Posts by Maeri Ferguson

[rating=7.00] For Ronnie Fauss, a musical career came after he’d already racked up some life experience. And it shows in the best way on his new record Built to Break, a follow up from last year’s I Am the Man You Know I’m Not. His songs aren’t overly produced or fanciful. They’re just classic sounding […]

[rating=9.00] Bloodshot Records is so deeply ingrained in the hearts of its followers that it’s hard to imagine a time when it didn’t exist. For their 20th birthday, they’ve collected 38 favorites from their catalog and divvied them up amongst a diverse group of artists to create While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years […]

Jessica Lea Mayfield is like a little woodland sprite, all soft-spoken, tiny and fair-haired, until she sings. Her voice is rich and full-bodied, sometimes sultry and always a little sullen. At a recent performance at Brooklyn Bowl, she haunted the crowd with this voice, and though there weren’t many in attendance on a bitter cold […]

[rating=9.00] There’s something so haunting and dreamlike in Jason Molina’s voice, and when you hear it, you’re left with an inherent understanding that you’ll never be the same again. More than a year since his passing, the music world is still mourning the loss of this brilliant talent through deluxe reissues and touching tributes. Last […]

[rating=6.00] Listening to any of Ariel Pink’s work requires serious patience. He’s an indie rock oddball, and one of the genre’s most polarizing figures, indeed. On his latest record pom pom, the candy pink colored cover glaring like a big fat warning, he’s toying with a retro, throwback sound. 60s and 80s-inspired, sugary mouthfuls of […]

It has been a hell of a year for J. Roddy Walston and The Business. Since their breakout record Essential Tremors arrived in 2013, they’ve amassed a major following, landed a beer commercial and played countless sold out shows. Not to mention an appearance at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival. It’s safe to say, these […]

[rating=9.00] Thank goodness for Eliot Bronson. One of the best releases so far this year, Bronson’s self-titled record is a rock and roll, folk, country mash-up that showcases his strong songwriting and lush vocals. Eliot Bronson focuses on classic country tunes about loving and leaving, with sweeping melodies and addictively sweet hooks. Right off the […]

[rating=9.00] Sallie Ford is the ultimate garage rock dream girl, maintaining her effortless badassness and sexy demeanor with every note she sings. Her voice is soulful and quivering, but strong and full-bodied. On her first record without her beloved band the Sound Outside, Ford is joined by a killer all-woman band she assembled as part […]

[rating=7.00] Upon first listen to Sam Amidon, you may feel transported to a sepia-tinged past. There’s always been something really old world about his composition and singing style, and since last year’s gorgeous Bright Sunny South, he’s truly honed this sound even more. On his new record, Lily-O, he collaborates with the legendary guitar player Bill Frisell […]

Before the beloved Drive-By Truckers took the magnificent stage at the Beacon Theatre on Friday, October 17th, Birmingham, Alabama-based band St. Paul and the Broken Bones tore the place up. With their soulful, throwback rock and roll, tinged with dramatic Southern gospel, this seven-member band left jaws on the floor by the end of their […]

[rating=8.00] Thanks to the visceral folk sound of his debut Roll the Bones, Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known as Shakey Graves, landed himself a handful of prestigious live shows this past year, including the Newport Folk Festival and Celebrate Brooklyn. His onstage charisma is vibrant and magnetic, no doubt resulting in a fast growing following of […]

Though they’re often claimed by their Southern California fans, Delta Spirit are in many ways a quintessential Brooklyn band. They exude that punk-hipster vibe both in their style of dress and in their sound, and it’s clear when they’re in the cooler-than-thou borough that Brooklynite fans feel a certain ownership over them. Their recent three-night […]

[rating=8.00] It’s always been apparent in Luke Winslow King’s music that he’s a New Orleans-based artist. The warm blend of blues, jazz, and folk is so smooth you can practically smell the sweet chicory coffee. But on his latest record, Everlasting Arms, that presence is more prevalent than ever before. Perhaps the most contemporary of […]

Lydia Loveless is a touring machine, garnering more and more attention with each show she plays. And when she played the intimate Studio at Webster Hall on Sunday, September 28th, it was easily one of her best shows ever. It was the final night of the tour for her and her powerhouse band of Todd […]

It wasn’t clear whether or not anyone in the audience at Rough Trade in Brooklyn knew what they were in for when Christopher Denny took the stage on September 15th. Opening for beloved Philly band Strand of Oaks (a seemingly odd pairing), Denny stood unassumingly on stage with his guitar and played a stunning set. […]

Denver five-piece Ark Life played Glasslands on September 27th, sandwiched between sets from Nevada Nevada and The Spring Standards. With only a little less than an hour on the stage, they made the most of it, sharing their big sound with the small, but packed room. Led by These United States’ Jesse Elliott in all […]

The crowd was abruptly hushed when Alex Sauser-Monnig took the stage at Rough Trade in Brooklyn on September 18th opening for Hiss Golden Messenger. Monnig’s more traditional Appalachian folk sound is sparse and hauntingly beautiful, and her crystal clear voice cut through the room stifling even the faintest whispers. One third of the folk trio […]

[rating=7.00] Kyle Cox is cute as a button, and his new record The Plan, The Mess reflects that. Best described as alt-pop, Cox also incorporates elements of country and indie rock into his songs, mixing steel guitar with his smooth and sweet voice. You can hear influences from all of these styles of music in […]

[rating=6.00] Let’s be honest, prolific singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams does not need to prove anything to anyone. And her new record, a lengthy double album titled Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone is proof of that. No doubt a few eyebrows were raised questioning why at this point in her career, Williams can’t pare 20 […]

[rating=8.00] For many artists, it can take years to forge a clear identity in their music, but J.P. Harris makes it look easy. Leading his incredibly tight band the Tough Choices, Harris is a rising country artist with a voice you won’t soon forget. It’s deep, it’s smoky and it’s perfectly suited to his honkytonk […]