Glen Hansard died last week, and it’s hard to know where to start. He was one of the genuine ones — in his music and in how he moved through the world. That’s a rare thing, and it’s the thing we’ll miss most. I’ve written before about my favorite Hansard memory: an impromptu moment at […]
The Family – Delusions of Grandeur
Some records feel assembled; Delusions of Grandeur feels inherited. The Family is Dylan LeBlanc, his father James LeBlanc and James wife and stepson Angela Hacker and Bay Simpson. The album carries the unmistakable weight of shared history, where blood ties matter less than the lived experiences that shape every lyric and harmony. Recorded at Muscle […]
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2026 (So Far), the Songs
Don’t Let Go, Fantastic Cat (from the Missing Piece Records release Cat Out of Hell) A scream-along-at-the-top-of-your-lungs anthem about holding on to your dreams. Nothing you can buy can save what you soldSo hold on tight to the light in your soulDon’t look down, baby don’t let… Don’t let go Suffer, Boy Golden (from the […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2026 (So Far), the Albums
Cat Out of Hell by Fantastic Cat Fantastic Cat’s third album is another classic, nothing but pure pop perfection. Four songwriters with distinct styles blend here in a way that shouldn’t work as well as it does — sharp and spirited in both lyric and melody. And credit where it’s due: any album title that […]
Studio Spotlight/Tree Sound Studios, Paul Diaz
Back in the year of our Lord 2001 (in the year 2000…in the year 2000…) I ventured with my band to Tree Sound Studios to record. We liked what we’d heard with The Tender Idols’ album Distressor and saw that the guitar player produced it. So we struck a deal with the young Dave Cobb […]
Studio Spotlight/37′ Productions, Sean McLaughlin
We recently caught up with Sean McLaughlin of 37′ Productions to give us the lowdown on running a space a few miles south of Boston. Where is the studio located? The studio is in a century old mill building in Rockland, MA. Who are some notable artists who have recorded at the studio? I’ve been […]
Monday Morning Video – Dave Mason (1946 – 2026)
Dave Mason earned his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as a founding member of Traffic. It was well-deserved, yet it’s only a fraction of his contribution to rock history. You can find his fingerprints on records by Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney—a first-call contributor to some of the […]
Studio Spotlight/1809 Studios, Dave Drago
We recently checked in with Dave at 1809 at had a great interview. Hope you enjoy! Where is the studio located? Macedon, NY (20 Minutes east of Rochester)A solar-powered recording studio is housed inside a re-purposed, 19th-century Erie Canalside Tavern. In a nice off-the-beaten-path kind of location, while still close to any amenities one needs. […]
SXSW 2026: Say What?!
One of my favorite things about SXSW (well, after the music) are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from SXSW 2026. Whoever your favorite band is, their favorite band is Los Lobos. NPR DJ introducing Los Lobos at their Thursday afternoon set We played three songs, […]
SXSW 2026: The Sounds, Part 3
NAKIA Austin’s Nakia was a favorite SXSW discovery from nearly 20 years ago. I caught two sets towards the close of SXSW – a fitting way to round out the week. The Wednesday afternoon set at C-Boys, in particular, brought me right back to that first encounter — the voice, the energy, the songs, all […]