In all my years of writing about music, I don’t believe I’ve ever used the words “twangy” and “classical” in the same sentence. Â Those are the two words, however, that describe the sound on the sophomore album from Edinburgh-based duo, The Jellyman’s Daughter. Â Dead Reckoning is a sort of a study on self-awareness in an […]
Jacob Groopman of Front Country on the Lure of Combo’s Baked Snacks and Why Music is a Full-Time Job
Front Country’s Jacob Groopman talks about yelling, crying and light wrestling at rehearsals and a future that will either be more money or hellscape.
Steep Canyon Rangers’ Graham Sharp on a Memorable First Gig and the Paradox of Making Money
Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers reflects on making the jump from an RV to a tour bus (and strategies for stocking it) and getting paid in beer and chili cheese fries at their first gig.
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 […]
The Cody Sisters Band – White On the Blue
Bright, sunny day, high of maybe 80, no humidity, with the mountains in the background. Â Such is the definition of a wonderful spring day in the western U.S. Â It’s also evocative of some of the great traditional bluegrass that’s coming out of the latest generation of pickers and fiddlers. Â The latest jewel I’ve heard is […]
Opposites – Dan Johnson, Prairie Wildfire
A couple of CD’s have been sitting atop my pile for a few weeks–demanding attention, but not in my usual review write-up kind-of-way.  I finally realized, like chicken and waffles, they complement each other as sensory bookends. The first is Hemingway, by Texas songwriter and author Dan Johnson.  This is not an album to be handled […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2018, Part 1
Right On Time, Kevin Gordon (from the Crowville Media release Tilt And Shine) Kevin Gordon has long been one of contemporary music’s most compelling storytellers. He fills his songs with colorful characters and literary tales, all set to music that has more than a few gloriously jagged edges. Tilt And Shine steps beyond the more […]
Slocan Ramblers – “Mississippi Heavy Water Blues” Song Premiere
It’s festival season here in North America, and every weekend between now and early September will have an Americana music festival of some sort within about a 2 hour drive for probably 98% of the population of the U.S. and Canada.  Many of those events will have a side stage or campground stage that highlights traditional […]
Pharis and Jason Romero – Sweet Old Religion
The sun comes up over the pine trees, darkness and shadowy forms give way to the crispness of the air and the glint reflected off the lake. Daylight accentuates the feeling that it’s going to be a beautiful day with nothing but great things on the horizon, regardless of the distresses of yesterday. Â That’s the […]
Trampled by Turtles – Life Is Good On the Open Road
I’m sure you’ve seen this before. Â The special effects people take an explosion and play it backwards, in slow motion. Â The result is a whole bunch of disparate, seemingly unrelated, pieces all come together to form the perfect whole. Â That’s the kind of experience I had with the new album from Trampled by Turtles, Life […]