There are certain musical styles and sounds that evoke thoughts of a particular part of the country. The brassy jazz of New Orleans, the polka-laced country of the Texas Hill Country, the thoughtful folk-rock of Southern California. The latter was invoked by a duo based across the country, Massachusetts’ Opal Canyon. Their latest record, Tomorrow […]
Monday Morning Video – Fruition
Let’s start the week with the glory that is Fruition. I saw the group in NYC on Friday and it was a typical outstanding show, including a killer cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Walk and Talk”. Here’s the band a few weeks ago in Denver rehearsing Crosby, Stills, and Nash’s classic “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” […]
Derek Vanderhorst – Wildflower
Come for the headline, stay for the story. That old saying couldn’t be truer as it relates to the new album from Derek Vanderhorst. The headline is that the go-to sound designer and mixer for hundreds of films, including The Eyes of Tammy Faye and No Country For Old Men, was diagnosed with stage 4 […]
Joshua Rilko on His Collapsible Kettle and the Inspiration for an Early Song He Wrote
Nashville-based Joshua Rilko talks about touring in a shuttle bus that ran on straight veggie oil and winning his high school talent show.
SXSW 2022 – The Sounds, Part 2
ALLISON RUSSELL Seeing Allison Russell was a transcendental experience. Her songs and performance were glorious in their intensity and emotion. While she brought out the clarinet and banjo for a few songs, she mostly relied on the talented trio of musicians to support her on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and cello. Simply magical. BER One […]
SXSW 2022 – The Sounds, Part 1
DOLLY PARTON What can be said about seeing Dolly Parton for the first time? The hits, the stories, the people weeping with joy around me – it was spectacular. And playing “9 to 5” twice – the second time so the audience could sing it – was tremendous. LEE BAINS III & THE GLORY FIRES […]
Terry Klein on Touring, Working as a Lawyer, and Being Jinxed by Twangville
Austin singer-songwriter Terry Klein talks about finding produce while touring, his heavy metal past, and playing instrumentals at his first gig.
Monday Morning Video – World Party Put the Message in the Box
Karl Wallinger shares a timeless message in this pop classic. The world saysGive a little bitGive a little bit of your love to me‘Cause I’m waiting right here with my open arms
Mayer’s Playlist for Feb/Mar 2022, Part 2
Not Ready Yet, Jamie McDell (from the ABC Music release Jamie McDell) I’ve been not so patiently awaiting the latest release from New Zealand’s Jamie McDell. Her 2019 EP was a tremendous introduction to her songwriting talent, especially the pull no punches “Botox” and the raw emotion of “Worst Crime”. Both songs are featured, alongside […]
The Weeping Willows on Voltaire, Tropical Cyclones, and “Coolio Iglesius”
Australian duo The Weeping Willows talk about their DIY rehearsal space and the day jobs that they envy.