Posts by Jason Rooks

[rating=8.00] Americana and Folk has seen a large revival over the last ten years with acts like The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, and The Lumineers headlining festivals. There is an excess of new Americana bands and singer/songwriters trying to replicate the sounds of these popular acts with no originality  that separates them from the […]

[rating=9.00] Artists like Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and Sturgill Simpson have created a recent surge in popularity and notoriety in Americana and traditional country music. North Carolina’s Caleb Caudle is a hidden gem in Americana music that some critics are calling the “next Jason Isbell”. This comparison is drawn from Caudle’s rich lyrical depth and soothing […]

[rating=9.00] Dustin Kensrue is known primarily for his role as lead singer and guitarist for rock band, Thrice. Thrice is a popular post- hardcore band formed in California in 1998. Dustin Kensrue has released two solo albums in his career, Please Come Home is an Americana influenced album and The Water and the Blood is […]

[rating=9.00] Joe Bonamassa has rightfully earned the title as one of this generation’s greatest blues singers and guitar players. Bonamassa’s music career began as a child guitar prodigy when at 12 years old he opened for blues legend, B. B. King in 1989. Since then he has released over 15 solo and live albums with […]

[rating=8.00] Nashville soul singer, Mike Farris has a multi-faceted musical career starting as a front man for a 90’s rock band, Screaming Cheetah Wheelies but over the last decade his career as a soul singer has what has brought him legions of fans, music awards, and critical acclaim.  Farris live performances at Bonnaroo, SxSW Festival, […]

[rating=8.00] Hot Rize is one of the most influential and pioneering bluegrass bands of the last 35 years.  In 1978, Hot Rize began conjuring up their addicting brand of Colorado bluegrass that honors the traditional while embracing their own influences of blues, country, and celtic music.  They have influenced a wide range of popular artists […]

[rating=8.00] Knoxville’s The Dirty Guv’nahs are quickly becoming one of the premiere live acts in the Southeast.  They have all the ingredients needed to be a successful rock band: charismatic lead singer, bombastic live show, impressive musicianship, a growing and dedicated fanbase, and workmanlike studio albums.  With the release of their fourth album, Hearts on […]

Poor Rich Folk lead singer/songwriter, Luke Brawner worked for over a year researching and writing his debut solo album, Flannelgraph Sessions LP.   The end result is a concept album that involved Brawner researching and visiting locations, stories, and characters of the Bible in an attempt to write songs from those perspectives and offer a fresh take on the Old Testament stories and people. 

This album is for fans of Amos Lee, Robert Randolph and North Mississippi Allstars.  Brooks Ritter’s, The War, has a southern rock and gospel feel, filled with elevating themes and a fresh sound that is good food for the soul.    

Third Day is a Grammy and Dove award winning southern rock band from Marietta, Georgia who have recorded over 14 albums and were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2009 with fellow Georgia rockers, Widespread Panic.  Third Day continue to progress and enhance their sound with each album, while managing to stay true to their southern rock sound.

North Carolina singer/songwriter, John Mark McMillan, is a relatively unknown name recalling vocal comparisons to Ryan Adams with a fresh new sound that blends americana, indie and country.  McMillan’s major label debut, The Medicine, combines his unpolished rock-n-roll with anthem-style choruses and spiritually charged lyrics that we will call “Sacred Twang.”

For years country music superstar Dierks Bentley has made it known of his love for bluegrass music. So it was no surprise to his fans that he announced he was releasing a bluegrass project this year.  Bentley recruited well known friend and producer/songwriter Jon Randall to help put together an album that would honor his love of this genre while putting his own spin on it.

With their long hair, beards and edgy blues sound, The Black Crowes have epitomized what a rock-n-roll band sounds and looks like.   With a pending indefinite hiatus looming, the band recently decided to record a double album’s worth of acoustic rearrangements from their catalog.  Croweology is an exquisite slice of Americana complete with acoustic bottleneck slide, mandolin, and fiddles all done Crowe-style that never loses its swagger.

Roadsongs is a two disc live set recorded with Derek Trucks Band in Chicago after release of their most recent 2009 studio album, Already Free.   This live recording captures the band fresh from the studio with increased energy and fluidness complete with Trucks’ staggering solos and New Orleans style horn section.

Sacred Steel guitar maestro, Robert Randolph has come a long way since the days of leading church worship to becoming one of the most recognized guitar players in the country.  Randolph’s highly anticipated third album – We Walk This Road – is a work of art that began over two years ago with roots pioneer and producer extraordinaire, T Bone Burnett

Relatively unknown to mainstream success, singer/songwriter, Sean McConell has been writing and recording music for over 10 years.  McConnell’s songs have been covered by everyone from American Idol contestant, Jason Castro to country superstar, Tim McGraw and he has exploded in the Texas music scene.  Sean McConnell delivers his most accessible and strongest album to date with Saints, Liars, and Thieves, which blends his Americana/R & B sound with introspective lyrics alongside a soulful vocal rang.  McConnell’s sound is very unique in that it pulls from soul, country, folk, and R & B but it his beautiful lyrics and touching songs that separate him from most mainstream music out there right now. 

California’s Truth and Salvage Company was born out of impromptu jams at Hollywood’s famed Hotel Café and includes an arsenal of four singer/songwriters from all across the U.S.  Truth and Salvage Company caught the ear of fellow Topanga Canyon resident Black Crowes front man, Chris Robinson and he signed them to his record label, Silver Arrow Records and took on the task of producing their debut album. 

Infamous Stringdusters began their career as a super group of Nashville pickers that blew away fans and critics with their caliber of songs and jaw-dropping instrumental skills which transformed into an impressive live act.  On their latest release, Things that Fly, they had the privilege to record at Dave Matthews’ Haunted Hollow studios in Charlottesville, Virginia and enlisted renowned producer Gary Paczosa. 

Newworldson’s self-titled release showcases their live jam-inspired sound with some new influences that will impress even the casual music listener with their genuine uplifting message.      

Emmitt Nershi Band is a newly assembled outfit that is comprised of two of the founding members of Colorado’s biggest acts on the jamband circuit, Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) and Bill Nershi (String Cheese Incident).  On their studio debut, New Country Blues, they deliver a slice of breezy Rocky Mountain Americana complete with their blend of pickin’ and grinnin’.