The Liabilities are a 4-piece from Macon, Georgia consisting of Aaron Irons (lead vocals, guitar), Justin Smith (bass, backing vocals), Brandon Fickler (lead guitar, vocals) and Josh Smith (drums). From listening to their debut self-titled disc, you’d have no idea it was recorded in a 10×30 foot storage shed in Columbia, South Carolina during the […]
Grant-Lee Phillips & More, Album Previews
Grant Lee Phillips “Soft Asylum (No Way Out)” Grant-Lee Phillips, Strangelet (Zoe/Rounder) Out with his fifth solo recording titled “Strangelet”, Grant-Lee Phillips looks to cosmic abnormalities to inspire a “record for strange times”. Check out the Grant-Lee Phillips’ MySpace profile for song previews. File under: Rock, Acoustic, Alternative. ALSO LOOK FOR: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, […]
Old Crow Medicine Show/Big Iron World
In what a big iron world we live. Or so think Old Crow Medicine Show. On their second disc, again produced by David Rawlings, the boys would like to take us back to a much simpler time. A time before Leo Fender and Les Paul’s “electric” guitars. This is a time when the banjo and […]
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The SXSW Encore
Here’s a short clip of the encore Grace Potter and Scott Tournet belted out as described on my SXSW Recap. I must have been standing just to the left of the cameraman. Great to see someone captured this. I can’t tell you how much better it sounded live. Also, note the glass of scotch Potter […]
Low Stars, On the Radar
Harmony, harmony, harmony. Apparently, its back in style and it sounds great. Witness foursome Low Stars with their debut album. I know what you are thinking… these guys are a CSN ripoff. You’d be right, but they don’t hide from this. In fact, they embrace it. “We wanted to make an authentic-sounding record that was […]
Ted Leo & More, Album Previews
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Living With the Living (Touch & Go Records) If I’m telling the full truth, Jesse Malin would have been my pick of the week if I could locate a full album stream. The good news is that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are more than second best. Fans of Spoon […]
The Young Dubliners – The Irish Sessions
Though they orginated in Dublin, the Young Dubliners’ turbo charged sound owes more to Alternative Pop than Irish Pub Rock. Over the years, they have merely peppered their six albums and their concerts with traditional Irish tunes; but when they DO perform authentic Irish, the results have been outstanding, and fans have cried out for […]
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals “Mystery Train”, a Video
One act I’m really going to try to see this year at SXSW is Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. They’re playing at 1am on Thursday night at the Cedar Street Courtyard. Check ’em out. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – “Mystery Train” Thanks, John!
Son Volt & More, Album Previews
Son Volt, The Search (Legacy) Their previous release, Okemah and the Melody of Riot, landed at #3 on my top ten list of 2005. Its fair to say I’m biased when talking about Son Volt. Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn created Son Volt out of the ashes of Uncle Tupelo who along with Whiskeytown should […]
The Return of Matthew Sweet?
Matthew Sweet’s 1991 album Girlfriend burst through like a breath of fresh air. During a time when grunge ruled the airwaves and Nirvana was leading the charge, Sweet took the roughness of grunge and married it with southern California harmonies and pop sensibilities. Sweet has quietly reemerged in recent years, most notably collaborating with Susanna […]