Oliver Ray has a brand new album out now called Out Passed Nowhere. It’s his debut record and features Howe Gelb, musicians from Sugar Candy Mountain, The Myrrors, Xixa, and China, as well as a very special appearance by the poet laureate of punk, Patti Smith, who Ray has worked with as her longtime guitarist. ‘Ol’ … Continue reading
One positive to come from the recent lineup changes for The Felice Brothers is that we get to hear more new music from the talented members taking flight under their own names. Greg Farley was the fiddle player with the band for a decade and late last year he released his debut solo album Taker … Continue reading
Some people have been dissing the image and schtick of Orville Peck but here at PTW we’ve been really digging his Pony LP, one of favourites of 2019 so far. He’s just released a new video clip for the slow burner ‘Hope To Die’, a shimmering Orbison meets Twin Peaks dream-croon of a song. You … Continue reading
TOWNES VAN ZANDT SKY BLUE Fat Possum Records/Inertia Early in 1973, Townes Van Zandt visited his journalist and musician friend Bill Hedgepeth in Atlanta, Georgia, as he often would through his life, and recorded these stripped down acoustic songs in Hedgepeth’s home studio. Some are instantly recognisable TVZ classics while two are unreleased tracks, others … Continue reading
It’s the late-night vibe on this song and the contrasting darkly humorous lyrics on this track from San Luis Obispo, CA singer-songwriter Derek Senn that caught our ear. He dials into a sweet rhythm that forms the backdrop for some great lyrics. The song comes from Senn’s recently released album of the same name How … Continue reading
Themes of loss of identity and belonging in the modern hi-tech society rise out of a gothic swamp on this track by Simon Paul Roy aka A Few Bad Men. He was a founding member and songwriter of the Australian psychedelic power pop group Bell Jar, working with Marty Wilson-Piper (The Church) and Ed Kuepper, (The … Continue reading
We’re loving the space in this new song from Canadian JUNO Award winner Catherine MacLellan. ‘Out Of Time’ matches its title and sentiment with the arrangement and exquisite playing on this slow soulful sway of a country lament. The song comes from her new LP COYOTE set to be released October 11, 2019. Continue reading
Jeff Tweedy with Jen Cloher Metro Theatre, Sydney May 20th, 2019 By Chris Familton In 20 years of attending gigs at the Metro, this was the first time I’d seen seats in the venue. There were mixed comments from the audience but it worked well, creating a more intimate atmosphere in the room, which in … Continue reading
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real + William Crighton Factory Theatre, Marrickville NSW April 18th, 2019 Bluesfest is nearly upon us for another year and so are the associated sideshows that roll through Sydney. If you’re a fan of Americana and country rock then Lukas Nelson and band Promise Of The Real should have … Continue reading
Alejandro Escovedo Camelot Lounge, Marrickville NSW March 4th 2019 When a songwriter performs, you hear their stories through song and all its associated elements of poetry, melody, cadence, tone and tempo. Often the essence of the song is shrouded in imagery and lyrical abstraction and some digging is required on behalf of the listener. Alejandro … Continue reading
Freya Josephine Hollick is back from recording her next album at the famed studio Rancho de la Luna (Kyuss, QOTSA, Kurt Vile, Daniel Lanois, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop, Mark Lanegan) in Joshua Tree, California, with Lucinda Williams’ band Buick 6 and renowned guitarist Greg Leisz. She’s celebrating by announcing her first full band headline shows of … Continue reading
SONGS OF TRIBUTE For my Waitin’ Around to Die column in Rhythms I recently took a look at some of the outstanding releases in the field of tribute albums. Specifically those that fall under the umbrella of Americana and alt-country, whether it’s in recognition of an artist’s body of work or a fundraiser to assist them … Continue reading
THE DELINES THE IMPERIAL El Cortez Records Willy Vlautin has proven to be quite the Americana renaissance man with his time in the highly respected alt-country group Richmond Fontaine, a second career as an acclaimed novelist (Lean On Pete, Don’t Skip Out On Me) and most recently as main songwriter for The Delines. This, their … Continue reading
RYAN BINGHAM AMERICAN LOVE SONG Thirty Tigers/Cooking Vinyl Australia Ryan Bingham cut his teeth as a rodeo rider, he’s an actor, but most importantly he’s an accomplished singer-songwriter. On his sixth album he’s corralled his most wide reaching and rewarding collection of songs to date. Across 15 songs, Bingham paints portraits of the American dream, … Continue reading
There’s a dreamy late-night roadhouse vibe on this track from two Asheville, NC musicians – Gold Light (Joe Chang) & Snakemusk (Beau Campolong). Mazzy Star is an obvious reference point given it’s soaked in a similar noir heartache and organic shuffling sway but this also has more of a 60s folk vibe built into its … Continue reading
