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Videos

Monday Morning Video: Kevin Gordon

The word “epic” probably gets bandied about a bit too much. It seems appropriate, however, when discussing Kevin Gordon’s “Colfax/Step in Time.” With a brilliant literary style, Gordon chronicles a young boy in the South during the 1970′s. As the song progresses, he touches on everything from young lust to the dark side of the [...] more »

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Mayer’s Playlist for February 2013, Part 1

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Rickenbacker Girls, by Todd May This is a real rock record. Now I don’t mean that it is filled with wailing guitars and pounding drums, although both certainly happen on this record. Rather I am referring to its authenticity: real instruments, real songs, real stories and real emotions. It starts with [...] more »

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Josh Ritter: The Beast In Its Tracks

There’s a new Josh Ritter in town. No more “Bright smiles and dark eyes” and “I’ll be the one to drive you back home, Kathleen.” Now there are lyrics like these: “Nightmares have their dreams as well, / when they sleep they go to hell / and they drink their fill on lakes of blood… [...] more »

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Monday Morning Video: Live from the Living Room

New York City’s The Living Room has long been recognized as a music lover’s paradise. The venue has been a musical home to artists like Norah Jones and a place where artists like the Punch Brothers can comfortably explore new material. As recently as a few weeks ago, the Lumineers talked in the New York [...] more »

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Monday Morning Video: When Ian Hunter is President

At 73, Ian Hunter is still putting out rock and roll that should be the model — if not the envy — of songwriters a fraction of his age. In celebration of President’s Day, here’s the title track from Hunter’s fine 2012 release, “When I’m President.” Says Hunter about the song, “really all it is [...] more »

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Monday Morning Video: True Believers

Let the guitars ring out, the True Believers have reunited! Back in the mid-1980′s, the legendary Austin band scorched a blazing trail as they criss-crossed the country with their three guitar attack. A solid debut album was released. A follow-up album was recorded but was lost for years in record company limbo. The frustrations mounted [...] more »

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Monday Morning Video: Kingsley Flood

Along with the download that I posted in my January playlist last week, the fine folks from Kingsley Flood shared this video of the song “Strongman” from their recent cd release party in Washington D.C. If nothing else, watch at the 2:00 minute mark as drummer Travis Richter attempts to atomize his drums. Now THIS [...] more »

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Monday Morning Video: The Gourds with Rhett Miller

Did everyone hear that David Bowie has a new album coming out this year? Well, this ain’t him. It’s Austin’s favorite sons the Gourds (joined by Rhett Miller) performing the Bowie-penned “All the Young Dudes.” more »

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Monday Morning Video: A Vintage Performance by the Band

Now this is a find. Here’s a four-song set by the Band, captured during a performance in Pittsburgh, PA back in November 1970. The set list includes: “Time to Kill,” “The Weight,” “This Wheel’s on Fire” and “Up on Cripple Creek.” Mighty fine. more »

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Monday Morning Video: Townes Van Zandt

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Monday Morning Video: Patty Griffin and Robert Plant

Patty Griffin and Robert Plant (billed as “Her Driver”) played a pair of intimate shows a few weeks ago at Austin’s Continental Club. The occasion was for a pair of fundraisers. The first show for Austin musician Michael Fracasso, an Austin musician who was injured in an auto accident while on tour. The second show [...] more »

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Monday Morning Video: Josh Ritter

Josh Ritter is gearing up to release a new album this coming March. While we wait with anticipation, here’s one from the archives. This performance of “Empty Heart” took place in Belfast back in 2009 with an accompanying string trio billed as the “Love Cannon String Band.” It’s hard to tell who was having more [...] more »

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Bonus Morning Video: Paul Kelly’s “How To Make Gravy”

This video would be worthy of posting based on the song’s merit alone. Paul Kelly’s melancholy ode to Christmas is a masterpiece. Hearing Kelly tell the story behind the song is a bonus worthy of sharing. “I’ve got a Christmas song, but it doesn’t have a chorus and it’s set in prison.” more »

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Monday Morning Video: The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl

I looked around to find a good cover of this song but finally came to my senses. There’s no replacing the original. Here’s Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues performing “Fairytale of New York.” more »

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Monday Morning Video: An All-Star Performance of Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”

Now here’s an impressive line-up: Steve Earle, Loudon Wainwright III, Mike Scott of the Waterboys and host John Wesley Harding leading a cover of Bob Dylan’s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere.” The performance was captured at Harding’s eclectic “Cabinet of Wonders” series in New York City last month. more »

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