Archive

In "Big Sweet Life", the gratitude-infused romp that galvanizes his 1999 album Summerland, Jon Dee Graham erases the line that separates dreams from real life. Instead of waiting for things to happen that never do (something he admits he's done before), the Austin roots-rocker, ex-punk and

The chasm between punk and country has narrowed considerably in the two decades since X and the Blasters teamed up for the Knitters' Poor Little Critter in the Road. Today, Willie Nelson pals around with the Supersuckers, and, for a spell earlier this year, every magazine you leafed through

Ah, the curious case of post-Days Of Wine And Roses Dream Syndicate. The Los Angeles quartet's 1982 full-length debut was a stunning opus of crazed guitar shrapnel, phenomenally intuitive ensemble playing, and singer Steve Wynn's wiser-than-his-years songwriting. Like Husker Du's Zen Arcade, Days Of

Want dirty blues? This here's the dirtiest blues. On the strength of one worn-out, unreleased 78, Lucille Bogan became infamous when Legacy released it on a compilation. (Us older folks already knew her from Maria Muldaur's scorching version of Bogan's "Tricks Ain'

There's a fascinating documentary making the art house rounds this summer titled Festival Express, comprised of footage from a roving rock festival that traversed Canada by train in 1970. Although the movie features The Band, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and the Flying Burrito Brothers playing and partying

If his songwriter peers were in charge of the music industry, Vic Chesnutt would no doubt be a major star. Beloved and championed by artists more commercially successful than he, the Athens, Georgia, artist boasts a body of work that ranks among the most formidable of any singer-songwriter currently active.