With the latest release from Son Volt, American Central Dust, I’m reminded why frontman Jay Farrar split with Wilco lead Jeff Tweedy over creative difference in Uncle Tupelo.  While Wilco continues to explore new musical directions, sometimes to good affect and sometimes not so much, Son Volt hews closer to the original vision circa [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood in Alt-Country, Americana, Reviews

Dollars and Dimes (El Paisano Records), the new disc from Texan Owen Temple is an artful shot of reality, as told through the memory and perspective of a traveler with perhaps more questions than answers. Drawing on the current socio-economical climate, Temple has crafted an album that will remind many that story-telling can be relevant [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore in Alt-Country, Americana, Country, Folk

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs), by Patterson Hood Patterson Hood’s last solo release was a somber acoustic affair. This one ain’t. In fact, this collection of songs from Hood’s archives is not dissimilar from a Drive-By Truckers release. Sure, I miss Cooley’s guitar and the Truckers triple guitar [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig in Alt-Country, Americana, Downloads, Indie, Playlists, Pop, Reviews, Rockabilly, Roots, Streams

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by Mayer Danzig in Rock, Videos

Pete Yorn/Back & Fourth   I’m a pretty big Pete Yorn fan and was stoked when I was browsing around I-Tunes and saw the pre-order of his new album Back & Fourth a month or so ago.  I didn’t pre-order, but did buy the album the day it came out, June 16th, burned a copy for the [...] more »

by Todd Mathis in Reviews

“I Want You Back,” “Billie Jean” and “We Are the World” are all monumental moments in pop history. But I’ll always come back to this song when I think of the talent that Michael Jackson brought to the world. If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig in News, Pop, Videos

Sunday morning at Bonnaroo is always a little bit like a hangover. Weary worn festival goers are exhausted by 3 days of sleeping on ground, partying, and getting rocked by Bruce Springsteen (until well past midnight).  Those that stayed up for Nine Inch Nails and Ben Harper, both of whom played late night sets that [...] more »

by Eli Petersen in Reviews

Phil Pritchett, hailing from Ft. Worth, Texas is an artist who is just plain…fun. That label may lack the dynamism one would expect from a performer who is as dynamic as Pritchett is, but watch one of his videos or catch one of his video blogs, even. Once you do that, you’ll more fully appreciate [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore in Alt-Country, Americana, Indie, Rock

With a name like “Tallest Man on Earth,” a few questions may come to mind. And the answer to most of them is “no.” First of all, it’s not a band but a single singer/songwriter named Kristian Matsson. No, he’s not from south, the west or the U.S. for that matter. He’s from Sweden. No, [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon in Reviews

My 2009 Bonnaroo adventure began over 5 years ago. My cousin, 22 at the time, was diagnosed with a rare lung condition called Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histioctosis. Connie would struggle with both the disease and obtaining insurance in the ensuing 4 years. In June of last year, she received a double lung [...] more »

by Eli Petersen in Alt-Country, Americana, Folk, Reviews, Rock

Five years ago a skinny 13-year-old in black high tops took the stage at Old Settler’s Music Fest in Austin and proceeded to leave me, and most of the crowd, slack-jawed at her mandolin skills and innate stage presence.  Fast forward to today and Sarah Jarosz has performed with some of the biggest names in [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood in Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Reviews

The marriage of Punk-Rock and Country music has been a fruitful union for years now. The Von Ehrics of Dallas, TX are yet another unapologetic spawn of the DNA that has produced The Supersuckers and Hank III. Loaded (Crustacean Records), which is The Von Ehrics third release, relentlessly displays their willingness to rock. Where certain [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore in Alt-Country, Country, Indie, Rock, Rockabilly

It has been one heck of a year for Providence, RI trio the Low Anthem. When we first wrote about the band in January, they had just recently self-released the magnificent Oh My God, Charlie Darwin. Fast forward six months and, as band member and baseball fan Jeff Prystowsky might say, it’s a [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig in Acoustic, Contests, Features, Indie

Father’s Day will soon be upon us and with it comes the sophomore release from Nashville’s Daddy. Daddy For a Second Time was reared by Tommy Womack and the mighty Will Kimbrough and is chock full of Southern-tinged acoustic rock, not to mention their trademark wit. Womack’s “Early to Bed, Early to Rise” [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig in Acoustic, Americana, News, Videos

What began as an informal gathering has blossomed into one of Americana’s most impressive musical collectives. Taking their cues from a traditional Irish Seisiun, the six core members of Session Americana gather around a single table with an ambient mics. The set-up lends itself to a free-form and relaxed feel that lets the [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig in Reviews