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 […]
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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Josh Ritter Brings his “Messianic, Oracular Honky-Tonk” To the Rams Head (part of the Inaugural Annapolis Songwriters Festival) For a guy who writes and sings about dying mill towns, the nature of truth, and the use and abuse of God, Josh Ritter sure seems to be having a great time. His show at the Rams […]
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Todd Snider’s Songs — and Stories — Shine on — Live: Return of the Storyteller Review by Mark Pelavin[i] Maybe you have a friend who is deep into scotch, or whisky, or craft beer. I bet they love to talk up specific bottles, but that they do so in a way that makes clear that the drink is, […]
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Jim Lauderdale — Game Changer Review by Mark Pelavin Game Changer is Americana icon Jim Lauderdale’s 35th album, a body of work whose quality and quantity clearly mark him as a Nashville institution. In fact, this year he is nominated for the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame which would be added to his Lifetime Achievement […]
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Blueswomen Magness Takes On…. HerselfJaniva Magness — Hard to Kill There is a special thrill in listening to an album you have never heard before, especially from an artist you have never really listened to. And whole other, higher, level of thrill when the album turns out to be as strong as Janiva Magness’ Hard to […]
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Show Review: Maggie Rose at the Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD, June 29, 2022. You can learn a lot about someone by their choice of covers songs. At the Ram’s Head On Stage in Annapolis (MD) Maggie Rose, a great songwriter herself, covered Aretha Franklin, Carol King, Phish, and the Box Tops, and even a […]
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John Doe — Fables in a Foreign Land by Mark Pelavin[i] When Neil Young proclaimed that “it’s better to burn out than it is to rust,” those indeed seemed like the two choices artists had. Many burnt out, or died, or disappeared. And more than a few choose to rust, staying in the same place they […]
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