The fog seemed to foreshadow Joni Mitchell as it rolled in, surrounding the peninsula housing the War of 1812-era Fort Adams that makes up the venue of the Newport Folk Festival, after a weekend of intense sun and heat. There had been whispers all weekend about special guests; rumors of Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Jimmy […]
Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2018
Here, in no particular order, are a few more favorites from 2018. Tenkiller Marie/Lepanto Out From Under
Tweed River Talk – A Few Words with JP Harris
Nashville by way of Alabama musician JP Harris is pretty clear about what type of music he plays – country music. His most recent release, 2014’s Home Is Where the Hurt Is, hearkens back to the genre’s classic era with tales of hard livin’ and heartache. The self-taught musician promises to bring the honky-tonk to […]
Monday Morning Video: J.P. Harris and Nikki Lane
Here are J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices with guest Nikki Lane performing a damn fine rendition of the Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty classic “After the Fire Is Gone.” Harris has just released a fine new honky-tonk album (Home Is Where the Hurt Is) and Lane released her own gem earlier this year (All […]
Americana 2014: The Sounds, Part 1
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans 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. JOE FLETCHER I couldn’t think of a better way to close […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Sept 2014, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH You’ve Got the Wrong Man, by Joe Fletcher Singer-songwriter Joe Fletcher drew inspiration for You’ve Got the Wrong Man from the field recordings of the early 20th century. The process, most notably used by John Lomax during his musical exploration of the Southern US, places particular emphasis on the raw emotion […]