“Always choose love.” These words of wisdom were bestowed upon Mary Bragg by her grandmother when Bragg was fresh out of high school and torn between spending the summer with a potential church camp inspired romance—or make her first trip to Nashville. At her recent concert celebrating the release of her latest album Violets As... Continue Reading →
Interview: New Reveille
It’s been said that diversity is the art of thinking independently together. Rarely do life’s paths form in straight lines—and in the case of North Carolina-based Americana outfit New Reveille, those paths were varied and multi-directional. “We call it reverse engineering because we made the record, then we took a picture, and then we made... Continue Reading →
Live Show Review: Trout Steak Revival
Colorado string band Trout Steak Revival, ambassadors of their home state’s progressive bluegrass scene, descended on Nashville’s City Winery recently to celebrate the unveiling of their now-released album, Spirit To the Sea. The room was configured differently on that special evening; tables normally positioned in front of the stage were moved to make room to... Continue Reading →
Interview: The Novel Ideas
“There’s something about a sad country song sung in a sad way that moves me more than anything else,” explains Daniel Radin of Massachusetts-based country folk band The Novel Ideas. “For all of us, there’s something about earnest, subtly sad music that hits us.” The band released a self-titled album in early September, which features... Continue Reading →
Off The Stage: Domino Kirke
For most casual fans of music, the forty-five minutes that a band spends on the stage is all they can see. However, when the guitar cases are closed and the venue’s floor is littered with empty beer cans and trash, most bands load their gear into the van and return back to their normal lives.... Continue Reading →
Interview: NHD
What would life be like without friends? Your “squad,” your “posse,” your “tribe”— the group of folks who share their lives with you, join in on your weirdness, and open your refrigerator without asking? Great accomplishments can happen through relationships with others, collaborations that enrich lives of not only the participants, but the lives of... Continue Reading →
Live Show Review: JD McPherson Record Release
The intensity of a show in a record store is much more than I imagined. So close to the band. So loud. So amazing! For those of us that remember when record store showings were more common, the word “treat” doesn’t begin to describe what a fantastic opportunity this was. Realizing that today, fantastic record... Continue Reading →
MCP Exclusive: Behind The Scenes with JD & The Straight Shot
New York City-based Americana outfit JD & The Straight Shot is gearing up to release its sixth studio album Good Luck And Good Night on September 15th. The dynamic group, which includes vocalist/guitarist Jim Dolan, guitarist Marc Copely (B.B. King, Rosanne Cash), bassist Byron House (Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton), violinist/fiddler Erin Slaver (Martina... Continue Reading →
Pew Playlist: 3 Albums That Should Be On Your Radar, 9/1/17
Penny & Sparrow - Wendigo Kyle Jahnke and Andy Baxter follow up their acclaimed 2015 release, Let A Lover Drown You, with Wendigo, their brand new album out today via I Love You. Known for their cerebrally poignant lyrics and aching harmonies, this Texas-bred Florence, Alabama-based alt-folk duo sets the bar even higher with this record. Named for a... Continue Reading →
Interview: Lilly Hiatt
Lilly Hiatt is no stranger to vulnerability, and uses it to build connections to those who listen to her heartfelt brand of rockicana. The twangy songstress is gearing up to release her intensely personal, autobiographical album, Trinity Lane, via New West Records on August 25th. Written mostly upon her return from a cross-country tour, Hiatt... Continue Reading →