J.T. by Steve Earle & The Dukes Steve Earle’s moving tribute to his late son Justin Townes Earle is an emotional gut punch. Yet beyond the tragedy of the younger Earle’s passing, the elder Earle’s performances of his son’s songs highlight their shared gift of songwriting and storytelling mastery. Be warned, though, that the closing […]
Soren Staff of Them Coulee Boys on Tortillas, Day Jobs, and a Van Named Clifford
Soren Staff talks about how the band cut their teeth trying to entertain 13-year-olds and how they funded their new record, in part, by holding a hot wing eating contest.
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2021, Part 1
Deep End, Joe Pug (from the Nation of Heat Records release The Diving Sun) What began as a collection of archival material emerges as a full-fledged album, complete with some wonderful new compositions. All flow with the grace and melodic charm that are Pug hallmarks. The Diving Sun is a mix of quiet acoustic and […]
Cole Quest on Tetris, NFTs, and Learning How to Learn
Cole Quest talks about bar buy backs at the Quays Pub in Queens, NY, racing to catch a flight home, and splitting his focus between the arts and science.
Stephen Flatt – Cumberland Bones
They say alt-country is country music played with a punk aesthetic. Stephen Flatt has a slightly different idea; it’s southern rock with a bluegrass aesthetic. On his latest album, Cumberland Bones, Flatt leads with the Southern rock stories and anthemic, pump-your-fist sound. The bluegrass comes in via him recording this record not with a longstanding […]
Eli West – Tapered Point Of Stone
For much of the country, spring is upon us. Not just because of the date on the calendar, but the warmth of the sun on increasingly longer days, the gentle breeze bearing the scent of blooms (and pollen!), and at least where I grew up the sudden change of Mother Nature’s heart with the arrival […]
Griffin Sherry (The Ghost of Paul Revere) on “Skyship Mkll” and Learning from the Lean Years
Griffen Sherry, guitarist for The Ghost of Paul Revere, talks about building custom children’s playhouses, rehearsing in public parks, and brief moments of forgiveness
Joe Funk of Kitchen Dwellers on Hotel Room Noise Complaints and a Litany of Van Names
Joe Funk, bassist for progressive bluegrass band Kitchen Dwellers, talks about tour meal strategies, moonlighting as a structural engineer, and the band’s hourly wage.
The Bodarks – Side Effects
The English language has some very captivating words. A friend of mine likes “shenanigans”. I’ve always been partial to “gobsmacked”. Then there’s “hootenanny”. If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s sort of like open mic night at the square dance. Think string bands and dancing; raw, fast-paced, and open to anyone. That’s the spirit […]
The Avett Brothers – The Third Gleam
I have loved the “Gleam†series that the Avetts occasionally put out. It is the band in its most simple form. Let’s face it, the Avett Brothers have become more able than anyone in Americana to write Anthemic ballads. As they have grown, their lineup and live shows have also become bigger. They are in […]