Let You Down, Bird Streets (from the Sparkle Plenty/Deko Records release Lagoon) John Brodeur – aka Bird Streets – is a master of the power pop craft. To be sure, these aren’t pop songs of the three chord variety. Rather, they have an inspired complexity – accessible yet filled with melodic and lyrical twists along […]
Readers’ Top Picks: 2022
Our Readers’ Pick poll for Top Picks of 2022 is live. This list represents your top picks from throughout the year in our Readers’ Pick polls. As always, thanks for your votes. Top picks in this poll will factor into our overall picks at the end of the year. Vote away!
Dallas Got a Soft Machine – a Special Playlist
It’s been a while since I made a playlist featuring Dallas artist releases so I’ve got some catching up to do… This playlist is a mix of songs from albums released in 2021 and 2022. Panhandle Wind, Isaac Hoskins (from the self-released Bender) Denton’s Isaac Hoskins rode out Covid – no pun intended – working […]
Old Californio – Old Californio Country
Back in the 60’s and 70’s, the northeast corner of LA county, the San Gabriel Valley, was the gateway to LA’s weekend getaway urge. From there, a short drive east and you faced a choice. Make a right and you were quickly in Palm Springs, where the Rat Pack ruled and mainstream America dreamed of […]
Rory Block – Ain’t Nobody Worried
Rory Block’s acoustic guitar chops are unmatched. Her recent series of tribute albums to country blues greats continues with Ain’t Nobody Worried, but this time with a twist. Instead of dedicating the whole album to a single blues artist, she mixes it up, covering iconic songs by iconic women. And the usually faithful blues master […]
Bonus Monday Video – a Premiere from Greg Hall
I met Greg Hall at his “day job” – playing bass with Boston’s Ward Hayden and the Outliers. Turns out he’s got some damn fine songwriting chops of his own, which he is about to showcase with the release a new EP titled Experiments in the Revival of Greg Hall. The western Massachusetts-based artist […]
Marina Rocks Video Premiere – Shine
Maybe all you need to know about Marina Rocks is that when she turned 12 her mom gave her a Marshall stack instead of clothes or toys. Add to that she was brought up in Austin and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out she was going to be a musician. That passion she […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2022, Part 2
Breaking Slow, Anthony D’Amato (from the Blue Rose Music release At First There Was Nothing) Anthony D’Amato is on a creative tear. Fresh from the this summer’s debut of Fantastic Cat, the songwriter collective of which he is a founding member, D’Amato has released an album that ranks among the finest of his on-going career. […]
The California Honeydrops – Soft Spot
From about the time of World War 2 up through the 70’s, Oakland, CA, was as much a music hotbed as Chicago or Memphis. The West Coast style of blues and jazz featured velvety vocals, and horns instead of harmonica or slide guitar. That whole scene in West Oakland, particularly around 7th Street, is long […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2022
Roll Away (Like a Stone), Butch Walker (from the Ruby Red Recordings release Butch Walker as… Glenn) Butch Walker’s latest is something of a concept album, but not in the traditional sense. It portrays an artist playing a club show, complete with an emcee introduction, a simulated bar fight, and calls for an encore. Yet […]