Monday Morning Video: The Wild Reeds
The Wild Reeds delivered one of my favorite sets from this year’s Americana Music Conference, guitar-fueled and intense. Here they are performing “Capable” from The World We Built, their most recent album. How about the dueling guitars, accompanied by harmonium, that close out the performance? As a special bonus, you’ll also find their stellar cover […]
Americana 2017: Mayer’s Picks (Part 2)
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 four 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 […]
Americana 2017: 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 four 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 […]
Deer Tick – Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
It takes a bit of bravado to release two albums simultaneously. Most bands work hard to put 10 – 12 well-crafted songs together every few years. It is not uncommon to see “B-side†albums come out shortly after a release, but for the most part they are only collections of songs and not a cohesive […]
Monday Morning Video – Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
Any list of the artists playing at the top of their game is bound to include Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. Here’s a studio session that, to these ears, includes the best of the bunch from the group’s latest release. Isbell’s entertaining between song banter is a special bonus.
Well You Heard About The Boston… Playlist, Part 2
Climb the Ladder, The Rationales (from the self-released Upstream) I’m a sucker for great power pop and have long enjoyed The Rationales, who have consistently been among Boston’s finest practitioners. Their latest release not only continues that trend, it raises the bar a few notches higher. The band’s line-up has evolved over the past few […]
Well You Heard About The Boston… Playlist, Part 1
Ex-Girlfriends Cost Less Money Than Ex-Wives, Greg Klyma (from the self-released Never Knew Caroline) There are some artists who are tireless students of music, constantly exploring the historical corners of country, blues and folk to better understand the anatomy of song. Greg Klyma is one of them. In fact, for several years he has brought […]
Monday Morning Video – Terra Lightfoot
One of my favorite discoveries from SXSW last year was Canadian powerhouse Terra Lightfoot. She’s a triple threat – her voice, guitar and songs come together with a fiery intensity. Lightfoot has just announced a new album, entitled New Mistakes, due on 13 October. Given how much I enjoyed her previous Every Time My Mind […]
Monday Morning Video – A Premiere from Paul Kelly
I’ve written about Paul Kelly on many occasions and with good reason – he is quite simply one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. Given that he has been releasing albums for more than 35 years, that puts him in some rarified air. Over the past several years, he has been on a particularly […]