Twin lead guitars. Â In the glory days of my misspent youth that was about all you had to tell me to get me to go to a show. Â Internal Sounds, the latest release from The Sadies, reminded me of why I was so enamored of the Southern rock genre and gave me pause to consider […]
Ali Holder – In Preparation For Saturn’s Return
I can’t say I ever thought about going to a smoky jazz lounge and hearing something twangy. Â After listening to Ali Holder’s solo debut, In Preparation For Saturn’s Return, I can now picture that happening. Â There are certainly artists fusing jazz and country or bluegrass. Â See our coverage of Phoebe Hunt’s latest for an example, […]
The Band Of Heathens – Sunday Morning Record
Sunday Morning Record. Â The title of the latest from The Band Of Heathens does as good a job of describing the recording as just about anything anyone writes. Â Those early morning hours when the night before is still ringing in your ears and the warm morning sun commands something a little less energetic and little […]
Patricia Vonne – Rattle My Cage
Patricia Vonne is dangerous, in a good way. Â Like some kind of artistic superhero, she excels in whatever she decides to focus her efforts on. Â Modeling in New York. Â Acting in movies. Â (Check her out as Zorro Girl in Sin City, her brother Robert Rodriguez’ movie.) Songwriting with Rosie Flores, Doyle Bramhall, Alejandro Escovedo and […]
The Greencards – Sweetheart Of the Sun
Listening to the latest release from The Greencards, Sweetheart Of the Sun, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that one of the band leaders, Kym Warner or Carol Young, must have inherited the reincarnated musical spirit of Nick Drake. Â Maybe another way to explain it is if Gillian and Dave borrowed some production techniques from […]
I See Hawks In L.A. – Mystery Drug
The bright orange celestial flame that starts out in Santa Monica, so clear and defining of Southern California, becomes a dull rust, glaring off the mix of smog and sooty bumpers by the time you get to San Bernardino. Â While the lucky few stroll with the kids and dog through the manicured streets of Pali, […]
Ghosts Along the Brazos – When It Rains It Pours
Some songs, and albums, take you to a particular time in your life, junior year in high school maybe, or the first summer of backyard barbecues in your first home. Â Others take you to an era, the 30’s of NY with early Duke Ellington, or Bakersfield in the early 60’s with Buck Owens. Â And some […]
Bakersfield – Review & Giveaway
Although we tend to think of the rebellion against the slick production values that Nashville country music is perhaps best known for as a fairly recent phenomena, it dates back over 50 years to a group of artists, and a Capitol Records producer, that called Bakersfield, California, home. Â The Bakersfield Sound eschewed the strings and […]
Jonas Friddle & the Majority – Use Your Voice
I once heard a comment, that I agree with, at a Calexico concert that anytime there’s both a trumpet and a slide guitar on the same stage it’s going to be a good show. Â Having listened now to the latest from Jonas Friddle & the Majority, Use Your Voice, I’m going to say that the […]
Phoebe Hunt – Live at the Cactus Cafe
I’m pretty sure Phoebe Hunt could sing a used car commercial and make it mesmerizing. Â The former lead singer and fiddle player for the Belleville Outfit just released her first full length solo collection, Live at the Cactus Cafe, and it does a great job showing off her musical and vocal range. Several of the […]