February 2013

Pickathon 2013: Marco Benevento, Felice Brothers, Andrew Bird

Scott Bernstein February 20, 2013 1 Comment

Pickathon brings “good music” to a small festival site just outside of Portland, Oregon

Levon Helm Tribute @ SXSW: Robert Randolph, Mother Hips, Midnight Ramble Band, JJ Grey & Mofro

Scott Bernstein February 20, 2013 No Comments

SXSW will honor Levon Helm with a special all-day concert

Video: Will McCranie – The Making of Ain’t That Strange

Ryan Dembinsky February 20, 2013 No Comments

Georgia-bred singer-songwriter Will McCranie is back with a new single

Weekly RecommNeds: The Growlers / Widowspeak

Neddy February 20, 2013 No Comments

Two twang-y new music recommendations from Aaron Stein

Local Natives: Hummingbird

David Hoffman February 20, 2013 No Comments

On their sophomore release Hummingbird, Local Natives engage listeners in an unexpectedly mature and serious album that divides its time well between showcasing vocals, instrumentation and emphasizing emotional melodies.

Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors: Good Light

Nathan Rodriguez February 20, 2013 No Comments

Good Light succeeds in flashes of minimalistic beauty, but falls short of delivering a knockout punch. The simplest explanation is the lyrics leave little to the imagination (See “I love you, I do”). By avoiding imagery and metaphor almost entirely, Holcomb does a fine job describing where he’s at, but falls short of transcending a particular context. This saccharine, heart-on-the-sleeve style of songwriting is kind of like a stick of gum: nice, kinda refreshing, but of fleeting resonance.

Shawn Colvin: Yoshi’s, San Francisco, CA 01/25/2013

Joan Bowlen February 20, 2013 No Comments

Shawn Colvin knows, respects and indulges the personal and professional history behind her music-making, celebrating her influences and collaborations with every show. She is a master of her craft, an unparalleled performer and soulful artist who continues to integrate and grow with her years; seeing her year after year is a joy that keeps on giving.