The Banditos bassist talks about why he doesn’t write lyrics and the challenge in trying to find time to practice while spending 200 days a year on the road.
Monday Morning Video – Vintage Los Lobos
Let’s kick it old school this week with a classic from one of rock music’s true legends. These guys can do it all, from the Mexican music of their heritage to blues to rock and everything in-between. Here’s a full concert from 1989 that proves the point. Over the course of an hour-long show they […]
Otis Taylor – Hey Joe Opus … Red Meat
Otis Taylor likes to experiment. As architect of a mesmerizing style of blues music christened “trance blues,” Taylor’s albums tend to have an atmospheric, dream-like quality. Taylor’s style might sometimes be described as Muddy Waters meets Shawn Phillips or Pink Floyd. Taylor’s career, like his musical style, has been unconventional. He was active in the […]
Readers’ Pick: Axis Mundi by Brown Bird
BROWN BIRD, Axis Mundi beats out MULEHEAD, Forever Out of Tune by 1 vote as your favorite for the week of April 28, 2015. Poll Results Readers’ Tops – Spring 2015 RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, Ruffian’s Misfortune (22) DWIGHT YOAKAM, Second Hand Heart (21) ALABAMA SHAKES, Sound & Color (10) CALEXICO, Edge of the […]
Paul Lacques of Double Naught Spy Car & I See Hawks In LA On Rehearsal Studios and Never Turning Down a Gig
Paul Lacques of Double Naught Spy Car and I See Hawks in LA shares the first song he wrote and talks about why he doesn’t miss industrial rehearsal spaces.
Monday Morning Video – James McMurtry “These Things I’ve Come to Know”
James McMurtry’s Complicated Game is one of this year’s standout albums. His way with both words and melody is as strong as ever. Here is a clip of McMurtry performing a track from the album in the basement of New York’s Mercury Lounge.
Mayer’s Playlist for March/April 2015, Part 3
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Firewatcher‒s Daughter, by Brandi Carlile For some, the process of getting off the major label merry-go-round can be a traumatic experience that results in musical purgatory. Not for Carlile, who shifted to ATO Records and returns with another stand-out release. Her voice is as radiant as ever, beautifully complimented by […]
Millie Mason/Here on Up
Simple and to the point. Millie doesn’t need 3 ½ , or hell, even 3 minutes of your time to get her message across. The most she asks for is 2:29 on the opening “In Town.†The Brooklyn singer/songwriter hails from Knoxville and obviously has a love for old time country a la Patsy Cline, […]
Readers’ Pick: Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes
ALABAMA SHAKES, Sound & Color beats out GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS, A Forest of Arms by 2 votes as your favorite for the week of April 21, 2015. Poll Results Readers’ Tops – Spring 2015 RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, Ruffian’s Misfortune (22) DWIGHT YOAKAM, Second Hand Heart (21) ALABAMA SHAKES, Sound & Color (10) CALEXICO, […]
Archie Powell Introduces “Rick Morvanis” and Reveals the One Constant in his Songwriting Over the Years
Archie Powell of the Exports talks about what makes for a “good day” of tour meals and the simple rule that he wished that he knew at the start of his career.