Justin Trawick Group performing “Sunshine” For those hitting the Bob Schneider show at the Birchmere in Alexandria tonight (Friday, May 9), you may want to also reserve your Saturday (May 10) night for DC’s own Justin Trawick at IOTA who will be celebrating the release of his new live CD recorded at the very same [...] more »

Fri, May 09, 2008 | 0 Comments

Some call it Old-Timey, New-Grass, Jam-Grass, Rootsy, Pre-WWII, Folk or hell, some label junkies may even dream up a title like Appalachian Dumpsta-Funk (not bad actually, can’t it be as useful as “Alt-Country”?) The fact is, in the last few years we have witnessed an Ellis Island-style rush of young, unique, and quality hard-to-define [...] more »

Sun, May 04, 2008 | 0 Comments

The Daylight Hours is Columbia, SC’s own David Adedokun. Adedokun has been slowly but surely working on How To Make A Mess Of Things for over two years, since the break-up of his former band, Courage Riley. It was worth the wait. Adedokun blends an array of influences into an Americana-indie-pop dream, all the while [...] more »

Sun, Apr 27, 2008 | 0 Comments

South Austin Jug Band has found itself. They have always been talented and creative song-writers. However, they were stuck somewhere between traditional and contemporary acoustic music. They were too much on the fence. With Strange Invitation they have created self-described “progressive - acoustic” music. Maybe this clear break was due to the fact that [...] more »

Fri, Apr 25, 2008 | 0 Comments

I’m from northern California where “layering” your clothing is a mantra more than a conscious thought. Sure came in handy this year for Old Settler’s Music Festival in Driftwood (Austin), Texas, where there was driving rain, freezing cold (at least it felt that way), and warm, late-spring sunshine. Oh, and lots of good music, which [...] more »

Wed, Apr 23, 2008 | 1 Comment

“World Spins Madly On” from previous album ‘Say I Am You’ THE WEEPIES, Hideaway (Nettwerk) Official Site | MySpace | Stream | Free Download* They make sweet, sweet music… and babies… or at least one baby. Both parthers in music and in life the duo of Deb Talan and Steve Tannen released another Weepies album [...] more »

Tue, Apr 22, 2008 | 1 Comment

Being a fan of free in-store performances, vinyl and many of the bands from Denton, Dallas & Ft. Worth Texas, this national holiday provided me with a chance to enjoy these treasures all at once. There didn’t seem to be a downside to this day of celebration, as even with Christmas, there is always [...] more »

Sun, Apr 20, 2008 | 0 Comments

Under Swing Set’s influences section on their webpage, Teenage Fanclub and George Jones are listed side by side. Just the kind of spirit that has driven the southern rock and roll movement of the last decade or so, a spirit that owes just as much to R.E.M. as Lynrd Skynrd. Swing Set is the solo moniker [...] more »

Sat, Apr 19, 2008 | 0 Comments

I’m delirious from lack of sleep, I can barely stand due to the soreness burning through my legs, I’ve got a blister raging on my big toe and a small scratch has mysteriously appeared on my left hand. Ahh, it must be another Sunday morning at SXSW. Now, many of our colleagues in the media [...] more »

Thu, Apr 17, 2008 | 2 Comments

In this day and age, Singer-Songwriters are often compared to other similar artists from both past and present. For Nashville-based performer Griffin House (offical / myspace), the chief comparison seems to be Josh Ritter or Ryan Adams. Griffin’s latest offering, Flying Upside Down (April 29 - Nettwerk) opens with the track “Better Than [...] more »

Mon, Apr 14, 2008 | 2 Comments

What’s a monthly playlist without a video companion? This month we start and finish with a pair of incredible acoustic performances by the Jones Street Boys. In between we’ve got clips from Tift Merritt, Nada Surf, Butch Walker, Joe Jackson and Greg Trooper, among others. Don’t miss the haunting J. Tillman & [...] more »

Sun, Mar 30, 2008 | 0 Comments

JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, The Good Life (Bloodshot) Official Site | MySpace | MP3* At times Justin Townes Earle sounds like he’s broadcasting songs from a time long gone. At others he couldn’t be more here and now. As you might already know, he’s the son of legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle and wears the mark [...] more »

Mon, Mar 24, 2008 | 1 Comment

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Another Country, by Tift Merritt After 2004’s classic Tamborine, Tift Merritt escaped more than her record contract — she fled the country. Relocating temporarily to Paris, she found an apartment with a piano. The record that emerged is a travelogue of a different kind, a search for identity and assuredness. [...] more »

Mon, Mar 24, 2008 | 1 Comment

Don’t forget to get your entry in to win a copy of Jeremy’s Goodbye Blue Monday cd and a signed vinyl copy of Back Porch Spirituals. To win, simply leave a comment below. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Friday, 3/7/08 at midnight EST.** Here is Jeremy’s take on “the [...] more »

Fri, Mar 07, 2008 | 15 Comments

Singer-songwriter Jeremy Fisher once spent six months touring Canada by bicycle to promote his debut release, Back Porch Spirituals. You’ve got it much easier. To win our Jeremy Fisher prize pack, add a comment below. Dig out your old record player because this prize pack starts with a signed vinyl copy of the aforementioned [...] more »

Tue, Mar 04, 2008 | 7 Comments