At a college neighborhood near Boston, Justin Townes Earle seemed a bit different again. He has gone through so many phases in his life and music it’s tough to figure him out. I’ll always yearn for the simplicity of Yuma and his first live performance opening for Ron Sexsmith back in the day. At the […]
Royal Southern Brotherhood
Ever since Little Village’s one disappointing album in 1992, I am prepared to be underwhelmed by any new group promotors tout as a “supergroup.” There have been, of course, huge successes when music superstars were mixed and matched into new units (e.g., Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – comprised of members from Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds and […]
The Bottle Rockets at the Center for the Arts
After forming his first band in 1977, alt-country pioneer Brian Henneman could easily say “I’ll Be Coming Around” at some point and he would. After a stint in Uncle Tupelo, and then a lending a hand on Wilco’s debut album, Brian can certainly say he’s had his hand in some pretty influential stuff. But then, […]
Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls – Packed for Exile
LA based Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls release their new album Packed for Exile on July third. It is an impressive release with a blend of Americana roots and 70’s Album Rock. Interestingly, the band’s keyboardist is Jason Federici, who is the son of the late E Street Band member Danny Federici. The band may be from […]
Langhorne Slim- The Way We Move
In March of this year, I caught a Langhorne Slim headlining show at one of my favorite dive bars back home. I had seen Langhorne before (opening for a pretty epic DBT-Lucero double bill in Boston), so I figured it would be a good show. It wasn’t. It was extraordinary. Note: I’m still unsure if […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2012, Part 3
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Lumineers, by The Lumineers I discovered the Lumineers thanks to, of all things, an airline who shall remain nameless. When they botched my return to Boston from a day gig work trip to LA, I found myself stranded in Denver. Others might have been upset, but I relished the chance […]
Cory Branan- Mutt
I’ve been listening to Mutt for a while now and have heard numerous reactions to it, ranging from ecstatic to dismissive to ambivalent. At this point, I can understand almost all viewpoints, but personally have come down pretty firmly on the ‘ecstatic’ side. This sort of debate is about par for the course for a […]
Delta Moon – Black Cat Oil
Delta Moon features unique dueling slide guitar leads that give the band’s music the swampy, gritty sound that has made it one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets. Black Cat Oil, the seventh album to feature the lap-steel guitar-work of singer-songwriter Tom Gray and bottleneck slide guitar of Mark Johnson, is a solid offering.   Delta Moon, which until 2007’s Clear […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2012, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Great Despiser, by Joe Pug If you listen closely to The Great Despiser, Joe Pug’s latest release, you’ll hear a theme carrying through the songs. The songs map a journey in which the protagonist seeks to find his path, generally with clear intent yet often daunted by societal expectations and […]
Company/Dear America,
There’s a Charleston, South Carolina band that goes by the moniker Company, not to be confused with the Brooklyn band of the early 2000’s of the same name. (Or the cover band that also apparently plays in Charleston called “The Company Band.â€) Unlike the folkier rock of the Brooklyn band, the Charleston collective focuses on […]