The life and death of horns in Americana music produced by Caucasians can be traced back to two classic rockers, Bruce Springsteen and Glenn Frey. Watching Springsteen on his River tour last month in Seattle, Jake Clemons—succeeding his late uncle […]
Modern day country music is a tough scene to break. There are the obvious barriers of the multi-billion dollar industy such as getting past the wall of producers and songwriters working on music row pumping out songs as if they […]
Many of us who write about music often like to ask artists what songs have most inspired them, or what songwriters most influenced them. Bob Boilen, creator and host of NPR Music’s All Songs Considered — as well as their […]
… Well, if the truth be told it was the man in front of me who stood on my toe (for which he apologised). But, it could have been Sturgill. The Real Music Club had brought him to the Limelight […]
If they say that great art comes from the deep dark wells of sadness then you’d be forgiven for getting the impression that Sturgill Simpson’s follow up to the iconic “Meta-Modern Sounds in Country Music” will eclipse even that wondrous […]
The excitement has been building since the opening acts were announced back the in early Fall of 2015. As the tinsel and baubles come down from the holidays, it’s time to welcome the best of folk, roots and traditional […]
When considering the handful of radio stations across the country that play various kinds of roots music, WDVX in Knoxville aways comes up near the top of the list. So this week I talked to their music director, Nelson Gullett. Bill Frater: Where and when did you start […]
In Mystery Train, Greil Marcus claims the origins of rock n’ roll “can be heard every time a rocker’s secret smile breaks open.” I agree. Good music has humor or hilarity. Even if morose or dark, a good song makes me smile, by […]
In September of 2014, I saw Sturgill Simpson play in the most idyllic setting imaginable at Chinook Fest outside of Naches, Washington. Saying someone played a show in the middle of nowhere is cliche, but this time the shoe fit. […]
