I’ll get straight to the point here.  Carrie Rodriguez has finally captured the energy, or spirit, or je ne sais quoi, or whatever you want to call it, of seeing her live, on a record.  I’ve enjoyed Carrie’s previous records.  But they tended to be sort of introspective.  Go to a live show, though, and [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Over the last 6 months or so I’ve come across a few albums or EP’s that I enjoyed, but for one reason or another didn’t do a full review.  As the year winds down I figured it’s a good time to collect a few of those into a single post. Wasabi – Wide Open An [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Normally a reissue of an old record isn’t such a big deal, but the December 2012 reissue of John Hartford’s Aereo Plain/Morning Bugle CD was a big deal for bluegrass fans because Aereo Plain, one of the most important records of the bluegrass – or “New Grass” – revival in the 1970s, had been almost impossible [...] more »

by Bill Wilcox

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Love and Dirt, by Session Americana A cocktail table provides the key to understanding Session Americana. It is so much a part of the band’s experience that they typically travel with it when they tour. The table is a centerpiece, of sorts, around which the musicians gather. Sitting there, they often [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Eli, Todd and Chip share their collective insights on the stellar new release from Chris Knight: Eli Peterson Chris Knight is the real deal. Dude is from Slaughters, Kentucky. That’s right. The town is named “Slaughters”. Dude was a mine reclamation inspector for 10 years before he went to Nashville to give songwriting a try. [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

More a legend than a band.  That phrase was first coined a couple of decades ago about a set of 4 guys from West Texas, the Flatlanders.  But it could apply equally to a group of 4 young women, The Trishas.  First performing together as a hastily arranged act as part of a tribute to [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

It is a digital world, mp3s are our music, the internet provides our news, and we can read on multiple devices. Oh and by the way we are connected wherever we go. Digital communication is the best …. Or is it? Along comes Whispering Pines. They take us to their world of analog recording. The [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

It’s been my experience that bands who do a Led Zeppelin cover in an album are walking a dangerous line.  As Yoda says, “do or do not, there is no try”.  Tackling an interpretation of Plant and Page requires not just sharp musical insight, but a lot of skill to then pull off the execution. [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

I’ve seen it on his first two albums and after the first tune on “There’s No Leaving Now,” I thought maybe I’d heard the last of the Tallest Man and his guitar. “To Just Grow Away” is a subtle song with percussion and even some keys.   But I only had to wait until the [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

THE PLAYLIST That Wasn’t Me, Brandi Carlile (from the Columbia Records release Bear Creek) Any Carlile discussion begins and ends with her voice, an instrument of power and beauty. While her latest is more relaxed than her earlier efforts, it retains the inspirational tone that is a hallmark of her songwriting. Many of the songs [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

LA based Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls release their new album Packed for Exile on July third. It is an impressive release with a blend of Americana roots and 70′s Album Rock. Interestingly, the band’s keyboardist is Jason Federici, who is the son of the late E Street Band member Danny Federici. The band may be from [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

I’ve been fortunate enough to have attended quite a number of multi-day music festivals over the years, from the Veiled Prophet Fair to the Monterey Jazz Festival and Telluride to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.  For my money, though, it’s really hard to beat the Old Settler’s Music Festival.  Held 20 miles or so outside of Austin [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

There are literally thousands of performances that take place across Austin during SXSW. Here is a small sampling for your listening and viewing enjoyment. See below for a detailed list of the performances in this video playlist. Tom Morello, “World Wide Rebel Song” from the New West day party Bahamas, “Caught Me Thinking” The Lumineers, [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

There aren’t many voices out there that are fair or worthy companions to the singular, sultry and smokey groan of Lucinda Williams. The California-dwelling Walter Rose released Cast Your Stone last month, and while it’s a solid album to be sure, it’s tough to deny the magic this song has. Want proof of said magic? [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

Everybody’s Someone In A Honky Tonk.  Anyone who’s reading this blog probably knows the David Allen Coe song, You Never Even Called Me By My Name (written by Steve Goodman), about the perfect country western song.  This tune, from the latest Carolann Ames release, may not be the perfect country song, but it has the [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood