Taj Mahal … Keb’ Mo’ … Corey Harris … Guy Davis … Otis Taylor … Eric Bibb. These guys, along with a few others, are the vanguard of modern acoustic blues. With all of them, but especially with Bibb, listeners can be sure that every recording, every performance matters. Bibb’s new live album shows the […]
Clayton Ryan Song Premiere – Wild Man
Ray Wylie Hubbard once said that good poets didn’t have good childhoods. I’m sure that was a broad commentary on how adversity can be the inspiration an artist of any kind uses to shape their work. A brilliant case in point is the upcoming album from Minneapolis singer/songwriter Clayton Ryan, entitled Ghost Town. He took […]
Nick Gravenites – Rogue Blues
Nick Gravenites is cool. For his instinct for finding the moment, particularly back in the 1960s, I’d liken him to Neal Cassady,* the counter-culture icon who was taken into the beatnik fold in 1950s New York by Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg (the character Dean Moriarty in Kerouac’s On the Road was said to be […]
Victoria Liedtke and Jason Ringenberg – More Than Words can Tell
Victoria Liedtke and Jason Ringenberg have paired their voices to create an album of duets. However, why just do ordinary duets when you can dial up the challenge? They decided to take on the duets of legends Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner for a new album, “More Than Words Can Tell”. Outside of George Jones […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Early 2024
The Heartbreak Store, Lizzie No (from the Thirty Tigers / Miss Freedomland release Halfsies) Lizzie No’s remarkable Halfsies is warmly fulfilling, even as it explores the depth of heartbreak. No sets the tone with the powerful and percussive title track, declaring: Even your love is a one lane roadIt’s honor among thievesDive in head first, […]
Mike Zito – Life is Hard
Mike Zito is dependable. If you’re looking for searing, intense blues-rock guitar solos, he’s definitely your guy. Zito, a St. Louis native now based in Beaumont, Texas, is a self-taught guitar player whose career, until recent years, was largely a do-it-yourself project. He self-released several albums, including Superman, America’s Most Wanted and Slow It Down, before gaining exposure to a wider […]
Folk Alliance 2024 – Musical Highlights
As noted in my previous post, a big part of the Folk Alliance International annual conference are the showcases, both official and unofficial. The official performances take place from around 6pm to 10pm in hotel ballrooms, with professional sound and lighting. Depending on the size of the room attendance can go from a few dozen […]
2024 Folk Alliance International Conference
There are many organizations set up to serve the music industry, from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammy people) and their non-profit, MusiCares, to industry organizations for various segments, to local music societies. I’m certain none of them come close to the broad offerings of Folk Alliance International. FAI is a […]
A Premiere From J. Isaiah Evans and the Boss Tweed
Another week, another great new artist to introduce. This time it’s J. Isaiah Evans & The Boss Tweed from Dallas, Texas. If Evans’ name sound familiar, it should – he’s the driving force behind The 40 Acre Mule. With that group Evans gloriously explored the intersection of R&B and rock and roll, kicking up a […]
American Aquarium’s Road Trip to Raleigh.
Upon leaving the third and last night of American Aquarium’s Road Trip to Raleigh, one conclusion was obvious. B.J. Barham really knows how to throw a party. In fact, more than a party, it is a festival. Other bands do special weekend events to be sure, but Barham to his credit goes deep into his […]