By Jeff Burger There’s a modicum of truth to the notion that rock and roll hit a slump in the late 50s and early 60s—from around the time that Elvis entered the Army and Buddy Holly died until the Beatles-led British Invasion and psychedelia arrived to shake things up. But don’t believe anyone who tells […]
Continue Reading
When it comes to bluegrass, you know to expect some amazing picking and excellent harmonies. On the new album Sharing the Covers Chatham County Line provides abundant amounts of both. The twist on this album is that it is full of cover songs – and not just covers of traditional bluegrass songs. If you’re familiar […]
Continue Reading
A couple of years back, Steve Earle issued a no-doubt-about-it take-down when talking about most of the male-produced music coming out of the Nashville hit factories, calling it, “hip hop for people who are afraid of black people.” I was reminded of this line while listening to Gary Clark Jr.’s stunning, combative, beautiful new album, […]
Continue Reading
Leo Bud Welch passed away a little over a year ago, so this album The Angels in Heaven Done Signed My Name (Easy Eye Sound), produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) and mastered by Richard Dodd, is a posthumous offering. Having released his first album in 2014 when he was already an octogenarian, this marks […]
Continue Reading
Jane Kramer’s third album, Valley of the Bones, released on March 1st, is a collection of 10 poignant original songs. The songs range from the upbeat and sassy “Waffle House Song” to the slow, lilting feel of “Wedding Vows.” This album is one of stories, of feelings and experiences and after listening to it, I […]
Continue Reading
Songwriting, at its best, seems to be a combination of raw talent, experience and the ability to economize language. Bruce Springsteen, after two hyper-verbose introductory albums, was able to hone his wording for his best work, which started with 1975’s Born to Run. Jason Isbell wrote several great songs with the Drive-by Truckers and for […]
Continue Reading
It was 5:00 a.m. when Mac Wiseman heard a knock on his door. As he went to the door of his hotel room, there stood Johnny Cash. The night before Wiseman shared a bill at Carnegie Hall with Cash and the extended members of the Carter Family. In his hand, Cash held a copy of […]
Continue Reading
The results from the readers’ vote for favorite February release are in! Take a listen to the top ten right here on the playlist! Holly Auna & Ryan Oetkin “Harmonies for the Heart” Emily Duff “Hallelujah Hello” Tedeschi Trucks Band “Signs” Gary Clark Jr “This Land” Marley’s Ghost ‘Travelin’ Shoes” Hayes Carll “What It Is” […]
Continue Reading
You can come home again. It was a very personal moment when Peter Cooper and Eric Bruce introduced the last song of their two sets with Thomm Jutz at Jammin’ Java outside Washington, DC. When the two were teenagers going to high school in the DMV area, they spent time at the Birchmere where they […]
Continue Reading
Follow-up albums can be a tricky thing. Especially when your first album is as highly regarded as You’re Dreaming, the debut album from Minneapolis brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey, otherwise known as The Cactus Blossoms. But the duo has yet again brought their retro pop stylings to the table with ten new original tracks […]
Continue Reading
