Fate can be an interesting topic. You can accept it as the reason things happen, or question whether you can change it. In the case of lifelong friends Molly Rochelson and Sally Buice, both viewpoints feature in their sophomore album, Born Strangers. The pre-ordained side comes to bear as the Knoxville-raised women went their separate […]
Emanuel Casablanca – Strung Out on Thrills
Emanuel Casablanca’s billing says he’s an “outlaw-bluesman.” Whether he’s an outlaw or not, he certainly has a knack for aggressive blues-rock. (Note to self: resist the temptation to include a reference to the movie Casablanca.} The Brooklyn-based Casablanca is a painter, actor, and singer-songwriter who released his debut album, Blood on My Hands, in August […]
Louien on Matpakke and a Youthful Act of Defiance
Norwegian artist Louien talks about changing guitar strings, wonderful moments in her rehearsal space, and keeping on keeping on.
Monday Morning Video – Wayne Kramer & the MC5
You’d be hard-pressed to think of a rock band from the past 50 years that didn’t draw at least some influence from Detroit’s MC5. As a start, you can put any punk band in that category but their impact stretched far beyond the genre that they helped define. Wayne Kramer, the band’s co-founder, passed away […]
Crow and Gazelle Song Premiere – Take It Away
Chrislyn Lawrence and Mike McClure first met in 2003. Although they had an instant, soulful connection, life happened, and they continued on parallel paths. Mike gained considerable music credibility as the producer for such Red Dirt acts as Turnpike Troubadours, Jason Boland, and Cross Canadian Ragweed. Chrislyn’s path, besides developing her talent as a poet, […]
Trent Wagler of The Steel Wheels on Office Clutter and His Favorite Day Job
Trent Wagler of Virginia-based The Steel Wheels talks about a first song that prioritized rhyme over meaning and the importance of inner motivation.
Monday Morning Video – Dan Bern
As long-time readers know, I do like me a good kiss-off song. A literal read of the lyrics to Dan Bern’s “Baby Bye Bye” finds it more closure than kiss-off adjacent but I’d like to think there’s a hint of sarcasm in there. And you’re gone, it was time to flyAnd all that’s left is […]
The Third Mind – Live and in Studio
The email started innocuously: “Hey, hope all’s well.” It was from a record company publicist suggesting there was a show at my local spot I might want to go see. Dave Alvin’s jam band had a new record out, they’d played a successful first live gig at Hardly Strictly, and they were going to take […]
Clay Parker and Jodi James on The Louvin Brothers, Christmas Songs, and Rolling Dice
Louisiana singer-songwriters Clay Parker and Jodi James talk about the the band’s home on wheels situation and the importance of diversification.
Monday Morning Video – John Prine
The legendary John Prine pays tribute to fellow Chicago songwriter Steve Goodman in this 1997 performance at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” has a unique history, from Prine’s original insistence that his name not be listed on the credits to the final verse that Goodman […]