There are a few people whose artistry separates them from the many excellent artists plying their trade and lifts them to a level of their own. With every brush stroke, word written or note played, their mastery shines through. Ronnie Earl is such an artist. The son of two Holocaust survivors, Earl was born Ronald […]
Opal Canyon – Tomorrow To the Sea
There are certain musical styles and sounds that evoke thoughts of a particular part of the country. The brassy jazz of New Orleans, the polka-laced country of the Texas Hill Country, the thoughtful folk-rock of Southern California. The latter was invoked by a duo based across the country, Massachusetts’ Opal Canyon. Their latest record, Tomorrow […]
The Kentucky Gentlemen on Showing Up and Working Hard
Brandon and Derek Campbell – the Kentucky Gentlemen – talk about the surprise guest at their first gig, the early song that they wrote for their godmother, and the value of good friends.
Monday Morning Video – Dave Alvin, David Hidalgo, and Friends
Dave Alvin, David Hidalgo, and Flaco Jimenez are music institutions. What happens when you bring them together with one another and a group of other talented musicians? You get one heck of a party, as this raucous take on Alvin’s “Marie Marie” demonstrates.
Charlie Winton – The Soul And the Shadow
Imagine that you’re 66 years old, and the last of your kids have left for college. You’ve had a successful career as a publisher, including collaborating with music industry veterans from Dee Dee Ramone and Richard Hell to legendary artist Stanley Mouse and historian Dennis McNally. Furthermore, you’ve been a part-time musician all your life, […]
“Sick of This Town” – a Premiere from Michael McDermott
Everyone is from somewhere. The question is how many of us, after leaving, want to go back. It’s a topic that Michael McDermott explores on the forthcoming St. Paul’s Boulevard, and most notably on lead single “Sick of This Town”. “Be careful of the past, don’t let it drag you down, there’s no shame in […]
Old Settler’s Music Festival – Preview
Every year about now I make a pilgrimage to Austin for a few days of listening to music. It’s not for SXSW. Instead I head out to Tilmon, about an hour southeast of town, for Old Settler’s Music Festival. It’s just the right size to where it’s easy to navigate, but there’s still enough of […]
Amy Correia on Famed NYC Club Sin-é and Not Changing Her Guitar Strings
Singer-songwriter Amy Correia talks about her car dubbed “Footloose” and the stabilizing effect of a steady paycheck.
Monday Morning Video – Fruition
Let’s start the week with the glory that is Fruition. I saw the group in NYC on Friday and it was a typical outstanding show, including a killer cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Walk and Talk”. Here’s the band a few weeks ago in Denver rehearsing Crosby, Stills, and Nash’s classic “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” […]
Elliah Heifetz – First Generation American
Listening to, or reading about, someone’s journey of personal discovery can be, well, a slog. The constants tend to be emotionally draining feelings of fear, uncertainty, doubt, hatred, oppression, repression. Uplifting things like that. So imagine my surprise upon discovering Elliah Heifetz’ first full length album, First Generation American, is actually pretty joyful. Heifetz, son […]