To see Justin Townes Earle perform, I’m always amazed by his talent. When he played at the inaugural New England Festy last fall he stepped on stage with no one else and his guitar playing the songs. He didn’t need anyone else. His voice and guitar were spot on. It was as though he’d stepped […]
Phoebe Hunt & the Gatherers – Shanti’s Shadow
Some musicians like to master their genre. Â Some like to push the boundaries of a genre. Â Others thrive by crossing genres. Â You can count Phoebe Hunt in that last category. Â Her musical arc started with the Texas swing and big band-influenced country of The Belleville Outfit, swung across her fiddle and vocal prowess collaborations with […]
Photos that ROCK! Ryan Adams & Jenny Lewis
Ryan Adams & Jenny Lewis Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston MA May 10, 2017 At 34 weeks pregnant, there aren’t many acts that I would have dragged myself off the couch to trek into Boston and photograph these days. Anyone who knows me knows that Ryan Adams is different. This was my 3rd experience photographing […]
Joan Shelley – Self-Titled
When I met Joan Shelley at last year’s Newport Folk Festival, she was just as authentic as her songs. She had a truly insightful take on her own career that matched the sensibility in her songs. He new self-titled album has moved a bit away from the simple approach with guitarist Nathan Salzburg to add […]
John Moreland – Big Bad Luv
After gaining much acclaim on his previous release, “High on Tulsa Heatâ€, John Moreland has released a new album of tunes that raises an already high bar even further. This time around he eschewed the solitary acoustic Folk style of previous work that put full focus on the lyrics. His new effort, “Big Bad Luvâ€, […]
The Steel Wheels – Wild As We Came Here
A really good stew is hard to describe. Â I mean, on the surface, it’s easy. Â Some meat, some vegetables, in a broth, cooked for a while. Â But it is so much more than that. Â Think of the difference between a Louisiana gumbo, a California cioppino, and a New England chowder. Â They all have seafood, and […]
Mink’s Miracle Medicine – Song Premiere
Hailing from Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, Mink’s Miracle Medicine is primarily the brainchild of Melissa Wright and Daniel Zezeski. Â Melissa approaches music with her background in Americana and formal training from Berklee College of Music, while Daniel comes at things from a punk and ska band experience. Â Their upcoming album, House Of Candles, has a […]
Jared Tyler – Dirt On Your Hands
Life takes funny turns sometimes. Â Jared Tyler was on an arc to be a darling of the Nashville music scene. Â Big names in the music business were taking him under their wing and he was hanging with the stars. Â Then family called and he answered to his heart’s priorities. Â A couple of years pass and […]
Andrew Combs – Canyons of My Mind
Aptly named, Andrew Combs new record, “Canyons of My Mind” is a record about wide open spaces and sounds. Sometimes slow, sometimes with horns, the songs move in and around these open spaces lyrically and musically. Andrew Combs crooning country voice and classic country-rock sound provide the colors for a an expansive new record. Opening track, […]
Old Settler’s Music Festival – 2017
Once again I made it out to the campground across the highway from the Salt Lick BBQ near the small town of Driftwood, TX, for the Old Settler’s Music Festival. Â Here are the highlights from what I saw this year. Never A Disappointing Performance Award -Â Old Settler’s started out as a bluegrass festival, and it […]