I had a tough time narrowing down my list of favorite albums to just ten. So here, in no particular order, are a few more favorites from 2013. Blunderstone RookeryStephen Kellogg Close to the FloorPatrick Sweany Stay RecklessAustin Lucas StudebakerMando Saenz The MooringsAndrew Duhon Truth Be SoldLeeroy Stagger ElectricRichard Thompson American RideWillie Nile Small Town […]
Mayer’s Picks: Best Albums of 2013, Boston Edition
This has been a great year for music in and around Boston. I hesitate to break these out into a separate regional list as they would all feature prominently on my overall Best of 2013. That said, taken together they make a great statement on the vibrancy of the Boston music scene. KINGSLEY FLOOD, Battles […]
Mayer’s Picks: Best Albums of 2013
This has been a great year in music, a feast for the ears but a challenge when it comes to picking my favorite albums for the year. A good problem to have, I suppose. Without further ado…. #1. JASON ISBELL, Southeastern The demons in these songs are no match for a songwriter of Isbell’s talent. […]
The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash – New Old Story
With the increasing popularity of the various genres of music loosely grouped under the label “Americanaâ€, there has been a proportionate increase in the number of Honky-Tonk and traditional Country bands. The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash are best described by the former. Although Honk-Tonk music is on the rise, the true Country bar is […]
Monday Morning Video: Rusty Belle takes on the Hollies
I featured Rusty Belle in last week’s Boston playlist. Here’s the trio taking on the Hollies’ wonderful “The Air That I Breathe” in what looks like someone’s kitchen. Damn if they don’t cook up some fine harmonies.
Photos that ROCK! Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds The Sinclair, Cambridge MA: December 2013 My friend Josh Myers started playing bass in a band that I had recently started hearing buzz about and he informed me that they were playing near by. I showed up at The Sinclair in Cambridge on a Friday night not knowing what […]
Still Love That Dirty Water: A Boston Playlist
FEATURED ALBUM Common Courtesy, by Rusty Belle I don’t often quote artist bios, but this was too good not to share: They were raised on the Beatles and the Band, went to high school with Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, dated Miles Davis and Tom Waits in college and keep a Lightnin’ Hopkins, Kinks or […]
Best of 2013?
It’s that time of year we start our Readers’ Pick poll to let you tell us what your favorite album of the year is. This year, we’re going to do something a little different. We’ll get the poll started, but we want you to help us add to it. If you don’t see your favorite […]
Hear It First – Susan Cattaneo’s “Lies Between Lovers”
After several years of writing songs to be sung by others, Susan Cattaneo decided to write for herself. The result is an album that has a classic feel, filled with songs that sound like timeless standards yet are infused with a contemporary freshness. From the heart-wrenching “Done Better†to the country swagger of “Worth the […]
Bonus Monday Video: Bill Janovitz with Session Americana
High on the list of Twangville highlights this year was the June music festival that we held in Cambridge, MA. Newly crowned Boston Music Award winners Session Americana anchored the Friday show, joined by a some very special guests. Bill Janovitz, one of the performers that night, stopped by a recent Session Americana performance and […]