ALBUMS OF THE MONTH American Kid, by Patty Griffin It’s hard, if not impossible, to avoid being mesmerized by Patty Griffin’s new release. Long revered for both her passionate songwriting and enchanting voice, both are in exceptional form on American Kid. Just one listen to album opener “Go Wherever You Want to Go” and you […]
Mayer's Playlist for May/June 2013, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Low Highway, by Steve Earle The burden of Steve Earle’s legacy is mighty awesome. Since he emerged in the mid-1980’s he has established — and maintained — an incredible standard with his songwriting. His latest release continues the trend. Earle passed through Boston recently and talked about how this album […]
Photos that ROCK! Session Americana
Session Americana @ The Lizard Lounge, Cambridge MA Damn, these boys know how to throw a party! I’ve only seen Session Americana in action twice, but both times I was dancing and learning what to shout out to participate as an audience member (“Beertown! Doreen!”). Whether Dinty Child was standing on a chair, Ry Cavanagh […]
Slaid Cleaves – Still Fightin’ the War
After 12 years of war, it feels like we’re all “Still Fightin’ the War.” I used to think that political albums and their agendas are a hindrance, that the best music should be about the music. But Cleaves uses the war as a cohesive vehicle to tell the story of America. The lost jobs, the […]
Rory Block – Avalon
Rory Block’s acoustic blues guitar picking has reserved her a special page in blues history.  Since the 1960s, the Manhattan-raised prodigy has pursued delta blues styles with the passion of a pilgrim.  Since the mid-1970s she has built a body of work that demonstrates her deep understanding and mastery of acoustic blues. Avalon, the fourth in Block’s “Mentor Series,” pays […]
Kevin Gordon on the way to Gloryland
After ten years in the business, Kevin Gordon has had time to hone his craft. Each of his four records shows his attention to detail and background in writing. He graduated from the elite Iowa Writer’s Workshop in poetry. His songs are highly literature and story centered. At times they devolve into straight up stories. […]
Twangville Presents …. Sarah Borges
On her last record with longtime backing band the Broken Singles, Sarah Borges recorded covers ranging from X to Smokey Robinson to the Lemonheads. As incongruous as it may look written down, Borges has made it sound damn near perfect over the first decade of her music career. Wowing audiences across the country and recording […]
Hem – Up Close & Personal
\ To listen to Hem, the label “countrypolitan” or “classical country” makes a lot of sense. The band consists of folk country elements and classical strings in the studio. But in person, Dan Messe’s piano and Sally Ellison’s vocals make this band stand out. They sound classical in every sense of the word. The keystrokes, […]
Marshall Chapman – Blaze Of Glory
Love In the Wind, the opening cut from Marshall Chapman’s latest release, Blaze Of Glory, might be one of the best rock and roll songs ever written. Â I know, that’s pretty extreme hyperbole. Â Maybe I’m just under the influence of a sunny, summer afternoon. Â But damn, it’s got great garage surf rock guitar licks. Â It’s […]
Stephen Kellogg – Blunderstone Rookery
Stephen Kellogg’s new album “Blunderstone Rookery†is being released at turning point in his career and life. Within the last year he has lost his Grandmother and Mother-in-law. In addition, his band (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) has decided to take a break. It is fitting that the album takes its name from a character […]