Robert Francis – Before Nightfall Ben Kweller – Changing Horses Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies Peter Bradley Adams – Traces Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – self-titled Drive-by Truckers – The Fine Print Dave Rawlings Machine – A Friend of a Friend Patterson Hood – Murdering Oscar The Avett Brothers – […]
Peter Bradley Adams – Live
To see Pete these days, you wouldn’t guess where he’s been. The unassuming, shy appearance belies a singer whose previous act (a duo with Kat Maslich) had him opening for established folk act Tracy Chapman amongst others. These days, Pete has generally shed the poppy keyboard driven songs in favor of a simpler guitar-picking approach. […]
Fran Healy – Live Acoustic
The intimacy of a small venue is really a unique experience. When you throw in a seasoned performer like lead singer of Brit-Pop band Travis, you get a true gem of a show. Healy truly made the experience an even more personal one with a slide show and storytelling to boot. The show allowed the […]
Robert Francis – Before Nightfall
E pluribus unum. It’s on our dollar bill. From the many, one. Robert Francis, at the age of 22, has seemingly melded many disparate facets of American rock/folk/country into a tasty music stew. Pedal steel, piano, guitar, and vocals (to name a few) come together in classic fashion. Francis’ hooks are like that delicious secret […]
Peter Bradley Adams – Traces
If you recognize the name, you probably think you’ve heard this one before. Heartbreaking melodies and a girl who left you blah blah blah. The same sad tone seems prevalent from the first notes of adult alternative single “You Dance†(Adams’ collaboration with Kat Maslich) to the lead single “For You†and throughout Adams’ work. But you […]
Yonder Mountain String Brand – Live Review
When I go to a bluegrass show, I often have some expectations. I expect banjo, mandolin and high harmony. I expect to feel the unmistakable rhythms of mandolin chop and banjo roll. These items are hallmarks that I have come to expect from a pickin’ party to a headlining show at a club (which is […]
Ritter and Kweller take North Adams
With its first music festival, you might think that Mass Moca (Museum of Comtemporary Art) would go for something really progressive like Deerhunter or experimental electronica Panda Bear. Something that changes the way we look at music (and thus alienating nearly every member of the audience with the exception of the Pitchfork’s uber-music geeks). But […]
The Big Surprise Show – Justin Townes Earle, The Felice Brothers, Dave Rawlings Machine, Old Crow Medicine Show
When four Americana torch-bearers come together to give a show some may call it a festival, some may call it an old-time medicine show, but I just call it a hell of a good night. For a fan of Americana music, the lineup was pretty hard to believe. Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch rarely play […]
Plain & Simple – Acousticueticals
When a critic hears about a new act in music, a relative unknown, often the excitement at discovery is tempered by trepidation at the disappointment. Still, as music writers we attempt to somehow divide our time between trusted acts, the possibility of a new discovery that no one else has heard. With these same ambivalent […]
The Tallest Man on Earth – Live
With a name like “Tallest Man on Earth,” a few questions may come to mind. And the answer to most of them is “no.” First of all, it’s not a band but a single singer/songwriter named Kristian Matsson. No, he’s not from south, the west or the U.S. for that matter. He’s from Sweden. No, […]