What began as an informal gathering has blossomed into one of Americana’s most impressive musical collectives. Taking their cues from a traditional Irish Seisiun, the six core members of Session Americana gather around a single table with an ambient mics. The set-up lends itself to a free-form and relaxed feel that lets the group swap […]
Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses – Roadhouse Sun
I often wonder if record labels get stressed when an artist tries to top a great debut. After all sustainability can only be proven over time. Then again such anxiety just comes with the territory. Mescalito established Bingham and had critics crowing about his future. Expectations can be a burden, but Roadhouse Sun reveals a […]
Todd Snider/The Excitement Plan
My run in with Todd Snider probably happened around the mid-nineties when his comedy tune “Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues” lit up radio stations throughout the country. It was a funny song for the times and I just assumed Todd was some kind of Weird Al parody guy that had scored a cute little radio […]
Reed KD – In Case The Comet Comes
The new album from California’s Reed KD, In Case The Comet Comes is quite the find for those of us who like our our folk to bounce to a peppier tempo than your standard “storytelling folk” likes to typically. The album’s opening tracks, “This is It” and “If the Tide Swings” display some pretty gnarly […]
Jenny Lewis, with The Sadies, Live at the Rio
It’s nice when promoters and managers get together and actually book acts in a venue that’s the right size and atmosphere for the music. Â Such was the case last week when Jenny Lewis played the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz with opening act, The Sadies. Â The Rio is a renovated movie theater where they’ve removed […]
Mayer’s Playlist from May 2009, Part 2
THE PLAYLIST: Broke My Heart, Tim Easton (from the New West Records release Porcupine) “Love and destruction seem to go together, when you find one the other’s close behind. A broken heart isn’t the worst thing in the world, when you give it justa little piece of time.” Six Fast Bullets, These United States (from […]
Mayer’s Playlist from May 2009, Part 1
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Spills and Thrills, by John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives Last month we highlighted ex-V-Roy Scott Miller’s latest release, this month it is his former band-mate John Paul Keith’s turn. Keith’s latest is a rockabilly romp, heavy on Southern boogie and down-home fun. The party gets started with the […]
Listen Up: Roman Candle “in the Ear”
Roman Candle is one of those bands that confuse me. I guess it is rock, but it could be pop. Sometimes it is roots, except when it is not. Despite the confusion, there’s no denying that Oh Tall Tree in the Ear is a gem. Though the band has only released three proper albums since […]
Cracker/ Sunrise In The Land of Milk and Honey
I went back and listened to all of my Cracker albums before writing this review. They’re a good band. A fun band. And they definitely put on a good live show. (Well, I actually haven’t seen them in about 10 years, but I saw them 3 or 4 times when I was in college.) Turn […]
Sometymes Why- Your Heart Is A Glorious Machine
Your Heart Is A Glorious Machine is the second record from the trio of beautiful singer songwriters that comprise Sometymes Why. Â I like the title. Â Its an apt fit for this “side” project (each singer also sings for a prominent string band ensemble- Uncle Earl, Crooked Still, and the Mammals). Â The idea behind Sometymes Why […]