ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Boxers, by Matthew Ryan Boxers is an album of discontent. Life, love, work — you name it — the characters that inhabit this collection of songs are dissatisfied. There is rage, resentment and restlessness. Through it all, however, Ryan manages to find a glimmer of hope — sometimes it’s a lyrical […]
Readers’ Pick: Boxers by Matthew Ryan
You picked Boxers by Matthew Ryan as your favorite for the week of October 14, 2014. Readers’ Top Picks (last 4 weeks) Boxers by Matthew Ryan (20) [10/14] Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone by Lucinda Williams (9) [9/30] And The War Came by Shakey Graves (7) [10/7] Indian Ocean by Frazey Ford (5) […]
Monday Morning Video: J.P. Harris and Nikki Lane
Here are J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices with guest Nikki Lane performing a damn fine rendition of the Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty classic “After the Fire Is Gone.” Harris has just released a fine new honky-tonk album (Home Is Where the Hurt Is) and Lane released her own gem earlier this year (All […]
Cahalen Morrison & Country Hammer – The Flower Of Muscle Shoals
They haven’t allowed smoking in years, but the rafters still have that slight air of stale cigarettes. Â The Fire Department long ago made them sweep up the sawdust, but of course you can never really get rid of all it. Â The Polaroids above the bar are too faded to know who’s in them, unless of […]
Nu-Blu – All the Way
Another in my string of bluegrass reviews, Nu-Blu’s new record “All The Way” manages to take the cheesy and make it memorable. Take leadoff track “That’s What Makes the Bluegrass Blue.” I couldn’t think of a less appealing title. Yet the first spin clothed in expert bluegrass picking and airtight harmonies, makes the song surprisingly […]
Duke Robillard – Calling All Blues
Duke Robillard is a blues guitar icon. A multiple Blues Music Award winner and Grammy nominee, if Robillard had stopped at creating the jump blues revival outfit Roomful of Blues in the late 1960s, his contribution to blues music would have been sizable. Jump blues, an up-tempo form of blues often featuring horns that was […]
Readers’ Pick: And The War Came by Shakey Graves
You picked And The War Came by Shakey Graves as your favorite for the week of October 7, 2014. Readers’ Top Picks (last 4 weeks) Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone by Lucinda Williams (9) [9/30] And The War Came by Shakey Graves (7) [10/7] Different Shades Of Blue by Joe Bonamassa (7) [9/23] […]
Monday Morning Video: Pete Donnelly “The Trench”
It can often be both refreshing and insightful to hear a stripped down version of a songs originally performed by a full band. Here’s a great example — Pete Donnelly of the Figgs offering up a solo take on one of my favorite songs from that band’s extensive catalog. The tempo is a touch slower […]
The Roys – The View
As a recently inducted fan of bluegrass, I’ve come to know that the genre has the ability to turn the cheesy lyrics into an earnest and emotional tune. The Roys (brother and sister duo of Lee and Elaine) use their tight harmonies and musicianship to do just that. With a song like “Live the Life […]
Americana 2014, The Sounds, Part 3
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through four days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are my highlights among the many live performances I saw […]