idea because they deal in the currency of dreams and illusions.
[Calvin plays “California Wine” by Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls from Packed For Exile.]
Jason Heath and runs through the line up of Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls. The band came together in 5th grade when Jason and the drummer, Abe Etz, started their first band. Jason Heath says there were bands like The Ramones they could aspire to and they had many different bands growing up. The current incarnation of The Greedy Souls also includes Jason Federici on accordion and organ, guitarist Aaron Gitnick, and Will Mack on upright and electric bass. Chris Joyner also plays Piano and Ysanne Spevack plays fiddle.
Jason Heath says he usually writes most of the songs independently but the songs aren’t a Greedy Souls song until the rest of the band gets to have their say.
Jason Heath sets up “Devil Ain’t Talkin’.” He says this is a song that evolved from a jam and was written more collaboratively.
[Calvin plays “Devil Ain’t Talkin’” by Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls from Packed For Exile.]
Jason Heath talks about some of his favorite venues in LA, including the The Echo. He talks about regular thing they have there on Sundays with Barbecue and general all ages shows.
Jason Heath sets up “God’s Name In Vain.” He says this song has a lot of Woody Guthrie-esque things.
[Calvin plays “God’s Name In Vain” by Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls from Packed For Exile.]
Calvin asks if that song ever gets Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls in trouble. Jason Heath says “not so much in Los Angeles and New York.”
Jason Heath talks about the band’s upcoming tour across the US.
Rotation 321
Music set 1
Big Station / Alejandro Escovedo / Big Station / 3:23
Nothin’ to Do But You / Rachel Harrington & The Knock Outs / Makin’ Our House a Honkytonk / 2:56
Goodbye Flowers / The Kernal / Farewellhello / 3:56
Tenaciously Apathetic / Casey McCoy Cainan / Wrong Turns / 3:36
Music set 2
Keep On Dancing / The Gentrys / Memphis Boys: The Story Of American Studios / 2:11
Whole Lotta Lovin’ / Li’l Mo & The Monicats / Whole Lotta Lovin’ / 2:04
No One Can Live Forever / The Kickin Grass Band / Walk With Me / 2:45
Loving Me Like You Do / The Carper Family / Back When / 2:22
Music set 3
You Took My Baby / Dennis Jones / My Kinda Blues / 5:27
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Legal
The Americana Music Show is copyright 2012 by Taproot Media. The music and interviews in this episode are used with permission of the artists.
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Wow – ‘Loving Me Like You Do’ – from the most appropriately named album ever! That’s MY kinda blues for sure! Great voice, great guitar – pure excellence through and through.
I’ve got questions: Who does the theme tune? Who’s the guy who sounds like a politician at the start of the show that talks about prejudice? What does ‘dig deep’ mean? Sorry if this displays my English ignorance of all things America.