Here’s the latest installment of my playlist series highlighting the latest and greatest in New England music. FEATURED ALBUM C’Mon by Barnstar! There’s a lot to be said for just getting in the studio for a few days and just having fun. Now while I can’t confirm that this was the case with Barnstar, it […]
Win Big: The V-Roys!
There are some bands that were destined for greatness but somehow got derailed along the way. Unfortunately for all of us, Knoxville, Tennessee’s V-Roys fall into that category. Formed in 1994, the band released a scant three albums before bidding farewell in epic fashion with a show on New Year’s Eve, 1999. Fast forward twelve […]
Mayer’s Playlist for September 2011
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Old Mad Joy, by The Gourds The Gourds latest is a bit deceiving. The band has built a reputation as a bluegrass and backporch country band, but things aren’t always what they seem. The album open as one would expect. “I Want You So Bad” is built around an accordion and […]
Monday Morning Video (and Download): Jabe
The Boston Americana scene took a hit when singer-songwriter Jabe Beyer relocated to Nashville. Whether leading his own band, performing with roots-bluegrass outfit The Benders, or bending his guitar strings for artists ranging from Todd Thibaud to Bow Thayer, Beyer had firmly established himself as a rising talent. While Beyer hasn’t released any new music […]
Listen Up: Lydia Loveless
The Lydia Loveless experience begins before one even listens to a note – the cover art is an illustration of a red-headed girl chugging from what appears to be a gas can. If that isn’t an indication of what is to come, I’m not sure what is. Loveless is a spit-fire 21-year-old from Columbus, Ohio […]
Mayer’s Playlist for August 2011, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: The Duke & The King, by The Duke & The King I’ll admit to not knowing much about the Duke and the King. I was aware that Simon Felice had moved on from the Felice Brothers and had formed this new outfit, but little more. Let’s just say that I’ve corrected […]
Mayer’s Playlist for August 2011, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: I Recall Standing As Though Nothing Could Fall, by Matthew Ryan If I needed proof as to why Matthew Ryan is among my favorite songwriters, I needn’t look any further than his explanation of his latest release: It wasn’t my intention to make a gloomy album. I know it will be […]
Mayer’s Playlist from July 2011
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Not So Loud: An Acoustic Evening, by The Bottle Rockets I don’t know why, but I’ve always hedged when considering the Bottle Rockets as an acoustic outfit. It makes no sense, I know, given that the band is so well travelled on the Americana road. Sure, I love the backporch feel […]
Nick 13
By now, surely it’s no secret that country and punk go together about as good as peanut butter and chocolate. And typically, when these two classic American forms of music are welded together, the result seems to resemble a harder, thrashing product. Of course, the overall ethos attached to artists that practice either style in […]
Mayer’s Picks: The Best of 2011, So Far (The Songs)
Stacy C’Mon, Maxim Ludwig & the Santa Fe Seven This song has held a permanent place on my music rotation since I first saw Ludwig and crew light up an afternoon crowd with it at SXSW. It’s simply impossible to not get caught up in the sheer enthusiasm of the “na na na” chorus. Audio […]