A couple of years ago, at AmericanaFest, one of my highlights was seeing a trio that later called themselves Wonder Women Of Country; Kelly Willis, Brennan Leigh, and Melissa Carper. I was familiar with the beautiful voices of Willis and Leigh, but Carper was new to me. She added an authenticity and balance to the […]
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2024 (So Far), the Songs
Better By Now, Heather Little (from the Need to Know Music release By Now) “I’ve wasted a lot of love being wrong, I learn too late and I stay too long,” in this haunting tale of heartbreak, “I oughta be better by now but I got mixed up with you somehow.” So Glad You Made It/Go All […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2024 (So Far), the Albums
Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat by Fantastic Cat The sum is greater than the part with this collective of four singer-songwriters. Each of the four brings their own personality and songwriting style to the group, but they compliment one another beautifully. The songs crackle with intelligence and humor, all the better when the […]
James Felice of The Felice Brothers on Touring in a Winnebago and Circumnavigating the Pit of Poverty
James Felice of The Felice Brothers on his special recipe “The Feasting Bowl”, rehearsing in a chicken coop, and his first gig in NYC.
Monday Morning Video – Twangville in NYC on July 15th
Twangville is back in NYC for another great show! Join us on Monday, July 15th at Heaven Can Wait for a singer-songwriter showcase featuring Mando Saenz, Graham Weber, and Parker Twomey. Here’s a trio of videos that will give you a taste of what to expect at the show. First up is Mando Saenz’s “As […]
Alice Wallace – Here I Am
Back in the day, the normal way to make an album was for the vocalist to go into the studio with musicians that did little else besides play on recordings being made for the name on the cover. Whether or not they knew the singer didn’t matter: they were musical craftsmen punching a time clock. […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2024
So Glad You Made It, Fantastic Cat (from the Missing Piece Group Records release Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat) Fantastic Cat showcase their humor by maintaining a countdown clock until they’re eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, prominently displayed at their shows. Yet, it’s not entirely a joke – if […]
Grace Pettis on Her Dream Touring Vehicle, Protein Shakes, and Defining Success
Singer-songwriter Grace Pettis talks about Kickstarter campaigns, songs that she wrote as a child, and building a community.
Nick Taylor – Not Alone
Over the years I’ve developed a knack for figuring out if I’m going to like a record pretty quickly. If it doesn’t pull me in after 10-15 minutes, another listen or two isn’t going to change my mind. Where I do get tricked occasionally is in the mood or style of the music. Bluegrass is […]
Ordinary Elephant on Building a Tour Van and their Favorite Snack
Lousiana duo Ordinary Elephant – Crystal and Pete Damore – talk about meeting at an open mic, their approach to rehearsals, and why lighting is so important to them