Elmore # 55 is here! Check out our in-depth features on the life of the great, complicated Levon Helm and the underrated genius Cindy Cashdollar!

Elmore #56 is coming soon! We take a look at the development of Philadelphia’s music scene and contemplate the art of improvisation in music. Plus, reviews of new albums by David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and more!

The Rolling Stones are going to be busy this year. The venerable rock band are celebrating their silver anniversary (50 years) by going out on tour in the United States. The band will be criss-crossing the nation from May through June before returning to their native United Kingdom for shows in Hyde Park and the massive Glastonbury music festival. Could an album from the band be next?

The White House is celebrating the musical legacy of Memphis with some of the finest musicians that the Cradle of Music has ever produced. Al Green, Charlie Musselwhite, Ben Harper, Alabama Shakes, and Mavis Staples will be among the many performers paying tribute to the great music of Memphis under the musical direction of Booker T. Jones at the “Memphis Soul” concert; his fellow MG Steve Cropper will also be performing at the event. More pop-leaning performers like Justin Timberlake (a Memphis native) and Queen Latifah will also be at the event. You can watch the entire concert on PBS on April 16th.
 
Music journalism lost one of the true greats when Paul Williams, writer and founder of Crawdaddy! Magazine, passed away in March. Pre-dating the founding of Rolling Stone, Williams’ magazine was arguably the first of its kind, creating the concept of pop music journalism and launched the careers of Jon Landau, Jon Pareles, and David Gahr. Williams had been suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease following a 1995 bike accident that gave him significant brain damage. He was 64 years old.

Between all the tabloid stories and infighting, you’d be forgiven if you had forgotten that Kings Of Leon were a band that make music on occasion. Fortunately, for people who enjoy their stadium-sized take on Southern rock, the band have admitted that they’re almost done with a new album. Guitarist Jared Followill described their new album, the first since 2010’s Come Around Sundown, as more youthful sounding and similar to their early records, which lacked the bombast their newer work has. Look for the new album later this year.

Music lost one of its finest songwriters when Jason Molina, the mastermind behind Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co., died earlier this year at the age of 39. Molina, who was held alongside Ryan Adams and Jeff Tweedy as songwriters instrumental in bringing roots and country influences back to indie rock, had recently taken a leave of absence from music to deal with health problems due to years of alcohol abuse. Alas, it was too late for Molina, a brilliant and evocative songwriter who left us far too soon.

Letter: Producer Kirk Yano rounds up high-powered pals to advise would-be recording artists. Listen up

Opening Act: Snippets, fun, interviews, reviews, upcoming festivals

Kickin’ in Your Stall: Queen of the blues: Carl Gustafson wonders if her coif can support the crown

Influences: Eric Burdon sings lead and keeps his hands free while Andrew Dost (of Grammy-winning fun.) keeps his hands busy with bass, piano, trumpet and flugelhorn—yes, that’s a real instrument

On The Record: Jim James goes solo. The stars align on album titles: Carolina Moonrise, Tobacco Town, Odessa Tapes (by the Flatlanders, no less), Bringing It Back Home, and also Bring It On Home, West of Memphis and The Fool on Every Corner. Then we have When My Mama Was Living, Big Bands Live, Was Dead, Legends Live and Feeling Mortal. Coincidence? We think not

Re:Issues: Columbia boxes up Taj Mahal, Taj and more Taj, 13 titles in all, but Paul Aaronson tells us that’s not too much. TVZ and SRV reappear; Billy Gibbons is touring again with the Moving Sidewalks, so you folks might want to snap up that CD ASAP

What’d I Say: Where jazz meets blues, that’s where we’ll find Jim Hynes

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: From the desert to the Gulf, John Kuroski explores Texas soul

Also Appearing: The normally far-ranging Warren Haynes threw his 24th hometown Christmas party, gifting the proceeds to charity. Hot Tuna (with covergirl Cindy Cashdollar and Levon Helm’s Larry Campbell) rock the Beacon Theatre; Brits Queen, Yardbirds and the Who, plus Yanks Lady Antebellum all on DVD; Martha Reeves and Umphrey’s McGee tour, probably heading for your nabe

Collecting: Having lost his record collection in Superstorm Sandy, Arnie Goodman dreams about combing through his favorite shops, unearthing treasures

Get to Know: 20-Song Spring Break Mixtape

This month’s Trivia