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 […]
Monday Morning Video – Stevie Wonder
I’m kinda in the mood for something funky to start the week. And who better to provide it than Stevie Wonder. Here’s “Living For the City” performed live back in 1974.
Blue Moon Marquee – Scream, Holler & Howl
The unique Canadian duo Blue Moon Marquee is at it again with Scream, Holler & Howl, a release that proves that the duo owns the recipe to a fun, fantastic, genre-bending stew of their own design. The duo, which features A.W. Cardinal on vocals and guitar and Jasmine Colette on vocals and upright bass, captures […]
Monday Morning Video – Candi Staton
Technically summer isn’t over yet, right? So let’s kick off the week with a fun summer jam from the soulful Candi Staton. This version of “Heart on a String” is from the 2011 Americana Music Awards and features an all-star band led by the one and only Buddy Miller.
Monday Morning Video – Sam and Dave
Let’s have a soulful start of the week courtesy of R&B legends Sam and Dave.
Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2022
Clean Getaway, Caroline Spence (from the Rounder Records release True North) Caroline Spence looks at relationships from a myriad of perspectives on her wonderous new True North. “Blue Sky Rain” and “Clean Getaway” focus on their failure with a thoughtful clarity. “You never see it coming, only see it pass,” she sings on “Blue Sky […]
Monday Morning Video – Don Covay
The video quality may be less than stellar but the performance is spectacular. Here’s legendary R&B singer Don Covay, with Ron Wood on guitar, performing “Somebody”.
The Twangville Summer/Fall 2022 Release Preview
All This Life by Parker Twomey (15 July) Parker Twomey’s debut has a freewheeling and airy vibe, not to mention a maturity that belies his age. Lava Lamp by Jonah Tolchin (15 July) Tolchin steps away from his more restrained and often acoustic-based previous work to serve up one heck of a rock album. Nation […]
Nicky Egan on Side Hustles and the Key to a Lasting Career
Soul singer and songwriter Nicky Egan talks about working in a NYC hat shop and earning a high pressure reputation as a Yelp guru from her band mates.
Monday Morning Video – Eli Paperboy Reed at Muscle Shoals
How about one more week with the Paperboy… When Reed released Nights Like This, his Warner Brothers Records debut in 2014, his traditional R&B sound was given a more modern production. But it’s hard to take the classic soul out of the Paperboy. Here’s a version of the song recorded in Muscle Shoals with bassist […]