Wooden Leg’s recent release Turn Back the World is a live recording from Boston, MA, featuring Jimmy Ryan’s mandolin and vocals backed by a crackerjack band consisting of Mickey Bones (drums), Brian Dunton (Fender bass), Joe Kessler (fiddle & some harmony), and Duke Levine (electric guitar). This release constitutes a comeback of sorts following up […]
On December 6, the Brooks Dixon Band released Pocket Full of Dreams, the band’s — and its leader’s — first full-length album recorded by engineers Ian Guthrie and Brad Phillips at Studio 101. Brooks previously released some solo EPs. This album just sounds old, and I mean that in a good way. The production is […]
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On October 4, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley released World Full of Blues, the duo’s third full-length album, on Compass Records. Grammy winner Brent Maher produced the guys this time at his Nashville studio, The Blueroom, adding B3 and some horns to the duo’s resonator/flattop, upright bass and drums configuration. Taj Mahal and Vince Gill […]
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On November 1, Charlie Hager released Truth and Love, his second full-length album, on Flour Sack Cape Records. You how those mashed potatoes and greasy meatloaf give you that secure feeling of satisfaction and tastes so good. But you also know, that comfort food is just not very good for you. Truth and Love is […]
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On May 24, The Waterboys released Where the Action Is, their thirteenth album (fifteenth if you count Mike Scott’s solo branded records from the 90s). Discovering wonderful music from a new artist creates a sense of excitement (and sometimes heartache) that we all live for. When I heard, for example, Twenty Something by The Schuberts […]
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I know that there are people who just write songs. Write them by the dozens, record them, and try to sell them for placements in movies and TV shows or to independent film makers. I admire these song writers. I’m jealous. I’d love to do what they do. But I can’t. I’m at the opposite […]
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On October 25, the Zack Walther Band will release its second full length studio album, The Westerner. (The band has also released three live albums.)“Holy pipes, Batman, that boy can sing.” Zack Walther’s voice is a beefy Zin with notes of Don Henley and a finish with just the right amount of twang. And this […]
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The Waterboys and I do NOT go way back. I’m now embarrassed to admit that just a year ago, I had no idea who they were. I only found out because my band’s booker got us a gig at The Field, an Irish pub in downtown San Diego. Having learned that stating the obvious was […]
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The Avett Brothers’ hotly anticipated release Closer Than Together (Republic) hit the streets October 4th. Out of the gate, or should I say the cannon, it’s freaking London Calling to the faraway towns. “Bleeding White” launches this album like a Saturn 5. A scorching guitar solo rips a hole in your heart with a tone straight out […]
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What’s the opposite of the blues? Times up . . . It’s Crave & Wonder’s debut Tales from the Porch. It’s an Eagle-Rare-drenched collection of memories from the sandpaper and honey LA-based duo, Arnold Schmidt and Debbie Dragna. Each track evokes perfectly that feeling of sitting on an idyllic porch reflecting on a life well […]
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