When I caught Luther Dickinson’s show last month in Philadelphia, it was in the smaller of the two halls at World Cafe Live. There were maybe 100 or so patrons there, and the tickets were reasonably priced under $20. He and his “Cooperators” couldn’t have walked away with more than $2,000 from the evening. After […]
Frank Solivan – Family, Friends & Heroes
For the record, I’d like to state I wish I was related to Frank Solivan.  The Solivan family reunions must be the ultimate bluegrass festival/jam session you could ever imagine.  Along with that family, and some additional friends, Solivan is recreating the spirit of that figurative event on his latest record, Family, Friends & Heroes.  The […]
Say What?! Winter 2015-2016 Edition
One of my favorite things about seeing live shows (well, after the music) are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from the winter of 2015-2016. You can live on pie and whiskey but you won’t live very long. Vance Gilbert. I went to the school of […]
Brett Harris Talks About Proposing to His Wife in a Song and Why He Tours With a Set of Running Shoes
Brett Harris talks about why he was more nervous for his first solo gig than he was singing in front of a large crowd at the National Cathedral and a particularly memorable – and meaningful – first song.
Monday Morning Video – Chris Knight was “Framed”
I like to put the ol’ iPod on shuffle and let it surprise me. It came through in spades this past weekend, kicking of a killer playlist with this Chris Knight classic. I don’t know if this qualifies as a murder ballad, but it makes for one damn entertaining story.
Readers’ Pick: Good & Dirty by Sarah Borges
SARAH BORGES, Good & Dirty beats out RAY LAMONTAGNE, Ouroboros as your favorite for the week of March 4, 2016. Poll Results New Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Top 25 Winter 2016 CALEB CAUDLE, Carolina Ghost (73) […]
Dead Winter Carpenters – Washoe
For most travelers, the next stop out of Bakersfield is either the high desert and Las Vegas, or the sprawl of Los Angeles. Â Musically, Bakersfield leads to the honky tonk of rural California, or the alternative rock and roll sprouting out of the Mojave. Â There’s a third path, though, north to the mountains and the […]
Sarah Borges Gets Fired Up with “Good and Dirty”
Every once in awhile, there is an artist whose album is so anticipated by the Twangville Posse that a number of us pile on for a team review. Sarah Borges, who has just released a new ep called Good and Dirty sits firmly in that category. MAYER’S TAKE Sarah Borges means business. While she has […]
Photos that ROCK! Josh Brings his Joy to Boston!
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band House of Blues, Boston MA February 19, 2016 On a cold night in February, I walked out of the sweaty House of Blues feeling like I had just been to some sort of a therapy session (and I am a therapist as my day job!) and my spirits […]
Monday Morning Video – Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg is one of those exceptional songwriters who can move you to tears with a heartbreaking ballad one minute and fire you up with some blistering social and political commentary the next minute. Proof in point, here are “Must I Paint You a Picture” and “Waiting for the Great Leap Forward” from his 1988 […]