By Al Kaufman It would be hard not to like the folks behind Colorado’s Paper Bird. They play a happy, rootsy, Americana sound with a touch of jam band sensibility. Their use of trumpet, trombone, banjo and vocal harmonies on songs such as “Spit Spot” add a jazzy, old-timey feel to their easily digestible pop nuggets. Included in their […]
By Al Kaufman Sure, Natalie Stovall plays the fiddle and has opened for some of the biggest names in country music, but she still has a rock and roll heart. On the cover of her new 6-song CD, Standing My Ground, whe wears a clingy Queen concert shirt and ripped jeans, and holds her fiddle […]
By Al Kaufman Ron Pope writes and sings music from the heartland, both literally and metaphorically. He can play sensitive folkie or all out rocker, and does both on his recent release, Atlanta, but his songs always feel sincere without drifting into egocentric waters. A Marietta native who currently calls New York home, Pope just […]
Everest Ownerless ATO Records By Al Kaufman Success in the rock world is a crap shoot. For every Coldplay and Linkin Park that make it big, there are thousands of bands that have more talent but never make it. Is Everest a great rock band? No, but they’re just as good as any of these […]
Tab Benoit Legacy: The Best of Telarc By Al Kaufman Tab Benoit is old school. In the world of the blues he may still be considered a newcomer, but there is a reason he won the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award at the 2012 Blues Music Awards. Benoit plays fat and juicy licks, […]
Langhorne Slim & the Law The Way We Move Ramseur Records By Al Kaufman “Lord, release my wild soul,” Langhorne Slim pleads on the acoustic ballad “Wild Soul.” It is safe to say that the Lord has answered his prayers. While his most recent home is Portland, Oregon, Slim and the band have […]
By Al Kaufman Kelly Hogan is one of the queens of the Atlanta music scene. Her band in the ‘90s, The Jody Grind, were on the verge of stardom before a drunk driver killed two members. She then sang for the Rock*A*Teens before putting out three fabulous solo records that showcased her amazing vocal prowess. […]
Simone Felice Simone Felice Team Love Records By Al Kaufman Simone Felice, drummer and singer the Catskill folkies Felice Brothers, and founder of the folk-soul outfit, The Duke and the King, branches out on his own in this warm, hushed solo debut. Felice possesses a sweet, haunting voice. He puts it to use right away […]
The Bright Light Social Hour New Year’s Live self-release By Al Kaufman Austin, Texas has more than earned its reputation as The Live Music Capital of the World. So when a band takes an unprecedented six trophies from last year’s Austin Music Awards, they must be onto something. The fact is, Bright Light Social Hour […]
Ron Pope Atlanta Hard Six Records By Al Kaufman Ron Pope is a sensitive romantic. He’s got a beard and everything. He writes straight from the heartlands anthems and lovely ballads that would make John Mayer cry. And he writes a lot of songs. Atlanta is his seventh album since 2008.
jENNiNGS Take It or Leave Emerging Artists Music By Al Kaufman Singer/songwriter/pianist Mary Jennings is pretentious. A singer cannot use such a capitally-challenged moniker and not be thought so. She only enhances that perception on her live album, Take It or Leave. She includes an intro on every song because, you know, it’s like, important […]
Tumbledown House Fables and Falsehoods Silent Coyote Music By Al Kaufman Welcome to the Roaring ’20s, in all its sexy, boozy, violent glory. Montana’s Tumbledown House are so fresh and exciting because they do old so well. Vocalist Gillian Howe and jazz guitarist Tyler Ryan Miller have surrounded themselves with all sorts of cool cats, […]
Say Anything Anarchy, My Dear Equal Vision Records By Al Kaufman First things first, these guys are nothing like the John Cusack movie. They are not going to play Peter Gabriel through their boom boxes up to their girlfriend’s window. No, their love songs have more of a Sid and Nancy feel to them. On […]
Birdy Birdy Warner Brothers/14th Floor By Al Kaufman America is not the only country that makes huge stars out of televised music competitions. Birdy (whose real name, Jasmine van dem Bogaerde is a little more difficult to articulate) is a 15-year-old phenom from the UK who took the grand prize on Open Mike UK at […]
Will Hoge Number Seven Ryko By Al Kaufman Will Hoge is the type of guy you’d expect to see doing Chevy commercials. The guy is the heart of America. His songs are big and majestic with the right amount of twang, and they cover the topics that Americans care about; stuff like love gone sour, […]
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