ALBUMS OF THE SEASON Joy of Nothing, by Foy Vance Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance spent his childhood years traveling the American Midwest and South with his preacher father. He soaked in the rich American musical traditions that he encountered during these travels, which later infused his music upon his return to Ireland. This rich musical […]
Eric Bibb – Jericho Road
Eric Bibb is one of the elite handful of African-American blues musicians who have built on the legacy of the great post-World War II generation of bluesmen who brought the music form from the back woods of the Mississippi Delta to the streets of Chicago and beyond. About a decade younger than Taj Mahal, who […]
Monday Morning Video: Charlie Chesterman
The Boston music scene recently lost one of our favorite sons. Charlie Chesterman earned his stripes in Scruffy the Cat back in the 1980’s before settling in as a solo artist, ably backed by a band known as the Legendary Motorbikes. His songs always had a classic 1950’s vintage rock sensibility, compact three minute pop […]
Scott Law – Black Mountain
I don’t really recall when I first heard bluegrass music, but I’m certain it didn’t make much of an impression on me until the first time I saw a live show (John Hartford and The Dillards, for what it’s worth). Â At that moment, the speed/death/punk/heavy metal-head in me realized that intensity and unbounded energy in […]
The Howlin’ Brothers – The Sun Studio Session
The Howlin’ Brothers are a three piece acoustic band. I hesitate to call them a “String†band, because they don’t fit the stereotype. While they do play traditional music, their version has many facets. Beyond traditional and Bluegrass, they also employee Blues, Country and you may even hear a little Bourbon Street. Their music can […]
Monday Morning Video: Billy Joe Shaver
Here’s Billy Joe Shaver’s classic “Live Forever” to kick of your week. And, as a special bonus, below is Joe Ely’s take on this beautiful song.
Win Big: Van Morrison’s Moondance
The mere mention of Van Morrison’s name can spark a healthy debate as to which of his many albums is the most influential. Among the many that will undoubtedly be mentioned, I’m sure that Moondance would figure strongly in the discussion. Warner Brothers Records has just released a re-mastered version of the legendary album. Even […]
Travis & Boston: Reunited and it Feels so Good!
When you see an old friend, even if you know they’ve changed, there’s always a hope that things will come back to the way they were. That’s why you can’t help but check in on them, or these days, see their facebook page. I was worried about seeing Travis since their recent albums weren’t nearly […]
Monday Morning Video — a Premiere from Don DiLego
Yeah, I know that seeing a musician play in a bar is fairly commonplace. There’s something special about this video, however. NYC songwriter Don DiLego spent an afternoon sitting at an East Village bar with his guitar in hand. The feel of the room matches the melancholy of his song “Midnight Train,” taken from last […]
Jonathan Warren & the Billy Goats – On This Very Evening
What if Quentin Tarantino or the Coen Brothers wrote music instead of making movies? Â I think it would sound like Jonathan Warren & the Billy Goats. Â There’s a simple story line to the music, yet the cast of characters and quirky delivery make for something unique that keeps your rapt attention. Â Their latest album, On […]