As SUSTO frontman Justin Osborne and I sit and talk over coffee recently, he delivers some shocking news. “Tony Dong is no more,” he informs me, of the band’s beloved tour van, which was commemorated on a band t-shirt and was integral to SUSTO folklore. “Last time you and I talked, we were on tour—we did a... Continue Reading →
Interview: Merle Haggard
At 78 years of age, Merle Haggard is not slowing down. “My family won’t let me sink back in the chair,” he jokes. “They want me to be a young grandpa.” The truth is that the legend has seen a thing or two in his day. With a career spanning from the early sixties to... Continue Reading →
Album Review: Dan Bern – Hoody
Bob Dylan had a kind of wit that spanned beyond his age and his generation. Wise and political, he flawlessly walked a tightrope of teaching topically without clubbing his listeners with a heavy stick. Similarly, Merle Haggard pointed out the flaws in the Vietnam War protester, using his country, party voice to speak for a generation.... Continue Reading →