BIG MOUTH BLUES REDUX

It had been quite awhile since I last spoke with James Scott Bullard, so I called to play a bit of catch-up on shows, the new band, record sales, etc. And once again, I got everything but…but once again, I got the goods.

“Alt.Country is dead!” exclaims a tongue-in-cheek agitated Bullard.

I find this odd considering he has been referred to as the new Gram Parsons on more than one occasion, has fought tooth and nail for the alt.country movement, and against anything calling itself country that he deemed unworthy, which since the invention of the c.d. according to him, has been just about everything.

“Let’s call what I do: Real country.” He continues. “I hate that there has to be a title, a genre or an ilk to fit into, but there does so I’m just going to start calling it: ‘real country.’
Because that’s what it is! It’s real. About real things, real people, real emotions and real problems.”

“Hank Williams didn’t sing about trucks and tractors and shit, he didn’t have people chant a good ol’ boy chorus of ‘Hell yeah’ along with him, and he definitely didn’t fucking rap!
He sang about realism!
How many times do I have to stand on this same old soapbox? Everyone agrees with me, they’re just afraid to say it out loud, afraid they’ll offend the Taylor Swift or Kenny Chesney fans…Fuck 'em all!”

See what I mean?

Playfully aggressive and presumptuous was how I found Bullard and I left him in the same way.

He has gained a reputation as being outspoken, having made past statements or actions that got him into hot water and this will probably prove to be no exception.

The question here is one I’ve had before: Is it real or a persona that he takes on to draw you in? Especially since there’s a new music video on the way and 2 new records to sell…Coincidence?
After all, Bullard himself has been cited as saying that every time Eminem beats up his girlfriend, his record sales skyrocket!

And let's not forget my last coverage on Bullard was a marriage hoax that he said; "Did it's job."

As bad as I dislike bratty musicians, I always have and always will champion Bullard and his work, because I can’t deny talent and my final summation is this:

James Scott Bullard’s music, much like his character is bold, loud, gritty, determined and just damn good, plain and simple!
If Nikki Sixx suddenly decided to play country music, this is exactly what it would look and sound like.

~Freddie ‘King Rat’ Weisman

'Lightning in a Bottle Publishing'

RECEPTION OR DECEPTION PART 2...Hoax revealed!!

As previously reported on my last blog: "Reception or Deception?", Alt.Country singer/songwriter James Scott Bullard's facebook

relationship stauts went from single to married on August 21st, leaving friends and fans asking the following questions for the past 27 days: "Is he or isn't he?"..."Did he or didn't he?"..."Who is the mystery woman?"..."How did this happen so fast?"...Even; "Are they insane?!"

The above photo shows Bullard and Ms. Danielle Cooper in what was supposedly the first post-wedding photo.

However, as guessed by many; including myself...We've been duped.

Apparently, Bullard and Cooper, who are just friends decided to change their marital stauses one day as a joke, not realizing that it would cause such a stir.

When it did however, Bullard saw an opportunity and took it...

"Somehow it worked." said Bullard.

JSB and his Late Night Sweethearts band went to #10 on the Reverbnation charts pretty much over night after that.

As far as hoaxes go: Hats off JSB, but we kind of saw it coming.

RECEPTION OR DECEPTION??

Alt.Country singer/songwriter James Scott Bullard's fans and friends awoke to quite a shock today when his personal facebook announced that he was married to the mystery woman pictured above.

(Ms./Mrs.?) Danielle Cooper (Bullard?)

Bullard, (dubbed by many as the new Gram Parsons) who recentley released two new albums and has been playing rave reviewed shows in support of the records with his backing band 'The Late Night Sweethearts' has been M.I.A. all day and cannot be reached for comment, though his close friends say it's most likely an elaborate joke by Bullard and just the kind of thing he would pull as a publicity stunt. However, Miss Cooper/Bullard? seems to be in on the hoax, as her facebook too states the marriage as truth.

So, are congrats to the happy couple in order, or have we been duped in an attempt to sell more records?

Out With The Old...

In the recent past, I've written about James Scott Bullard's mystery, troubles, sordid past and even raved his records and live shows.

What can I say?

I find him interesting, and my wife (much to my dismay) agrees, but for different reasons.

Either way, this time is no different, I continue my essay of Bullard's life and review of his work.

...And so, with two new records under his belt, the story continues;

James Scott Bullard started his career in a hard rock band, and not just any hard rock band, one that went on to be named: “One of the Top 5 in the Entire Southeast.”

After the disbanding of the quartet in late 2000 and deciding what step to take next, he drifted back and forth between South and North Carolina.
All while finding himself.
“Not very well.” he adds.
All while discovering a new sound.
All while writing what would become his first solo album: “Avenues of Sunshine.”
Released in 2003, “Avenues of Sunshine” was an album of decidedly pure Americana songs that was met with critical acclaim, which would later come back to haunt him.

By the time Bullard began writing songs for his second effort: “Same Old Ghosts”, not only was he was in the throes of turmoil: (A rapidly declining body due to drug addiction, which later ended in a rehab stint, a string of badly-ended relationships, and the loss of his father.) but the ‘bigwigs’ came sniffing around his door in the afterglow of “Avenues of Sunshine”; a record that Bullard had: “Outgrown stylistically.” he says.
“By this time, I had been given a crash course in Gram Parsons and all that spawned from his vision,
so my next record was going to be a country record I decided, and not the shit you hear today, a real honest to God honky-tonk country record, but done with a rock band!
Well, when I told the guys from the record companies this, they were less than happy.
When they heard “Avenues”, they were sure they had found; and I’m quoting here: (Their next John Mellencamp, Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen.) That wasn’t me anymore.”

Bullard and the ‘bigwigs’ quickly cut ties, and Bullard, unscathed, went forth with his vision.
The result was the 2007 release: “Same Old Ghosts.” An amazing alt.country record.
Again, met with massive critical acclaim, awards and accolades, Bullard accomplished what he set out to do.
Do you see a pattern forming here?

However, the comparisons began pouring in; “The New Gram Parsons” said one review,
“The Savior of the Country-Rock Movement” said yet another, and on and on it went.
Bullard enjoyed it until he realized he couldn’t live in the tall shadow Parsons’ left behind forever.

Again, a metamorphosis began.

This time Bullard said he decided to write/record whatever came out, no labels on it.
The end result, in my opinion his best work yet:
A two record set: “The-Star Crossed Sessions” and “Sunsets & Cigarettes.”
“The Star-Crossed Sessions”; with a full band behind it, this time less decidedly country, is a record that I would say covers every influence under Bullard’s belt.
There are Stones style rockers, heavy-blues stomps, and yes, the honky-tonk is still there as well.

And again, it’s all brilliant work.
Lyrically, Bullard has always been hard to beat; this time with lines like: “This town is just an old graveyard, so you better look alive.” Or “I ain’t askin’ you for salvation, just come watch me fall apart.” It’s obvious that that isn’t going to change.
There’s even a cleverly titled track: “Nobody Writes Letters Anymore”; in which some of Bullard’s female “friends” leave him some rather angry voicemails about his inability or unwillingness to return their calls. This plays just before a track called “S.O.B. Blues.” …Tongue planted firmly in cheek Mr. Bullard.

Then there’s the second album; “Sunsets & Cigarettes.” A stripped down, lonesome, acoustic record.
If I had to pick a favorite of the two, it would be this one.
The stories told on this record will destroy you and rebuild you again.

I tried my best to think of one word that hadn’t been overused to describe an artist’s work for this one, but all I came up with was; “heart-wrenching.”
This to me sounds more like I’m describing a romance novel or a chick flick, but whatever, it is what it is. These songs are heart-wrenching and I’ll stick by that 100%.

Whatever the case may be, it seems that everything James Scott Bullard sets out to do, he does without fail.

My dad used to say: “There are those who turn everything they touch to gold, but at what price to themselves?”
I don’t know what price James Scott Bullard has paid, but for records like these…Mr. Bullard, I say to you: it’s worth every last dime.

James Scott Bullard’s:
“The Star-Crossed Sessions” and “Sunsets & Cigarettes” both available now.

For more information on this artist:
www.myspace.com/jamesscottbullard

The Gospel of James Scott Bullard

James Scott Bullard sings like he’s trying to save his own life.
He plays like he's trying to put out a fire on his guitar.
There’s more soul in his thin-framed body than most of us will ever have.

I have honestly seen full on gospel concerts where I didn’t feel or see this much soul.

I’m not a religious man per say and even though he’s singing songs mostly about sin and leaving the salvation as a side note, it’s like the mighty finger of God has pointed to him and said: “This one is special.”

My wife said it best: "There’s something moving through him, and he’s no longer in control."

It reminds me of the scene in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” where Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer) is onstage singing and dancing, but the ghost of some old Indian Shaman is dancing beside him, almost carrying him through the performance.”

In truth, it’s like watching a man on fire.
And when confronted with this statement Bullard smirks and simply says: “I am.”
All I could do was smile and walk away like a teeny-bopper who had just met a Jonas Brother, he didn’t know who I was, or that I was eventually going to publish this review and I doubt he even cared.

I witnessed a bit of prophet, storyteller and heartworn anti-hero all wrapped into one.

I get the feeling that the first people who saw Hank Williams, Elvis, or Mick Jagger felt this same way.

I can honestly say that after seeing Bullard’s show, I left as a devout believer.
Godspeed to you Mr. Bullard…When the rest of the music world catches onto the fire I’ve witnessed (and trust me, it won’t be long) you’ll go down in history as the match!



-Freddie “King Rat” Weisman
‘Lightning in a Bottle Publishing’

BIG MOUTH BLUES

James Scott Bullard was in rare form when I phoned him for our interview about the upcoming release of his new record “The Star-Crossed Sessions”…I had read an article recently where Bullard was being rather hard to deal with because the writer wasn’t asking the questions Bullard thought he should, so I set out to do just that, but Mr. Bullard was back on his soapbox about the labeling he’s been receiving, in fact there was no mention of the new record at all.
I guess he just had to get some things off his chest on this particular day, and one thing I’ve learned as a writer is that to get a good story, sometimes it’s better to just shut up and listen; a rule I’m not sure Bullard is familiar with at all…

“It’s not about country music, it’s not about rock music…It’s not even about country-rock music!
And I know I’m gonna piss off the Gram (Parsons) fans who expect me to champion the ‘Cosmic American’ sound he fathered, but it’s not even about that to me!” Bullard declares.

“It’s just about songs man! No labels, no ideals, no pigeonholes.
…And it’s about going against the grain of everything that country or pop music stands for…
People tell me all the time, ‘Dude, I hate country music but I love what you do!’
Well, that’s because I don’t see the borderlines, I don’t see country or rock.
I see that it all came from the same place; some broken-hearted loser at their wits end with life, love, themselves or whatever, with a guitar and a big mouth!”
“…But I also know that that’s the same thing Gram said, and therefore let the pigeonholing commence. I don’t really care anymore, I mean I love Gram Parsons, and it’s flattering to be called the ‘New Gram Parsons’.
Thank God people even acknowledge me at all, but there’s too much responsibility with labels, and I got into the music business to be irresponsible for Christ’s sake!”

“I mean if during my show, I want to go from playing a two-step right into Iggy Pop’s ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ that should be ok, and you better damn well believe it is!…Because it’s my show!” Demands Bullard.


“The new generation doesn’t get it anymore…Forget all the Taylor Swift's and Kenney Chesney's…Go back about 30 years kids and get your hands on some Waylon, Willie or Johnny Cash. For that matter, go back about 50 years and get some old Hank records…Those guys were the first punks if there ever was a punk movement! …And they did it by saying;
‘Screw the cookie cutter, we’re gonna make ‘em eat pot brownies!
…And Willie was there ready to supply the weed!” Laughs Bullard.

“Band’s like the (Sex) Pistols and The Ramones just gave it a name and a new face, but those other guys started the attitude…no doubt!”

…And that’s the sermon as I got it that day.
Bullard brings to mind the line from The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”: “I’m a million different people from one day to the next…” Because as I understand from some of my counterparts who have encountered Bullard: That’s just Tuesday for him.
If I had called on Wednesday; I could have gotten a conversation about zombie films. Thursday; the importance of Glenn Danzig. Friday; Charles Bukowski books.

However, there is no denying the talent.
Though Bullard has yet to release any demo’s to the press, which is unusual for him, I’d be willing to bet my kids’ college fund that it will be a masterpiece:

A. Because it’s the first record he’s completed since finding sobriety over 2 years ago.

B. From what I hear, his live shows are the best they’ve ever been and the new songs he’s playing are amazing.

C. James Scott Bullard has yet to let us down.

--Freddie ‘King-Rat’ Weisman
‘Lightning in a Bottle Publishing’


For more info on this artist: www.myspace.com/jamesscottbullard