In this year of election divisiveness perhaps no topic separates people more than what it means to live the American dream. When I saw the title of Amy Speace’s latest album, I wondered how she was going to address the issue. Instead of painting a picture of what it is, Speace instead offers vignettes of […]
Kasey Chambers on Lucinda Williams and Simplifying Her Approach to Touring
Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers talks about her “inner foghorn” and the cover songs she sang at her first gig. and shares
Bonus Monday Video – The Waymores
Atlanta’s The Waymores have spent years on the road, cross-crossing the country with their honky-tonk sound. Unfortunately things are about to change for the duo of Kira Annalise and Willie Heath Neal as Annalise is facing brain surgeries in the coming months. The healthcare costs, not to mention the loss of touring income, are a […]
Monday Morning Video – Jeffrey Gaines
When I’m not listening to stuff that I plan to review, I like to listen to music on shuffle. It’s particularly fun when I get reminded of an artist who had slipped from memory. This past week’s surprise was Jeffrey Gaines, whose music and performances pack an emotional punch. Here’s an example, “No, I Don’t […]
Readers’ Pick: Dustin Lowman – Invulnerable
You picked Dustin Lowman – Invulnerable as your favorite new release for the week of October 11, 2024.
Ronnie Baker Brooks – Blues In My DNA
Ronnie Baker Brooks plays such a serious guitar, one might say it’s in his DNA. The son of Chicago blues great Lonnie Brooks, Brooks (whose birth name was Rodney Dion Baker), along with his brother Wayne Baker Brooks, is one of a number of gifted blues offspring, including the likes of Shemekia Copeland (daughter of […]
New Earth Farmers – The Sky From the Underground
Paul Knowles and Nicole Storto first came to my attention a decade plus ago as Mars Arizona, a folk music duo. The pair morphed into New American Farmers, a Northern California Americana/roots band. From there they became New Earth Farmers, leaving most of the twang and acoustic arrangements behind. The first NEF album featured a […]
Alex Dezen of The Damnwells on Storage Space Rehearsals and Being Nice
Alex Dezen, lead singer and songwriter for The Damnwells, reveals the band’s tour van names and talks about an early “gig” as a babysitter.
John Calvin Song Premiere – Our Souls Have Broken Chains
Singer-songwriter John Calvin was raised an Army brat, moving every few years. That constant upheaval taught him an appreciation for diversity and a tolerance for letting things play out. He has a new record coming out in January, Greener Fields & Fairer Seas, that reflects those values as well as his belief that dark clouds […]
Monday Morning Video – Abby Hamilton
Abby Hamilton’s #1 Zookeeper (of the San Diego Zoo) was a fave album from 2023. Here’s “Lucky” from the album, captured at legendary music venue Red Rocks in Colorado.