Six one, half dozen another. Â That old saying is supposed to be all about things being the same, but I think there’s a perspective difference that gets lost. Â As an example, many bands have a wide range of genres on an album in part because they’re still looking to find their sound. Â A few, relatively […]
Lost & Nameless and Other EP Gems
Several good EP’s have crossed my listening desk over the summer, and while individually there wasn’t quite enough material in each of them for a full review, they’re all worth a listen. First up is the latest from Lost & Nameless, When You Walked Into the Room. Â I first ran across this group early in […]
Photos that ROCK! Newport Folk Festival 2014
When the e-mail arrived confirming my press credentials for the Newport Folk Festival, I did a little dance around my living room. Not only is this the holy grail of music festivals (you may remember an incident with Bob Dylan and an electric guitar in 1965…), but I have been not-so- patiently waiting 12 years […]
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen – Cold Spell
By the late 60’s and early 70’s bluegrass had evolved from Bill Monroe’s radical take on old-timey music to a relatively known and expected performance and sound.  The Stanley Brothers, the Foggy Mountain Boys, The Osborne Brothers, and many of their peers followed a set framework and style with matching dress and choreographed solos.  It’s hard […]
Missy Werner – Turn This Heart Around
You just can’t have a good summer mix tape without some bluegrass. Â Whether you’re getting liquored up at a festival down at the fairgrounds or spending some quality time with the family at the annual church picnic, bluegrass just sounds like a carefree, sunny day. Â Yes, there are plenty of songs about heartbreak and angst, […]
Madisons – You Can Take Your Sorry Ass Back To West Texas!
If there is such a musical genre as Americana Noir, the Austin-based Madisons may be one of the leading disciples.  Front man, and sole songwriter for the band, Dominic Solis has imbued their second album, You Can Take Your Sorry Ass Back To West Texas! with a darkness that is equal parts fear and curiosity.  Solis’ […]
Monday Morning Video: Marty Stuart covers Tom Petty
How about a fun-lovin’ cover to start your week? Here’s Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives serving up a bluegrass cover of Tom Petty’s “Running Down a Dream.”
Anna Lynch – Anna Lynch
In the last couple of weeks I’ve written about North Of Nashville and True North. Â Unwittingly, I was leading up to this week’s review–Anna Lynch. Â As residents of Anchorage, Alaska, Anna and her bandmates are waaaay north of Nashville. Â You’d never know that by listening to Anna’s self-titled release, though. Â It has love songs and […]
Nickel Creek – New Day in Boston
Although my recent interest in bluegrass has certainly been controlling lots of airtime on my  stereo, Nickel Creek bridge the gap of old and new. Somehow, they managed to sneak into the Americana/Indie Rock section of the record store in my college days and I’ve been a fan for the near decade of their existence. When I […]
Bonus Video Playlist — Upcoming Shows in Boston
It’s an embarrassment of riches this week in Boston! As noted earlier, we’re kicking things off with Lydia Loveless and the Old 97’s tonight. Tuesday we’ve got the long overdue return of Matthew Ryan (Atwood’s Tavern). Thursday we’ve got the Curtis Mayflower (Atwood’s Tavern) and The Suitcase Junket (house concert). Friday is the equally long […]