I’m not a lawyer, which undoubtedly enables a number of people to sleep better at night. So the difference between a band and a collective is partially lost on me. The one thing that does seem to be the case is that it enables an easier time of rotating musicians in and out of the […]
“I Don’t Like You” – a Premiere From Low Roller
Longtime readers know I love a good kiss-off song. “I Don’t Like You,” the title of Low Roller’s new single, seems prime for the list. It’s not — it’s actually the opposite. “Sometimes I don’t like you, but I love you anyway,” singer-songwriter Veronica Davila declares. The song recognizes that conflict can be healthy in a relationship […]
Gurf Morlix – Bristlecone
With Bristlecone, Gurf Morlix once again delivers an unmistakable work—painted in his palette of gothic imagery, sparse guitar, and hard-earned truth. This is the kind of album that feels like flying across Seven Mile Bridge at night in a hearse with the windows rolled down, narrowly escaping the Devil, yelling “Step On it Skinner!” It’s […]
John Francis O’Mara – Forbidden Hymns
The United States’ Bible Belt and the strongholds of American country music share a lot of geographical overlap. Virginian John Francis O’Mara, with his Theology degree and collaborations with Nashville’s finest, including Kenny Vaughn and John Carter Cash, likewise stands firmly planted in both camps. He has a new record out, his third full-length effort, […]
“The Breeze” – a Premiere from Mel and the Tall Boys
Brooklyn’s Mel and the Tall Boys tap into something timeless with “The Breeze.” Singer-songwriter Mel Johnston fuses the pop classicism of Peggy Lee with the melodic edge of Mary Weiss and the Shangri-Las, deftly channeling that lineage with confidence and grace. Lush instrumentation, including strings, piano, and percussion, adds rhythmic drive and cinematic color behind […]
Damn Tall Buildings – The Universe Is Hungry
A few years ago, at Folk Alliance, I was in a room waiting for a band I wanted to hear when I saw a band I realized I needed to hear, Brooklyn’s Damn Tall Buildings. They’re a bluegrass trio that clearly had honed a lot of their act out on a sidewalk where you have […]
Diane Hubka & the Sun Canyon Band Premiere – Moon Over Larrabee
From the late 60’s to the early 90’s, the center of the rock and roll universe was a short stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. With clubs like the Rainbow Bar & Grill, The Viper Room, and Whisky A Go Go, it was the place to be seen and heard, especially if you were […]
Readers’ Pick: Rhett Miller – A Lifetime of Riding by Night
You picked Rhett Miller – A Lifetime of Riding by Night as your favorite new release for the week of October 10, 2025.
The Grahams – The Bridge
When we last checked into our Americana travelogue protagonists, Alyssa and Doug Graham, they had just finished the third segment in a 3-part journey across the landscape. It was a motorcycle ride down Route 66, and was preceded by a train tour of the country and a Mississippi riverboat cruise. For their newest release, The […]
Rosy Nolan – Main Attraction
Back in the 1930’s and 1940’s country music started building a national following, helped by the growing adoption of radio and popular shows like The Grand Ole Opry. Hollywood added their weight with westerns featuring singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Bob Wills. The latter became even more well known for morphing those appearances into […]