Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members and artists together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through four days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Richard Thompson Any AMA report has to start and end with Richard Thompson. […]
Americana 2012: The Scene
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members and artists together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through four days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. The Americana Music Awards Any discussion of the AMA Conference has to start […]
Mayer’s Playlist for July 2012, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH O’ Be Joyful, by Shovels and Rope We’re gonna call Shovels & Rope the anti-American Idol or whatever other reality singing show you can name. It is hard to imagine music more authentic in feel, from the songwriting down to the performances, than what emanates from this husband and wife duo. […]
Carolina Chocolate Drops – Leaving Eden
The Carolina Chocolate Drops, whose informal folksy jug band approach belies a talent pool that is seemingly bottomless, have added another gem to their already stellar catalogue with Leaving Eden.  The Drops, who in their live shows recreate the look and feel of a turn-of-the 20th century string band but with the anachronistic addition of human “beatbox” vocal percussionist […]
Americana 2011: The Sounds
MUSCLE SHOALS TRIBUTE SHOW Detroit may have by Motown and the Funk Brothers, but Alabama had Muscle Shoals. Side-stepping which was the better musical factory, it is impossible to ignore the impact that Muscle Shoals has had on American music. This performance provided irrefutable evidence to the greatness of this legacy. The set was loose […]
Americana 2011: The Awards
The hands-down highlight of the Conference was the annual Americana Music Awards. In this instance, the words for such a magical evening are hard to come by. Set aside any the speeches and performances, the event was held in the legendary Ryman Auditorium. Originally built for religious revivalist meetings, it achieved great fame as the […]
Monday Morning Video: Buddy Miller
Simply brilliant.
Monday Morning Video: Los Lobos
So the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees were announced last week. Lots of interesting artists were on the list, but not the one artist that I was looking to see. That band? Los Lobos. I have to imagine that there will be a line of artists volunteering to induct the band when the […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Oct/Nov 2010, Video Companion
Happy weekend. I’m certainly ready for it, some time to relax and perhaps catch a show or two. Here’s the over-stuffed (Thanksgiving pun intended) video companion to the October and November playlist. Things kick off with a run of acoustic performances from Bow Thayer, Doc Dailey, Will Hoge, Teddy Goldstein, the Autumn Defense, Benjamin Frances […]
Mayer's Playlist for October/November 2010, Part 1
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: The Bottom of the Sky, by Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck After listening to this release, it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that Thayer has played with Levon Helm (although it was really the reverse – Helm played drums on Thayer’s 2006 release). They are kindred spirits, men whose music […]