Josh Ritter — Spectral Lines It is challenging when an artist you love zigs or zags. You love them because of the work they have already done, so anything that goes in a different direction feels unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable. Of course, the job of the artist is not to make us comfortable. It is, […]
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Adam Klein – Holidays in United States Much of the music being released now has its roots in the COVID 19 pandemic and quarantine. For many artists, it was a time of introspection and self-reflection, and the music often reflects an inner journey. Georgia-based singer/songwriter Adam Klein has gone the opposite way – his new album, […]
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David Lindley: Appreciating A “Dragon Slayer” March 5, 2023 David Lindley, the virtuoso player of guitars and all things stringed, never lost track of a fundamental thing about making music: it’s supposed to be fun! (That, of course, is why they call it playing.) Lindley died this week at the age of 78. Looking […]
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Richard Thompson at Ram’s Head on Stage – February 23, 2023 A Richard Thompson concert is not for the faint of heart. There is no denying that his music tends to focus on the sadder things in life. But, as a grinning Thompson told a sold-out Ram’s Head on Stage in Annapolis (MD) the other night, […]
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Margo Price — Strays Margo Price gives no fucks. Although it’s been a rough journey she has reached a point in her career- and in her life- where she is confident about who she is. “There’s a real freedom about being completely truthful about who I am, flaws and all,” she said recently. That freedom, […]
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Joe Henry — All the Eye Can See Some people like beer. Some prefer scotch. Beer goes down easy, of course; but scotch is an acquired taste, something that is best sipped slowly rather than guzzled. But scotch lovers will tell you that it has a richness and depth that few other drinks can match. […]
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The Philosophy of Modern Song by Bob Dylan (Simon & Schuster) Review by Mark Pelavin The second least surprising thing about The Philosophy of Modern Song, Bob Dylan’s new book, is that it’s weird. The least surprising thing? It’s brilliant. It’s brilliant, to be clear, on its own terms. Just as Dylan does whatever he […]
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Margo Price — Maybe We’ll Make It It is not a surprise that Margo Price’s memoir, Maybe We’ll Make It, is compelling, honest, and powerful. I doubt that she’s capable of anything less. Price’s story does not make for easy reading, but you never want to walk away from it or from her. Her deep […]
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James McMurtry Makes His Case – Annapolis Songwriter’s Festival Rams Head on Stage, Annapolis, MD, September 18, 2022 by Mark Pelavin Closing out the Inaugural Annapolis Songwriter Festival, James McMurtry made a powerful case for being recognized as the premier songwriter of this generation. It’s as if he looked at the 65 or 70 songwriters who performed […]
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Lucinda Williams Brings Her “Real Life Stories” to Annapolis Songwriter’s Festival September 16, 2022 “Telling real life stories, that’s my role” Americana trailblazer Lucinda Williams told the enthusiastic audience at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, capping the second day of the first Annapolis Songwriters Festival. The relationship between Williams and her audience was at the center […]
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