Here, in no particular order, are more favorites from 2023.
Mayer’s Picks – The Best of 2023 (So Far), the Songs
Suicide of Town, Ben de la Cour (from the Julian Records release Sweet Anhedonia) Amidst an album of dark and sobering ballads, de la Cour proves that he can rock with the best of ‘em. Simple Things, The Band of Heathens (from the BOH Records release Simple Things) Getting by on simple things, letting go […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2023, Part 2
Suicide of Town, Ben de la Cour (from the Julian Records release Sweet Anhedonia) There isn’t a lot of sunshine in Ben de la Cour’s music and Sweet Anhedonia is no exception. Heck, the album is titled after the condition of not being able to experience pleasure. But that’s part of the Nashville singer-songwriter’s magic […]
Monday Morning Video – John Fullbright with The Band of Heathens
Here’s a bunch of musicians sittin’ around singing. John Fullbright and The Band of Heathens, hanging out at MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, CO back in 2020, collaborated on “Social Skills”, a track from Fullbright’s just released The Liar.
Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2020, Part 2
Fine, Bonnie Whitmore (from the Aviatrix Records release Last Will & Testament) Bonnie Whitmore lulls you in with a chorus of harmonies on the opening track to her latest album. But before one can settle into the lushness, a fuzzy bass, quickly joined by ominous strings and a resonating electric guitar, interrupts to create a […]
Gordy Quist of The Band of Heathens on Quality Pour-Over Coffee and the Path to Writing Good Songs
Singer-songwriter Gordy Quist of The Band of Heathens talks about The Finishing School studio, a brief stint as a substitute teacher (with an accompanying apology to substitute teachers that he had as a child), and why music can be personal therapy.
Mayer’s Playlist for January/February 2019, Part 1
Full Moon Goodbye, Michael McDermott (from the Pauper Sky Records release Orphans) Orphans is notable in that it is made up of songs that were written for but didn’t make the cut for McDermott’s recent albums. Orphans they may be, outcasts they are not. This collection of songs more than hold their own in the […]
The Band Of Heathens – Sunday Morning Record
Sunday Morning Record. Â The title of the latest from The Band Of Heathens does as good a job of describing the recording as just about anything anyone writes. Â Those early morning hours when the night before is still ringing in your ears and the warm morning sun commands something a little less energetic and little […]
Shawn’s Favorite Live Sets Of 2011
By now you’ve seen what most of us were listening to on our MP3 or CD players last year. Â So I thought I’d add my favorite live sets from last year. Â 1) Roger Waters: I got a chance to see The Wall at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Â Holy cow. Â As far as I’m […]
The Band Of Heathens – Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster’s Son
I’m beginning to think The Band of Heathens are a little bit like Benjamin Button. Â Many well-known bands start with critically acclaimed albums, move to spending more time on the road, then abandon studio releases all together to milk their live performances. Â The Heathens started as a live-only phenomena and now, with their third release, […]