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, […]
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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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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