John Fullbright played a gig for a couple of hundred people in a church on December 7. It was an excellent setting for the Oklahoma singer-songwriter, spacious and intimate at the same time.
Category: Reviews
Celebrating John Lennon: In Nashville and on recordings
We lost John Lennon 33 years ago today and we continue to both mourn the loss and celebrate his life and music.
Review: The Black Flies’ “Roots and Roll”
Roots and Roll, the third album from Niagara Falls, Ontario-based band the Black Flies, has a lot going for it. There’s a wealth of polished playing, strong singing and catchy melodies here.
Quick hits and recent releases
The soundtrack to An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story features not only atmospheric music from the film, but also compelling performances by a number of Americana artists.
Review: Greg Trooper’s “Incident on Willow Street”
There have been almost a dozen Greg Trooper albums to date and I”ncident on Willow Street” is one of his strongest.
Storyteller: Peter Case at Houston’s Cactus Music
Singer-songwriter Peter Case did more talking than singing during his November 7 in-store performance at Houston’s Cactus Music. But that was just fine.
Folk musical “Hangtown Dancehall” debuts in Nashville
Hangtown Dancehall, an ambitious re-visiting of the tale of “Sweet Betsy from Pike” debuted tonight at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville with an all-star cast of artists. The musical, subtitled “A tale of the California Goldrush,” is the creation of Eric Brace (Last Train Home) and Karl Straub, based on a story by Brace.
Phoebe Hunt and Ali Holder at Cactus Music
Rising singer-songwriters Phoebe Hunt and Ali Holder visited Houston’s Cactus Music to give fans a preview of their show scheduled that evening at a nearby club.
Review: Richard Buckner’s “Surrounded”
When my vinyl copy of Richard Buckner’s latest release arrived in the mail, I knew the rest of the work day was shot.
Review: Peter Cooper’s “Opening Day”
“Opening Day,” Peter Cooper’s third solo album, is another fine collection, and its 11 tracks, nine of them well-crafted originals, cover a lot of ground, with excellent musicianship throughout.
Review: The Greencards’ “Sweetheart of the Sun”
The Greencards, that little old Aussie band from Austin, moves a bit further from its bluegrass roots on its sixth outing, Sweetheart of the Sun
Review: “One By Land” by Schucks Road
Bands with banjos have become something of a cliché in the past few years, possibly to the point of fostering a bit of five-string fatigue. Don’t let that keep you from checking out Brooklyn-based Schucks Road.
Interview: Tim O’Brien on his new album with Darrell Scott
Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott have teamed up again for an impressive new album called “Memories and Moments.”
Stephen Stills honored for free speech through music
Throughout his career, Stills has used his music to encourage us to look at our society and ourselves. His response to the world’s challenges has been reflective, not reflexive.
3-minute interview: Jim Lauderdale on Americana
Jim Lauderdale has hosted the Americana Music Festival awards show for more than a decade and is one of the genre’s biggest boosters. His thoughts on the music and on his friend and collaborator Robert Hunter:
Duos dominate Americana Music Awards
Duos dominated at tonight’s Americana Music Association Honors and Awards show at the Ryman.
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell won for album of the year for Old Yellow Moon, and were also named top duo/group.
Tim Easton and Megan Palmer delight fans in Houston
Tim Easton’s in-store performance at Cactus Music in Houston on Sept. 13 delighted fans who got considerably more than is typical of such gigs.
Revisited: Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Buddy Emmons
Two new and notable albums celebrate country music’s heritage, successfully revisiting classic songs in a contemporary setting.
Review: Butchers Blind’s “Destination Blues”
This band from Bellerose, New York, plays a highly accessible brand of rock and country, melding strong melodies with intriguing themes.
Preview: Sarah Jarosz’s “Build Me Up From Bones”
We’ve seen Sarah Jarosz’s successful career unfold over the years and really enjoyed her 2011 release Follow Me Down.
Coming Sept. 24 on Sugar Hill Records is her third album, Build Me Up From Bones.