Someone somewhere once told Nick Lowe to act his age and he took the advice seriously. His new “The Old Magic” is a masterful album, impeccably performed and produced, but it’s also sad and subdued, a quiet declaration that “the Basher” has abandoned any thought of actually rocking ever again. You can’t knock that. Lowe has decided to croon through…
On this date: Hank Williams’ birthday in 1923
Sept. 17: On this date in Americana music, Hank Williams was born in 1923. His impact on country, rock and Americana has been enormous, particularly in terms of songwriting. It’s appropriate then, that some of today’s top songwriters are paying tribute to Williams by taking lyrics found in a notebook on the day he died, and completing the songs. Billy…
Americana chart: Ry Cooder, John Doe among new entries
Today the new Americana Music Association Chart showed Matraca Berg still in the Top 20 with her “The Dreaming Fields” album. Tonight she sang her “You and Tequila” (number four in this week’s Billboard country charts) on stage at the Ryman Auditorium along with Grace Potter and Kenny Chesney. That’s a pretty good Monday. The chart remained largely unchanged this…
Americana Music Lifetime Achievement winners named
The Americana Music Association has named Lucinda Williams, Gregg Allman, Jerry Douglas and executive Rick Hall as this year’s lifetime achievement award winners, and will recognize them on Oct. 13 at its annual awards ahow at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Also to be honored: radio host and journalist Bob Harris, who will receive the AMA’s trailblazer award.