ALBUM REVIEW: Billy Strings Stretches Out on Full-Spirited First Live Album
Billy Strings had to throw a tantrum to get his first real guitar. Exposed to dad and friends jamming in the kitchen of the family trailer from the vantage point of his high chair, Strings was gifted a toy guitar at the age of 3. A year later he spotted
In the Deep End With Jewel
The Portal: An Art Experience By Jewel is definitely that — an experience. The multifaceted gallery exhibit takes place at Bentonville, Arkansas' Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (a sister organization to The Momentary, which hosts FreshGrass |Bentonville) and comprises an art walk, a technological guided tour, curated food and
ALBUM REVIEW: Cassandra Lewis’ Winding Path Weaves a Rich Tapestry for ‘Lost in a Dream’
“Road’s been too rough to walk alone” Cassandra Lewis admits on “Too Much,” the opening track of her major-label debut, Lost in a Dream.
And what a life it’s been, beginning with a driftless childhood that found her regional fame as a kid yodeler in Idaho, then operating
ALBUM REVIEW: Jake Xerxes Fussell Summons Timeless Stories on ‘When I’m Called’
To be the steward for stories and songs of eras past is a responsibility Jake Xerxes Fussell does not take lightly. He has, for at least a decade, shaped himself into a prolific conduit of archival folk songs, lovingly collaged with his own musical whims.
His latest outing, When I’
THE READING ROOM: The Best Music Books of 2024 (So Far)
So far in 2024, mediocrity reigns supreme in music book publishing. Only a few memorable books (many of them on jazz) have risen far above the remainder of the stacks. The standouts display eloquent prose, thorough research, and lucid insights that enlighten and delight readers and keep them returning to
ALBUM REVIEW: Whether Moving On or Staying Put, Maya de Vitry Lives in ‘The Only Moment’
On her fourth full-length album, The Only Moment, Maya de Vitry exhibits a sense of self-awareness in her lyrics and in arrangements that complement her vocals. The songs, all written or co-written by de Vitry, strike a balance between a driving rock tempo and gentler rhythms, between staying put and