Generations of kids, me included, grew up with The Monkees. Although the show only ran for two seasons in the mid-1960’s, it’s reruns endure to this day. Michael Nesmith and his wool cap were an anchor for the show, both as an actor and a musician. Nesmith passed away on Friday, shortly after completing a […]
The Members of Lizard Music Share Stories from the Band’s 30+ Year History
The four members of New Jersey-born rock band Lizard Music reflect on tour adventures, day jobs, and first gigs. They also discuss the definition of success in the music industry.
Monday Morning Video – Butch Walker Honors Adam Schlesinger
Butch Walker is a bad-ass in his own right but he takes it to another level in this tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger. Schlesinger was a tragic early Covid casualty but his legacy lives on in an incredible catalog of power pop songs. Walker performed the Schlesinger composition “Guitar Center” at an online tribute […]
Sad Daddy Video Premiere – Charlie Pickle
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