One of my favorite things about seeing live shows (well, after the music) are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from 2024. I switch guitars a lot because of the weight of the material. Josh Ritter You think I need luck, I been doing this a […]
Monday Morning Video – Joshua Ray Walker
Joshua Ray Walker has rapidly established himself as one of country music’s shining lights. He burst onto the scene with the stunning “Canyon” back in 2019 and has released music at a furious pace. Two studio albums of originals, an acoustic album, a covers album, and a live album, all tremendous showcases of his talent. […]
Monday Morning Video – Bird Streets and Amy Vachal
Let’s start the week with this breathtaking new cover of John Waite’s classic “Missing You”, courtesy of Brooklyn’s Bird Streets and Amy Vachal.
“Play Another Record” – a Premiere from Brandon Callies
With his latest single, Dallas singer-songwriter Brandon Callies offers the kind of advice that we all should heed. Originally recorded for his last record, the 2021 pop gem Sunrise Diner, the song celebrates the joy of listening to music. Although he doesn’t specify, I’d like to think it about putting some vinyl on the record […]
Monday Morning Video – John Prine “Summer’s End”
Summer has nearly come to an end and I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge it than with a song by one of the masters. Here are two versions of John Prine’s “Summer’s End”, from 2018’s The Tree of Forgiveness, to close out the season. First is a solo acoustic performance, shot backstage […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2024, Part 2
The Money or the Time, Goodnight Texas (from the 2 Cent Bank Check Records release Signals) Goodnight Texas have built a career around storytelling. Their early albums were thematic period pieces, snapshots of time vividly captured in song. Later albums, including the recently released Signals, may lack an overarching narrative but are no less compelling […]
Monday Morning Video – The Ballad of El Goodo
Let’s go back to 2010. Alex Chilton was scheduled to appear at SXSW that year to celebrate the legacy of indie rock legends Big Star. Chilton tragically passed away from a heart attack just days prior to the appearance. So the planned celebration suddenly became a bittersweet tribute to a band that inspired so many […]
“Dead Flowers” – A Premiere From Afton Wolfe and Jaimee Harris
Sometimes you just have to run with the moment. A random conversation between Nashville residents Afton Wolfe and Jaimee Harris about cult movie hit “Big Lebowski” was the spark behind this impressive collaboration. Those familiar with the movie will recall that Townes Van Zandt’s cover of The Rolling Stones’ composition closes out the movie. Harris […]
Monday Morning Video – Rockpile
I’m in the mood to start the week with some good ol’ rock and roll. And who better to Rockpile, part of the English pub rock movement of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Rockpile – Dave Edmunds (vocals, guitar), Nick Lowe (vocals, bass guitar), Billy Bremner (vocals, guitar) and Terry Williams (drums) – only […]
Freak Show – a Premiere from Jack Barksdale
Credit Alex Marcenaro It may seem odd to describe 17 year-old as a music veteran but, given that Jack Barksdale started his professional career at age 9, the term rings true. More to the point, it’s hard to escape the impressive maturity of his musicianship and songwriting. Case in point is “Freak Show”, the latest […]