Alex McMurray has long been a fixture on the New Orleans music scene. From the early days with Royal Fingerbowl through to his later solo work (with plenty of bands along the way), he has amassed a remarkable catalog of songs. He shifts from the sublimely moving to cleverly entertaining with ease, bringing each composition […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 3
Little Red Hen (With Apologies to Chicken Little) , Kirby Brown (from the self-released Uncommon Prayer) A sense of restlessness permeates Kirby Brown’s Uncommon Prayer. The album documents a quest to find happiness and one’s place in this world, a topic that brown tackles with music that is intoxicating and lyrics that are both creative […]
Monday Morning Video – An Introduction to Joshua Ray Walker
Get ready for Joshua Ray Walker. The singer-songwriter has been kicking around Dallas for many years but is poised to unleash Wish You Were Here, his solo debut, in early 2019. The album is steeped in classic country, from Walker’s soothing drawn (and occasional yodel) to stories that he tells with his songs. This video […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 2
Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues, Larkin Poe (from the Tricki-Woo Records release Venom & Faith) Although The Lovell Sisters hail from Georgia and now live in Nashville, their latest album is mostly steeped in Mississippi blues. And by that I mean some down-home, dirty blues. They make an immediate – and powerful – musical statement with […]
Monday Morning Video – Kail Baxley Covers Springsteen
Let’s start the week with a a chilling cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire”, courtesy of LA (by way of South Carolina) singer-songwriter Kail Baxley.
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 1
Snow White Knuckles, Jaimee Harris (from the Ruby White Records release Red Rescue) Music can be a powerful thing. At its best, it not only meant to entertain, it strives to provoke an emotional reaction in the listener. Red Rescue, the debut album from Austin singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris, is a welcome reminder of music’s potency. […]
Monday Morning Video – Travis Meadows
It’s always fascinating to get a peek behind the artistic curtain. In this video, Travis Meadows talks about being a professional songwriter in Nashville and working with a co-writer. The story precedes the wonderful “Unfinished Business” from 2013’s Old Ghosts & Unfinished Business. Meadows shares more stories in his recent interview with Twangville.
Monday Morning Video – Adam Carroll
There are so many great songwriters criss-crossing the highways of Texas but Adam Carroll is among the elite. With a gentle and reserved style, he tells richly textured stories often filled with colorful characters. The tales are set to simple yet infectious melodies that he picks out on an acoustic guitar. Here are two gems […]
Monday Morning Video – Ruby Boots
My first encounter with Ruby Boots was an acoustic set when she opened for the Waifs. As much as I enjoyed that show, it did little to prepare me for the fire and fury when she fronts a band. It’s something to behold. Although the video quality is a bit rough, here’s Boots and company […]
Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist
By Degrees, Mark Erelli & Friends (from the benefit single By Degrees) Several of Mark Erelli’s longtime friends and collaborators join him for a special song written in response to the tragic gun violence in America. While the artists are an impressive group – Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Lori McKenna, Anais Mitchell, and Josh Ritter […]