Markus James has travelled to Timbuktu to unlock the secrets of the blues and found a connection between what he heard in the deserts of Mali to the fife and drum music of northern Mississippi. Like Corey Harris and the Dickinson brothers, James” preoccupation with exploring the drum-based blues of North Mississippi has led to […]
Ellis Paul on Touring in a Honda CR-V and Selling Fewer CDS (But More Books)
Ellis Paul talks the hazards of tour driving and building a successful career in the music industry. Plus, he shares a lyric from the first song he ever wrote.
Readers’ Pick: The First Waltz by Hard Working Americans
You picked The First Waltz by Hard Working Americans as your favorite for the week of October 28, 2014. Readers’ Top Picks (last 4 weeks) Boxers by Matthew Ryan (20) Aviator by Stoney LaRue (7) And The War Came by Shakey Graves (7) Rock & Roll Time by Jerry Lee Lewis (6) Indian Ocean by […]
Monday Morning Video: Drive-By Truckers
I caught the Truckers in Pawtucket, Rhode Island a few weeks back. The band has been playing larger and larger venues in recent years so it was great to see them in the relatively small venue known as The Met. The group was in fine form. The youngsters in the group — Jay Gonzalez (joined […]
Lac La Belle – A Friend Too Long
As I sit here starting to write this review, I Â realize it”s somewhat appropriate that tonight is Halloween, when costumed children pretend to be someone they wish they could be and costumed adults pretend to be someone (or something) they don”t want to be. Â The latest record from Detroit-based Lac La Belle, A Friend Too […]
Mayer's Playlist for October 2014, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH And the War Came, by Shakey Graves Austin-based Alejandro Rose-Garcia — Shakey Graves — makes a mighty fine racket. His live performances, generally just him on the stage playing guitar and percussion, are captivating. And the War Came is the rare studio album that captures this energy while simultaneously showcasing the […]
Sean Costello – In The Magic Shop
Sean Costello was a great talent who left us too soon. After taking the blues world by storm, Costello was found dead of an apparent overdose in his Atlanta hotel room on April 15, 2008, the day before his 29th birthday. After his death, his family confirmed that the troubled artist had suffered from bipolar […]
Readers’ Pick: Aviator by Stoney LaRue
You picked Aviator by Stoney LaRue as your favorite for the week of October 21, 2014. Readers’ Top Picks (last 4 weeks) Boxers by Matthew Ryan (20) Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone by Lucinda Williams (9) Aviator by Stoney LaRue (7) And The War Came by Shakey Graves (7) Rock & Roll Time […]
Monday Morning Video: James Brown on the T.A.M.I. Show
Here’s the legendary James Brown delivering a performance for the ages.
JW-Jones – Belmont Boulevard
JW-Jones is one slick guitar slinger from north of the border.  Cut from the mold of a Jimmie Vaughan or the late Johnny Winter, Jones hails from Ottawa, Canada, an unexpected cradle for an artist sure to be recognized for his impressive guitar skills. Somewhat of a prodigy, Jones recorded his first album, Defibrilatin’, in 2000 […]