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 2019: 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 annual 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 […]
Leeroy Stagger on Canadian Taco Joints and How Life Is Meant to Be Lived
Leeroy Stagger talks about his multi-purpose tour vehicle, vague recollections of the first song that he wrote and visiting a Wendy’s drive-thru after his first gig.
Video Premiere – Leroy From the North
A few weeks back I got a chance to hear and review the new EP from LA-based Leroy From the North. Health & Fitness delivers a big dollop of southern rock vibe, with influences from Muscle Shoals to Macon. While the guitar hammers the classic power chords, the lyrics come from current cultural phenomenon. They […]
Bonus Monday Video – Remembering Neal Casal and Donnie Fritts
Last week was another tough one in the music world with the passing of both Donnie Fritts and Neal Casal. Fritts Fritz was the longtime keyboardist for Kris Kristofferson and a renowned Alabama songwriter while Casal was the guitarist in groups ranging from the Chris Robinson Brotherhood to Ryan Adams & the Cardinals to the […]
Jody Stephens and Luther Russell Talk Those Pretty Wrongs, Big Star and Life in a “Grassroots” Enterprise
Luther Russell and Jody Stephens of Those Pretty Wrongs share stories about their tour strategies, varied rehearsal studio experiences and songs written together and alone.
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2019, Part 2
Have You Seen My Girl, Todd May (from the self-released Let’s Go Get Lost) There are certain albums that were meant to be heard on vinyl. While the latest from Todd May isn’t available in that format, one can hear both its inherent warmth and insistent crackle in every song – even when streamed or […]
Quick Hits – Brad Sanzenbacher, Leroy From The North
Like a lazy river winding through the woods on a hot summer day, the new EP, Dying Old Flower, from Santa Cruz Mountains-based Brad Sanzenbacher is as much a feeling as a sight or sound. You can practically smell the riverside rhododendrons on Cacapon, perhaps named after a park in West Virginia with just that […]
Bonus Monday Video – Ottoman Turks vs The 40 Acre Mule
The folks at State Fair Records have a good thing going. I’ve been in Dallas a few years now and have had some time to explore the local music scene. Chief among my discoveries is that there has been a steady flow of great music State Fair. The label wraps up its summer with not […]
Monday Morning Video – Austin Lucas and Garrett Owen
As one might imagine (and some actually know), I see a lot of shows. And by that I mean a lot. In that realm there are some artists who I get to see a lot. Then there are others who, unfortunately for various reasons, I don’t get to see often enough. Austin Lucas fits in […]