Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel talks about the only day job that he’s ever had and opening for Hot Tuna, Alice Cooper, and Stoneground in Washington D.C.
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2021 (So Far), the Songs
Breaking a Heart/The Wind’s Just Gonna Blow, Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, and Jon Randall (from the Sony Music Nashville release The Marfa Tapes) If you thought their song “Tin Man” was achingly beautiful, they’ve got a few more from their time in Marfa that just might make your eyes a little misty. I couldn’t decide […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2021 (So Far), the Albums
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 […]
Curtis Grimes Premiere – Miles Don’t Matter
My preferences in country music tend to lean to gravelly voices over a Bakersfield beat. Every now and then I come across a velvet voice and mainstream country sound that restores a little of my faith in the hits side of country music. Such was the case with Curtis Grimes. You could fill an entire […]
John R. Miller – Depreciated
“Lookin’ over my shoulder, hopin’ nobody told her, I’m back in town.” So goes the chorus on the opening track of John R. Miller’s new album, Depreciated. It’s a good introduction to a loose theme that you can’t go home. And even if you could, maybe you shouldn’t. He wraps those observations up in a […]
The Wandering Hearts on The Band’s Taco Game and The Power of Saying No
UK trio The Wandering Hearts talk about mud at summer festivals and Doris, the cat at their favorite studio.
Monday Morning Video – Shooter Jennings “4th of July”
Sure, the holiday weekend is behind us. That doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy this Shooter Jennings holiday gem.
Ben Reddell Band – ¡LA Baby!
After coming to LA almost 20 years ago, having been raised in Texas, Ben Reddell has become a common sight in the LA country and roots community. Whether playing in another band, running sound, or just pitching in, he’s always around. So it’s a little surprising that’s he’s just released his first EP since 2012. […]
Afton Wolfe – Kings For Sale
It’s burned in my memory, the exact moment I first heard Afton Wolfe. Coming down out of the mountains on an impossibly bright day in southern Utah, I hit play on his new album, Kings For Sale. Like when you flip down a pair of polarized lenses after squinting into the sun, the textures hidden […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2021, Part 2
The Wind’s Just Gonna Blow, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, and Jack Ingram (from the Vanner Records/RCA Nashville release The Marfa Tapes) Lambert, Randall, and Ingram. Kind of sounds like a law firm, doesn’t it? In this case it’s a trio of songwriters who have just released some intimate recordings from their writing retreats in Marfa, […]