“The sweet summer days collapsed and gave way to the evening that spread out around where we lay.”

Anyone who’s lived with me in the past 8 or 9 years should know my love for the band called Paddlefoot.

I got into this fairly unknown band through Ed’s Redeeming Qualities. Ed’s was a funny folk band with songs about being “pegged in the head with a lawn dart” and being named “Bob.” They had four albums and on the last one Paddlefoot played the beautiful song “Coriander Eyes.”

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I really dug the music and had to find out who these guys were. I found their website and ordered two CDs and one of their tapes. The CDs were self-released CD-Rs packed full of some of the best alt country with a taste of punk I’ve ever heard.

Though I often played it in the bookstore, I think I got the most enjoyment out of it on the road. Paddlefoot is most positively some of the most perfect driving music ever made.

Now it’s not at all your typical alt country. Paddlefoot is not the Handsome Family. And they’re definitley not punk, though I defy anyone not to hear Bad Religion in “‘64 Corvair Part 2″ and “She’s Moving Back Home.”

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The lyrics were often sad, but with happy, upbeat music, it was hard to tell or care. Things were bad, but it was still sunny.

Though songs like “Take a Picture” and “Just About Midnight”dispute that a bit.

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Paddlefoot did a few instrumentals as well. There was the obligatory fiddle number “Let The Possums Play Possum” as well as the very Russian “Kangaroo’s Paw.”

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Lucky for you, Joel Murach, , allows us to download both albums for free on his site! Yay!
Click here to do that, please.

After Paddlefoot broke up, a few of the members of Paddlefoot formed 86 (The Band). They were a bit more rock & roll than Paddlefoot, but still well worth picking up. Again, you can do that for free on Joel’s site, or check out 86 (The Band)’s site.
Go here for that.

Joel Murach has two solo albums as well. You can download those for free on his site as well…
Here!

I’m sure Paddlefoot and Joel’s other work isn’t for everyone, but I’ve never found anyone who didn’t like it. It’s catchy, fun and who doesn’t love a song you can sing-a-long to?

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