To be described as an “Austin-based Alt -Country band” or an “Austin-based Indie band” is to be lumped into monikers that have become somewhat cliched in many ways. Thanks mainly to the capital city’s widely regarded reputation as a thriving home to musicians of all kinds, many bands that merely fit neatly into a single […]
Ben Kweller – Changing Horses
When it comes to hooks & songcraft, lately Ben Kweller seems like he has it down to a science. Since his self-titled record (2006), Kweller has become increasingly accessible. Somehow, he has married candy pop hooks with indie rock acclaim. He sings in a decidedly gentle pop vocal (see Josh Rouse or even Paul Simon). […]
Celebrating Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper
The rumors were fast and furious. Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones were mentioned. I even heard Ozzy Osbourne, although that may have been a town local toying with me. The occasion? 50 Winters Later, a special concert honoring the legacy of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. The […]
Fred Eaglesmith, Live at the Little Fox
One of the reasons I like live shows so much is you get a true sense of the artist. You hear the real musician, not what an engineer or producer decides you should hear. You also get to see their real talent. Take Emmylou Harris, for example. Unbelievably, that crystal clear, mesmerizing, audible perfection of […]
Bon Iver – Blood Bank
After the heaps of praise and fascination from his first album, Justin Vernon had a choice to make. Do I play it safe and do what I know? or should I scrap the old stuff and bring in some band or play some instrument? Either option runs the risk of alienating someone. If he plays […]
The Gourds – Live at Visulite Charlotte January 22nd
Some things never change. The sun rises and sets every day, The Earth spins on its’ axis, Amy Winehouse gets wasted, Britney parties with no panties, Congress pisses away taxpayer dollars and The Gourds rock. From the first time I saw them years ago at SXSW until I saw them on January 22nd at Visulite […]
Elkhart – The Moon
Often times, an artist or a band may get wrapped up in the effort to conform to a sound or style rather than seeking to create a vibe that actually fits them more effectively than many of the preordained titles and labels available really do. When Travis Hopper, lead singer and songwriter for Dallas-based Elkhart, […]
Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream
To be honest, before I heard Devil’s & Dust I thought Bruce was a cheesy 80s stadium rocker. Each song was dripping with annoying horns and god-awful production from that decade. I can just see him now pumping his fist while he sings “Glory Days†or “Born in the U-S-A.†He seemed like an 80s […]
The Day the Music Died
Fifty years ago tonight, the music world lost some shining lights. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died when their plane crashed into a field on February 2nd, 1959. We’ll never fully know what they would have accomplished had they lived. Yet there is little doubt of the impact that they’ve had on […]
Mayer’s Playlist for January ’09, a Video Companion
What’s a playlist without a video companion? We kick things off with Otis Gibbs and Miranda Lee Richards, our featured artists this month. From there we’ve got live clips from the Gourds, Gary Louris & Mark Olson, Joe Ely and A.C. Newman, plus videos from Frank Turner and Bruce Springsteen. We close out this month […]