Bassist Ted Russell Kamp is a mainstay of the Los Angeles Americana community. Check the liner notes of many an album emerging from that vibrant scene and there’s a good chance you’ll find his name. When he is not playing, producing or performing with the likes of Shooter Jennings, Sam Morrow and countless others, Kamp […]
Fall Music Clean Up
Here it is the end of the year and I was going back through all the great music I’ve heard this year and found 3 CDs that never worked their way up to a full review, but for one reason or another they hung around in my playlist. So as you sit there turkey-drunk and […]
Americana Music Fest 2017, Shawn’s Picks
As you’ve figured out by now, this week is about our coverage of the Americana Music Festival in Nashville. Here’s a rundown of the best sets I saw during the week. It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll, But I Like It: Yeah it’s Nashville, and yeah it was an Americana festival, but there was no shortage […]
A J Hobbs – Too Much Is Never Enough
There’s an old saying about blues musicians who had no formal training and yet could unload a gut-wrenching, soulful composition about life or love or maybe just an old dirt road: “it in him, and it got to get out.” There’s a country outlaw version of that in the first full-length album from California native […]
Mayer’s Playlist for March/April 2016, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Rangers & Valentines by Trapper Schoepp When was the last time that you heard an infectious song about mononucleosis? I can’t recall either but Trapper Schoepp demonstrates that it can be done. The lead-off track to his latest release crackles with energy, driven by an irresistible pop hook and emboldened by […]
Mayer’s Playlist for October 2015, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH All a Man Should Do, by Lucero There’s something to be said for aging gracefully, especially when you’ve got a well-earned reputation for raucous and whiskey-fueled rock and roll. Memphis-based Lucero demonstrate how to do it right on the 12th album of their nearly 18 year career. Singer-songwriter Nichols has long […]
SXSW 2013: The Scene
For me, the true harbinger of spring is the arrival of the SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas. Or rather, spring begins for me when I arrive in Austin for SXSW. With upwards of 2,500 bands and 20,000 attendees from around the world, SXSW is the world’s premiere music conference. Even better, it […]
Mayer’s Playlist for January 2013
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Battles, by Kingsley Flood Battles is the sound of a band hitting stride. Kingsley Flood have always delivered rock solid songs and performances. Their latest release, however, packages their most potent songwriting to date with some equally powerful arrangements. There’s a real edge to the songs across this release. The title […]