EASY ED’S BROADSIDE: The Cowtown Ballroom and Other Early ’70s Hometown Music Halls
Many of our collective memories about the ’60s didn't actually occur during that decade. In fact, most cultural events we ascribe to that decade today actually took place in the 10-year period after the Summer of Love in 1967 and up until the 1977 release of Saturday Night
Keller & The Keels Up to ‘Speed’ with Fun Covers and Skillful Originals
Keller & The Keels, a trio teaming Keller Williams with progressive flatpicker Larry Keel and bassist Jenny Keel, pull off a top-notch bluegrass cover of Kacey Musgraves’ “Slow Burn.” The hyperactive revision highlights Williams and his collaborators’ covers-heavy new album, Speed.
“Slow Burn” deserves top billing because it’s a
50 STATES OF FOLK: Carry Me Back to Old Virginia
We’ve all heard of The Carter Family — the first family of country music. (Or maybe you’re new to roots music and haven’t heard of them yet. That’s okay too! Welcome to the party, we’re happy you’re here). They brought us such country stalwarts as
Tribute Celebrates Beauty and Empathy in Tom Waits’ Songs
The advantage — or disadvantage, depending on your perspective — of a tribute album is that by glancing at the track listing you already have an idea in your head of how it will sound. Depending on your familiarity with the artists involved, that idea extends to how those artists will likely
Today's Southern Rock Offers Bridges Amid Troubled History
“We’re not here to change your mind about anything,” Charlie Starr, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Blackberry Smoke, announced from the stage at a recent live performance in Chicago. “We’re here to ease your mind about everything.”
The infectious melodies, thoughtful lyrics, anthemic choruses, and, most of
‘East Nashville Skyline’ and a New View of Possibility
EDITOR'S NOTE: As Todd Snider’s landmark East Nashville Skyline album (2004) gets its first vinyl release today, singer-songwriter Korby Lenker shares what the album meant — and still means — to him.
Setting: Austin, SXSW, maybe 2005. Saturday afternoon. I was 28 or 29.
I'd been playing