With Bristlecone, Gurf Morlix once again delivers an unmistakable work—painted in his palette of gothic imagery, sparse guitar, and hard-earned truth. This is the kind of album that feels like flying across Seven Mile Bridge at night in a hearse with the windows rolled down, narrowly escaping the Devil, yelling “Step On it Skinner!” It’s […]
Alex Wong on Mixing Records and Teaching Martial Arts
Singer-songwriter Alex Wong talks about rehearsing above a tallow factory (and the odors that permeated the space) and the time that he played fake guitar in a TV commercial.
Monday Morning Video – Jim Croce
How about we start the week with a pair of songs from one of music’s great storytellers. Jim Croce was taken from us in a tragic plane crash when he was just 30 years old but left behind a tremendous musical legacy. This 1974 television performance showcases his two artistic sides – reflective poet and […]
John Francis O’Mara – Forbidden Hymns
The United States’ Bible Belt and the strongholds of American country music share a lot of geographical overlap. Virginian John Francis O’Mara, with his Theology degree and collaborations with Nashville’s finest, including Kenny Vaughn and John Carter Cash, likewise stands firmly planted in both camps. He has a new record out, his third full-length effort, […]
Jack Schneider on The Pursuit of Stillness and A Happy Childhood Moment
Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jack Schneider talks about why he rehearses out in nature, shares lessons that he learned while working at a guitar store, and why it’s important to stay true to yourself and not feel pressured to chase opportunities.
Daniel Donato Talks About the Difference Between “Playing” and “Thinking”
Daniel Donato reveals a key source of songwriting ideas and talks about holding band meetings in the Blue Flame Lounge, located in the back of his tour bus “The Snowman”.
Monday Morning Video – Toad the Wet Sprocket
The Ryman Auditorium has heard more than its share of songs about the passage of time. Earlier this year, Toad the Wet Sprocket added one of their own to that legacy with an acoustic rendering of “Rings.” Stripped of studio polish, the song’s imagery — rings of rain and summers, dry spells and brushfire — […]
“The Breeze” – a Premiere from Mel and the Tall Boys
Brooklyn’s Mel and the Tall Boys tap into something timeless with “The Breeze.” Singer-songwriter Mel Johnston fuses the pop classicism of Peggy Lee with the melodic edge of Mary Weiss and the Shangri-Las, deftly channeling that lineage with confidence and grace. Lush instrumentation, including strings, piano, and percussion, adds rhythmic drive and cinematic color behind […]
Damn Tall Buildings – The Universe Is Hungry
A few years ago, at Folk Alliance, I was in a room waiting for a band I wanted to hear when I saw a band I realized I needed to hear, Brooklyn’s Damn Tall Buildings. They’re a bluegrass trio that clearly had honed a lot of their act out on a sidewalk where you have […]
Will Overman on Road Life and Traveling Songs
Nashville singer-songwriter Will Overman talks about being inspired to break guitar strings, working as a camp counselor, and the mysterious meaning behind an early composition.