There are plenty of musicians who were raised in a deeply religious environment, chose a different path, but maintained and built upon the musical foundation of the church. You can attribute that talent to all the time spent in choirs and gospel services–the 10,000 hour meme. Sometimes, though, you just sense it comes from somewhere […]
Ryan Curtis – Ain’t Ever Easy
Even if you’re not an NPR fan, you’ve no doubt heard of Lake Wobegon, where all the kids are above average. I used to snicker at the mathematical inference of that statement. Then I listened to the new album from Idahoan Ryan Curtis, Ain’t Never Easy, and realized that’s where the other half went. It’s […]
Parker Ferrell – Love Runs Through
Spending time early in adulthood to find oneself has become a bit cliche. Frequently it’s code for delaying acceptance of responsibility and purpose. For Tulsa musician Parker Ferrell, though, it cemented his perspective on the importance of love and compassion while remaining rooted in the daily requirements of the present. Those values inspired the songs […]
Brennen Leigh – Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet
“What kind of music do you usually have here? Oh, we have both kinds, country and western.” That line set the stage for arguably the best scene Hollywood ever did about honky tonk bars. Like all good parodies, there were some underlying truths that rang true even when injected with comedy. Brennen Leigh has taken […]
JD Graham Premiere – Sidewalk Bobby
There’s a long tradition of dark stories, darker personalities, and black-hearted endings in Americana and folk music. They range from the myriad of circumstances highlighted in the plethora of murder ballads to the teary ending of an outlaw motorcycle rider, or a fervent prayer to not have one’s last minutes be in a cheap motel. […]
Meris Gantt – Forced Revival
There’s a fine line between being in a rut and addiction. Sometimes you think it’s the former and in your attempt to get out you realize there’s more to it. That’s the position North Carolinian folk singer-songwriter Meris Gantt found herself in. A two-year journey to shape her new life became the basis for her […]
Alexander Wren – To Whom It May Concern,
Concept albums aren’t a new thing, of course. You may see them less frequently than you used to but they’re still around. Alexander Wren puts a new twist on them, though, with his debut full length album, To Whom It May Concern,. It’s an open letter to the universe: a combination of love letter to […]
Tim O’Brien – Cup of Sugar
Heading into June, the heart of festival season, I’ve been thinking about some of the pioneers of the progressive bluegrass movement. Robbie Fulks’ excellent new record contributed to that reminisce, as did the arrival of the latest album from Nashvillian, by way of Colorado and West Virginia, Tim O’Brien. It’s called Cup of Sugar and […]
Vance Gilbert – The Mother of Trouble
When I got the press release for Philadelphia native Vance Gilbert’s upcoming album, The Mother of Trouble, it noted the project contained “4 bullies, 4 deaths (3 of them murders), 3 moms, 2 accidents, 2 Black people, 2 dogs, 1 dog ball, and one missed flight due to gas station sushi.” I mean, who’s not […]
Brian Beken – New Geography
You know, something you don’t hear as much about these days is fiddle contests. They’re certainly still around, but it used to be that every county fair and Town Founders Days celebration had a fiddle contest alongside the animals-raised-by-kids judging and best pie battle. That (mostly) friendly musical competition environment and heritage nurtured a young […]