Archive: 2016

Two years ago I described the music of Turchi as a “gravelly, snarling voice and swaggering slide guitar playing”, this sound of which the been referred to as “kudzu boogie”. This was music “steeped in the rhythmic dirty grooves of North Mississippi Hill Country blues brought to the world by the likes of Kenny Brown, […]

[rating=8.00] Mavis Staples can do no wrong. At 76, she is as vivacious and powerful as ever, and her energy is infectious and astounding. Her latest record Livin’ on a High Note is aptly titled – Staples is certainly living her best life as her best self. She still sounds amazing and has plenty to […]

[rating=6.00] In terms of talent, sheer vocal power and songwriting, Lissie is a no-brainer. The solo artist has been through a lot since her 2010 debut Catching a Tiger. And though it was only a handful of years ago, she has grown and changed both as an artist and a person. With her third studio […]

Del McCoury is at it again.  At 77 years young he is still very excited about music and creating projects that will be enjoyed by generations to come.  This one might just be the most talked about as it’s rare for two artists to team up on music separated by 70+ years…some of these lyrics were written […]

Langhorne Slim & The Law visited the House of Blues in Boston, MA for a rousing set of originals in support of 2015’s The Spirit Moves. Photos by Marc Lacatell.  

Mayer Hawthorne has  announced the release of his fourth full-length record. Entitled Man About Town, the album is set to hit streets on April 8th via Vagrant Records. Today, you can stream the first single off the album, “Love Like That,” via shareable Soundcloud below…. On Man About Town, Hawthorne is back to handling the lion’s share of production. He also played near […]

[rating=9.00] It would be hard to imagine an album more haunting and beguiling than this fifth opus by the Minnesota-based band who refer to themselves simply as The Pines. Co-produced by Bo Ramsey, the man frequently behind the boards for Greg Brown, Above the Prairie unfolds as a series of shimmering, seductive soundscapes that effectively […]

[rating=4.00] The new Ra Ra Riot album, Need Your Light, provides the same emotional roller coaster you feel when someone starts to make a really fantastic point that makes you feel completely understood — only to turn around and say something horrifying, so that you cover your eyes and plead “No!” in your brain. This […]

“Party music for real hillbillies” is how 8 Ball Aitken describes his music, and this is pretty damn accurate. Since 2003 this seasoned blues guitar player and country artist has been catching excited ears across Australia, which is where he comes from. He can even boast to having played every state and territory of the […]