I’m fortunate to be able to explore and enjoy the music scenes of two cities – Boston and Dallas. Artists from both metropolitan areas have released some exceptional music this year. Here are a few favorites. Love it local. LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER (BOSTON YOU’RE MY HOME) LULA WILES, What Will We Do What Will […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best of 2019, The EPs
As more and more artists are transitioning from albums to EPs, I thought I’d highlight a few of my faves in that medium. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorite EPs of 2019 GOODNIGHT, TEXAS, The Senseless Age JESSE TERRY + ALEX WONG, Kivalina ANTHONY D’AMATO, Five Songs from New Orleans RADICAL […]
EP Gems: The Family Band & Kailey Nicole
Before I fall into the end-of-year routine I wanted to highlight a couple of EP’s that struck me particularly well. One’s been out a couple of months and the other releases next month. I’ll start with the one that’s not out just yet, Kailey Nicole’s self-titled release. Raised in southern California, Nicole started her artistic […]
Monday Morning Video – Steve Poltz “All Things Shine”
We need more songs like this… and more artists like Steve Poltz. And what the heck, here’s a Poltz bonus track. Let’s get southern comfortable.
Monday Morning Video – Joe Pug “Call It What You Will”
Ok, so it’s not quite December the 3rd, but it’s close enough to share this Joe Pug classic. I CALL TODAY A DISASTERSHE CALLS IT DECEMBER THE THIRDCALL IT WHAT YOU WILLI’M HEARTBROKEN STILLWORDS ARE JUST WORDS
Hannah & Falco – Field Notes
I love it when friends turn me on to great new music. Chatting recently with the folks at smallsongs, I got turned on to the German Americana duo, Hannah & Falco. With their latest record, Field Notes, the couple shows you can deliver cutting observations on weighty subjects without the music itself being too heavy. […]
Terri Hendrix on Lessons Learned Waiting Tables and Being a Protein Junkie
Texas singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix talks about the downside of having a hit record and the song that she wrote for her brother when she was in the 4th grade.
Monday Morning Video – D.B. Reilly
I recently caught New York-based folk singer D.B Rielly as part of a tour celebrating the 2019 winners of the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition. That event, part of the famed Kerrville Folk Festival, identifies noteworthy emerging songwriters. All the performers that night – Rielly, Scott Mulvahill, Daniel Neihoff and Boston’s Lisa Bastoni* – […]
The House Of Songs
The creative process of writing good music has been compared to catching lightning in a bottle. The implication is that it’s random good luck. Yet time and time again you hear of artists who have a process they follow and a string of great songs that came out of it. Similarly, musicians frequently get together […]
Malin Pettersen on Her Side Career and Touring Without a Driver’s License
Norwegian singer-songwriter Malin Pettersen recalls the first time that she broke a guitar string and talks about the virtues of public transportation in Norway.