Los Angeles-based Calling Cadence have been a pleasant earworm for my this year. The songs on their debut album are acoustic-based but with an inherent funkiness that comes from smooth organ and electric piano and plenty of bass grooves. And then there are the vocals of band leaders Oscar Bugarin and Rae Cole, each strong […]
Monday Morning Video – Jason Molina
Jason Molina left us way too young back in 2013. Nonetheless, the prolific songwriter left behind a tremendous catalog, including the brooding – and wonderful – “The Dark Don’t Hide It”. Here are two versions of Molina performing the song – one solo and one with Magnolia Electric Company.
Readers’ Pick: Tami Neilson – Kingmaker
You picked Tami Neilson – Kingmaker as your favorite new release for the week of July 21, 2022. Poll Results New Releases Readers’ Tops Summer & Fall 2022 Tami Neilson – Kingmaker (28 votes) Parker Twomey – All This Life (24) The Deslondes – Ways & Means (19) Arlo McKinley – This Mess We’re In […]
Forrest McCurren – Oh Me, Oh My
Pick any small town in America and there’s a cast of characters you can generally recognize. The former high school football star; the good kid always in the wrong place at the wrong time; the family matriarch who’s the real power behind half the successful people in the county; the favorite cousin that just can’t […]
A Little Boston in Your Attitude – A Special Boston Playlist
Follow, Susan Cattaneo (from the Jersey Girl Music release All Is Quiet) It shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that Susan Cattaneo taught songwriting at Berklee School of Music for many years. Her songs are wonderfully crafted, filled with meaning and musical grace. Her latest album may be stripped down in terms of arrangements, […]
Parker Twomey on “Betty White Lightning” and His Hand-Me-Down Guitar
Texas singer-songwriter Parker Twomey talks about letting his guitar strings build character and why it is important to cherish each step of the way.
Eric Ambel on His Favorite NYC Rehearsal Spaces and Why Musicians Break Guitar Strings
Acclaimed musician and producer Eric Ambel talks about downsizing from a Suburban to a “sweet Ford Flex” and a lesson learned from a career in music.
Monday Morning Video – Emma Swift
Emma Swift and her guitarist passed through NYC last week to perform songs from Swift’s 2020 album Blonde on the Tracks, a collection of songs written by Bob Dylan. It was a wonderful performance as Swift laid bare the tremendous emotion of the featured songs. Here is “Visions of Johanna” and “Just Like a Woman”, […]
Readers’ Pick: The Deslondes – Ways & Means
You picked The Deslondes – Ways & Means as your favorite new release for the week of July 8, 2022. Poll Results New Releases Readers’ Tops Summer & Fall 2022 The Deslondes – Ways & Means (19 votes) Tedeschi Trucks Band – I Am the Moon: II. Ascension (14) Laura Veirs – Found Light (4) […]
The Brothers Comatose – When It All Falls Apart Video Premiere
San Francisco-based band The Brothers Comatose was formed in 2009 by brothers Alex (banjo, vocals) and Ben (guitar, vocals) Morrison and fiddler Philip Brezina. They added Steve Height on bass and Greg Fleischut on mandolin, and started taking the northern California acoustic music world by storm. Walking the line between jam band and progressive bluegrass […]