ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Coyote,’ Dylan LeBlanc Sends Voice and Lyrics Into New Frontiers
On his fifth album, Coyote, Dylan LeBlanc continues to mine and integrate rock, blues, folk, and country templates. His voice, per usual, is compelling. His lyrics are evocative, inspired by Southern lit as much as the tones and textures of gothic Americana. The result is an oftentimes riveting set, the
No Depression Sessions at AmericanaFest: Madeline Hawthorne
Montana-based Americana singer-songwriter Madeline Hawthorne graced us with three brand new songs during this year’s No Depression Sessions at AmericanaFest, shot at Jaan’s House in Nashville. Hawthorne was born and raised in classical music communities in New England, then in her teens relocated to the Rocky Mountain city
THROUGH THE LENS: The Scene and Sounds From Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2023
Spurred on by roots music icon Hazel Dickens, investment banker Warren Hellman put on the first Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in 2001 as a gift to the citizens of San Francisco. According to an in memoriam tribute on the HSB website, Hellman “called the bluegrass gathering a ‘selfish gift,’ one that
ALBUM REVIEW: Israel Nash Rediscovers His Roots on ‘Ozarker’
Israel Nash’s 2009 debut, New York Town, introduced a gifted artist with a powerfully expressive voice in search of both a sound and identity. He grew by leaps and bounds over the next few albums, his songs developing into moody, folk-inflected country-rock that gave more than a nod to
FRESH TRACK: Tom Sykes – 'What Were You Thinking'
A Long Hard Road is a celebration of experience, created with some of the most talented musicians of a generation, including Grammy winners Kevin McKendree and Tony Braunagel, Grammy nominee Teresa James, and award-winning producer Terry Wilson. The album embodies a theme that speaks to the heart of every listener:
THE LONG HAUL: To iPad or Not to iPad
For a few years now, I have had a staunch stance about my band not using iPads for charts or notes on stage. While I don’t expect folks to be completely off book (especially if they are subbing in, or it’s their first show with me), I would