ROANOKE Another on my short list of new to me artists for me this year was Roanoke. They bore more than a passing resemblance to the fictional Daisy Jones and the Six in both song and spirit. A good thing in my book. JAKE BLOUNT Jake Blount is a true student of American music. So […]
Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar
One of the great characteristics of bluegrass and Americana music festivals is the impromptu jam sessions. Backstage, in the campground, at the hotel, on the tour bus, there’s a lot more great music that gets played than ever hits the stage. Not for the first time, those informal sessions have been the impetus for new […]
Melissa Ruth – Bones
There’s no doubt writing songs can be cathartic for most musicians. Sometimes they take the form of a comment on current events, while other times they encapsulate a lifetime of emotional attachment. You can hear some of both in the latest album, Bones, from Oregonian Melissa Ruth. It features her husband (and partner in the […]
Say ZuZu – No Time To Lose
Thirty years ago a group of young New Hampshire musicians bonded over the burgeoning alt-country music scene. They formed a band, Say ZuZu, and met with success, putting out half a dozen albums over the next decade. But, as they say, life happens, and in 2003 the members went their own separate ways. Fast forward […]
The Brothers Comatose – Ear Snacks
If YouTube is a major contributor to your music consumption habits, you’ve probably run across The Brothers Comatose by now. As an antidote to cabin-fever during the days of Covid lock-down, the band started monthly sessions of getting together to jam. They captured some of the better results on video and started posting. They did […]
Afton Wolfe – Twenty-Three
You certainly don’t have to be born in the south to sing the Delta blues, or raised in Appalachia to master bluegrass. If you are though, and can bring that personal touch to the genre, it’s icing on the cake. Such is the case with current Nashville resident Afton Wolfe, who can call an arc […]
Pony Bradshaw on Avoiding Cover Band Shows and Making a Living Under the Radar
Singer-songwriter Pony Bradshaw talks about his pain the ass tour van, rehearsing across the street from a Federal penitentiary, and why music isn’t a one-size-fits-all career.
Mayer’s Playlist for Jan/Feb 2023
Missing Someone, Jaimee Harris (from the Folk N Roll Records/Thirty Tigers release Boomerang Town) Harris’ eagerly awaited sophomore release has arrived – and it’s a beauty. What makes it even compelling is that its beauty isn’t easy. Harris fills her songs with difficult topics and troubled characters, digging into them with a thoughtful perspective. The […]
Drayton Farley – Twenty on High
The rapidly growing fanbase of Drayton Farley is about to need to put a double-decker on the bandwagon. Farley will be releasing “Twenty on High” via Hargrove Records/Thirty Tigers on March 3rd. Up until now his records have been one man DIY releases. However, that hasn’t stopped him from amassing millions of streams on Spotify […]
2023 Folk Alliance International Conference
There are a multitude of organizations set up to serve the music industry, from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammy people) and their non-profit, MusiCares, to industry organizations for various segments, to local music societies. I’m certain none of them come close to the broad offerings of Folk Alliance International. FAI […]