For me, the true harbinger of spring is the arrival of the SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas. Or rather, spring begins for me when I arrive in Austin for SXSW. With upwards of 2,500 bands and 20,000 attendees from around the world, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even better, it […]
Readers’ Pick: VARIOUS ARTISTS, Looking Into You: A Tribute To Jackson Browne
You picked VARIOUS ARTISTS, Looking Into You: A Tribute To Jackson Browne as your favorite for the week of April 1, 2014. Readers’ Top Picks (last 4 weeks) LUTHER DICKINSON, Rock ‘n Roll Blues (11) JOHNNY CASH, Out Among The Stars (9) VARIOUS ARTISTS, Looking Into You: A Tribute To Jackson Browne (8) HOLMES BROTHERS, […]
In Memoriam – Dave Lamb
Dave Lamb of the Providence, RI-based duo Brown Bird passed away this past weekend. The circumstances are heart-wrenching. Lamb fell ill with mysterious symptoms while touring Texas last year. In a tale that is all too familiar, Lamb had no insurance. Fortunately, he was able to get home and secure insurance for what became a […]
Southern Soul Assembly at the Saenger Theatre, Mobile, Alabama
So I’m in Mobile, AL this week for my day job. As I’m eating lunch Tuesday I look up and see a poster for the Southern Soul Assembly, featuring JJ Grey, Luther Dickinson, Anders Osborne and Marc Broussard. And it’s that night at the Saenger Theatre about a block from my hotel. I rush out […]
Nickel Creek – A Dotted Line
Nine year itch? Well nine years can’t come fast enough. Nickel Creek albums have instrumental brilliance throughout, folky, experimental, bluegrass, and true band dynamics. The albums can be uneven at times, but such sheer brilliance shines through each album. So I thought that a reunion album would be the diet coke of Nickel Creek. Strangely, […]
Readers’ Pick: JOHNNY CASH, Out Among The Stars
You picked JOHNNY CASH, Out Among The Stars as your favorite for the week of March 25, 2014. Readers’ Top 10 (last 4 weeks) DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, English Oceans (23) LUTHER DICKINSON, Rock ‘n Roll Blues (11) JOHNNY CASH, Out Among The Stars (9) SIMONE FELICE, Strangers (7) JOHN GORKA, Bright Side of Down (7) THE […]
Monday Morning Video: Ray Charles and Willie Nelson
Two legends. ‘nuf said.
The Annie Ford Band
The PR blurb that came with the release talks about how Annie Ford was reared in the “sparse, rustic darkness of rural America.” Â One of the notes from my first listen to the release was, “what David Lynch would have used if he chose bluegrass for Twin Peaks.” Â From those two comments I think you […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Feb/Mar 2014, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTHS English Oceans, by Drive-By Truckers I suppose that this review could be titled “Cooley Steps Out.” The band co-founder, who has historically contributed only a couple of songs per release, is credited with six songs on English Oceans. Ever better, they are some of his strongest songs in years. The opening […]
Nick Moss Band – Time Ain’t Free
Nick Moss paid his dues, working as a side man for veteran Chicago bluesmen, including Buddy Scott, Jimmy Dawkins, Jimmy Rogers and former Muddy Waters drummer Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Those blues chops, hard earned, provided the backbone for Moss to lead his own formidable blues outfit for more than a decade. A student of […]