Press Play: Doug Adamz's folksy, funny 'National Steel'   by Paul Liberatore

liberatore@marinij.com @LibLarge on Twitter

 

On his third solo album, Marin singer-songwriter Doug Adamz fingerpicks the National Steel guitar to give his clever, insightful commentary on the 2008 economic meltdown an authentic old-timey sound and spirit.  In the tradition of Woody and Arlo Guthrie, Adamz, a multi-instrumentalist who has been a popular entertainer on the Marin scene for decades, is never heavy-handed in his folksy, often-humorous original songs dealing with the plight of the Everyman during the hardest times since the Great Depression.

      On "High Roller," he joins voices with his friend, roots music icon Peter Rowan, singing, "I used to a be a high roller/Now I'm just a low baller/I used to tip $100/Now I'm just a hog caller."  Adamz duets with Rowan again on "Stranger on the Street," a loping ballad about an alienated drifter who's "just another soul you don't want to meet."  On the story song "Rock Bottom," Adamz picks an uptempo blues, singing in a jokey voice about a forlorn boy who loses the blues and finds love and happiness with carnival dancer named Kamikaze Kitty.

 

"National Steel" is bursting with quirky characters — a Wolf Man, a diesel driver named Cecil, the oddball lovers Cholly and Molly, among other eccentrics and misfits. He intersperses the 17 tracks with show-stopping instrumentals, displaying his considerable harmonica chops on "Mr. Huffin Puffer" and his fingerpicking prowess on "Can't Complain Coda," which ends this highly entertaining album.

NATIONAL STEEL: EIGHT WEEKS AS #1 ON THE ROOTS MUSIC REPORT 'ACOUSTIC BLUES' CHART

with three of the National Steel songs holding spots #1, 2, & 3!  January-March 2015

 

ROOTS MUSIC REPORT in 2015, NATIONAL STEEL hit

#8 Blues Album Chart                                                         #1 Americana Country Singles Chart (Business as Usual)

#1 Acoustic Blues Album Chart                                        #2 American Country Singles Chart (Little Bitty Woman)

#8 Folk Album Chart                                                           #50 Country Singles Chart (Little Bitty Woman)

#1 Alternative Folk Album  Chart                                    #1 California Album Chart

#8 Top US Album Chart

Doug is a tremendous singer, songwriter, guitarist, fiddler and harmonicist.  Don’t utterly ruin your lives by missing

Doug Adamz, Friends

STEVIE COYLE

 

I like Doug's music and I do regularly play it on my shows.

JANE WEBER, EuroRadio

 

A stunning talent! The cd’s are divine!

Stevie Brear-Joshua Tree Musicians

 

Doug is a Genius!!

Ken Raisanen, Mgr. WOAS FM

 

Your album (Guitar Solos) was one of the most enjoyable to arrive in my mail box in a long time

.....your project was literally a breath of fresh air.

RUSTY BROWN~RADIO WEPG  Jasper, Tennessee

 

Beautiful!  Every track is great listening!

Thanks for sending (Guitar Solos).

BARB HELLER, NCPR

 

BERNARDO’S SERENADE (Magi).  On this 15-song collection, Marin County singer-songwriter Doug Adamz showcases his melodic fingerpicking, stalwart declaratory baritone and wide range of songwriting styles, including whimsical story-songs, guitar and harmonica instrumentals and genres like Tex-Mex, blues and balladry.  Doug accompanies himself simply on guitar and harmonica.

SCOTT SHELDON~SING OUT MAGAZINE

Summer 2010

 

He is an excellent guitarist...a terrific guitarist!

HAROLD BRADLEY   Country Music Hall of Fame

 

Adamz is one of the most versatile musicians I know.

PAUL LIBERATORE

Marin Independent Journal

 

One of the very best the Bay Area has to offer.

TEJA GERKEN

 

...this week goes to none other than Doug Adamz for his great tale of treasure hunting with "The Authentic Skulls of Pancho Villa" from "Bernardo's Serenade" - not only fitting for Halloween, this tune is ripe with "Antiques Roadshow" potential.  When you hear one of the vendors try to explain why there are TWO Pancho Villa skulls, your sides will split!  Beautiful guitar work and a great story.

COUSIN KATE—WZBC Boston

 

Adamz'  guitar music is very delightfully superb, lively, yet relaxing, and enjoyable for any occasion! And an added bonus,.. recording production is exceptional!

DANIEL HUGHS  AWMIV

 

 It was indeed a remarkable show. Going in, we knew that Doug was a great musician. But we had no idea he was such a phenomenal entertainer. No doubt our own House Concert audience would fully enjoy him as well. We knew that yesterday's performance would be filled with beautiful guitar music, but we were totally unprepared for the entertainment package that came with it. Simply put, his performance was one of those "I can't believe it is over already" experiences that come along but rarely in our lives.

 

Doug is one of those rare artists who is both a great musician and a superb performer. And that's about as good as it gets. It was pure magic!

ROGER BRINTON

Roger & Donna Brinton’s

House Concert Series

 

(Bernardo’s Serenade) has a very good sound, and his warm and expressive voice really catches the listener.

MIKE PANARD

RADIO ISA, South of France

 

This is a brilliant album! (Bernardo’s Serenade)

HANS MAIR, RADIO OSTTIROL, Austria

 

Sometimes you can tell a book by it's cover, 'cause BERNARDO’S SERENADE looks great and sounds even better.  Some mighty fine musicianship surrounding some very strong song writing     BARRY MARRIS

 

I heard Doug Adamz play live for the first time at the “Acoustic Vortex”.  Doug is an multi-talented incredible musician, who also happens to be very funny and exudes a warmth about him while on stage.  Doug managed to get the entire audience involved in his performance and had everyone in stitches.  We left that evening commenting what a great performance we just were part of.

SCOTT NEVIN

Windsor Acoustic Guitar Series

 

I had heard great things about him & wanted to find out for myself if the hype was true. And YEP IT WAS TRUE! Every word of it. He is versatile - he is entertaining - he is super talented - a great musician & a story-teller too.

GLORIA HOLLOWAY   South Tampa House Concerts

 

My younger daughter listened to The Authentic Skulls of Pancho Villa 20 times in the last three days!  JANA JONES

 

I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the album, Bernardo’s Serenade!   LINDA MANELLA

 

Your instrumental CD (GUITAR SOLOS) is AWESOME.  I was blown away the first time I heard it.....even more so after the 2nd listen...WOW.  Just so you know....we think we're music snobs....ergo, it takes a lot to impress us, anymore.  I am very impressed

SCOTT BURGESS—Allendale Concert Series

INTERNET AIRPLAY ON:

 

ADDICTED TO MUSIC RADIO--a2mradio.com

BAARNFM.NL--Netherlands

BIKER STREET RADIO--France

BLUES AND FRIENDS.NL--Netherlands

BLUEGRASS ROOTS AND BRANCHES-- Online Radio

BOSTON FREE RADIO--bostonfreeradio.com

BUMPS RADIO

CELTICMUSICRADIO.NET--Folkal Point

COUNTRYBEAR--Lake Placid, Florida

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EURO RADIO--Slovenia Radio, The Jane Weber Show

FREIES RADIO WIESENTAL--Stormy Monday Blues, Klaus Deuss

FULL TIME BLUES RADIO

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MIDNIGHT COUNTRY--Luxembourg

MOJO ALT--Macedonian Radio

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PEELSTAR COUNTRY CLUB--NATIONAL STEEL: CD OF THE MONTH

     JUNE 2015 Bert van der Wijst--Netherlands

NEW FOLK RADIO--Portland, Oregon

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RADIO ARIA--French Radio

RADIO CAPELLE--German Radio

RADIO SOTRA--Netherlands Radio

SHOUT RADIO

SWORD RADIO

THE GLOBAL VOICE--theglobalvoice.info

WHPR--Western Heart Radio (Intern Internet) Glendale, Arizona

RADIO STATIONS

THAT HAVE PLAYED DOUG ADAMZ CDS~~~

 

First, a very special thanks to radio station KTEP for decades of support on Gregg Carthy and Dan Alloway’s show Folk Fury and to Monica Gomez for her show State of the Arts.

 

Doug’s guitar piece, TRUCKEE WINTER was the theme song for State of the Arts, KTEP, for the entire run of that fine show.  Thank you Monica Gomez!

 

and thanks to~~~

 

AMY GOODMAN--DEMOCRACY NOW

AMA--Carlton, Georgia

HPPR--Amarillo, Texas

KAFM—Grand Junction, Colorado

KAJX--Aspen, Colorado

KAOS--Olympia, Washington

KASU--State University, Arkansas

KBBI--Homer, Alaska

KBOO--Portland, Oregon

KBSU--Boise, Idaho

KBUT--Crested Butte, Colorado

KCBX--Central Coast, California

KCHO--Chico, California

KCIE--Dulcie, New Mexico

KCSS--Turlock, California

KDHX--St. Louis, Missouri

KDSU--Madison, South Dakota

KDUR--Durango, Colorado

KDVS--Davis, California

KFCF--Fresno, California

KGIG--Modesto, California

KGLP--Gallup, New Mexico

KGLT--Bozeman, Montana

KHEN—Salida, Colorado

KHNS—Haines, Alaska

KKFI--Kansas City, Kansas

KKUP—Cupertino, California

KLCC--Eugene, Oregon

KMUD--Redway, California

KMUN--Astoria, Oregon

KMXT--Kodiak, Alaska

KONE--Bakersfield, California

KONR--Alaska,

KOPN--Columbia, Missouri

KOTO--Telluride, Colorado

KOWS—Sebastopol, California

KPFA--Berkeley, California

KPIG--Watsonville, California LIVE!

KPOV--Bend Oregon

KPVL--Decoray, Iowa

KRBD--Ketchikan, Alaska

KRBS--Oroville, California

KRCB—Rohnert Park, California

KRCU—Cape Girardeau, Missouri

KRNN--Juneau, Alaska

KRUU--Fairfield, Iowa

KRVM--Eugene, Oregon

KRWG--Las Cruces, New Mexico

KSVY--Sonoma, California

KTCU--Ft. Worth, Texas

KTDB—Pine Hill, New Mexico

KTRL--Stephenville, Texas

KUAR--Little Rock, Arkansas

KUMD--Duluth, Minnesota

KUNI--Cedar Falls, Iowa

KUNM--Albuquerque, New Mexico

KUSU--Logan, Utah

KVMR--Nevada City, California

KVNF--Paonia, Colorado

KWMR—Point Reyes Station, California

KWSB—Gunnison, Colorado

KXCI--Tucson, Arizona

KXCR--Oregon

KYUK—Bethel Park, Alaska

KZUM--Lincoln, Nebraska

KZSC--Santa Cruz, California

NCPR--Canton, New York

NEOPA Community Radio--Ohio

NWEZ--Los Angeles, California

UNDERCURRENTS RADIO--Nationally Syndicated

WAGS--Bishopville, South Carolina

WBCR--Great Barrington, Massachusettes

WBGU--Bowling Green, Ohio

WBIM--Bridgewater, Massachusetts

WCNI--Norwich, Connecticut

WCVF--Fredonia, New York

WDCB--Chicago, Illinois, FOLK FESTIVAL-DJ Lilli Kuzma

WDIY--Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

WEBR—North Versailles, Pennsylvania

WEFT--Champaign, Illinois

WEPG—Jasper, Tennessee

WERU--East Orland, Maine

WETS--Johnson City, Tennessee

WEVL--Memphis, Tennessee

WFIT—Melbourne, Florida

WFUV--New York, New York

WGLT—Normal, Illinois

WGOE—Richmond, Virginia

WHAY--Whitley City, Kentucky

WHRB--Harvard-Cambridge, Massachusettes

WHUS--Storrs, Conneticut The Dark Side of the Highway, Johnny Timewarp

WIUM—Macomb, Illinois

WJDJ--Hartsville, South Carolina

WKKM—Harrison, Michigan

WKPS--University Park, Pennsylvania

WKXR--Asheboro, North Carolina

WLRN--Miami, Florida w/Michael Stock

WLUR—Buena Vista, Virginia

WMCO—New Concord, Ohio

WMKY--Morehead, Kentucky

WMLB--Atlanta, Georgia

WMMT--Whitesburg, Kentucky

WMNR—Monroe, Connecticut

WMSE—Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WMSR--Auburn, Alabama

WMUH—Allentown, Pennsylvania

WNEC--New England College, New Hampshire

WOAS-- Ontonagon

WOJB--Hayward, Wisconsin

WOMR--Provincetown, Massachusettes

WMCO--New Concord, Ohio

WMMT--Whitesburg, Kentucky

WMSR--Auburn, Alabama

WMUC-College Park, Maryland

WMUH--Allentown, Pennsylvania

WNEC—Springfield Massachusetts

WOJB--Hayward, Wisconsin

WOUB--Athens, Ohio

WPLN--Clarksburg, West Virginia

WRDV—Warminster, Pennsylvania

WRPS--Seattle/Tacoma

WSCS--New Hampshire

WSND—Notre Dame, Indiana

WSVH--Savannah, Georgia

WTJU--Charlottesville, Virginia

WTSR--Ewing, New Jersey

WTUM--Macomb, Illinois

WVGN—St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

WWSP—Stevens Point, Wisconsin

WYAP--West Virginia

WYEP—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WYSU--Youngstown, Ohio

WZAP—Bristol, Virginia

WZBC--Boston, Massachusetts

WZYX—Cowan, Tennessee

HPPR--Amarillo, Texas--High Plains Public Radio

 

INTERNATIONAL AIRPLAY

 

BBC RADIO SHETLAND--Scotland

BGR--Estonia

BLUES JEAN--French Radio

CHSR--Fredericton, New Brunswick--Canada

CKLN—Toronto, Canada

CKPC--Ontario, Canada

CKWR—Ontario, Canada

COASTAL FM--Australia

COUNTRY UNPLUGGED RADIO--Patterson, Iowa

CROSSROADS RADIO--Netherlands, Jos van den Boom

DOLLARD RADIO--The Netherlands

DONVALLY COUNTRY AM--South Yorkshire, UK

ECMA RADIO--Austria

EMS-VECHTE-WELLE—Aschendorf, Germany

ERIN RADIO--Ontario, Canada

EURO RADIO—Jane Weber

ISA MILIEW--France

JACK & JILL RADIO—Homestead, Florida

JUKEBOX RADIO--New Zealand

KANALEN FM--BONANZA COUNTRY MUSIC, DJ Herbert Fischer

                               Legster Denmark

KINGLAKE RANGES RADIO—Australia

MOJO ALT--Macedonian Radio

NBT--Berlin

OTTIC FM—Germany

PEELGRASS RADIO—The Netherlands (CD of the month! 3/15)

RADIO ARC--Ciel Country-France

RADIO ARIA--France   Gilles Martin

RADIO CERNUSCO--Cernusco, Italy

RADIO EASTERN 98.1  Croydon  Victoria  Australia--Brian Amos

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RADIO EASTERN 98.1--Australia

RADIO EVW--'Hillbilly Rockhouse' Germany

RADIO FM GOUD—Roots Revival, Belgium

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RADIO ISA—France

RADIO KIDNAPPERS—Folk on Sunday, New Zealand--Mitch Park

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RADIO SNR--Denmark. Benny Sorensen

RADIO UPPER GALILEE—Galilee, Israel

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RADIO ZUSA--Lueneburg Germany

RTV KATWIJK—The Netherlands

RWI--Cedex, France

SHONAN BEACH—Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan

SINE FM--Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England  Jonit's Roots & Acoustic Music

SUSA ONDA RADIO--Italy

SCAWC—Denmark

TOWN & COUNTRY RADIO—New Zealand

TRIPPLE U. SHOALHAVEN FM--Australia

UNDERCOVER--Dutch Radio

VOX-FM--Corrimal, Australia

 

2MAX FM—Australia

2UUU—Australia

3MDR MOUNTAIN DISTRICT RADIO—Austraila DJ Tony Bates

3PVR PLENTY VALLEY—Australia

3REG--Australia

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