We kick the June video companion off with selections from this month’s spotlight artists: Missouri’s Ha Ha Tonka and Athens, Georgia’s Patterson Hood. From there we get a bevy of performances from Rhett Miller, Amy Speace, Crooked Fingers, A Camp, Andrew Ripp, The Roadside Graves, Pete Yorn and Matthew Grimm (covering Billy Bragg). We finish […]
Bonnaroo- Part 3
After the Todd Snider experience, I swung over to the Solar Stage for what was billed as an acoustic performance/interview with Grace Potter. Instead, I was presently surprised and got the full on Grace Potter and the Nocturnals treatment. I first caught the Nocturnals at the 2006 Bonnaroo. I had never heard of the band […]
Son Volt – American Central Dust
With the latest release from Son Volt, American Central Dust, I’m reminded why frontman Jay Farrar split with Wilco lead Jeff Tweedy over creative difference in Uncle Tupelo. While Wilco continues to explore new musical directions, sometimes to good affect and sometimes not so much, Son Volt hews closer to the original vision circa 1990. […]
Mayer’s Playlist for June 2009
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs), by Patterson Hood Patterson Hood’s last solo release was a somber acoustic affair. This one ain’t. In fact, this collection of songs from Hood’s archives is not dissimilar from a Drive-By Truckers release. Sure, I miss Cooley’s guitar and the Truckers triple guitar interplay. But […]
Could Neil Young Have Been the 5th Beatle?
Pete Yorn/Back & Fourth
Pete Yorn/Back & Fourth  I’m a pretty big Pete Yorn fan and was stoked when I was browsing around I-Tunes and saw the pre-order of his new album Back & Fourth a month or so ago. I didn’t pre-order, but did buy the album the day it came out, June 16th, burned a copy […]
The Legend of Michael Jackson
“I Want You Back,” “Billie Jean” and “We Are the World” are all monumental moments in pop history. But I’ll always come back to this song when I think of the talent that Michael Jackson brought to the world. If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then […]
Bonnaroo 2009- Part Two
Sunday morning at Bonnaroo is always a little bit like a hangover. Weary worn festival goers are exhausted by 3 days of sleeping on ground, partying, and getting rocked by Bruce Springsteen (until well past midnight). Those that stayed up for Nine Inch Nails and Ben Harper, both of whom played late night sets that […]
The Tallest Man on Earth – Live
With a name like “Tallest Man on Earth,” a few questions may come to mind. And the answer to most of them is “no.” First of all, it’s not a band but a single singer/songwriter named Kristian Matsson. No, he’s not from south, the west or the U.S. for that matter. He’s from Sweden. No, […]
Bonnaroo 2009- Part 1
My 2009 Bonnaroo adventure began over 5 years ago. My cousin, 22 at the time, was diagnosed with a rare lung condition called Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histioctosis. Connie would struggle with both the disease and obtaining insurance in the ensuing 4 years. In June of last year, she received a double lung transplant. The transplant […]