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. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS Quiet Lives by Garrett Owen Gorgeous and entrancing are the […]
Jules Shear on Tired Guitar Strings and the First Song That He Wrote
Singer-songwriter talks about why he he shops at local health food stores while on tour and time spent making tall rhinestone shoes by hand.
Bonus Monday Video – Tom Waits
Tom Waits presents two holiday classics – one an original and one a cover.
Monday Morning Video – A Holiday Tradition
One of these years, I’d love to make it to Dublin for Glen Hansard’s annual Christmas eve busking session on Grafton Street. The event raises funds for The Simon Community, an organization that raises funds and runs programs to assist the homeless. This year, global pandemic and all, the event became a live broadcast on […]
Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2020
Here, in no particular order, are more favorites from 2020.
Old Californio – Songs From the Sea Of Cortez
There’s a very California sound you get by taking the twangy guitar and rock solid rhythm line associated with Bakersfield and overlaying it with the acoustic guitar and multi-part harmonies that sprang from the hills and canyons northwest of LA in the 60’s. You could probably argue Graham Parsons first touched that nerve with Sweetheart […]
Mayer’s Picks – Best of 2020, the Albums
What a year it has been! Thankfully there’s been some great music to help sustain us. Here are my picks for the best albums of 2020. 11. Consider the Speed by Terra Lightfoot Another rock and roll tour de force from Terra Lightfoot. Consider the Speed is brimming with fervent guitars and musical bravado, not […]
Nathan Singleton of The Sideshow Tragedy on Peanut Butter and Why Artists Shouldn’t Compromise
The Sideshow Tragedy’s Nathan Singleton talks about some of his favorite rehearsal spaces and his least favorite thing about being a guitar player.
Monday Morning Video – Charley Pride
Another legend lost. Here are two Charley Pride classics to celebrate his life and contributions to country music.
Band Premiere – The Great Outdoors
The pandemic has been hard on bands. How’s that for an understatement? With touring shut down, and even gathering in the studio a challenge, many musicians have had to focus on more essential elements of life. In no way, though, has that diminished the passion that made them eschew a normal day job in the […]