This is our second year aggregate of our year-end best album lists representing another great year in music. This year we’ve broadened the list to include our Reader’s Picks and Bobby K’s annual picks. Scoring was based on 10 points for a #1 pick working its way down to 1 point for a #10 pick. […]
Ray Charles Says It All
A Few Words from Dion
I’m one of those poor stiffs working today as the United States celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. That doesn’t mean, however, that I can’t honor the moment with the legendary Dion DiMucci performing his classic “Abraham, Martin and John”.
Listen Up: The Low Anthem
It would be easy to describe the Low Anthem’s Oh My God, Charlie Darwin as ambitious. The term, however, doesn’t do it justice. It is one thing to be ambitious (right Axl Rose?) it is quite another to realize musical ambition and make it seem effortless. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Low Anthem. The mystical […]
A Fix of Social Distortion
Whether I’m in a great mood or downright angry, Social Distortion always hits the mark. Mike Ness and crew thrive on music that is mean enough to mess with the punks and melodic enough to please the twangers with a single song – the band’s cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.†Call it twang […]
The Who Lose Custody of Song
If you ever wanted to see what happens when a great song inspires and even greater performance, check out Bettye LaVette’s performance of the Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” at the recent Kennedy Center Honors presentation to The Who. The facial expressions of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey say it all. Sorry gentlemen, it just […]
Celebrate the New Year with Kaiser Cartel
What better way to ring in the new year than to celebrate the seasons of the year with KaiserCartel. KaiserCartel~Season Song from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo. Audio Download: KaiserCartel, “Season Song” [audio:http://dodge77.com/SIRIUS/KaiserCartel%20-%2002%20Season%20Song%20(live%20at%20Vibes%207-15-08).mp3] [Source: Laundromatinee]
Best Albums of 2008, Mayer’s Picks
#1. MATTHEW RYAN, Matthew Ryan Vs. the Silver State (00:02:59) Whether he’s performing a ballad or a rock song, Ryan’s intelligence and intensity course through this release. (Twangville review, mp3s and video here.) #2. THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) They rock, they roll and then they rock some more. The Hold Steady may very […]
Goin’ Acoustic with Mike Errico
I can count only a handful of times where I’ve seen an artist silence a room with a song. My first time seeing Mike Errico was one such occasion. And it wasn’t just any room, it was a NYC club filled with an audience that managed to chat through every other performer on the bill […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November 2008, A Video Companion
We bolt right out of the gate this month with Butch Walker’s smokin’ video for “The Weight of Her” followed by the Right On’s blazing through a live performance of “Do Your Thing, Babe.” After that, you’ll want to catch your breath with live acoustic performances from Ben Nichols and David Garza. From there we’ve […]