Olav Larsen & The Alabama Rodeo Stars - The Alabama Rodeo Stars - What's New?

Recording Christmas Song for Anna

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Below is some pictures taken from the Recording Session of Christmas Song for Anna.
The song will be available for download as soon as we receive it from the mastering studio.

Some interesting artists and bands I've been listening to lately...

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Let me share some of the music I've been listening to lately...
(link to music below pictures)

Artist:
RuRu
Album:
Elisabeth

http://www.myspace.com/rurumusic

My thoughts:
The album Elisabeth was recorded when RuRu, who now likes to be referred to by his birth name Isac Russel, was only 16 years old! The record is nevertheless very mature with at times extremely good lyrics. RuRu's strength however lays in his ability to produce perfect pop melodies with a tiny hint of Americana. Rumors say that he recently signed a major deal with Colombia Records. Well deserved!

Artist:
Kreg Viesselman
Album:
The Pull

http://www.myspace.com/kregviesselman

My thoughts:
Have a look at some of the reviews below. I couldn't have said it better myself.

"Kreg Viesselman's The Pull CD is one of the largely overlooked gems of Americana from the past couple of years...Viesselman's voice is a remarkable instrument...a talent to be watched..." -THE GLASGOW HERALD

"[The Pull is] one of the few albums which warrants the listener to hang onto the artist's every single word...without exception I found every song totally engrossing...Viesselman is an incisive writer who uses dazzling imagery...there are so many highlights it almost seems unfair to spotlight just one." - MAVERICK MAGAZINE, Five Star Review

Artist:
Anthony da Costa
Album:
Typical American Tragedy

http://www.anthonydacosta.com/index.php?page=cds&category=01--Records&display=39

My thoughts:
Like RuRu mentioned above, Anthony da Costa is also a very young and talented singer/songwriter. His songs are very touching. I have listened to all his albums, and I have to say that Typical American Tragedy stands out as something really special. Rarely do I hear songs about the recent US activities that captivates me like Anthony's songs does. Just give the opening cut a listen and you'll understand what I mean...

Artist:
Doug Burr
Albums:
The Shawl
On Promenade

http://www.myspace.com/dougburr

My thoughts:
A fantastic singer/songwriter. On Promenade is perfect, so is the newly released The Shawl. Both albums are available from iTunes.

"There’s really no other way to put it. Denton singer/songwriter Doug Burr (who made quite the impression with his 2007 sophomore effort, On Promenade) has delivered one of the year’s most delicate, haunting and consistently thrilling discs with The Shawl."
-Preston Jones

NEW!!! Studio Blog

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Follow the recording session of our new album....
LINK TO BLOG

Erlend Aasland is nominated: "Best Guitarist"

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

If you are a fan of The Alabama Rodeo Stars you know how extremely talented Erlend is as a guitarist.

Not only is he together with Torje, Arne, Jonny and Lillian the centerpiece of the constellation, he is also a fantastic performer to watch. At times even eccentric...

Without his rumbling & tumbling from the heart sound that will make even the toughest cry, The Alabama Rodeo Stars are reduced to nothing but a local country band from Gandvalley, with bonds to HommersÃ¥k.

Please follow the link and vote! If you didn't get a chance to vote for Obama, take a minute to vote for Erlend:

http://tiny.cc/4W5vM

Go down to end of list and vote for Erlend Aasland!

PS: For the band this feels like being nominated for the Oscars, an Emmy and a Spellemannspris all at the same time!

Songs we wish were ours (episode 7)

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

For our 7th episode we decided to break every rule we've been following so far.
Rules are after all made to be broken!
The bluegrass style is gone in this episode. The song is a Bob Dylan song. A song I've been listening to for years, and I wouldn't even dare to wish for a song this good to come my way.
I know a lot of you guys have an almost religious relationship with Erlend's banjo, but hey! He's a heck of a good guitar player as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPqbDxqu_9o

Songs we wish were ours (episode 6)

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Finally episode 6 is available for you to enjoy.
So please enjoy!
We wanted to play this classic bluegrass song as slow as we possibly could allow ourselves to play it.
Although this tempo gives the song a new feel, we just couldnt hold back anymore in the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0sx-3IPpb4

Thanks!
Olav Larsen

Pictures from Woodstokka 2008!!

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Songs we wish were ours (Metafilter Blog)

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Someone told me they discovered our YouTube blog "Songs we wish were ours" on a blog community called the Metafilter Blog. I checked it out, and as very often in these kind of blogs they end up in a never ending beautiful discussion about something someone though they heard me say:

http://www.metafilter.com/73551/Songs-we-wish-were-ours

RisÃ¸r Bluegrass Festival 2008

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

We just came back from a fantastic weekend at the RisÃ¸r Bluegrass Festival. Pictures below were captured by Mr Tom Larsen:

Songs we wish were ours (Episode 5)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It has been a while folks! We've been busy touring our new album. It's been, believe it or not, 8 months since episode 4. Now we're back!
"I Saw the Light" is a 1948 Gospel tune written and first performed by the late great Monsieur Hank Williams, a true genius both as a songwriter and a performer.
I sure wish the song was ours!!! Great song with quite some poetic lines here and there. Hope you like it!