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Amos Perrine

THROUGH THE LENS: Buddy and Julie Miller, Mindi Abair, Emily Duff, and Other Roots Music Releases

THROUGH THE LENS: Buddy and Julie Miller, Mindi Abair, Emily Duff, and Other Roots Music Releases

One of the reasons I began this musical journey many years ago, many publications ago, is to highlight some music that might otherwise get overlooked, lost in the shuffle. Save for the monster of an album that leads off this column, the others, some released last month and the remainder

THROUGH THE LENS: Nashville Boogie 2019 Brings Rockabilly to Music City

THROUGH THE LENS: Nashville Boogie 2019 Brings Rockabilly to Music City

This week I cover an underserved branch of roots music: rockabilly. Specifically, Nashville Boogie, a festival held in Nashville every Memorial Day weekend. As if the music is not enough, it identifies itself as "a celebration of midcentury American music, culture and style." It includes a car show,

THROUGH THE LENS: Why Vinyl? A Roots Music Lover’s Guide to Analog

THROUGH THE LENS: Why Vinyl? A Roots Music Lover’s Guide to Analog

Readers of this column have heard me say more than a few times that we are in the midst of a roots revival, and we are in the midst of an analog revival as well. In my town alone, we’ve gone from one record store to three, with the

Featured Photographer: cowtownchad and His Camera

Featured Photographer: cowtownchad and His Camera

One of my new year’s resolutions is to feature more individual photographers. First up is Chad Cochran, better known in the music photography world as cowtownchad, whom I first met several years ago at an Ohio festival. Since then we have also caught up with each other at AmericanaFest

Through the Lens' Artist of the Year: John Prine

Through the Lens' Artist of the Year: John Prine

"Bewildered, bewildered, you have no complaint. You are what you are, and you ain't what you ain't." — John Prine 1971 In the fall of 1971, just as the Central Park leaves were turning, I was sitting in the A&R offices of Atlantic

Donna the Buffalo and Other New, Overlooked, and Neglected Roots Albums of 2018

Donna the Buffalo and Other New, Overlooked, and Neglected Roots Albums of 2018

As my last guide to roots releases of the year, I want to catch up on some notable ones that have fallen through the cracks, been somewhat overlooked, or perhaps even been a bit misunderstood. They deserve a wider audience, each in its own way having something significant to say.

Sweetheart of the Rodeo at The Ryman: Musings on History and Irony

Sweetheart of the Rodeo at The Ryman: Musings on History and Irony

In late 1967 The Byrds were at a crossroads, doubly so. With David Crosby's exit they needed additional personnel, and as their last records, singles, and album had not sold very well they were also in a creative quandary. Remaining members Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman initially had