Apparently this is what happens when you invite an artist into a bookstore. Grant-Lee Phillips brought his guitar to Purple Crow Books in Hillsborough, NC and songs ensued. Here he performs “Cry, Cry,” his moving tale of the Native American Trail of Tears. The song can be found on The Narrows, his latest release.
Monday Morning Video – Joe Ely “Dallas”
Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely has a question for you this week. Have you ever seen Dallas from a DC-9?
Dan Layus – Dangerous Things
One of the amazing things about the Great Plains this time of year is the sunrise. Â The flat, or gently rolling, geography lets you see things develop for an hour before the sun actually gets above the horizon. Â The mornings are crisp and you know that the long, cold winter is just around the corner, […]
Monday Morning Video – Jason Isbell “Something More Than Free”
Here’s one of my favorites – and the title track – from Jason Isbell’s most recent release. This solo acoustic version was recorded in Austin, Texas last June. You see a hammer finds a nail And a freight train needs the rails And I’m doin’ what I’m on this earth to do
Boston’s Best Kept Festy – Saturday
I have to admit, I was surprised to see the lineup at such a relatively unknown festival called Festy this year. Where else can you see Americana stalwarts Josh Ritter and Justin Townes Earle on the same day? And when my wife and I waltzed in to the show at a hair past noon, I […]
Monday Morning Video: Justin Currie
Glasgow artist Justin Currie has long been one of my favorite songwriters. It’s a crime that he’s not more widely known. His songs bristle with intelligence, whether he’s crooning a moving love song or spitting out a scathing tale of love gone wrong. Hopefully there’s some new music on the horizon, but in the meantime […]
Aoife O’Donovan – Man In A Neon Coat
Synergy is such an over-used word, but the idea is so important you can’t stop using it in protest, especially when you witness how a band comes together as something greater than the individuals. Â On her latest album, Aiofe O’Donovan (pronounce Ee-fah if you’re new to her music) has captured that magic in a single […]
Mayer’s Playlist for July/August 2016, Part 3
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Stay Gold by Butch Walker The opening guitar riff of the lead-off track sets the tone right out of the gate: Butch Walker is ready to rock. His last album, 2015’s Afraid of Ghosts, was a somber and moving reflection on the loss of his father. After the catharsis that came […]
Newport Folk Festival Emerging Artist: Joan Shelley
Joan Shelley Emerging Artist Interview When I first heard Joan Shelley’s 2015 album “Over and Even” I was stunned. In a year where I came through a broken leg with an infant at home, it took me a while to warm up to the power of music again. Maybe it seemed like family and people […]
Monday Morning Video – A Newport Folk Festival Trifecta
One of the coolest things about the Newport Folk Festival are the frequent impromptu collaborations that occur, making the festival an artists’ affair in the truest sense of the word. Here is a trifecta of highlights from this year’s event. And in honor of the Olympics currently underway, we’re going to make it a pass […]