I’ve heard many musicians, from Todd Snider to Warren Haynes to Kris Kristofferson, advise aspiring songwriters to write about what they know. I have no idea if Texan Dustin Brown heard someone tell him that firsthand, but somewhere along the way he picked up the skill. He grew up the kid where both parents had […]
Chris Berardo On a Tense Songwriting Session and an Alabama Breakdown
Singer-songwriter Chris Berardo talks about the first dollar that he ever made in the entertainment business and recalls an old manager’s advice.
Monday Morning Video – Wade Bowen
This is a favorite song from a few years back, courtesy of Texas singer-songwriter Wade Bowen. I love the blend of pop and melancholy of “Everything Has Your Memory”.
Mayer’s Playlist for Early 2025
Easy Love, Part 1, Larkin Poe (from the Tricki-Woo Records release Bloom) Rebecca and Megan Lovell continue to fortify their position as leading lights for modern blues-based rock. Their latest album is another glorious celebration of rock and roll, one led by Rebecca’s electric guitar and Megan’s steel guitar. Opener “Mockingbird” may start with a […]
Sierra Hull – A Tip Toe High Wire
Most people are familiar with Malcolm Gladwell’s axiom that it takes 10,000 hours to be really good at something. You have to have some talent to start, but in the end you still have to put in the hard work. How then to explain Sierra Hull? She got her Rounder Records deal at 13. If […]
Joe Larson of TopHouse on Working as a Landscaper and Covering Rusted Root
Singer, guitarist, and banjo player Joe Larson of TopHouse talks about a song called “Teddy Bear” and being willing to laugh at oneself.
Monday Morning Video – Warren Zevon
I fell down the Warren Zevon rabbit hole this weekend. It started with videos of Zevon himself, but it quickly stretched into the abyss of Zevon covers. Here’s a video playlist with some favorites from that journey: Town Mountain’s bluegrass take on “Lawyers Guns and Money”, Dawes and Lucius making a head fake before launching […]
American Aquarium’s Road Trip to Raleigh 2025
Every year the first weekend of February B. J. Barham hosts American Aquarium’s Road Trip to Raleigh. In fact, this year was the Tenth anniversary of Road Trip. As usual it was held at Lincoln Theater in downtown Raleigh. It was the second time I attended, with last year being my first. One thing for […]
Sean McConnell – SKIN
Statistically speaking, most of the people reading this will live well past 80 years old. So being 40 isn’t quite to the halfway point. Philosophically though, turning 40 causes a lot of people to take stock of where they are in life. You have to admit to yourself that some of the things you did […]
Pete Mancini on Subaru Breakdowns and Buc’ees BBQ Sandwiches
New York singer-songwriter Pete Mancini talks about touring with Jimmy Webb, a love/hate experience at his first gig, and sharing Tom Petty’s definition of success.