Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat by Fantastic Cat The sum is greater than the part with this collective of four singer-songwriters. Each of the four brings their own personality and songwriting style to the group, but they compliment one another beautifully. The songs crackle with intelligence and humor, all the better when the […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2024
So Glad You Made It, Fantastic Cat (from the Missing Piece Group Records release Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat) Fantastic Cat showcase their humor by maintaining a countdown clock until they’re eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, prominently displayed at their shows. Yet, it’s not entirely a joke – if […]
Cosmic Guilt – Palace of Depression
A friend of mine noted earlier this year there has developed a tiny silver lining to the Cat 5 hurricane of the pandemic. He observed that anyone still in the music business now is in it because they can’t live without it. The people who were doing it because they could, or because of peer/family […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2024
Lay By Your Side, Christopher Paul Stelling (from the self-released Forgotten but Not Gone and Few and Far Between) I’ve never been through a divorce but, listening to Christopher Paul Stelling’s new Forgotten but Not Gone and Few and Far Between, I have greater insight into the explosion of emotions that occur. Stelling has long […]
Alisa Amador on Old Guitar Strings and Saying “No” More Than “Yes”
Singer-songwriter Alisa Amador talks about not owning a tour vehicle, being a master snack packer, and the mystery of the music business.
Monday Morning Video – Roy Orbison
Hat tip to NPR and their current fundraising drive for reminding me of Roy Orbison’s greatness. Just take a look at the artists who came together to honor Orbison back in 1988. The background vocalists included Bonnie Raitt, kd lang, and J.D. Souther. The band included Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, and T Bone […]
Bonus Monday Morning Video – Wait, There’s Another Dallas Show?!
What’s better than one show in Dallas? How about two! Yup, before we gather in the back yard on April 28th, we’re gonna meet up at Double Wide, a Dallas institution, on the 24th for a big ol’ rock show. Tickets and info here. How’s this for a line-up: Here’s a video playlist to get […]
Bridget Kearney on Macrobars, Paul McCartney, and Working at Fenway Park
Bridget Kearney, solo artist and founding member of Lake Street Dive, talks about a good omen ahead of her band’s first show at Madison Square Garden, her evolving view on making music videos, and the time she broke the windshield of a taxi in Shanghai, China.
Mira Goto – Before
Humans have always spent a lot of energy trying to outdo each other, and social media has supercharged all the motivations causing that. So it’s a nice change to run across someone who’s comfortable with just who they are. Santa Cruz, CA, native Mira Goto acknowledges “there are always going to be better guitar players […]
SXSW 2024: The Sounds, Part 3
The Lottery Winners My last official SXSW set was delivered by one of my fave new artist discoveries – England’s The Lottery Winners. The band’s energy, combined with the positivity of their songs, made for a cathartic experience. Ben Kweller Kweller treated a Friday night crowd to a set filled with rockin’ fan favorites. Power […]