April 2018 • Americana Highways

REVIEW: June Star’s “East on Green” is Unmistakable Poetry, All Americana

April 30, 2018April 30, 2018 Melissa Clarke1

The album showcases Andrew Grimm’s keen ability to tap into the painful aspects of human relationships while highlighting his refined guitar skills.

Song Premiere: Gene D. Turonis a.k.a “Gene D. Plumber”‘s “Round and Round We Go” is Eclectic, Pretty Folk Song

April 30, 2018July 27, 2018 Americana Highways0

Gene D. Turonis, a.k.a “Gene D. Plumber” has released a song from his forthcoming album All the Pretty Girls (Bar/None Records), produced by Marc Jonson . The song is part folk song and part pretty jewelry-box ballerina lullaby. The rest of the album is equally catchy, with tributes to Willie Nelson and George Jones, along […]

Interview: Tom Rush on New Release “Voices,” Music as Indicator for Social Change, Harvard, and Production Anecdotes

April 27, 2018April 27, 2018 Melissa Clarke0

It feels like the songs already exist and I’m just trying to coax them into this universe. It’s like listening to a faraway radio station that fades in and out. Each time it fades in I get a little bit more of the song

Interview: Steve Wynn Reissues Solo Albums, Reuniting with Dream Syndicate, Talks the 90’s, Identity, and Americana

April 26, 2018April 28, 2018 Melissa Clarke2

One of the things the U.S. has gotten right pretty consistently is music genres and stand-out artists. Say what you want about the U.S.—you could certainly say a lot these days — but at least we came up with Miles Davis and Joey Ramone so that’s pretty good.

Video: The Collection’s “Beautiful Life” Video is Hauntingly Moving

April 25, 2018April 25, 2018 Americana Highways0

Introducing the video of the song “Beautiful Life” from the North Carolina-based band The Collection. The song is part of their forthcoming release Entropy; the video is by Peyton Lea. “When I played roughs of our new record to my current partner, she said she loved the songs, but that they felt much sadder than I […]

Video Premiere: Jeff Plankenhorn’s “Love is Love” Video is Poignant Display

April 25, 2018July 27, 2018 Melissa Clarke0

Introducing the video premier for Love is Love from Jeff Plankenhorn’s forthcoming release Sleeping Dogs (Spike Steel Records) available May 4th. The album was co-produced with “Scrappy” Jud Newcomb and has received considerable participation and support from long-time cohorts Ray Wylie Hubbard, Patty Griffin, Jon Dee Graham, Miles Zuniga and Gabriel Rhodes. “The “Love Is […]

REVIEW: Old Crow Medicine Show’s New Release is Innovative and Traditional Blend

April 24, 2018May 1, 2018 Mark Joseph Engleson2

Old Crow Medicine Show celebrates their twentieth anniversary with the release of their truly excellent, well-rounded album Volunteer (Columbia Records Nashville). Two decades have only sharpened the band’s picking, which shines on the instrumental “Elzick’s Farewell.” This new-age old-time string band sounds every bit as vibrant as it ever has. With production duties handled by […]

REVIEW: Bourbon Express’ “Cry About it Later” is Throwback Old-Style Country with a Mirthful Vibe

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 Melissa Clarke0

K. Curley’s vocals are highlighted against the backdrop of B. Curley’s guitar traipsing among the shuffle beat.

The Blackbird’s new CD is a Winding Pathway of Hope and Ruminations

April 22, 2018April 22, 2018 Melissa Clarke1

It’ll take you down a long and esoteric winding, pathway of hope and ruminations.

Interview: Jay Dee Maness on new album with Lloyd Green, the Byrds, Dukes of Hazzard and Working with Tom Petty

April 20, 2018April 24, 2018 Melissa Clarke1

Jay Dee Maness is an acclaimed pedal steel guitar player who played on the Byrds’ 1968 Sweetheart of the Rodeo (Columbia). Lloyd Green was the second steel guitar player on that album, and as a 50th anniversary commemoration, together the two of them have created an instrumental tribute to that album: Journey to the Beginning: […]