R.B. Morris’ fiery set had just taken the chill out of the air behind Yard Dog, the site of the folk-art gallery’s second annual Saturday afternoon SXSW beer bust in Austin, when legendary songwriter and raconteur Bob Neuwirth ambles over. […]
The night before what was simply called the first black country showcase, the performers assembled for rehearsal at a place called the Woodshed, on Nashville’s East Side. You stand in one of the barren lots in that part of town […]
After only three or four songs by the Honey Ridge Creek Dippers, one couple in the audience decided they’d had enough. No matter that they had great seats for what was being billed as the debut performance of the trio […]
Sleepy LaBeef is a man of his word. He’s played every honky-tonk in every state, every province and country on the planet, twice. His repertoire has been estimated at somewhere between 3,000 and 6,000 songs. That’s a hell of a […]
First of all, I have to explain the Roxy to you. It’s very purple. Yeah, purple. Dark, too. Dark and purple. Which could only mean one thing: a Euro dance club! Yikes, is that carpeting!!?? I was half-expecting to see […]
You can glimpse it when the set is done, that stray, spent feeling. The drummer leans against the wall, drifting away; the band quietly accepts compliments, avoiding eyes, and then quickly sets to hauling amps and dismantling drums. Rock ‘n’ […]
Everything in the heavens was in proper alignment on this warm night, resulting in a clear sky and a spectacular view of the Hale-Bopp comet. Offering even more evidence that the celestial machinery was firing on all cylinders, the frontmen […]
It struck me during this fine three and a half hours of music by three compatible folk-rock artists how the connection between musician and audience can be made in very distinct manners. Shawn Colvin won the crowd over with her […]
When bluegrass picker Tim O’Brien told his mother of his plans to record an album of Bob Dylan songs, she replied, “When did he die?” It’s all right, ma, Dylan is still very much alive — and his vast oeuvre […]
There are times when great wisdom can be extracted from cliches. For instance, I will now never underestimate the musical maxim that argues “you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with.” Or maybe the adage “practice […]
