John Hiatt on Austin City Limits. JOHN HIATT, Same Old Man (New West)Official Site | MySpace | Preview Our favorite ‘Master of Disaster’ proves he’s still the ‘Same Old Man’ with his aptly titled new album. Rumor has it that Hiatt was intended to be the surprise artist at New West Records’ SXSW day party […]
Listen Up: Justin Townes Earle’s “The Good Life”
Justin Townes Earle’s The Good Life is really two albums intertwined. First you get some vintage honky-tonk and backwoods country; second you get some gorgeous/breathtaking acoustic ballads. Album opener “Hard Livin†is a prime example of the former, a fine honky-tonk rave-up that showcases the tremendous group of players in the band. Some mighty fine […]
Mayer’s Playlist for March/April, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: On a Clear Night, by Missy Higgins The first thing that you’ll notice about Australia’s Missy Higgins is her stunning voice, a magical blend of confidence and uneasiness. Opening track “Where I Stood” epitomizes this dichotomy. The song captures the moment where a woman realizes that, despite her emotional attachment to […]
Old Settler’s Music Festival Highlights
I’m from northern California where “layering” your clothing is a mantra more than a conscious thought. Sure came in handy this year for Old Settler’s Music Festival in Driftwood (Austin), Texas, where there was driving rain, freezing cold (at least it felt that way), and warm, late-spring sunshine. Oh, and lots of good music, which […]
In Memory of Chris Gaffney
No Depression reports that Chris Gaffney has succumbed to pancreatic cancer in a double dose of sad news this week. Among other things, Chris was known for his fine body of work with the Hacienda Brothers. Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and fans of Chris Gaffney.
Hayes Carll + More, Releases 4/8/08
HAYES CARLL, Trouble In Mind (Lost Highway) Official Site | MySpace | Preview Known for his dry sense of humor, tell-it-like-it-is songwriting and the first self-released record to reach #1 on the Americana Music Chart (‘Little Rock’), Hayes Carll brings us a new album on Lost Highway Records he calls ‘Trouble In Mind’. He’s been […]
Helping a Hacienda Brother
Hacienda Brother Chris Gaffney was diagnosed with liver cancer earlier this year. He is about to begin an extreme course of chemotherapy in hopes of eradicating the disease. Although he has health insurance, it will not cover all the costs associated with his treatment. To help defray the costs, friends and family have created a […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2008, A Video Companion
What’s a monthly playlist without a video companion? This month we start and finish with a pair of incredible acoustic performances by the Jones Street Boys. In between we’ve got clips from Tift Merritt, Nada Surf, Butch Walker, Joe Jackson and Greg Trooper, among others. Don’t miss the haunting J. Tillman & Emily Loizeau duet […]
Rodney Parker / Bleu Edmondson Live Concert Webcast
Well, my buddy Cindy over at The Fine Line and I will be webcasting live from the Rodney Parker (Official/Myspace) & Bleu Edmondson show (Official/Myspace) at the Granada Theater in Dallas on Friday night. It is the night of Parker’s excellent new CD release (The Lonesome Dirge), and we’ll be all over that place so […]
Justin Townes Earle + More, Releases 3/25/08
JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, The Good Life (Bloodshot) Official Site | MySpace | MP3* [audio:http://www.chimehosting.com/bsr/justintownesearle/private/file_xfer/TheGoodLife/hardlivin.mp3] At times Justin Townes Earle sounds like he’s broadcasting songs from a time long gone. At others he couldn’t be more here and now. As you might already know, he’s the son of legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle and wears the mark […]