Songwriters as a general rule are better at identifying difficulties and apprehensions than they are pointing out the positive aspects of life. Maybe it is because truly good art exists in the margins of American society and not the mainstream. It could also be the current political climate or possibly even too much Gluten. In […]
Emily Scott Robinson Talks Chipotle and the Waylon Jennings RV Park
Singer-songwriter Emily Scott Robinson talks about her unique touring strategy, why she’s never broken a guitar string and how she developed her live performance chops.
Carter Sampson On Touring in a Van Called Jennifer Vaniston and Embracing a Love of Donuts
Singer-songwriter Carter Sampson talks about leading Rock & Roll Camp for Girls OKC and finding success in Europe.
Monday Morning Video – Adam Carroll
There are so many great songwriters criss-crossing the highways of Texas but Adam Carroll is among the elite. With a gentle and reserved style, he tells richly textured stories often filled with colorful characters. The tales are set to simple yet infectious melodies that he picks out on an acoustic guitar. Here are two gems […]
Three EP Gems – Baiman, Lukes & Champagne
Last year I had the fortune to discover Rachel Baiman. Â I noted at the time she had a knack for subtly inserting parables in her snap-your-fingers or turn-around-the-dance-floor bluegrass numbers. Â She’s at it again with Thanksgiving, a just released EP. Â Tent City is an upbeat tune with lots of great banjo and guitar picking. Â It’s […]
Katie Cole On Touring with the Smashing Pumpkins and Writing Her First “Good” Song
Australian singer-songwriter Katie Cole talks about the path to finding her songwriting voice, the one “real” day job that she’s ever had and the importance of finding people that you can trust.
Walter Salas-Humara On Using John Cale’s Rehearsal Space and the Secret to an Amazing Life in Music
Walter Salas-Humara recalls taking an Uber 120 miles to get to a gig, a memorable song that he wrote when he was 17 and an unforgettable day job working with the likes of Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Rauschenberg.
Gregory Alan Isakov – Evening Machines
“We took our chances, sure enough / I am brambles / But I am tangled in your love.” Gregory Alan Isakov’s words in his new record speak for themselves and and like a rare stone sparkle either on the page as poetry or as slow burning acoustic ballads that burrow into the listener’s consciousness. These […]
Monday Morning Video – Ruby Boots
My first encounter with Ruby Boots was an acoustic set when she opened for the Waifs. As much as I enjoyed that show, it did little to prepare me for the fire and fury when she fronts a band. It’s something to behold. Although the video quality is a bit rough, here’s Boots and company […]
Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist
By Degrees, Mark Erelli & Friends (from the benefit single By Degrees) Several of Mark Erelli’s longtime friends and collaborators join him for a special song written in response to the tragic gun violence in America. While the artists are an impressive group – Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Lori McKenna, Anais Mitchell, and Josh Ritter […]