In addition to the awards ceremony, the AMA puts on a pretty hot music festival for the 3 days following the ceremony. Â It’s a great chance to see some old favorites and hear some up & coming artists. Â Grouped by the “how” I heard them versus the “where” or “when” here are some of the […]
Monday Morning Video: Love for Levon Helm
A special benefit was held last week in New Jersey to raise funds to preserve Helm’s farmhouse studio in upstate New York and continue his tradition of Midnight Ramble performances. Alas, I wasn’t at the show, but all reports indicate it was a truly special evening. Guest included Mavis Staples, Roger Waters, John Hiatt, Gregg […]
Tift Merritt – Travelling Alone
Tift Merritt has outdone herself. She just released the best CD of her career. I am not kidding. Bramble Rose was her ground breaking first release. Another Country equaled Bramble Rose, but it didn’t best it. With the release of Travelling Alone, she has set a new standard for herself. The album is truly a […]
Music With a Purpose: Jones Street Station’s Perennials Project
Musicians have a long tradition of giving. Sure, they give to all of us with the music that they share. Yet they also have a penchant for supporting meaningful causes. Over the next few weeks we will highlight several releases that demonstrate this giving spirit. I’ve always had one complaint about Jones Street Station. It […]
Music With a Purpose: Joey’s Song, Volume 2
Musicians have a long tradition of giving. Sure, they give to all of us with the music that they share. Yet they also have a penchant for supporting meaningful causes. Over the next few weeks we will highlight several releases that demonstrate this giving spirit. You’ve got to admire perseverance, especially in pursuit of a […]
Monday Morning Video: Jeff Tweedy and the Bottle Rockets
Here’s a cool one from the archives. In 1994 Brian Henneman of the Bottle Rockets, formerly the guitar tech for Uncle Tupelo, played lead guitar on Wilco’s debut, A.M. Twelve years later the two reunited when Tweedy joined the Bottle Rockets for a few songs at a Chicago club. Said Henneman, “I don’t know if […]
Chris Knight – Small Victories
Eli, Todd and Chip share their collective insights on the stellar new release from Chris Knight: Eli Peterson Chris Knight is the real deal. Dude is from Slaughters, Kentucky. That’s right. The town is named “Slaughtersâ€. Dude was a mine reclamation inspector for 10 years before he went to Nashville to give songwriting a try. […]
Americana Music Association Annual Awards
The yearly AMA awards kicked off with a bang in the delightful Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last week. Â The house band, Buddy Miller, Don Was, Larry Campbell, Brady Blade and Rami Jaffe, was joined by Booker T. Jones, who later took home the Lifetime Achievement Award for instrumentalist, on organ and Richard Thompson, Darrell Scott, […]
Music With a Purpose: Grooving Forward, Vol. 1
Musicians have a long tradition of giving. Sure, they give to all of us with the music that they share. Yet they also have a penchant for supporting meaningful causes. Over the next few weeks we will highlight several releases that demonstrate this giving spirit. Grooving Forward, Volume One is the brainchild of Jake Bush […]
The Trishas – High, Wide and Handsome
More a legend than a band. Â That phrase was first coined a couple of decades ago about a set of 4 guys from West Texas, the Flatlanders. Â But it could apply equally to a group of 4 young women, The Trishas. Â First performing together as a hastily arranged act as part of a tribute to […]