Brooklyn-born, Paris-resident Natalia M. King has taken a somewhat circuitous route in developing her musical style. Originally thinking she did not want to play jazz or blues, King started delving into what influenced the music of her youth. She also embarked in a physical, geographic journey to discover herself. It all came together when she […]
Birds Of Play – Murmations, Volume 2
Musical inspiration comes from many sources, but life experience surely has to rank at the top. You’d be hard-pressed to find lives lived to the degree of friends Alex Paul, Eric Shedd, and Jack Tolan. So when they decided to trade-in their outdoor, world-traveling, adventurous lifestyle for equally lucrative careers as musicians, they had some […]
Jamie McDell on Authenticity and Signing with a Major Label Early In Her Career
New Zealand singer-songwriter Jamie McDell talks about choosing the lesser evil while on tour and playing a stadium at the start of her career.
Monday Morning Video – Mando Saenz
Here are acoustic versions of two songs from All My Shame, one of my top ten favorite 2021 releases, courtesy of Nashville by way of Texas songwriter Mando Saenz.
Readers’ Pick: Sarah Borges – Together Alone
You picked Sarah Borges – Together Alone as your favorite new release for the week of February 18, 2022. Poll Results New Releases Readers’ Tops Winter & Spring 2022 David Gideon – Lonesome Desert Strum (75 votes) Sarah Borges – Together Alone (44) The Rave-Ups – Tomorrow (19) Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Nightroamer […]
Joshua Rilko – Lost Soul/Rock & Roll
All that time with no gigs to play has resulted in some really good music being written. The latest example of that comes from Joshua Rilko, founding member of Lindsey Lou and the Flatbellies, and mandolin-about-town for the likes of Sierra Ferrell, Billy Strings, and others. He came up with 11 new songs, about half […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Feb/Mar 2022, Part 1
The Ballad of Sissy & Porter, The Whitmore Sisters (from the Red House Records release Ghost Stories) There’s a throwback quality to the Whitmore Sisters’ Ghost Stories. Sure, sisters Eleanor and Bonnie have magical familial harmonies that recall The Everly Brothers. It’s the songs and arrangements, however, that hearken back to a bygone era when […]
Yonder Mountain String Band – Get Yourself Outside
Some bands stay fresh through a process of having two or three core members and a rotating lineup of additional musicians and collaborators. Others have a more stable roster and view the infrequent change as a breath of fresh air and insurance against getting stale. Such is the case with Yonder Mountain String Band, who […]
Sarah Shook on a Tour Game Changer and Staying Hydrated
Sarah Shook talks about avoiding gas station fare, trying not to avoid the neighbors during band practices, and bartending at in Chapel Hill, NC.
Monday Morning Video – The Sadies
We lost another great talent this past week with the passing of Dallas Good, co-founder of Canada’s treasured The Sadies. In addition to the group’s own prodigious output, they have collaborated with countless friends and admirers, including Neko Case, John Doe, Justin Townes Earle, Gord Downie, and countless others. Good’s passing is another tragic loss […]