Fellow Creature’s Sam McCormally confesses to argument over whether Prince or Bruno Mars are cooler and talks about his first gig at a battle of the bands. They placed fourth. Out of four bands.
Monday Morning Video (and a Song) – Sammy Walker
Bob Dylan casts a long shadow, perhaps too long. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Dylan’s work and consider him one of the greatest songwriters we’ve known. But think about how many artists have been called “the new Dylan†over the years. While in one sense it is undoubtedly flattering, it is nonetheless […]
Shamrock Shakes and Oxycontin – A Special Boston Playlist, Part 1
The musical ground in Boston and New England has been especially fertile this year. We’ve already seen some outstanding releases by artists that run the gamut from long-time favorites to incredibly talented newcomers, with plenty more undoubtedly to come. To that end, here is the latest installment in our periodic series highlighting Boston and New […]
Jason Wilber – Echoes
If you know the name Jason Wilber it’s probably because he’s been John Prine’s guitar player for 20 years. Â However, he’s been exploring his own creative side for a long time and on Echoes, his 9th album, he’s taking aim at cover songs. As he states, he focused on vocal interpretations rather than his finely […]
Monday Morning Video – Gillian Welch and David Rawlings “Miss Ohio”
Eric Ambel’s recent cover of “Miss Ohio” (listen here) sent me scurrying back to Gillian Welch’s original version. It’s been in heavy rotation ever since. “Yeah, I wanna do right but not right now.”
Front Country Debut – Three Of A Perfect Pair
It’s been two years since progressive string band Front Country parlayed their Best Band wins at Telluride and Rockygrass into their first album, the critically-acclaimed Sake Of The Sound. Â Since then they’ve been touring practically non-stop, playing everywhere from a cave in Tennessee to the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco. While that hasn’t given them […]
Mayer’s Playlist for March/April 2016, Part 3
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH The Narrows by Grant-Lee Phillips Grant-Lee Phillips is, quite simply, one of the most distinctive voices in American music. His songs conjure up vivid portraits of the American experience, from the fault lines of California to the rural lands of Tennessee. The imagery in his songs, both lyrical and musical, is […]
The Bo-Keys’ Scott Bomar On The Day Jobs that Gave Him a Music Industry Education & His Views on the Industry’s Past, Present and Future
Scott Bomar of the Bo-Keys talks about the hazards of touring across middle America, why tracking down your musical income can be a full-time job and the lessons to be learned from his Memphis elders.
Monday Morning Video – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
So much has already been said about Prince and his impact that we thought it best to simply honor his legacy with this vintage performance from the 2004 Rock Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Prince stands on the side of the stage, oft in the shadows, until it’s time for him to take a guitar […]
Old Settler’s Music Festival – 2016
Spring has officially arrived mid-April when I make my way to Camp Ben McCulloch and the Salt Lick Pavillon outside of Austin for the Old Settler’s Music Festival.  Although from now through early October there’s a big music festival every weekend somewhere in the country, the combination of being the right size, boasting a stellar line-up with […]