It has been seven years since we heard from Romantica. Of course we have heard from front man Ben Kyle in the meantime. He has done two acclaimed albums. One was a duet with Carrie Rodriguez and the other was a solo project. The wait for new material from Romantica was well worth it. The […]
Reckless Kelly – Sunset Motel
Reckless Kelly is releasing their ninth album, “Sunset Motelâ€, on September 23rd. Even more significant, they are doing so as they log their 20th year as a band. It is a rare achievement for any band to make it this far. For Reckless Kelly it is even more significant given the transition of the industry […]
Jonah Tolchin – Thousand Mile Night
Jonah Tolchin has taken another step forward on his new release “Thousand Mile Nightâ€. The production of the album guides Tolchin to utilize a slightly different style on each song in order to evoke the mood that supports the lyrics. The album was recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. However, it has only […]
Sam Bush – Storyman
It is fitting that Sam Bush is releasing his new album on the heels of The Telluride Bluegrass Festival. After all he has ruled the festival for most of its existence. Seeing him there was an experience that allowed me to cross at least one item off my bucket list. His new release, “Storymanâ€, has […]
Guy Clark – The Real Stuff
As soon as I heard about the passing of the iconic troubadour, Guy Clark, one song popped in my mind, “Stuff that Works”. On that song he sings “Stuff that works. Stuff that holds up … Stuff that’s real and stuff you feel. The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall”. Nothing else […]
Old Salt Union – Cut and Run
The moments that surprise us are the ones that stay with us the longest. In my many years of going to see live music the sundry collection of those moments are etched forever in my memory. I encountered an event of that magnitude at the Evening Muse in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago. I […]
Shawn Mullins – My Stupid Heart
On his first album in five years, Shaw Mullins releases what is perhaps his best album. “My Stupid Heart†is a virtual dead heat with 2006’s “Ninth Ward Pickin’ Parlor†as his career best. “My Stupid Heart†exhibits a diversity of styles. The core of the album, as always, is Mullins melodic songwriting. There is […]
David Ramirez – Fables
With raw emotion, David Ramirez delivers a collection of songs that shows the uneasy coexistence of a person’s true nature and best intentions. Each song on “Fables†is a candid vignette that demonstrates that the line between the two is unclear without honest examination. Relationships are explored with vocals and melodies that maintain harmony with […]
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
Although Larry Campbell has released a number of his own recordings, he is known more for his associations than solo work. He is such a versatile musician it would almost be easier to list instruments he does not play. Most recently he garnered acclaim as a producer for Levon Helm’s final albums. Both albums, “Dirt […]
Watkins Family Hour
The Watkins Family Hour is a loose collective of artists assembled by Sara and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. What started as a jam session among friends years ago has blossomed into a Country album that would make Lefty Frizell proud. Twelve years ago the Watkins gathered some friends together to Jam at Largo, a […]