By Joe Ross – The aching vulnerability of young people coming of age is the rootsy musical territory explored by All the Real Girls on their 5-song EP, Tinsel Town. Many songs have been inspired by life’s journeys and struggles, and this folk-rock project doesn’t succumb to cliches. Rather, the thoughtful music was written by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Peter Donovan…
John and Sheila Ludgate: “Running Through the Innocent Years”
By Joe Ross In “Payback Road,” the opening cut on Running Through the Innocent Years, Ontario-based folk duo John and Sheila Ludgate tell us that “everybody’s got to do their time, it separates the survivors from the cheap talk kind, and the scars they show through.” John plays guitar and harmonica; Sheila is a bass guitarist. And if anyone’s done…
Reviews: Dirt Drifters, Chris Isaak,Verlon Thompson, more
By Ken Paulson – As we close out 2011, there’s still a stack of CDs we’ve been meaning to write about. Here’s a quick round-up of noteworthy 2011 Americana music releases: The Dirt Drifters – This Is My Blood: We first came across the Dirt Drifters at a free-speech benefit in Nashville in 2009; they had tremendous energy on stage…
Lick of the Day: Will Kimbrough’s “Life”
Will Kimbrough wraps up 2011 with a nod to his parents’ 53rd wedding anniversary and a song called “Life.”