Stumbled down the Joan Armatrading rabbit hole this weekend. So much goodness, including these two faves. First, back to the late 1970’s for the uber-funky “Show Some Emotion” and then the wonderful “Love and Affection” from Glastonbury back in 2008.
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2022 (So Far), the Songs
Meant to Be, BER & Charlie Oriain (from the self-released And I’m Still Thinking About That) A wonderful discovery at this year’s SXSW… and one of my favorite songs so far this year. But I think you’re the one for someone else And that shit’s hard to say It’s okay, you feel the same and I can […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2022 (So Far), the Albums
Twilights by Jesper Lindell Sweden’s Lindell makes true Americana that channels the spirit of the Band, a point he emphasizes with a great cover of that group’s “Twilight”. It’s Lindell’s own compositions and the arrangements that bring the songs to life, however, that make Twilights such a memorable experience. How Long Will It Take Them […]
Rusty Tinder – Alchemy Road
The cover of L.A.-based, keyboardist Rusty Tinder’s soon-to-be-released sophomore album, Alchemy Road, is a depiction of a musician dragging his piano through floods and past wildfires, to the accompaniment of a fiddling horseman of the apocalypse. You could also say it’s a musical theme throughout the record. Tinder’s resume includes everything from church choirs and […]
Jonah Tolchin on Losing His Car Keys and Teaching Music Lessons
Jonah Tolchin talks about Denny’s Grand Slam breakfast, bonus income, and the benefit of not pursuing music as a full-time profession.
Bonus Monday Video – Todd Thibaud
How about another fave Fourth of July song? This time from Boston’s Todd Thibaud, performing the song in a pandemic throw-back living room stream. (If you like what you hear, you can get a full collection of Thibaud’s couch sessions here.)
Monday Morning Video – X on the Fourth of July
It’s not often, in fact pretty rare, that I get to share one of my favorite songs on the day that it’s supposed to be heard. So I’m going to jump at the chance to share one of my all-time favorite songs – Dave Alvin’s “Fourth of July”. While my introduction to the song was […]
We Banjo 3 – Open the Road
I went on line to look up the antonym of stage fright. I got a bunch of words like calm, cool, and collected. If you’ve ever seen Galway, Ireland-based We Banjo 3 live, you know two things. First, their behavior on stage is diametrically opposed to stage fright. Second, it is not calm, cool, and […]
Fortunate Ones On Band Origins and How They Chose Their Van Name
Andrew James O’Brien and Catherine Allan – Fortunate Ones – talk about the benefit of in-ear monitors and the importance of maintaining a semblance of consistency and routine while on tour.
Richie Furay on Insurance Moments and a “Sad Memory”
Rock Hall of Famer Richie Furay recalls his first gigs, paid and unpaid, and the time when his band’s instruments got locked up.