Christmasland Jubilee is a dream fulfilled for Dan Blakeslee. As he tells it, he started recording Christmas songs on his meager home recording gear in 2006 to share with his family as gifts. Those humble beginnings sparked his desire to record a full Christmas album with his band the Calabash Club. That process began in 2019 […]
Chris Smither on “Real Work” and What Makes Him Happy
Singer-songwriter Chris Smither talks about his cozy and comfy home rehearsal space, early gigs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, and the first song that he wrote (and that he still occasionally plays)
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2020, Part 4
Called Out Your Name, Terra Lightfoot (from the Sonic Unyon Records release Consider the Speed) If you’re anything like me – especially in a year like this one – sometimes you just want a healthy dose of electrifying rock and roll. Thankfully Terra Lightfoot is back to fulfill that desire and, perhaps, melt a few faces […]
Video Premiere – Drew Aron
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Drew Aron’s debut release, Familiar Faces. It’s a mostly auto-biographical story about a musician finding himself in a city flooded with artists finding themselves. There are some lighter moments to be sure, but there is a lot of material to fuel a lot of songs (which is […]
Monday Morning Video – Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Here’s what happens when you turn Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings loose on one of the great American folk songs.
Two EP Gems – The Ghosts Of Liberty & Drew Aron
First up is the debut record from North Carolina couple Emma & Tyler Millard, who go under the band name The Ghosts Of Liberty. My favorite song on the 3-tune EP is Roanoke River. It’s a tension-filled, country-pop story about society’s biases and love’s ability to overcome them. With Tyler’s rootsy edge on guitar providing […]
Lucy Wainwright Roche on All Day Breakfast Diners and Trying to Get a Tour Vehicle Sponsor
Lucy Wainwright Roche talks about teaching elementary school and the one time that she broke a guitar string (and the guitar tech who fixed it).
Alright Alright – Crucible
Several years ago I voted for Jason Isbell’s Southeastern as #1 in our annual album poll. I kind of surprised myself at the time, because as awesome as the record was, the subject matter of many of the songs was dark. I found myself having to steel up a little before I hit play. I […]
The Sea The Sea on Hard Won Lessons and Touring with a Blender
Mira Stanley and Chuck E. Costa of The Sea The Sea talk about why they can’t tour with a harmonica and recall the first songs that they wrote.
Non Duo – In Your Eyes
I’ve been writing reviews for over a decade, and I listen to a bunch of things I never write about. Plus, stints on the radio and owning too many records. In all that time, I’ve never heard an album start and end with the same song, only in English and Russian. I have now. Better […]