For a quarter century, Rod Picott lived the life his songs describe. He drove the long miles, played the rooms that smelled of beer and dust, and wrote from the inside of working days that left their marks on the body. Now 61, Picott has stepped away from touring—not from music, and certainly not from […]
Tommy Womack – Live a Little
Tommy Womack has never been interested in polish for its own sake. Across decades of records, he’s built a reputation on candor, dry humor, and a songwriter’s instinct for finding grace in the wreckage of ordinary life. Live a Little, his new album, feels like a distilled version of that ethos. At its core, it […]
Laney Jones on Touring Perks and The Cost of Doing Business
Nashville-based Laney Jones talks about why she smiles every time it rains, hitting the road with “Old Shelley”, and not taking shortcuts when it comes to recording.
Monday Morning Video – Joe Ely
It’s hard to overstate Joe Ely’s influence. When your admirers range from Bruce Springsteen to the Clash, it says everything about both your reach and your range. Ely helped lay the groundwork for what became alt-country/Americana—starting with the Flatlanders—and then spent the rest of his career embodying Texas music in its fullest sense: folk storytelling, […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall/Winter 2025, Part 2
Little Red Rider, Kathleen Edwards (from the Dualtone Records release Billionaire) The music world is a better place when Kathleen Edwards is writing and performing. It’s been said before, but Billionaire makes it worth repeating. Edwards has never been one to mince words. Her storytelling carries a truthfulness built on specific details and brutal honesty, […]
Avery Ballotta of Damn Tall Buildings on Outdoor Rehearsals and Why Time Is Your Friend
Avery Ballotta, violinist and vocalist in trio Damn Tall Buildings, talks about working as a Cultural Ambassador with the U.S. State Dept. and the “Create, Craft, Release, Repeat” approach.
Monday Morning Video – Raul Malo
Another tremendous voice in American music has gone silent with the passing of Raul Malo, co-founder and lead singer of The Mavericks. The band rooted itself in country but seamlessly mixed in elements of Cuban son and Tex-Mex, creating a sound entirely their own. From life-of-the-party anthems like “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall/Winter 2025, Part 1
Speechwriter, Joelton Mayfield (from the Bloodshot Records release Crowd Pleaser) Joelton Mayfield’s Crowd Pleaser announces itself with purpose: vivid storytelling wrapped in guitars that know when to whisper and when to scream. The dynamics shift constantly—bobbing, weaving, building tension that reverberates from somewhere in the distance before crashing into the present moment. “Pretty Linda” offers […]
Willie Heath Neal of The Waymores on Swinging a Hammer and Focusing on the Mission
Willie Heath Neal of husband and wife duo The Waymores shares the story about the first song that he wrote with wife and bandmate Kira Annalise and talks about keeping faith in the journey.
Monday Morning Video – Steve Cropper
Even if you don’t know his name, you know the songs. “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.” “Knock on Wood.” “In the Midnight Hour.” “Green Onions.” Those classics are just a slice of what Steve Cropper gave to rock & roll and R&B. The legendary guitarist and songwriter passed away last week, leaving a […]