I’ve no doubt that many a sports fan has dreamed about breaking into their local arena and standing in the center of the room looking up at the seats arrayed around it. Pittsburgh-based The Commonheart live out that fantasy in their latest video, sneaking into their hometown PPG Paints Arena to perform their latest single […]
Dallas Got a Soft Machine – a Special Playlist
It’s been a while since I made a playlist featuring Dallas artist releases so I’ve got some catching up to do… This playlist is a mix of songs from albums released in 2021 and 2022. Panhandle Wind, Isaac Hoskins (from the self-released Bender) Denton’s Isaac Hoskins rode out Covid – no pun intended – working […]
Lenny Lashley on The Dee Dee Ramone Diet and Working Construction
Boston punk rocker Lenny Lashley summarizes his first gig and shares his definition of “winning” in the music industry.
Monday Morning Video – Andy Frasco and the U.N.
Andy Frasco and the U.N. brought a party to Brooklyn this past weekend. And what a party it was – I don’t think it was possible to walk out of the venue after the show without a big ol’ smile on one’s face. Frasco and company interspersed fun covers (ranging from TLC to Nirvana to […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2022, Part 2
Breaking Slow, Anthony D’Amato (from the Blue Rose Music release At First There Was Nothing) Anthony D’Amato is on a creative tear. Fresh from the this summer’s debut of Fantastic Cat, the songwriter collective of which he is a founding member, D’Amato has released an album that ranks among the finest of his on-going career. […]
Michael Paul Lawson – Love Songs For Loners
Aside from tributes and fund-raisers, the idea of concept albums fell out of favor about the time disco came into vogue. Sometimes though, there’s a theme that runs through a record. It doesn’t necessarily drive what gets put on disk, but it ties the songs in the project together. That’s the case with the sophomore […]
The Ransom Brothers – Resurgence
There’s much to be said for being old enough that something you loved as a kid has become cool again. In this case I’m talking about the multiple lead guitars with fiddle or pedal steel fed by a driving rhythm section that became known as Southern rock. Several new albums heavy on that style have […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2022
Roll Away (Like a Stone), Butch Walker (from the Ruby Red Recordings release Butch Walker as… Glenn) Butch Walker’s latest is something of a concept album, but not in the traditional sense. It portrays an artist playing a club show, complete with an emcee introduction, a simulated bar fight, and calls for an encore. Yet […]
Americana 2022: Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
The Americana Music Association Conference and Awards made a welcome return from the virtual world this year. The annual event showcased several hundred artists who collectively illustrate the breadth of the Americana umbrella. Here are some of my highlights from Americana 2022. WILLIAM PRINCE A couple of songs at the Yellowstone round wasn’t enough so […]
Americana 2022: Mayer’s Picks (Part 1)
The Americana Music Association Conference and Awards made a welcome return from the virtual world this year. The annual event showcased several hundred artists who collectively illustrate the breadth of the Americana umbrella. Here are some of my highlights from Americana 2022. CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM Ingram is now in the category of “when you can […]