Maybe all you need to know about Marina Rocks is that when she turned 12 her mom gave her a Marshall stack instead of clothes or toys. Add to that she was brought up in Austin and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out she was going to be a musician. That passion she […]
Jake Hunsinger & the Rock Bottom – Wrapped Around the Axle
The first time I listened to the new album from Jake Hunsinger & the Rock Bottom, Wrapped Around the Axle, I was driving, so couldn’t read or search anything. I kept thinking, “do I know this song, is it a cover?” Turns out Hunsinger is a student of country music song writing, and that explained […]
Nels Johnson – Ios
In this day and age, when the concept of escaping the rat race is sometimes just not looking at social media for a couple of days, Oregonian Nels Johnson did it old school and went to the Greek island of Ios. The time he spent examining what he wanted from life, far away from the […]
The California Honeydrops – Soft Spot
From about the time of World War 2 up through the 70’s, Oakland, CA, was as much a music hotbed as Chicago or Memphis. The West Coast style of blues and jazz featured velvety vocals, and horns instead of harmonica or slide guitar. That whole scene in West Oakland, particularly around 7th Street, is long […]
Joselyn And Don – Seeds & Bones
After being raised in Montana, Joselyn Wilkinson and Don Barrozo moved to Los Angeles to immerse themselves in the music scene. She’s involved with several bands in the area, while he’s an in-demand producer (and film editor for The Simpsons). They’re also doing their own thing as duo Joselyn And Don, and have released their […]
Michael Paul Lawson – Love Songs For Loners
Aside from tributes and fund-raisers, the idea of concept albums fell out of favor about the time disco came into vogue. Sometimes though, there’s a theme that runs through a record. It doesn’t necessarily drive what gets put on disk, but it ties the songs in the project together. That’s the case with the sophomore […]
The Ransom Brothers – Resurgence
There’s much to be said for being old enough that something you loved as a kid has become cool again. In this case I’m talking about the multiple lead guitars with fiddle or pedal steel fed by a driving rhythm section that became known as Southern rock. Several new albums heavy on that style have […]
AmericanaFest 2022 – Shawn’s Favorites
I was once again fortunate enough to attend the fall celebration of all things roots music, AmericanaFest. Taking place across most of a week, the traditional kick-off is the Americana Music Awards on Wednesday night. The official showcases also started Wednesday, and ended Saturday night. And this year the unofficial events started on Tuesday and […]
2022 Americana Music Awards
In what’s become a signature event in the roots music scene, the Americana Music Festival was back in full swing this year in the third week of September. Although unofficial events start on Tuesday, the traditional kick-off is the Americana Music Awards held on Wednesday night at the amazing Ryman Auditorium. It’s a chance to […]
Moontricks – Currents
Imagine you’re driving through a winding valley deep in the mountains of British Columbia when you happen upon a barn along the side of the road. You stop, open the door to investigate, and it’s a full-on rave; keyboards, synthesizers, flashing strobes, and a bass line threatening to turn your insides to jelly. Oh, and […]