Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances from […]
Americana 2023, Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances from […]
The Baseball Project’s Scott McCaughey on Tour Riders and Working at a Record Store
Scott McCaughey of The Baseball Project (as well as The Minus 5 and Young Fresh Fellows) talks about the fight that broke out at his first gig and the combination of Not-Planning and Astounding-Good-Luck that has defined his career.
The Twangville Nirvana Tribute Show in NYC
Sure, Nirvana ain’t twangy but it’s hard to ignore the impact that the group has had on musicians of all genres. That’s the impetus for our upcoming tribute to the legendary group, scheduled for Sunday, October 8th at Berlin in the New York City’s East Village. (info and tickets) The line-up is as eclectic as it […]
Monday Morning Video – Balto
The boys in LA’s Balto are back with a new single and, damn, it’s good. There are so many things to like about this song – harmonizing guitars, heck, a flying V guitar. But the best part is that it just plain rocks.
Fountains of Clarity Interview Series: Brent Best of Slobberbone
(Fountains of Clarity Interview Series will be an ongoing series of low-fi podcast-like chats.) “We were booze band not a boobs band.”-Brent Best on Slobberbone In the words of a friend recently, “You either know Slobberbone or you don’t, but if you do know them, you love them.” The band hasn’t played much in the last […]
Popa Chubby and the Beast Band – Live at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC
Popa Chubby isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for a guitar slinger to liven up your night, he just might be the guy. Born Ted Horowitz in the Bronx during the final days of the Eisenhower administration, Popa Chubby devoured the rock music that surrounded him in the late 60s and early 70s, Chubby […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2023
Alameda, Anna Rose (from the White Pony/Electric Child Music release Last Girl of the Rodeo) Anna Rose doesn’t pull any punches – lyrically or musically – on Last Girl of the Rodeo. The LP cycles through the collapse of a relationship, bleeding raw emotion as it does. The deeply brooding “Whatever Gets You Through the […]
The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio – The Long Haul
I think most people would agree music is a visceral experience. It’s more than that, though. Sometimes the music moves you, and other times it makes you move. Los Angeles’ Mike Jacoby mostly writes and records in the latter style, and sticks to those strengths in his new album, The Long Haul. His previous three […]
Photos that ROCK! Newport Folk Festival 2023!
For the 6th time, I was lucky enough to photograph the Newport Folk Festival! I always have to pinch myself when I’m standing in the pit, right in front of the stage, with all of the incredible photographers. Somehow, it is really happening! Here are some of my favorites from 2023. (From top to bottom: […]