Adam Carroll Should Be Famous
Here’s a look at the latest crop of albums I find noteworthy, including several from artists you’ve probably never heard of.
Various artists, Highway Prayer, A Tribute to Adam Carroll. Most tribute albums tip a hat to a widely acclaimed veteran performer but this one argues that a
Bob Dylan, Nobel Laureate
In the wake of the — to me — superb and delightful news of Bob Dylan receiving the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature this week, there has been, to quote a phrase from Dylan's fellow Minnesota wordsmith F. Scott Fitzgerald, some foul dust floating in that wake. Writers, and non-
Sea Stories & Soul: Sturgill Simpson + Valerie June at Kings Theatre
"The banjo is an Appalachian instrument," Valerie June remarked to the sold-out crowd in Brooklyn, NY. "But its roots are in Africa, so I like to think of it in both capacities." Her reference to the origin story of the instrument encapsulates a musical style
Good Taste From the Roadhouse With Greg Vandy
I introduced myself to Greg Vandy at this year's Americana Music Conference in Nashville, back in September. I knew he was cool because I saw him at all the good shows over the week and then at Arnold's "meat & three" Country Kitchen. Then
Bromberg's Blues: Americana Music's Granddaddy Returns Home Once Again
David Bromberg embraced Americana music long before it was cool – probably even before the phrase had even been coined. He pioneered the seemingly inconcievable mash up of country and western, low-down blues, bluegrass and sea shanties with searing rock and roll guitar licks. Some call him the grandfather of
A Desperado Waiting for a Train: Talking with Tamara Saviano about Guy Clark
Very few music biographies or music memoirs tell compelling stories in a spellbinding way. Most of these books flit fitfully across our view, scattering ephemeral bits in their wake, and leaving few memories of the lives and art of the artists.
Then along comes a music biography—well, it’s