April 1, 2013

The Black Lillies: Runaway Freeway Blues

Chris Calarco April 1, 2013 No Comments

Following the dissolution of both his marriage and his first band, The Black Lillies’ founder Cruz Contreras spent a year on the road as a truck driver for a stone company in East Tennessee. Thus, after playing more than 200 shows in 2012 upon the release of The Lillies’ critically acclaimed debut, Contreras has lived a relentlessly nomadic existence. With its mix of pedal steel guitar, banjo, and crystalline harmonies, the melancholic and modern Appalachia-meets-Americana sound of second LP Runaway Freeway Blues is firmly rooted in the wandering spirit of a restless heart on the run.

Josh Rouse: The Happiness Waltz

Brian Palmer April 1, 2013 No Comments

Josh Rouse has delivered a record which plumbs the depths of the ups and downs of love and life with surprising richness and delicacy. While much of the material is more cheery than not, even the more wistful material—namely the closing title track—is imbued with a beauty that evokes tears of joy if anything, rather than sadness. Rouse has a way with melodies that draws you in and The Happiness Waltz is filled with melodies you will likely get stuck in your brain for a long time to come.

Michael Sweet of Stryper Strikes Back (INTERVIEW)

Leslie Michele Derrough April 1, 2013 No Comments

Michael Sweet, the voice of Stryper, has made a pretty good living in music all these years. He has recorded solo albums, fronted the legendary band Boston on tour as well as T&N, a unit that features the members of Dokken sans Don. He always appears jovial and comfortable in his faith. Hard knocks have not beaten him down. Not even when he lost his beloved first wife to cancer, on which the anniversary of her passing was also the date of our scheduled interview.