Let’s start the week with this breathtaking new cover of John Waite’s classic “Missing You”, courtesy of Brooklyn’s Bird Streets and Amy Vachal.
“Play Another Record” – a Premiere from Brandon Callies
With his latest single, Dallas singer-songwriter Brandon Callies offers the kind of advice that we all should heed. Originally recorded for his last record, the 2021 pop gem Sunrise Diner, the song celebrates the joy of listening to music. Although he doesn’t specify, I’d like to think it about putting some vinyl on the record […]
Review: Big Star Quintet Celebrate Radio City’s 50th Anniversary @ Union Stage, Washington, D.C. (8-25-2024)
“We like harmonies,” joked REM’s bassist Mike Mills at one point during the 50th anniversary show of Big Star’s Radio City recently at Union Stage here in Washington, D.C. Harmony, humor, and a celebration of songs that influenced so many musicians for decades were the theme of this sold out show. A smaller crew than […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2024, Part 2
The Money or the Time, Goodnight Texas (from the 2 Cent Bank Check Records release Signals) Goodnight Texas have built a career around storytelling. Their early albums were thematic period pieces, snapshots of time vividly captured in song. Later albums, including the recently released Signals, may lack an overarching narrative but are no less compelling […]
Monday Morning Video – Brittney Spencer
Brittney Spencer’s story is one of perseverance and commitment to craft. The Baltimore native made her way to Nashville in 2013 and, just over ten years later, celebrated the release of her debut full-length album this past January. Here’s “If You Say So”, a fave from the impressive My Stupid Life.
When It’s Twilight in Boston – a Special Playlist
Enough, Alisa Amador (from the Thirty Tigers release Multitudes) If I’m honest, I’m really skeptical about music competitions. Call me idealist, but I think the music industry is tough enough already and pitting artists against one another is counterproductive. That said, watching Alisa Amador win the NPR Tiny Desk Contest is somewhat reassuring. It’s wonderful […]
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2024 (So Far), the Songs
Better By Now, Heather Little (from the Need to Know Music release By Now) “I’ve wasted a lot of love being wrong, I learn too late and I stay too long,” in this haunting tale of heartbreak, “I oughta be better by now but I got mixed up with you somehow.” So Glad You Made It/Go All […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2024 (So Far), the Albums
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 […]