Like Iggy Pop before him, Frank Black went from being the leader of a highly influential rock band, to landing a successful solo career. As a result, the Pixies front-man has been in a position to call his own shots in more ways than one. This liberty came to light before last year
As a child, Mike Gordon and his family took a trip to the Bahamas. It was there, sitting by the pool, that he first heard the smooth, calypso rhythms of the Mustangs. Years later he would bring “Ya Mar” to the Phish table, but those island sounds would stay with him for much longer.
Honky-tonk bars and love-sick cowboys aren’t exactly common on Long Island. And they certainly don’t make it into the New York punk scene. But somehow Earl Pickens managed to transition his Anti-Folk, East Village holler to more subdued, Lone Star drawl and do just that.
In the past few years, Widespread Panic has endured their share of grief, uncertainty and exhaustion. A break from the road was more than deserving, and in late March, the Athens, Georgia six piece returned from a 15 month hiatus clearly rejuvenated.
Despite the gloomy messages, the album
Mike Doughty and Ray Lamontagne sharing a bill is like Dave
Chappelle followed by Steven Wright. Both are talented at hat they do, but what they do is equally different.
At the age of 66, bluegrass legend Del McCoury has certainly been there and done that. As a true ambassador for bridging bluegrass to a younger and wider audience, the genre owes the man some due resects. So rather than lay back and bask in fame and glory, McCoury is still making the best music of his life, while remaining a road horse.
If there were two bands to represent the Americana style to an open-minded Canadian city, then My Morning Jacket and Wilco should be on the fifty dollar bill.
As the leader of indie vets The Sea and Cake, there is no shortage of creativity in Sam Prekop
The Gang Of Four classics like
