Shakey Graves
Frighteningly original, Shakey Graves shook the rafters at Gruene Hall, the 6,000 square foot, historic central Texas dance hall just outside New Braunfels. Graves (born Alejandro Rose-Garcia) performed his hauntingly … Read more
Live Show Reviews
JJ Grey and Mofro
JJ Grey and Mofro have quietly become one of the most reliable recording artists in their category, releasing new material every couple of years. In support of their latest effort, … Read more
The Calamity Cubes!
The Calamity Cubes!’ audience stacked the performance room like cordwood, and crowding of big-and-tall fans was exacerbated by the Cubes’ members. Lead singer Brook Blanche, for example, takes up some … Read more
Two Gallants
Two Gallants got their start around the turn of the century, busking at the 16th and Mission BART station in San Francisco. A decade and a half later, that neighborhood, … Read more
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
On my way to this show, I reminisced on seeing Marty and His Fabulous Superlatives in a church at SXSW ten years ago, shortly after the release of the stunning … Read more
Fatboy Kanootch
Years ago, MTV’s Hip-O-Meter declared the accordion and the sousaphone to be the least hip band instruments, so Brian Mitchell and Clark Gayton launched Fatboy Kanootch to prove them wrong. … Read more
Billy Strings & Don Julin
This ubiquitous dynamic duo brought string theory to new heights at Folk Alliance. The babyfaced Strings (born William Apostol, for those who read songwriter credits) plays the guitar like he … Read more
Sam Baker, Carrie Elkin & Chip Dolan Dazzle At Folk Alliance
Easy banter between these two consummate artists didn’t diminish the passion of Sam Baker and Carrie Elkin’s version of “Love Hurts, which (and I never, ever, thought I’d say this) … Read more
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
If perception is reality, then Chicago must be the Chris Robinson Brotherhood’s home away from home and the Park West their living room. So relaxed and comfortable was everything exuding … Read more
Ben Howard
Simply a man and his music, Ben Howard delivered heart-pounding performances of his old and new folk-rock songs at the packed Shrine Expo in Los Angeles. The English singer/songwriter premiered … Read more
