On pretty much any night of the week on network television, you can find a show featuring contestants with incredible vocal talents. What most of them are missing is soul. Not literally like soul music, but spiritually like the non-physical essence of someone. If you don’t know what that sounds like, you can hear it […]
The Jayhawks Talk About Avoiding Rehearsal Space Rush Hour and Missing the Road
Marc Perlman and Gary Louris of the Jayhawks chat about terrible eating habits on the road and recall their first gigs.
Peter Himmelman on Tour Cooking and Writing in Optimistic Font
Singer-songwriter Peter Himmelman talks about the tortoise and the duck in his rehearsal space and recalls the lesson that he learned at his first gig.
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2020 (So Far), the Songs
No Time for Love Songs, The Mastersons (from the Red House Records release No Time for Love Songs) I love you so much but it’s no time for love songs We’re starting to unravel at the seams Maybe I care too much and this world is hard enough How come everybody’s gotta be so mean? […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2020 (So Far), the Albums
Self Made Man by Larkin Poe Sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell take no prisoners on this sonic rock and blues explosion. Self Made Man is a brilliant combination of fierce guitars, impassioned vocals, and rousing anthems. Key Tracks: She’s a Self Made Man, Holy Ghost Fire, Keep Diggin’, Back Down South, Tears of Blue to […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 4
She’s a Self-Made Man, Larkin Poe (from Tricki-Woo Records Self Made Man) Rebecca & Megan Lovell pull no punches on their latest release. Self Made Man, their follow-up to 2018’s Grammy nominated Venom & Faith is a bruising rock album pure and simple. The sisters are old souls possessed by the spirit of the legendary […]
Broke Down South of Dallas – A Special Playlist
Voices, Joshua Ray Walker (from the State Fair Records release Glad You Made It) Joshua Ray Walker sure seems like he’s having fun on Glad You Made It. Sure, the album opens with the stunning “Voices”, a song of loneliness and despair. Yet as the album progresses, Walker leans into the country side and showcases […]
The Dunes of the Cape – A Special Boston Playlist
Her Town Now, Mark Erelli (from the self-released Blindsided) A song of the year nomination at last year’s Americana Music Awards put Mark Erelli on a stage that he has long deserved. Over twelve albums, Erelli has honed his songwriting craft and become one of Americana’s leading, if until recently under-appreciated, songwriters. Blindsided, his latest […]
Ron Sexsmith on Instant Oatmeal and Gallows Humour
Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith recalls getting kicked off his tour bus and talks about making a living in music.
Bonus Monday Video – The Posies
Because some times – and some weeks – you need a rock and roll adrenaline shot to kick-start the week. Here’s a favorite go-to of mine: The Posies “Dream All Day”.