BONUS TRACKS: Matthew Sweet and Scott H. Biram Could Use Some Help

It’s hard enough to be a roots musician in the United States these days, what with, algorithms dictating which social media posts are seen or not, streaming services paying minimally, and prices rising for almost every aspect of touring. In this country in particular, the dearth of public services that support artists only perpetuates these challenges.

It leads to constant crowdfunding efforts — not just for cool new projects (that you can read about in our monthly Crowdfunding Radar column!), but also for healthcare concerns. This week, two members of the roots music community shared frightening pleas for help.

On Tuesday, Catherine Lyons from Russell Carter Artist Management posted a GoFundMe on behalf of Matthew Sweet, explaining that he suffered a stroke while on tour opening for pop band Hanson in Toronto. She wrote, “The doctors and hospital care in Toronto were instrumental in saving Matthew’s life, but health care is not free for Americans in Canada. He must now be flown back to the States on an ambulance transport plane with medical staff on board, to a specialized rehabilitation center, where he will receive around-the-clock care and therapy for six weeks.”

The beloved Omaha-based alternative/power pop musician, who celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this month, gained notoriety in the 1990s with 1991’s breakup opus Girlfriend and the 1993 follow-up Altered Beast. No Depression contributor Maeri Ferguson reviewed his most recent release, Catspaw, in 2021.

The following day, alt-country hero, self-proclaimed “Dirty Old One Man Band,” and “professional road warrior musician,” Scott H. Biram announced that he would need hand surgery to repair missing cartilage between the bones in the base of his thumb joint, worn away from 36 years of playing guitar. He said in a video in his GoFundMe that his doctors estimated the recovery time to be between five-six months. No Depression contributor Grant Britt reviewed his new album, The One & Only Scott H. Biram earlier this year.

Check out both of these fundraisers above. And if you can’t donate, be sure to stream their latest records and join No Depression in wishing them both speedy recoveries.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

Hiss Golden Messenger – “What Shall Be (Shall Be Enough)”

Sadie Gustafson-Zook – “The End”

Lily Talmers – “The Big Idea”

Hannah Read – The Fungi Sessions, Vol. 1

Cary Brothers – “Everything”

Shannon & The Clams – “The Vow”

The Head and the Heart – “Arrow”

Olivia Ellen Lloyd – “Every Good Man”

Havier – “So Slow”