It’s an embarrassment of riches this week in Boston! As noted earlier, we’re kicking things off with Lydia Loveless and the Old 97’s tonight. Tuesday we’ve got the long overdue return of Matthew Ryan (Atwood’s Tavern). Thursday we’ve got the Curtis Mayflower (Atwood’s Tavern) and The Suitcase Junket (house concert). Friday is the equally long […]
Monday Morning Video: Lydia Loveless
Twangville fave Lydia Loveless just released a rocking new song called “Mile High.” Originally released on Record Store Day, the track is now getting a wider digital only release. It also features a cover of Kesha’s “Blind.” Loveless and crew are on tour with the Old 97’s and are playing in Boston tonight. Any guess […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May 2014
ALBUM OF THE MONTHS All Or Nothin’, by Nikki Lane Nikki Lane’s sophomore effort caught me by surprise. I’d be lying if I said that I had more than a cursory exposure to her 2011 debut, but the just released All Or Nothin’ has grabbed my attention. Lane’s songs are rooted in country, albeit with […]
True North – Elsebound
For the first few decades of bluegrass music, it tended to lean toward the high, lonesome sound invented by Bill Monroe, or an old-timey vibe like the Carter Family or the Osborne Brothers.  Then in the 70’s a few artists emerged that pushed the boundaries of the genre; John Hartford, New Grass Revival, Hot Rize, to name […]
Katie Deter – The Brooklyn Sessions
It isn’t every day that a sixteen year old singer songwriter can captivate a producer through a social media post. In fact, the same would go for a 26 year old songwriter. However, that is exactly what happened in this case. When Brooklyn based producer/musician Brian Murphy saw a video of Katie performing posted on […]
Readers’ Pick: CHATHAM COUNTY LINE, Tightrope
You picked CHATHAM COUNTY LINE, Tightrope as your favorite for the week of May 20, 2014. Readers’ Top Picks (last 4 weeks) HOWLIN BROTHERS, Trouble (26) OLD 97S, Most Messed Up (23) STURGILL SIMPSON, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (19) GREGG ALLMAN, All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs & Voice Of Gregg Allman (11) CHATHAM COUNTY […]
Monday Morning Video: Chatham County Line
Twangville Jeff and I caught Chatham County Line last week. Ya gotta appreciate a bluegrass band from North Carolina who chose to celebrate their cd release day at, as they aptly described it, “a basement in Cambridge, MA.” I, for one, am damn glad that they did. It was my first time seeing the quartet […]
More Than a Feeling: A Special Boston Playlist*
FEATURED ALBUMS Smith & Weeden, by Smith & Weeden It’s always a treat to stumble across a band that, quite simply, sounds like they are having fun. Such is the case with the Providence-based quartet* Smith and Weeden, whose songs run the gamut from harmony-laced country to guitar-fueled rock. In the country category are ambling […]
Photos that ROCK! Barnstar! in the studio
Barnstar! at Dimension Sound Studios Jamaica Plain, MA On a lovely spring night I arrived at Dimension Sound Studios, a dozen donuts in hand. Somehow, the stars had aligned and I was invited to photograph my favorite bluegrass super-group as they finished up their second album. As I mentioned before, Barnstar! is comprised of Mark […]
Readers’ Pick: HOWLIN BROTHERS, Trouble
You picked HOWLIN BROTHERS, Trouble as your favorite for the week of May 13, 2014. Readers’ Top Picks (last 4 weeks) HOWLIN BROTHERS, Trouble (26) OLD 97S, Most Messed Up (23) STURGILL SIMPSON, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (19) GREGG ALLMAN, All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs & Voice Of Gregg Allman (11) THE BLACK […]