One of the most amazing things I heard at this year’s Folk Alliance was a performance from Larry & Joe. Comprised of Larry Bellorin, a legendary Llanera musician from Venezuela, and Joe Troop, of Che Apalache fame, they created a new mashup of bluegrass and South American traditional folk music. Both currently residents of North […]
Melissa Ruth – Bones
There’s no doubt writing songs can be cathartic for most musicians. Sometimes they take the form of a comment on current events, while other times they encapsulate a lifetime of emotional attachment. You can hear some of both in the latest album, Bones, from Oregonian Melissa Ruth. It features her husband (and partner in the […]
Touchin’ Down in New England Town – a Special Boston Playlist
By My Lonesome, GA-20 (from the album Karma Chief Records release Live in Loveland) Just Because, GA-20 (from the Karma Chief Records release Crackdown) Blues band GA-20 have emerged from the pandemic with a vengeance. Their non-stop touring aside, they are releasing their second album in seven months. Both are tremendous showcases for the group’s […]
Emily Nenni – On the Ranch
I listen to more music driving than I do just about anywhere else. That’s where the music comes alive to me. Any music. Different genres invoke a different feeling sitting behind the wheel. As far as country music goes, it’s highly visual in its telling of a story. What I see looking out of my windshield and windows becomes […]
Savoy Brown – Blues All Around
Kim Simmonds, the founder and longtime frontman for Savoy Brown, lost his battle with colon cancer on December 13, 2022. That makes Blues All Around, released in February, likely the last offering from the British blues-rock legends. The band was originally formed in 1965. Savoy Brown’s first album dates back to 1967, and albums generally regarded […]
The Panhandlers – Tough Country
I love discovering the oceans of great music that exist without the support of mainstream media. It’s like being let in on a secret that is only meant for a few sets of ears. There is immense richness in its tone, coupled with a composition that makes me think, “How are these guys not more […]
The Shootouts – Stampede
I’d venture a guess there aren’t many people walking around thinking of Akron, Ohio, as a hotbed of country music. Chrissie Hynde, Devo, The Black Keys: none of those really scream TWANG. Sometimes, though, you need to step outside the guts of the machine to see the big picture. It seems like Ryan Humbert and […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Jan/Feb 2023
Missing Someone, Jaimee Harris (from the Folk N Roll Records/Thirty Tigers release Boomerang Town) Harris’ eagerly awaited sophomore release has arrived – and it’s a beauty. What makes it even compelling is that its beauty isn’t easy. Harris fills her songs with difficult topics and troubled characters, digging into them with a thoughtful perspective. The […]
Matt Hillyer Premiere – You Gotta Keep Moving
In the summer of 2021, Matt Hillyer and long-time bandmate Steven Berg decide to bring an end to their beloved band Eleven Hundred Springs. The group was a Dallas institution and credited with playing a big role in putting some edge back in the north Texas country scene. But certain things in life run their […]
Drayton Farley – Twenty on High
The rapidly growing fanbase of Drayton Farley is about to need to put a double-decker on the bandwagon. Farley will be releasing “Twenty on High” via Hargrove Records/Thirty Tigers on March 3rd. Up until now his records have been one man DIY releases. However, that hasn’t stopped him from amassing millions of streams on Spotify […]