Sequels are so often disappointing, but not this time. Last October, Stony Plain released a great set of jam sessions featuring blues masters Charlie Musselwhite and Alvin Youngblood Hart, together with former Squirrel Nut Zipper Jimbo Mathus, North Mississippi Allstars brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson and their father Jim that were recorded in 2007. Now, […]
Esther Rose on Coffee Culture and Slow Disco Beats
Singer-songwriter Esther Rose talks about her old cherry red Subaru Forester and the delightful combination of sounds to be heard in her rehearsal studio.
Israel Nash Talks About Plato’s Form for Burgers and Building a Body of Work
Singer-songwriter Israel Nash discusses Ray Wylie Hubbard, turning down a lifetime laser tag membership, running a NYC children’s after-school program, and being dedicated to craft.
Monday Morning Video – Billy Bragg
I’ve been digging into the greatness that is the Billy Bragg catalog lately and enjoyed being re-connected with these classics: “Levi Stubb’s Tears” and “Waiting For the Great Leap Forwards”.
Rylan Brooks – If Wishes Were Horses
Most of us have done a cross country road trip at least once, and you don’t forget it. Especially if it included a long stretch between the Rockies and the Mississippi, where time and distance create a kind of elasticity to your plan. Doing those trips over and over and over became the rehearsal space […]
Gerry Beckley on Italian Truck Stops and His 50 Year Musical Journey
America co-founder Gerry Beckley on nightly “rehearsals”, covering the Ventures, and his first (and last) day job.
Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel on Tour Sandwiches and Ignoring Music Business Advice
Nashville-based duo Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel talk about the kind people of Virginia, the cat and dog in their rehearsal space, and going from zero to not being broke.
Monday Morning Video – Buddy Guy
How ’bout some vintage blues to start the week? Here’s Buddy Guy performing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “My Time After Awhile” back in 1969.
Ervin Stellar – Nothing To Prove
I love it when an artist takes someone else’s well-known song and so transforms the piece that they start to own it more than the original artist or songwriter. Ervin Stellar, the stage name of Andrew Jordan, does that on his new EP with Shanty, the Jonathan Edwards classic. Stellar injects such a nonchalant tempo […]
Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno
Three years ago in a cramped hotel room during Folk Alliance, at the advice of friends, I first heard a barely-out-of-high-school songstress, Vivian Leva, and her musical partner, Riley Calcagno. Leva had just released her debut album of Appalachian style folk and country songs. Belying her tender age, Leva’s soulful vocal delivery laid bare the […]