Category Archives: Album Reviews

Randall Bramblett – The Bright Spots

‘Tis a fact that Randall Bramblett has a long history in the musical trenches, dating back to his days with Sea Level back in the 70s … and you may know him best for his work supporting Gov’t Mule, Levon Helm, Widespread Panic, and Gregg Allman – to name just a few. But if you’ve […]

New American Farmers – Brand New Day

There’s a pleasant sort of disorientation that comes with listening to New American Farmers’ Brand New Day. There are a number of times throughout the album’s 11 tracks when your head’s going to snap around and your brain’s going to tell you that you know that song – even though it’s the first time you’ve […]

Jim Weider’s Project Percolator – Live (Featuring James Montgomery)

Some guitar players – incredible guitar players – have made a career out of utilizing the Fender Telecaster’s legendary twang. Others have made history by exploring the sonic territory that lies beyond. Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan come to mind – both unfortunately no longer with us. But Jim Weider is. Weider may be best […]

The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!

(With The Rolling Stones about to kick off their 2013 “50 & Counting” tour, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit one of my favorite Stones pieces that I’ve written. I was just a kid when I made my folks’ little house shake, playing Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! up in my room. I had […]

Paul McHugh: Teching for the Truckers and Picking for Pilgrim

I’ve always wondered when watching the techs and roadies do their thing prior to a concert how many of those folks are wishing/thinking/hoping that their turn in the spotlight is coming. In particular, it’s interesting to watch the various approaches guitar techs take in their on-stage gear checks: some are seen but never heard, listening […]

Doubleheader Review: John Medeski – A Different Time & Billy Martin’s Wicked Knee – Heels Over Head

A Different Time may be keyboard djinn John Medeski’s first solo album (and it really is, believe it or not), but his instrument of choice for this outing deserves nearly-equal billing itself. Medeski had the sound and vibe of Arthur Rubinstein’s RA recordings in mind when he went into Waterfront Studios to work on A […]

John Brown’s Body – Kings And Queens

Now this was worth waiting five years for. Hear ye, hear ye: John Brown’s Body’s new Kings And Queens is the band’s best album to date, hands down. There’s a vibe of comfort that reigns supreme – not in terms of lack of fire, as the album is loaded with it, but rather an overall […]

Steve Earle – The Low Highway

Steve Earle wastes no time in getting things rolling on The Low Highway: the title song features Kelley Looney’s easy-loping bass counting ‘em off while Chris Masterson’s pedal steel soars and moans like a semi rolling by. “Travelin’ out on the low highway/Three thousand miles to the ‘Frisco bay,” sings Earle, his observations of the […]

You Should Be Listening to Steve Jones

Let’s face it: nobody moves here to Maine to get their musical career off the ground. Hell, it’s hard enough to get performers to even swing up this way for a show during the winter months (that would be from late September through early May). I’m pretty sure there must be a master map used […]

The Fabulous Thunderbirds – On The Verge

My only quibble with the pre-release PR on The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ new album On The Verge is the reference to it being “a departure for the legendary blues rockers as they explore their soulful side.” Heck, as far as I’m concerned, the T-Birds might have been a blues band from the beginning but there’s always […]