Nashville-based Laney Jones talks about why she smiles every time it rains, hitting the road with “Old Shelley”, and not taking shortcuts when it comes to recording.
Monday Morning Video – Joe Ely
It’s hard to overstate Joe Ely’s influence. When your admirers range from Bruce Springsteen to the Clash, it says everything about both your reach and your range. Ely helped lay the groundwork for what became alt-country/Americana—starting with the Flatlanders—and then spent the rest of his career embodying Texas music in its fullest sense: folk storytelling, […]
Readers’ Pick: Best of 2025
It’s the season to ask you, our beloved readers, what your favorite album of 2025 was. To help, we’ve created a poll with over 100 nominations. If you’re wondering where this list comes from, it comes from your contributions to our poll throughout the year. We’ve created this amazing list of the top 25 picks from each season.
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall/Winter 2025, Part 2
Little Red Rider, Kathleen Edwards (from the Dualtone Records release Billionaire) The music world is a better place when Kathleen Edwards is writing and performing. It’s been said before, but Billionaire makes it worth repeating. Edwards has never been one to mince words. Her storytelling carries a truthfulness built on specific details and brutal honesty, […]
Studio Spotlight/Q Division, Jon Lupfer
Though Q Division Studios has moved through several locations over the years, it’s remained one of Boston’s most storied rooms—an independent hub where big ideas and bigger sounds have been captured for decades. In this interview, we talk with co-founder Jon Lupfer about the studio’s evolution, the people who shaped its identity, and what it […]
Avery Ballotta of Damn Tall Buildings on Outdoor Rehearsals and Why Time Is Your Friend
Avery Ballotta, violinist and vocalist in trio Damn Tall Buildings, talks about working as a Cultural Ambassador with the U.S. State Dept. and the “Create, Craft, Release, Repeat” approach.
Monday Morning Video – Raul Malo
Another tremendous voice in American music has gone silent with the passing of Raul Malo, co-founder and lead singer of The Mavericks. The band rooted itself in country but seamlessly mixed in elements of Cuban son and Tex-Mex, creating a sound entirely their own. From life-of-the-party anthems like “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me […]
Readers’ Pick: Tommy Womack – Live A Little
You picked Tommy Womack – Live A Little as your favorite new release for the week of December 5, 2025.
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall/Winter 2025, Part 1
Speechwriter, Joelton Mayfield (from the Bloodshot Records release Crowd Pleaser) Joelton Mayfield’s Crowd Pleaser announces itself with purpose: vivid storytelling wrapped in guitars that know when to whisper and when to scream. The dynamics shift constantly—bobbing, weaving, building tension that reverberates from somewhere in the distance before crashing into the present moment. “Pretty Linda” offers […]
Willie Heath Neal of The Waymores on Swinging a Hammer and Focusing on the Mission
Willie Heath Neal of husband and wife duo The Waymores shares the story about the first song that he wrote with wife and bandmate Kira Annalise and talks about keeping faith in the journey.