Fine, Bonnie Whitmore (from the Aviatrix Records release Last Will & Testament) Bonnie Whitmore lulls you in with a chorus of harmonies on the opening track to her latest album. But before one can settle into the lushness, a fuzzy bass, quickly joined by ominous strings and a resonating electric guitar, interrupts to create a […]
Greg Felden Premiere – Back of the Line
Back last summer I ran across the debut album from LA-based Greg Felden. I noted at the time he set an emotional tone with the songs and several of them were driven by a rock and roll guitar sound. He also did a bit of introspection on some of the acoustic numbers. Well, he’s turned […]
Gordy Quist of The Band of Heathens on Quality Pour-Over Coffee and the Path to Writing Good Songs
Singer-songwriter Gordy Quist of The Band of Heathens talks about The Finishing School studio, a brief stint as a substitute teacher (with an accompanying apology to substitute teachers that he had as a child), and why music can be personal therapy.
Jackson Emmer on the “Get Discovered” Fairytale and Chasing Todd Snider
Colorado-based Jackson Emmer recalls getting paid in French fries at his first gig and talks about making one’s own opportunities.
Isaac Hoskins on Channeling Steve Earle and Finding Freedom from Doubt
Denton, TX singer-songwriter Isaac Hoskins reflects on the first of his 10,000 hours in music, a tour van with some musical history, and his definition of “making it”.
Monday Morning Video – John Lennon
John Lennon would have been 80 last Friday. We all shine on…
Readers’ Pick: Bonnie Whitmore – Last Will & Testament
You picked Bonnie Whitmore – Last Will & Testament as your favorite new release for the week of October 2, 2020. New Releases
Sam Morrow – Gettin By On Gettin Down
Sam Morrow’s previous release “Concrete and Mud†walked the line between Country and Rock. This made sense given the songwriter was Texas born but had moved to Los Angeles. He was definitely fusing his roots with his newfound locale on the record. It was also a successful fusion and garnered much critical acclaim. On his […]
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2020
I already knew the Hellman family had challenged the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass staff to come up with a worthy alternative to the annual musical gathering in Golden Gate Park the first weekend in October. I knew they had been shooting video with various artists in music towns like Austin, Nashville, and of course San Francisco. […]
Trae Sheehan on a Stocked Cooler, Sound Engineering, and Painting Fences
Singer-songwriter Trae Sheehan talks about touring in a minivan without hub caps and the first song that he wrote (which contained only two chords).