At one point in every musician’s career, he or she has done some D.I.Y. touring. Brett Newski has become a zen master at it. Last year he spent 3.5 months on a planes, trains and automobiles journey around the world – an itinerary that would make even the most hardened traveler wince. Somehow Newski managed […]
Charlie Faye on Necessary Journeys and Touring with “Ol’ Reliable”
Charlie Faye talks about why she calls ahead to arrange for a mini-fridge in the hotel room while touring and recalls the lyrics from her first song (and the memories that came with it).
Monday Morning Video – Dave Alvin Covers The Beach Boys
Here’s a fun cover to kick off your week. This is Dave Alvin recasting fellow Californians The Beach Boys classic “Surfer Girl” as a tender acoustic ballad.
Readers’ Pick: Red Clay Soul by Tinsley Ellis
TINSLEY ELLIS, Red Clay Soul beats out PAUL SIMON, Stranger to Stranger as your favorite for the week of June 3, 2016. 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’ Top 25 Spring 2016 WILLIE NILE, World […]
Janiva Magness on Touring with a NutriBullet and a Memorable First Gig Singing with an Elvis Impersonator
Janiva Magness talks about hitting the road in a van with more than 237,000 miles (and counting), a rehearsal space that is funnier now then when she was using it and the changes that she has seen in the music business.
Monday Morning Video – Greg Trooper’s Ode to Muhammad Ali
Singer-songwriter Greg Trooper often introduces this song by saying, “This is my thank you note to Muhammad Ali for being the greatest.” The song originally appeared on Trooper’s 2003 release Floating. That album featured liner notes by Trooper fan Steve Earle, who wrote, “I taped a TV show with Troop and some other songwriters sitting […]
Readers’ Pick: Rain Crow by Tony Joe White
TONY JOE WHITE, Rain Crow beats out AUSTIN LUCAS, Between the Moon and the Midwest as your favorite for the week of May 27, 2016. 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’ Top 25 Spring 2016 […]
Robert Rex Waller, Jr – Fancy Free
The snow swirls around the lamp posts and even the bars have been closed for hours.  It’s too cold to kill time, but killing time is all you have left.  Painting that picture of desolation and near despair, Robert Rex Waller, Jr., opens his upcoming album with a version of Utah Phillips’ Walking Through the Snow In […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May 2016, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Poor Man’s Bible by Mike June Mike June doesn’t pull his punches. At all. His latest release is filled with biting commentary about society, politics and religion. He approaches it with a working-man’s perspective, certainly jaded but with a spirit that flirts between combative and cautiously optimistic. “Big corporations too big […]
Monday Morning Video – Town Mountain Cover Bruce Springsteen
North Carolina’s Town Mountain give Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” a bluegrass make-over. Sounds mighty fine to me.