Built to Break, the 2014 release from Dallas-based artist Ronnie Fauss, is an under-appreciated gem. The album careens across eleven mostly rockin’ tracks that are all burnished with Texas red dirt. Fauss sings about characters who strive for success in love and life but who often miss the mark. He stops short of drawing conclusions; […]
Undeniably Donnie – A Tribute to Funky Donnie Fritts
Muscle Shoals musician and journeyman Donnie Fritts is perhaps most immediately recognizable from his nearly 20 years touring and performing with Kris Kristofferson and appearing in a handful of films (including a trio of director Sam Peckinpah classics). Arguably his greatest talent, however, is as a songwriter. What does it say when an writer’s work […]
Monday Morning Video – J.D. McPherson Lets the Good Times Roll
How about some good ol” rock and roll to start your week? This online casino week”s video is courtesy of J.D. McPherson.
Monday Morning Video – Christopher Paul Stelling
Chances are that you’ve never heard folk classic “Sixteen Tons” quite like this. The legendary song paints a grim picture of life working in the coal mines back in the early and mid 20th century. Christopher Paul Stelling takes an already somber song and gives it a haunting edge. Here he pairs it with his […]
Cold and Bitter Tears – The Songs of Ted Hawkins
Sometimes it’s the unexpected show that becomes one of the most memorable. Such was the case when I saw Ted Hawkins shortly before he passed away in 1995. Hawkins was booked to play Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall, a seemingly odd choice for an artist who was touring to promote a new album. For those who […]
Monday Morning Video – Brandi Carlile Covers Fleetwood Mac
We can thank Brandi Carlile for turning October into a seeming Fleetwood Mac tribute month on our Monday Morning Video series. Carlile passed through Boston over the weekend and played an incredible show that moved gracefully between intimate ballads and foot-stomping rockers. Heck, she even kicked off the encore with an enchanting acoustic song sung […]
David Ramirez – A Lyric Explained
When I first heard David Ramirez’s brilliant new release Fables, I was immediately struck by a lyric in “New Way of Living,” a poignant song about escaping the morass and finding a path forward. “There’s a plumber down in Arkansas, the best writer I ever met,” he sings, “When I asked where to find his […]
Monday Morning Video – Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear Cover Fleetwood Mac
Here’s one of the best covers that I’ve heard in awhile. Kansas City musicians Madisen Ward and his mother Ruth, otherwise known as the Mama Bear, turn Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” into a soulful ballad.
Monday Morning Video – “September Gurls”
It’s been a few years since we celebrated September with the Big Star classic. We’ll forgo a version featuring any of the Big Star family and instead feature two young bands paying homage to the Memphis legends. First up is NYC-based indie rockers Dum Dum Girls. They are followed by a new favorite band, UK-based […]
Monday Morning Video – Robbie Fulks Covers Fountains of Wayne
Set aside his own impressive catalog, Robbie Fulks knows a good song when he hears one. Here’s an impressive cover of Fountains of Wayne’s brilliant power pop confection “The Girl I Can’t Forget.” A trombone and guitar solo? Fuggedaboutit. In true Fulks comedic fashion, the performance comes from a tribute night entitled “Fountains of Wayne […]