Reviews

Holly Hyatt

From Canada comes Holly Hyatt, a young lady with one of those surprisingly spirited releases that simply crosses musical divides with an understated simplicity and style. Funky, blues-infused stuff, Hyatt’s … Read more

Southern Avenue

When soul singer-songwriter William Bell is a guest artist on a young Memphis band’s second CD, something exciting must be happening. From Bell’s early US and UK chart-toppers like “You … Read more

Jimmie Vaughan

Stevie Vaughan took the blues to wild places naturally, but Jimmie rarely strayed from the real deal over the ensuing 56 years. Now, Vaughan proves he’s in the league of … Read more

Bat McGrath

This won’t be an ordinary review, due to extraordinary circumstances. The backstory is as compelling as this record is good, but I don’t want to dwell on the impetus too … Read more

Duke Robillard

At 19, he was the Duke of the Roomful of Blues. Guitar stylist Duke Robillard founded that still-New England-based institution in 1967, kicking open the door to a huge warehouse … Read more

Lucette

Some of us out there may recall having to lift the needle, many times at the risk of scratching the hell out of your 89-cent 45, or worse your $3.98 … Read more

The Rolling Stones

Honk is yet another of those “Best of” releases from one of the world’s most loved outfits. While many will already have much of the material included here in other … Read more

The Shootouts

You won’t find gunfighter ballads on the debut album of this Western swing and honky tonk quintet, despite that there’s a nostalgic Red Ryder-style illustration of two cowboy gunslingers about to … Read more

Rod Melancon

Rod Melancon’s first album, the striking Southern Gothic, was presumably so named because of its largely dark content. Turns out, it’s Melancon himself who’s the Southern Goth, because his second … Read more

Joan Baez at the Beacon Theatre, NYC

Photos by Debra Rothenberg Without preamble or fuss, Joan Baez strode alone onto the Beacon stage and started the evening off with “Don’t Think Twice,” one of the many Dylan … Read more