New England may not be the first place you think of for bluegrass, but the Three Tall Pines may have you thinking they’re from much further south. Dan Boudreau and Joe Lurgio give the band a spark in their beautiful songwriting. Each tune feels like it could be out of a one room house from […]
Monday Morning Video: Mike Barfield
One of the highlights of SXSW is Alejandro Escovedo’s Sunday Night Extravaganza. And, as I’ve written here, one of the highlights of this year’s show was seeing Mike Barfield. Here’s a classic video from the Barfield archives. Let’s get funky now.
Dr. John – Locked Down
Dr. John is an institution. With his characteristic mystical groovy-gumbo-voodoo schtick and funky keyboard playing, he has been a force in American music since his groundbreaking Gris-Gris in 1968. His early 1970s work, including Dr. John’s Gumbo and In the Right Place were instant classics.   A gifted piano (and occasional guitar) player, Mac Rebennack, or Dr. John, […]
Damien Jurado/Maraqopa
Opening with the raucous “Nothing Is The News†(featuring an excellent rambling lead guitar) I immediate thought that Jurardo had taken a cue from Neil Young’s Crazy Horse adventures, or his own I Break Chairs days, but, as I soon found out, that only lasts for one track. “Life Away from the Garden,†the second […]
Tom’s Picks: Winter 2012
Don’t miss these records from early 2012: MARTIN SEXTON, Fall Like Rain (EP) [★★★★/3.800] Singer/Songwriter/Soulster Sexton continues to perspicaciously reflect back on life with his songwriting while delivering mind-bending falsetto with his song. What this album lacks in length it makes up for in content. Four soul-searching originals plus a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For […]
Photos that ROCK! Levon Helm Tribute
IN TRIBUTE TO LEVON HELM: MAY 1940- April 2012 Levon Helm Band Life is Good Music Festival in Canton, MA: September 2011 Post by Suzanne D. McMahon (Suzanne Davis Photography) Â I feel so incredibly lucky that I had the opportunity to photograph Levon Helm at the Life is Good music festival last year. It was […]
Monday Morning Video: Missing Levon
It was just shy of a month ago that we lost Levon Helm, a true legend of rock and roll. The outpouring from the music community was immediate and immense. Here are but a few of the musical tributes (see below for the playlist details). Levon, you will be missed. Simone Felice performs “Radio Song†[…]
Trampled by Turtles in String Band Paradise
Trad bluegrass they ain’t. But don’t let that turn you off. The boys of Trampled by Turtles can pick a banjo and make a fiddle whine with the best of em. In person, they were just as lively and rocking as bluegrass instruments can be. Dave Simonette’s impassioned vocals and three-part harmonies bring every bit […]
SXSW 2012: Say What?!
One of my favorite parts of SXSW is the crazy things you see and hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections. I was going out with an actress, that was my first mistake. She was going out with a musician, that was her first mistake. Antonio Lulic It’s a real treat for […]
Old Settlers Music Festival 2012
I’ve been fortunate enough to have attended quite a number of multi-day music festivals over the years, from the Veiled Prophet Fair to the Monterey Jazz Festival and Telluride to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.  For my money, though, it’s really hard to beat the Old Settler’s Music Festival.  Held 20 miles or so outside of Austin […]