I saw Jackson Emmer appear as part of a songwriter round a few weeks ago and I was captivated by the dark beauty of this song called “When the Lawn Gets Dark”. Emmer has just released Diamond Ranch Vol. 1., a pair of new singles that reflect on life as a traveling troubadour.
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2019, Part 1
Waiting For a Sign, M. Lockwood Porter (from the Black Mesa Records release Communion in the Ashes) M. Lockwood Porter is on a quest, longing to step beyond the anguish and misery he sees around him in hopes of finding a better place, personally and for everyone. The opening – and title – track freely […]
Monday Morning Video – Dr. John
It’s been a rough spring in the music world. This past week brought the news that Mac Rebennack – Dr. John – had passed. The New Orleans native captured all of the energy, flamboyance and mystery of his hometown and instilling it in his music. Here’s a trifecta from the good Doctor. The righteous funk […]
Monday Morning Video – Roky Erickson
It’s been a tough week in the music world with the passing of three notable artists. Shawn wrote about the loss of idiosyncratic old-timey artist Leon Redbone. We also lost harmonica player and rock historian Tony Glover, an influence for Bob Dylan and countless others. Friday brought news of Roky Erickson’s death at the age […]
Monday Morning Video – A Song for Memorial Day
Honor the fallen on Memorial Day with Jason Isbell’s poignant elegy “Dress Blues”.
Monday Morning Video – Jesse Dayton “Take Out the Trash”
Jesse Dayton shares some songwriting tips before launching into “Take Out the Trash,” a stand-out from 2018’s The Revealer. A live version appears on the feisty On Fire in Nashville, released earlier this year.
My Mind Must Be Back in Boston – A Special Playlist
Reckless Heart, Todd Thibaud (from the self-released Hill West) Singer-songwriter Todd Thibaud decamped to rural Vermont to craft his latest album. He returned to Boston with a collection of songs somber and introspective, no doubt reflective of the environment in which it was born. Stark but nuanced arrangements play into the pensive nature of the […]
A Premiere From Matthew Ryan
One of an artist’s most meaningful – and noble – purposes is to reflect on the times in which they live. Sometimes it’s a deliberation on things personal, a relationship or individual struggles; other times it’s a consideration of the larger social and economic forces shaping the world. Matthew Ryan has long followed this artistic […]
Monday Morning Video – A Paul Kelly Mother’s Day Celebration
Mother’s Day was yesterday but we’re celebrating today with this incredible new track from Australian legend Paul Kelly. The song, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, is another instant Kelly classic. The song was written for the soundtrack for the forthcoming documentary about Australian Football League star and Indigenous Australian leader Adam Goodes. It reflects […]
Monday Morning Video – The Drams & Slobberbone
I’ve been digging back into the Brent Best catalog lately. Here are two songs that I somewhat overlooked in the past but are in heavy rotation now: “Crudely Drawn” from The Drams 2006 release Jubilee Dive. and “Sweetness, That’s Your Cue” from Slobberbone’s 2002 release Slippage.