Canyon, Joshua Ray Walker (from the State Fair Records release Wish You Were Here) Talk about making a statement on your debut album. Walker’s moving acoustic ballad is both a highly personal reflection on his father’s battle with cancer and his own desire to be a better person. Simply stunning. Full Moon Goodbye, Michael McDermott […]
Robert Earl Keen on Learnable Skills and A Litany of Day Jobs
Singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen talks about finding good food while on tour, working as a roughneck and Larry’s Mexican Food Restaurant in Rosenberg, Texas.
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2019 (So Far), the Albums
Orphans by Michael McDermott It speaks volumes about Michael McDermott’s songwriting prowess that the songs that make up Orphans were originally written for his last few albums but were left sitting on the shelf. In some ways this is fairly relaxed record by McDermott standards, but it still packs a powerful emotional punch. Key Tracks: […]
Austin Jenckes on Breaking Strings and the Definition of “Be Yourself”
Country singer Austin Jenckes talks about working as a Nashville tour guide and his quest to find a tour van.
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2019, Part 1
Waiting For a Sign, M. Lockwood Porter (from the Black Mesa Records release Communion in the Ashes) M. Lockwood Porter is on a quest, longing to step beyond the anguish and misery he sees around him in hopes of finding a better place, personally and for everyone. The opening – and title – track freely […]
Chuck Mead on His Grandfather’s Advice and the Importance of Listening
Chuck Mead talks about the “Little Shack Out Back” and how canvasing for Greenpeace prepared him to play club gigs.
Reckless Kelly Talk About Frank The Tank and Starting Their Own Label
Cody Braun and Jay Nazz of Reckless Kelly dish on getting paid $5 and a Roy Rogers drink at an early gig and years spent living paycheck to paycheck. They also explain why cab drivers knew their Austin house by name.
Gary Nicholson on Avoiding Rehearsals and Not Chasing Trends
Gary Nicholson describes his early gigs playing at the legendary Ft Worth Cellar and time spent welding fins on bombs.
Sour Bridges – Neon Headed Fool
Sometimes, when you hear music coming out of Austin you realize that it just couldn’t come from anywhere else. The songwriting style of Guy Clark and Townes van Zandt from back in the day; the fiddle and accordion Tejano influences; the dance halls of central Texas; it’s all there. That’s what struck me most about […]
My Mind Must Be Back in Boston – A Special Playlist
Reckless Heart, Todd Thibaud (from the self-released Hill West) Singer-songwriter Todd Thibaud decamped to rural Vermont to craft his latest album. He returned to Boston with a collection of songs somber and introspective, no doubt reflective of the environment in which it was born. Stark but nuanced arrangements play into the pensive nature of the […]