Peter Karp – Jersey Town This set pays a blues homage to Peter Karp’s home state: New Jersey. Land of Sinatra, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Nancy Sinatra, Young Rascals, Billy Falcon, Al DiMeola, Count Basie, Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge), Bon Jovi, Donald Fagan, Pat DiNizio (Smithereens), Connie Francis, Cissy & Whitney Houston, Ricky […]
Stacy Mitchhart – No Rhyme Or Reason This is a slick, well-recorded set of roots-driven blues built on a soulful foundation. The 17th full-length LP from Tennessee Blues purveyor Stacy Mitchhart (vocals/lead & rhythm guitars). Produced by Grammy winner Tom Hambridge (drums/percussion/bgv), the 12 tracks were conjured up for No Rhyme Or Reason (Drops April […]
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Dan Penn Smoke Filled Room On December 5th, in Austin, Texas, I was poised—with palpable excitement—to step into a veritable temple of the blues and a true institution of the Texas capital: Antone’s Nightclub. Since opening its doors in 1975, the venue has hosted a mind-blowing lineup of performers. All the greats have passed through […]
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Matthew Payne – Better Times This debut Matthew Payne showcase contains 10 stripped-down, bare bones pieces that make up Better Times (Drops April 17/Independent/30:54) recorded at EAR Studio in Austin, TX & produced by James Stevens (harmony vocals/percussion) & Matthew Payne (all songs written & performed). With the first track “Better Times,” Matthew comes across […]
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Vincent Neil Emerson Blue Stars Country music, whether it be radio-friendly pop or the stuff we talk about here on Americana Highways, tends to center around four topics – lovin’, workin’, drinkin’ and rememberin’. The quality of the songs seems to hinge on the relatability of the writer – I (as someone who’s engaged in […]
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Benjamin Tod Vengeance and Grace Benjamin Tod, bandleader of Lost Dog Street Band, where he played alongside his wife, fiddle player Ashley Mae, decided to put the band on an indefinite hiatus following the arrival of their first child. But it does not mean that the Tennessee native songwriter has stopped making music. After his […]
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Jefferson Ross – Low Country Wedding This is another ambitious Jefferson Ross album. All the songs were written, performed, recorded & mixed by Atlanta, Georgia’s Mr. Ross. A bit more commercial-mainstream, the countrified tunes as laid out are creatively endearing. Many of the themes he chooses to tackle are earthy & slightly eschewed from basic […]
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Curtis Salgado – Legacy Rewind: Live In ’25 If you were to see a head-on collision between Eric Burdon & Boz Scaggs on stage, you’d have a debris field that would start to sound like Eugene, Oregon’s Curtis Salgado swept up on “Wiggle Outta This,” a fiery blues piece with backup singers Keashaun Jones, Margaret […]
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Banshee Tree – Bad Luck This 2nd LP is quirky but not in strangeness, in creativity. Possessing the laid down jazzy vocal tonality of Emmett Tinley & Prayer Boat – it’s an effective style, but maybe for acquired tastes. The band is from Denver, & their originality lies in their tender sax notes, strong backup […]
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Su Andersson – “Zanzibar Stone Town” & “Reclaim The Fascination” I don’t usually review singles, but I made an exception for this Swedish release. Apologies. I still don’t do singles. There are too many & time is at a premium. However, Su Andersson is one of Sweden’s great singers. She possesses an incredible voice; her […]
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