Happy 90th Birthday John Mayall
55 Years Later: On ‘Astral Weeks’, Van Morrison Dives Into Emotional Stream Of Consciousness Song Cycle
In its sustained ebb and flow through a stream-of-consciousness song cycle, there is nothing quite like Astral Weeks (released 11/29/68) in Van Morrison’s entire discography. In the previous work of the native Irish band Them, only “Mystic Eyes” and the engrossing rendition of Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” hint at the deceptively improvisational, poetic […]
SONG PREMIERE: Scojo & the Keel Cruise the “Lost Coast” with California Folk-rock Sounds
The Gaviota Coast is a beachside Shangri-La just west of Santa Barbara, California. Here, eucalyptus groves pepper the views of the jade and navy water; offshore winds carry the smell of sage from the hills; and rare SoCal wildlife like bobcats, quail, boar, and roadrunners roam freely. Since he was a kid, Scott “Scojo” Claassen […]
Ira Wolf Unearths a Bigger Americana-folk Sound For New LP ‘Rock Bottom’ (INTERVIEW)
Singer/songwriter Ira Wolf released her fourth album Rock Bottom, her first in several years, via Nettwerk in October. Through the gradual roll out of singles from the album, and along with her openness with her audience on social media, Wolf made it clear that the album documents a period of intense emotion and introspection that […]
Wannabe Reviews Jeffrey Martin’s ‘Thank God We Left The Garden’
In the latest Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle offers his illustrated commentary on Thank God We Left The Garden, the new album from folk artist Jeffrey Martin, in his signature six-panel comic strip form. Click on the image for full resolution (best viewed on desktop):
Bassist Bobby Vega Lays Down Wealth Of Grooves With Little Village Crew On ‘What Cha Got’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
Diddley, Sly Stone, Tower of Power, Gold Blood, Etta James, Billy Preston, Santana, Paul Butterfield, Mickey Hart, Babatunde Olatunji, Kitaro, Lee Oskar, and Zigaboo, not to mention blockbuster film scores and several other musical giants). That’s not bad for a Chinese/Puerto Rican/Mexican/French musician who grew up in a Black neighborhood in mostly white San Francisco. […]
Cody Dickinson Releases Explosive Cover of Junior Kimbrough Classic ‘All Night Long’
You may recognize Cody Dickinson for leading the formidable and unforgettable North Mississippi Allstars and now, it is time for him to step into a spotlight of his own. After signing to Petaluma Records, Dickinson released his debut solo single for the label with a cover of Junior Kimbrough’s bluesy classic “All Night Long”. His […]
Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Announces Stacked Lineup Including Foo Fighters, Dinosaur Jr, and Interpol For 2024 Festival
2024 is already shaping up to be a fantastic year in music with albums being announced left and right over the last few weeks. To add to it, Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival has announced its 2024 line-up and it is a sight to behold. Foo Fighters, Noah Kahan, and Weezer will headline the 2024 edition […]
Merge Records to Reissue Two M. Ward Classics (Duet for Guitars #2, Transfiguration of Vincent) On Vinyl
Merge Records has been independently releasing some of the most exciting 1989 and they are already looking to start 2024 off with a bang. Today (November 28), the label has announced they are reissuing two of M. Ward’s most celebrated releases. His classic solo debut, 1999’s Duet for Guitars #2, and 2003’s Transfiguration of Vincent […]
LISTEN: Jon Batiste Releases Stirring New Ballad ‘It Never Went Away’ Ahead of Global Documentary Premier
The multi-talented Jon Batiste has been on one hell of a run. His World Music Radio LP, released earlier this year, gained him critical acclaim around the world and scored him some Grammy nominations as well. This journey will be detailed in the new documentary film American Symphony, which follows Batiste through a year of […]