Here are some albums that we’re looking forward to hearing in the back half of 2026… Material Witness by William Matheny (10 July) William Matheny brings pure rock and roll spirit to Material Witness, leaning heavy on electric guitars and hearty, driving rhythms. His lyrics crackle with authenticity and a wisened view, proving there’s still […]
The Hooters’ Eric Bazilian on Inflation and Street Gum Wisdom
Eric Bazilian, guitarist and singer-songwriter of The Hooters, recalls how the band’s early rehearsal space, a warehouse in a then-rough part of Philadelphia, became the birthplace of the band’s name and its first songs. He also reveals who between the band and crew gets the nicer tour bus when the Hooters are on the road.
Monday Morning Video – Austin Plaine
Some songs meet you exactly where you are — and then lift you somewhere better. Austin Plaine has a gift for that kind of winsome, quietly uplifting songwriting, and “Rise Above It” is a perfect example. It sits with the weight of hard-won experience before arriving at something that feels like grace. “Looking at the […]
Still in the Groove: Martha Reeves Keeps Searching
Photo courtesy Martha Reeves Martha Reeves has spent more than six decades giving people reasons to dance. Her voice powered Motown landmarks like “Dancing in the Street,” “Heat Wave,” “Jimmy Mack,” and “Nowhere to Run,” songs that still spill from radios and playlists with enough spark to lift a room. Now, as she approaches her […]
Ma Rainey – The Complete Paramount Recordings, 1923-1928
Editor’s Note: We invited Nashville artist and blues devotee Sophie Gault to dig into Ma Rainey’s Paramount recordings, arriving as a new box set on July 24. Sitting in the kitchen one summer night, you hear the sound of a muted trumpet leading into a song. It’s accompanied by a slight lingering static. While listening, […]
Jesper Lindell on Record Deals and Lyrical Memory
Swedish singer-songwriter Jesper Lindell talks about the moment his tour van’s brake pads flew off just as they pulled into a venue, his years working as a mailman before music took over full-time, and why streaming alone doesn’t sustain artists outside the mainstream.
Monday Morning Video – Al Green and Chicago
Chicago, the rock band known for hits like “25 or 6 to 4” and “Saturday in the Park,” are joined by soul legend Al Green in this 1973 performance. Green sings his own hit “Tired of Being Alone,” with Chicago’s horns locking into the pocket behind him.
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2026 (So Far), the Songs
Don’t Let Go, Fantastic Cat (from the Missing Piece Records release Cat Out of Hell) A scream-along-at-the-top-of-your-lungs anthem about holding on to your dreams. Nothing you can buy can save what you soldSo hold on tight to the light in your soulDon’t look down, baby don’t let… Don’t let go Suffer, Boy Golden (from the […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2026 (So Far), the Albums
Cat Out of Hell by Fantastic Cat Fantastic Cat’s third album is another classic, nothing but pure pop perfection. Four songwriters with distinct styles blend here in a way that shouldn’t work as well as it does — sharp and spirited in both lyric and melody. And credit where it’s due: any album title that […]
Get Into Trouble – a Premiere from Travis McKeveny & the Famous Doctor Scanlon Band
Travis McKeveny, a beloved NY musician, died in 2021, leaving behind two albums and a community that loved him as much for his friendship as his music. Just as important, he left behind a collection of songs and a blueprint for a third album he was ready to record. Shortly before the pandemic, Travis assembled […]