Rod Picott and Slaid Cleaves have one of the more enjoyable – and long-standing – partnerships in Americana. The two are childhood friends who grew up (and played in bands) together in Southern Maine. In the years since they’ve collaborated on some wonderful songs that capture the blue-collar life with both charm and honesty. It’s […]
Monday Morning Video – Brent Best and Matthew Ryan
There’s something special about seeing artists share a stage for a song swap. It becomes all the more magical when the artists are clearly enjoying themselves as much – if not more – than the audience in attendance. Such was the case when Twangville brought together Brent Best and Matthew Ryan for a special house […]
Steve Poltz Wins AMERICANAFEST 2018
As a newbie to AMERICANAFEST I have to say that looking at the schedule beforehand I was a bit overwhelmed. Throw in the fact that it had been about 10 years since I’d been to Nashville and that made it even more so. But once I got there and settled into the pace and learned […]
Americana 2018: Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances […]
Americana 2018: Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances […]
Monday Morning Video – Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers has been making quite a stir with a voice as lived in as the characters in his songs. His own songs aside, he is equally adept at bringing to life the songs of others. In this case he tackles legendary folk singer Utah Phillips “Rock Salt & Nails.”
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2018, Part 2
Immortal Americans, Austin Lucas (from the Cornelius Chapel Records release Immortal Americans) Immortal Americans feels like the album that Austin Lucas was destined to make. The road there certainly wasn’t easy as he overcame a series of challenges, both personal and professional, along the way. It ultimately led him back to his roots in Indiana […]
The Cody Sisters Band – White On the Blue
Bright, sunny day, high of maybe 80, no humidity, with the mountains in the background. Â Such is the definition of a wonderful spring day in the western U.S. Â It’s also evocative of some of the great traditional bluegrass that’s coming out of the latest generation of pickers and fiddlers. Â The latest jewel I’ve heard is […]
Monday Morning Video – John Calvin Abney
I’ve been smitten with this song lately. John Calvin Abney pays homage to his Oklahoma roots in this tale of a traveling troubadour longing for home. Hauntingly beautiful. Plenty more to love on Coyote, his latest release.
Opposites – Dan Johnson, Prairie Wildfire
A couple of CD’s have been sitting atop my pile for a few weeks–demanding attention, but not in my usual review write-up kind-of-way.  I finally realized, like chicken and waffles, they complement each other as sensory bookends. The first is Hemingway, by Texas songwriter and author Dan Johnson.  This is not an album to be handled […]