Jim Shahen

Guitarist Ernie Vincent has been a giant in New Orleans funk-and-blues circles for more than half a century. For most of that time, he’s stood in the shadows, writing and arranging material or, along with his longtime group the Top Notes, serving as accompaniment for other artists. That’s

It’s been six years since Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips released a solo album. That was Swallowed by the New, a rumination on the loss he felt in the aftermath of his divorce. Since then, the world surrounding Phillips (and, really, all of us) has become increasingly

It’s kind of crazy that despite recording several singles for Daptone Records and joining Sharon Jones on a couple of her songs, legendary soul man Lee Fields has never recorded a full-length release for the imprint. That changes now with the release of Sentimental Fool, a record that marks

Tyler Childers is rapidly developing into an artist that seeks to surprise and challenge listeners. His last album, the unexpected 2020 release Long Violent History, was protest-music-by-fiddle, an unexpected dive into the history of rural racism and missive on the side of racial equity. Childers’ new LP is Can I

It’s kind of funny, but arguably no current act has done more to preserve and advance the legacy of Woody Guthrie as Celtic punk legends Dropkick Murphys. Bandleader Ken Casey is a devout student of Guthrie’s life and music, with his readings of the Guthrie archive prompting the

If you’re a fan of lean, throwback electric blues and you aren’t listening to GA-20, you’re missing out. Last year, the Boston-based two guitar-and-drums three-piece released its second album, Try It … You Might Like It!, a fantastic tribute to Chicago blues legend Hound Dog Taylor and his