Some bands stay together for years with little or no change to their lineup. Other bands are more amorphous, with different incarnations of lineups performing under different names and band members sitting in on each other’s solo projects. The latter describes Arkansas/Texas quartet, Sad Daddy. Last spring the friends got together at guitarist/vocalist Brian Martin’s […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2021, Part 2
Cityview, The Accidentals (from the self-released Vessels) With the addition of drummer Michael Dause the Accidentals have expanded their musical palette into full-on rock territory. Songs like opener “Count the Rings”, “Rollercoaster” and “Slow and Steady” bristle with an electric guitar and bass fueled energy. That said, the group also mine familiar acoustic cello and […]
Eleanor Buckland on Soundcheck Tricks and Her Dolly Parton “Co-Write”
Singer-songwriter Eleanor Buckland of Lula Wiles, who has just released a solo album, talks about working as a nanny and competing in the Franklin County Fair Fiddle Contest when she was in the 2nd grade.
Monday Morning Video – Chris Knight
I took a trip down a Chris Knight rabbit hole this weekend, straight back to the beginning. Here’s “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” from his self-titled debut. Lyrics don’t come more potent than this: Why do I do the things I do?Was I born this way or am I self made fool?I shoot the lights […]
Calista Garcia – A Beautiful World
Like many of us over the last couple of years, Calista Garcia found herself consumed by the negative events in the world. As an antidote, she decided to focus on all the good things she saw around her. She transcribed that awareness into a collection of songs that became her new EP, A Beautiful World. […]
Brandy Zdan on Music Industry Priorities and Touring in “Townes Van Zdan”
Brandy Zdan talks about singing the Canadian National Anthem at hockey games as a teenager, hustling for gigs, and surviving as a middle class musician.
Monday Morning Video – Stephen Kellogg’s Thanksgiving
It’s been a few years since we’ve shared Stephen Kellogg’s ode to – and hopes for – Thanksgiving. This seems like a good year to share it again. Oh Thanksgiving, the harvest draws to a closeRedemption is a bugle humility composedSweet forgiveness, thawing across frozen groundCasting light eternally, carrying its sound
Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues
In the eighties and early nineties, post one Daley and pre another one, one of the safer areas of Chicago to go see live blues was a short stretch on North Halsted Avenue. There were half a dozen blues clubs in a stretch of just a few blocks, where the headliner rarely went on before […]
Ian Jones on Acrylic Fingernails and Hiring a Producer
Singer-songwriter Ian Jones talks about getting hooked on applause at his first gig and being a general contractor (and using the experience to build his home rehearsal space).
JD Wilkes on Virtue-Signaling and Getting His Start In Music
JD Wilkes of The Legendary Shack Shakers talks about driving for the Nashville Auto Auction and “the quickly evaporating spoils of the American Music Biz”.