Musician, scholar, curator and author Jeremiah Lockwood talks about working as an academic and author and recalls setting one of his brother’s poems to music when he was 7.
Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues
In the eighties and early nineties, post one Daley and pre another one, one of the safer areas of Chicago to go see live blues was a short stretch on North Halsted Avenue. There were half a dozen blues clubs in a stretch of just a few blocks, where the headliner rarely went on before […]
Corey Harris – Insurrection Blues
Corey Harris long ago established himself as one of the most important and innovative bluesmen of his generation. He is an amazing musician. With Insurrection Blues, his first album in over three years, Harris has added yet another to a long line of fine albums. As a musical adventurer, Harris can be compared with Taj Mahal […]
Sue Foley – Pinky’s Blues
Throughout this past year-and-a-half-going-on-two, it’s been hard to find much to get excited about. If you’re like me, it seems, much like with coronavirus, everything has lots its flavor. Sue Foley’s Pinky’s Blues may just be part of the antidote. A native of Ottawa, Canada transplanted in Austin, Texas, Foley says she had an epiphany […]
Carolyn Wonderland on Auto Mechanic Classes and Her Motto for Musical Success
Austin-based guitarist Carolyn Wonderland talks about a dumpster-shaped cloud and Cliffie, the Big Red Sprinter.
Monday Morning Video – Stevie Ray Vaughan
How about a two-fer from the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan to kick off the week. First, a searing version of “Life Without You” followed by a searing version of “Tightrope”.
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2021
What’s the Matter, James McMurtry (from the New West Records release The Horses and the Hounds) Even in the shittiest of years – and the past two years have been beauts – new music from James McMurtry is always a bright spot. In fact, given the songwriter’s infrequent album releases – The Horses and the Hounds is […]
Americana 2021: Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
AHI One of my AMA highlights was hearing AHI preview his forthcoming album Prospect. The setting was his producer Paul Mabury’s home studio, nestled in the mountains south of Nashville. A handful of us sat in the studio with AHI, Mabury, and several of the musicians who appeared on the album. In between listening to […]
Monday Morning Video – GA-20
Blues trio GA-20 came through town last week. Or more aptly, they lit the town on fire with an incendiary set of rock and blues. Guitarists Matthew Stubbs and Pat Faherty, accompanied by drummer Tim Carman, kept the talking to a minimum as they blazed through gems from their 2019 album Lonely Soul as well […]
Matthew Stubbs of GA-20 on the “Road Condo” and How the Band Has Evolved
Guitarist Matt Stubbs of blues band GA-20 talks about bringing t-shirts to the people, selling cell phones, and rehearsing in a renovated hair salon. And he has a request of you, dear reader.