Some of my favorite songwriters are storytellers. Even better are the ones that leave the endings a bit open so you can come to your own conclusions about the ending. Damien Jurado does this brilliantly, as does Neil Young. You can get lost in a song and see the characters as if reading a 300 […]
Don Merckle – Follow Me Boys
Here’s a video from my longtime friend, and once collaborator, Don Merckle.  It’s from his recently released EP, The Ballad of Lincoln Wray, a concept record telling the story of his grandfather’s war exploits.  You can pick up the EP here.
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers/Sidelong
When I first encountered Sarah Shook & The Disarmers it was by way of their video for “Dwight Yoakam,†the single from Sidelong. I watched it, thought it was pretty funny, and forgot about the band. When Sidelong landed in my inbox, and eventually my iPod classic, (I’m old school) I decided I liked Sarah […]
Susto/& I’m Fine Today
“If it’s in a Susto song, then it really happened†says lead singer/songwriter Justin Osborne during our recent chat about the band’s new record & I’m Fine Today. “I mean, unless it’s something like our Jesus Christ beach song.†Although, I guess they could be hanging with Jesus, or some other entity with songs such […]
Todd’s Picks; Best of 2016 The Albums
The new year is upon us, which means it’s time for my best of list which is always heavy on middle-aged white men…  Happy 2017 folks. Pete Yorn/Arranging Time – I probably listened to this album more than any other in 2016 and that’s why it would get my vote for #1. As long as Pete […]
Todd’s Picks of 2016; The Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzEXPRfTlMM
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit/Live from Columbia, SC, October 16, 2016
Photo by Darren Woodlief The first big concert I remember attending, besides a church revival or Fifth Sunday Night Singing, was Charlie Daniels at the Peach Festival in Gaffney, SC with the Pirates of the Mississippi opening. I was around 14 years old and my dad took me. It was a great time and I […]
The Handsome Family/Unseen
I first became aware of The Handsome Family sometime around 1997 or so when the drummer in my college band blasted the tune “Moving Furniture Around†from their 1994 debut Odessa. I went on to hear them on and off throughout the years on the local Americana radio show (Red Bank Bar & Grille show) […]
September Playlist
Here’s a few tunes I’ve been digging from recently released and soon to be released records. Butch Walker/Stay Gold – Hands down Butch is one of my favorites whether it be live, recording or producer. He’s just rock and roll. His newest lives up to the hype. Shovels & Rope/I Know – Snarky and confident […]
Significant Twang Willie Nelson’s Spirit
Everyone has an album or two (or thirty) that are particularly meaningful. Albums that mark specific life milestones or carried them through troubled times. Here is the first in a series of periodic posts about the power – and importance – of music in our lives. A couple of years ago right after my wedding, […]