Russell Pyle is a vocalist and guitar player in the lauded local bluegrass group The Porter Draw. The band will be your Valentine on Saturday, Feb. 12, when it performs at Blackbird Buvette. The show, called “An Arrow Through the Heart,” begins at 10 p.m. and is free. Below is a random peek into Pyle’s music library. “It made me realize how much punk and hardcore I have on my iPod,” he says.
Song Roulette
1) “You Don’t Know?” • Jawbreaker • Bivouac “Greatest punk songwriters ever, even if they steal the hook from Joni Mitchell.”
Song Roulette
2) “Chicken Wire” • The Felice Brothers • Yonder Is The Clock “This song has a such an awesome, junky aesthetic and I love his ragged voice.”
Song Roulette
3) “Tommy Gun” • The Clash • Give ’Em Enough Rope “They invented ’90s punk with an album released in 1978. I love how thick the guitars are, totally different than the other late ’70s punk bands.”
Song Roulette
4) “Leroy’s Dustbowl Blues” • Steve Earle and The Del McCoury Band • The Mountain “I knew I’d get one bluegrass tune out of this. This is my favorite bluegrass album of all time—great players and a great songwriter.”
Song Roulette
5) “McCarthy” • Avail • 4AM Friday “Takin’ me back to my high school days in the punk scene of Richmond, Va. We all really looked up to Avail and I still love this album. East Coast melodic hardcore forever!”
