ROANOKE Another on my short list of new to me artists for me this year was Roanoke. They bore more than a passing resemblance to the fictional Daisy Jones and the Six in both song and spirit. A good thing in my book. JAKE BLOUNT Jake Blount is a true student of American music. So […]
SXSW 2023 – The Sounds, Part 2
ANNIE HAMILTON A favorite new artist discovery for me – great pop songs wrapped in an indie rock package, delivered by one of the most captivating performers that I saw all week. WILLIAM PRINCE I caught Canada’s Prince two times within twelve hours, first closing out the Canada House line-up at 1am on Wednesday night […]
SXSW 2023 – The Sounds, Part 1
SOMEBODY’S CHILD I do a fair amount of research on the artists attending SXSW in the weeks leading up to the event. Before I arrived, Ireland’s Somebody’s Child were at the top of my artists to see; when I left they were the best band that I saw. The group, the brainchild of singer-songwriter Cian […]
SXSW 2023 – The Scene
For me, the true harbinger of spring is the arrival of the SXSW in Austin, Texas. Or rather, spring begins for me when I arrive in Austin for the annual event. With upwards of 1,500 artists and tens of thousands of attendees from around the world, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even better, […]
Monday Morning Video – Al Green
It doesn’t happen often, but on occasion a cover version can rival the original version. Here’s one of my faves in that category – Al Green laying claim to the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”.
Greg Hall’s Hungry Heart – A Twangville Premiere
The cover song is a musical tradition. And sure, it’s fun to hear one artist cover a favorite song from another artist. The challenge, however, is that they generally tend to mirror the original. It’s immensely more interesting when an artist reimagines a song. The results can be transformational, bringing new emotion and impact to […]
Monday Morning Video – Plains
Plains – the duo Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) & Jess Williamson released one of my favorite 2022 albums. Here’s a stripped down acoustic performance by the duo which features a few songs from the album, including my fave of faves “Problem With It”.
Touchin’ Down in New England Town – a Special Boston Playlist
By My Lonesome, GA-20 (from the album Karma Chief Records release Live in Loveland) Just Because, GA-20 (from the Karma Chief Records release Crackdown) Blues band GA-20 have emerged from the pandemic with a vengeance. Their non-stop touring aside, they are releasing their second album in seven months. Both are tremendous showcases for the group’s […]
Monday Morning Video – Abby Hamilton
I saw Abby Hamilton as part of last fall’s Underwater Sunshine Festival in NYC, where she and her band were among the weekend’s highlights. A little rock, a little acoustic country, and a whole lot of goodness. Here are two videos that showcase her talent, the electrified “Change Things”, filmed at an Arts Center in […]
Monday Morning Video – Robert Randolph with Los Lobos
Let’s spend another week with Robert Randolph, this time sitting in with the legendary Los Lobos on a rousing version of the band’s “Don’t Worry Baby”.