The first couple is back and making music together again. Of course you no doubt know that I am referring to the President and First Lady of Americana, Buddy and Julie Miller. On June 21st they will be releasing their new album “Breakdown on 20th Ave. South”, via New West Records. This will be their […]
Steve Earle & the Dukes/Live at the Senate/Columbia, SC/May 16, 2019
I walked into the Senate to hear Steve Earle introducing the Mastersons and proclaiming “You’re gonna hear a lot of Guy Clark songs tonight, and a bit of Steve Earle songs too” to a large and enthusiastic crowd made up of mostly 40 to 60 year old Caucasian males. Shortly thereafter the Mastersons started up […]
Bambi Lee Savage – Berlin-Nashville Express
Bambi Lee Savage started her music career on the control side of the mixing board, doing audio engineering for the likes of U2 and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Over time, though, her creative outlet became the craft of songwriting and led her to singing and playing on the other side of the glass. […]
John Paul White – The Hurting Kind
Three years after the release of his first post Civil Wars album, John Paul White is giving us “The Hurting Kind”. His previous release “Beulah” was a dark although very beautiful record. This new release is more sonically diverse and expansive, drawing upon a talented cast of contributors. Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes joined White […]
Son Volt – Union
The previous two Son Volt albums explored leader Jay Farrar’s musical groundings in country and blues with Honky Tonk and Notes Of Blue respectively. On his latest record, Farrar and his bandmates are showing some of their folk roots. That’s not to say Union is a folk record: far from it, this is a return […]
Colin Linden & Luther Dickinson with the Tennessee Valentines – Amour
Once in awhile there’s a collaboration that turns the music word on its head. Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto was such a pairing when, in 1963, they popularized bossa nova jazz in the United States. Jan and Dean did much the same for surf music, and Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry paired up for a […]
Todd’s Tops of 2018
1. Damien Jurado/The Horizon Just Laughed – After the Maraqopa trilogy with Richard Swift, Jurado self-produces the personal The Horizon Just Laughed. It’s vintage Jurado with biting lyrics and observations that leave plenty open to interpretation. 2. Michael Flynn/Pretend Like – A beautifully done album with strings-a-plenty and gorgeous images. 3. BRMC/Wrong Creatures – They […]
Chip’s Top 10 of 2018
1) Brent Cobb – “Providence Canyon” There are a number of young artists carrying the Amercana torch into the future but Cobb is one of the best. 2) Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore – “Downey to Lubbock” This collaboration was at least a decade overdue. These two old friends finally got together and gave […]
Americana 2018: Chip’s Picks
When trying to outline the highlights of the week of AmericanaFest the easy path would have me simply say you had to be there… then go get a beer. However, I will choose a more descriptive path. The venues are disparate and scattered across the Metro Nashville area, which is what is so cool. So […]
Americana 2018: Shawn’s Picks
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 […]