Lee Bains has amassed an impressive catalog of songs that chronicle the new south, a region struggling to maintain it’s distinctive identity while challenging aspects of its heritage and socio-political outlook. Bains and company will release Youth Detention, the follow-up to 2014’s outstanding Dereconstructed, on 30 June. If you prefer that your rock and roll […]
Readers’ Pick: Self-titled by Colter Wall
You picked Colter Wall from Saskatoon-based singer-songwriter Colter Wall, as your favorite new release for the week of May 12, 2017. Poll Results New Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Tops Spring 2017 COLTER WALL, Colter Wall […]
The Sounds of Summer – A Premiere from Trapper Schoepp
What’s more summer than an amusement park? Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter Trapper Schoepp is inclined to agree and is helping us ring in this year’s summer season with Bay Beach Amusement Park, a six-song concept ep tribute to a Green Bay, WI institution. Not surprisingly, the ep rings out with a youthful innocence and enthusiasm as Schoepp […]
John Moreland – Big Bad Luv
After gaining much acclaim on his previous release, “High on Tulsa Heatâ€, John Moreland has released a new album of tunes that raises an already high bar even further. This time around he eschewed the solitary acoustic Folk style of previous work that put full focus on the lyrics. His new effort, “Big Bad Luvâ€, […]
Monday Morning Video – The Suitcase Junket
Matt Lorenz, aka The Suitcase Junket, is one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters you’ll come across these days. A one-man band in the dumpster-diving tradition (his guitar was rescued from a dumpster; his kick-drum features his own re-purposed baby shoe), his songs veer from the beautiful ballads to battered blues. Layered on top are tasteful […]
Readers’ Pick: Big Bad Luv by John Moreland
You picked Big Bad Luv from Tulsa-based singer-songwriter John Moreland, as your favorite new release for the week of May 5, 2017. Poll Results New Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Tops Spring 2017 DERRICK ANDERSON, A […]
The Steel Wheels – Wild As We Came Here
A really good stew is hard to describe. Â I mean, on the surface, it’s easy. Â Some meat, some vegetables, in a broth, cooked for a while. Â But it is so much more than that. Â Think of the difference between a Louisiana gumbo, a California cioppino, and a New England chowder. Â They all have seafood, and […]
Monday Morning Video – Matthew Logan Vasquez and Nathaniel Rateliff
Here’s a fun one to start the week. Matthew Logan Vasquez and Nathaniel Rateliff and friends hanging out singing a song. The song is “Redfish,” from Vasquez’s new album Does What He Wants. It looks like at least a few wine bottles were harmed, or at least emptied, during the making of this video.
Don Merckle – Follow Me Boys
Here’s a video from my longtime friend, and once collaborator, Don Merckle.  It’s from his recently released EP, The Ballad of Lincoln Wray, a concept record telling the story of his grandfather’s war exploits.  You can pick up the EP here.
Mink’s Miracle Medicine – Song Premiere
Hailing from Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, Mink’s Miracle Medicine is primarily the brainchild of Melissa Wright and Daniel Zezeski. Â Melissa approaches music with her background in Americana and formal training from Berklee College of Music, while Daniel comes at things from a punk and ska band experience. Â Their upcoming album, House Of Candles, has a […]