With a name like “Tallest Man on Earth,” a few questions may come to mind. And the answer to most of them is “no.” First of all, it’s not a band but a single singer/songwriter named Kristian Matsson. No, he’s not from south, the west or the U.S. for that matter. He’s from Sweden. No, […]
Bonnaroo 2009- Part 1
My 2009 Bonnaroo adventure began over 5 years ago. My cousin, 22 at the time, was diagnosed with a rare lung condition called Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histioctosis. Connie would struggle with both the disease and obtaining insurance in the ensuing 4 years. In June of last year, she received a double lung transplant. The transplant […]
Sarah Jarosz – Song Up In Her Head
Five years ago a skinny 13-year-old in black high tops took the stage at Old Settler’s Music Fest in Austin and proceeded to leave me, and most of the crowd, slack-jawed at her mandolin skills and innate stage presence. Fast forward to today and Sarah Jarosz has performed with some of the biggest names in […]
The Von Ehrics – Loaded
The marriage of Punk-Rock and Country music has been a fruitful union for years now. The Von Ehrics of Dallas, TX are yet another unapologetic spawn of the DNA that has produced The Supersuckers and Hank III. Loaded (Crustacean Records), which is The Von Ehrics third release, relentlessly displays their willingness to rock. Where certain […]
Win Big: The Low Anthem
It has been one heck of a year for Providence, RI trio the Low Anthem. When we first wrote about the band in January, they had just recently self-released the magnificent Oh My God, Charlie Darwin. Fast forward six months and, as band member and baseball fan Jeff Prystowsky might say, it’s a whole new […]
Advice for Father’s Day
Father’s Day will soon be upon us and with it comes the sophomore release from Nashville’s Daddy. Daddy For a Second Time was reared by Tommy Womack and the mighty Will Kimbrough and is chock full of Southern-tinged acoustic rock, not to mention their trademark wit. Womack’s “Early to Bed, Early to Rise” offers up […]
Listen Up: Session Americana
What began as an informal gathering has blossomed into one of Americana’s most impressive musical collectives. Taking their cues from a traditional Irish Seisiun, the six core members of Session Americana gather around a single table with an ambient mics. The set-up lends itself to a free-form and relaxed feel that lets the group swap […]
Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses – Roadhouse Sun
I often wonder if record labels get stressed when an artist tries to top a great debut. After all sustainability can only be proven over time. Then again such anxiety just comes with the territory. Mescalito established Bingham and had critics crowing about his future. Expectations can be a burden, but Roadhouse Sun reveals a […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May 2009, a Video Companion
We’re back with another fine video playlist of nearly all live performances. We kick things off with John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives performing at the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis. Other live showcases include Tim Easton (who rocks a bluesy number on his acoustic), Slaid Cleaves, Tift Merritt, These United States, John […]
Todd Snider/The Excitement Plan
My run in with Todd Snider probably happened around the mid-nineties when his comedy tune “Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues” lit up radio stations throughout the country. It was a funny song for the times and I just assumed Todd was some kind of Weird Al parody guy that had scored a cute little radio […]