Author: Gary Schwind

Melissa Ruth is a singer-songwriter who calls her sound “doo-wop twang.” On the new album Meteor, she blends elements of blues and soul with rock and country for a sound that is pleasant no matter what you call it. One of the first things you notice about Ruth is how she uses her voice. At […]

Joey McGee is a singer songwriter who is carrying on the long tradition of Texas-based storytellers on his new album El Camino Real (Mosaic Sun Music). When you play this album, the first song is “Stuck.” The first thing you notice is the similarity between Joey McGee’s vocals and Jackson Browne’s. It is a well-constructed […]

Seth Walker has never been an easy artist to classify. His music generally exists somewhere between blues and soul, but doesn’t fall firmly in either category. On the new album Are You Open?, he becomes even harder to classify other than to say that no matter the genre, he just writes good songs. The album […]

One of the great recurring themes in rock and roll is that of causing trouble. Vandoliers carries that theme with Troublemaker. The song opens with a driving beat provided by Guyton Sanders. Mark Moncrieff lays down a bass line that also helps propel the song. Then you hear the horns courtesy of Corey Graves. Chances […]

Yola is an artist who has come a long way from her childhood outside Bristol, England. As a child she was forbidden to make music and at some point she ended up homeless. To say she overcame those things is an understatement. From there she performed on some hits and joined Massive Attack for a […]

Pope Paul and The Illegals is a trio from Santa Ana, California, that prides itself on playing all kinds of Americana styles. With sounds ranging from rockabilly to honky-tonk to jazz, When the Stars Come Hurtling Down (Dial Back Sound) is proof that this band has mastered multiple Americana styles. A song about some vice […]

Some people will tell you that it’s impossible for musicians to create anything new. Technically that’s true. However, some bands come up with something rare enough that you have to pay attention. Such is the case with Pocketful of Fire, the new live album from Gangstagrass, a band that combines bluegrass with hip-hop. Yes, you […]

Some musical combinations are so good, you wonder why they didn’t happen before they did. This is the case with Colin Linden and Luther Dickinson who got together to record Amour. Colin Linden was mentored by Howlin’ Wolf and is part of the hit show Nashville. Luther Dickinson founded North Mississippi Allstars with his brother. […]