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The Ones That Look the Weirdest Taste the Best continues at #6 on the Jambands.Com chart.

And this review just in from Rip Rense in LA:

David Gans does not come to singing by effortless grace, by his own admission. He has worked long and hard, and paid a lot of performance dues, to become the singer and player that he is today. But a hell of a lot of artists do not sing like James Taylor or Judy Collins, so c’est la vie. The ones that sound the weirdest sometimes taste the best.

What longtime (eons!) Grateful Dead Hour host Gans has succeeded at doing, through perseverance, love, and labor—and, yes, talent—is becoming a highly ambitious songwriter and accomplished guitarist. Both are in evidence on this, his finest recorded hour (give or take a minute.) The Ones That Look The Weirdest Taste the Best is a friendly and imaginative production with a decidedly acoustic “real music” feel, courtesy of a few crackerjack multi-instrumentalists (Consider Andy Goessling’s arsenal alone: autoharp, banjo, guitar, ukulele, clarinet, bass clarinet, 12-string, steel guitar, barisax, vocals).

Splendidly recorded, lovingly arranged, carefully crafted, the eleven songs on the album are like family members: recognizable as part of the same gene pool, but each with a distinct presence. This stylistic variety—from whimsical to heartfelt to sarcastic to angry—is highly laudable, and all too rare among contemporary artists. The banjo-fiddle-driven “Shove in the Right Direction” has a hook that the Grateful Dead might have enjoyed grooving on (or The Dead might still?), “The Bounty of the County,” a paean to produce (!), is charming, and “Down to Eugene is a jaunty, if a bit late, anthem for traveling Deadheads.

Gans bites dog: the songwriter does right by lyricist Robert Hunter on “Like a Dog,” a wonderfully bilious piece, then waxes optimistic on “It’s Gonna Get Better (though this cynic remains unconvinced). “An American Family” is perhaps the most intriguing lyric on the record, as Gans somewhat bitterly explores the attitudes of three family members beset by vagaries and disenchantments of the 21st century. (“When my optimism falters, I just turn on channel 2/ to wallow in nostalgia for a life I never knew.” Ouch.) There is also a comparative rarity among balladeers: a nice instrumental, “Echolalia,” but for my money, what there is of it, the standout track here is a forthright denunciation of the gawd-fearing, self-righteous poisoning of so much of contemporary discourse and life. “Save Us From The Saved” says everything that needs to be said about the worldwide cancer of religious zeal. Pointed, witty, bitter, true. An important song. The Dixie Chicks should cover it, and maybe one or two others on this disc.   

News from my favorite festival!

Subject: MagMusic Newsflash
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:14:44 -0400
From: Magnolia Music & Events

Dear Festival Family,

We are extending our Extra Special Early Bird Tickets for $100 each a little bit longer. These MagnoliaFest Tickets are on sale online now for at least another week. Phone orders will only be accepted now thru Wednesday, April 29th. Ticket sale may be ended without notice. We will distribute MagnoliaFest tickets ordered in April May & June in late June. Complete ticket prices for MagnoliaFest 2009, including advance price, gate price and single day ticket prices will be announced soon.

Click here for MagnoliaFest 09 Extra Special Early Bird Tickets

Mark your Calendar! We’re getting the lineup ready for you now, so stay tuned.
MagnoliaFest 2009 October 22-25
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, Florida

Live Oak Music & Arts Foundation
Better known to most of you as LOMAF, this is the non-profit arm of Magnolia Music. LOMAF presents many fine programs, such as the educational workshops you might have attended at this past Suwannee Springfest on the Music Farmers Stage. LOMAF holds a raffle at each MagMusic festival, and funds raised in that raffle are used to support the many great LOMAF programs, such as festival artists like Joe Craven, Annie Wenz, Oteil & The Peacemakers, The Lee Boys, Tammerlin and many more, performing for school kids in Suwannee, Hamilton, and Duval counties. LOMAF is poised to expand its reach and create some even more fantastic offerings for kids and adults alike. If you would like to support LOMAF with donations of money, products or services, or your time, please let us know. You may emall us at mail@magmusic.com or snail mail a tax deductible contribution to:

Live Oak Music & Arts Foundation
PO Box 50097
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-0097

We invite everyone to join Big Cosmo and Beth Judy Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm central time (8-10pm eastern) for our Internet radio program “The MagMusic Show” on Wildman Steve Radio! Replays on Thursday evening from 10-12 central (11-1am eastern).

Thank you for your time. We appreciate your support and commit to bringing you quality events that feature great music, a joyful community spirit, healing vibes, and that are just plain fun!

In Harmony,
Iris Blooms (speaking for Beth & Randy)

Magnolia Music & Events, Inc.
Presenting Suwannee Springfest & MagnoliaFest
PO Box 51597
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-1597
904-249-7990