This song caught our ear the other day, the new single from The Golden Lancers out of South Carolina. It’s a stripped back sound, capturing the honky tonk essence of the song that has one of those classic country lines in “I’m tired of saying sorry, so I’ll say goodbye.” We’re looking forward to hearing … Continue reading
Asheville, NC’s Christy Lynn Band is the project of Christy Lynn and Ryan Schilling who hooked up musically back in 2011. Their full-length album, the cleverly titled, Sweetheart of the Radio, will be released on vinyl digital, CD and streaming platforms on April 3rd. Lynn describes the album as tales of heartbreak and leaving, an outlaw’s last … Continue reading
“It’s a cautionary tale about love lost, drunk dialing your ex and driving while on Xanax.” Joe Wortell (Chicago) has a new track out and it’s a pure country tune steeped in Haggard and early Sturgill. Rough and ready yet musically polished, especially the great pedal steel playing by Jeff Lyman. Hell of a chorus hook … Continue reading
Back in May we shared this song from Pinto Bennett, from his album The Last Saturday Night and now he’s released this great, down-to-earth clip for it, featuring Eilen Jewell among the many guests. She sang on the album and her husband and bandmate Jason Beek produced it. Authentic, organic, humorous, old-school, dusty floor, honky … Continue reading
Texan Kathryn Legrande has released two superb new tracks. The first, ‘Going Crazy’ is a wonderful Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard-channeling, hard honky-tonk song topped off by Legrande’s fine vocal. There’s a touch of Nikki Lane in her sound too but less floorboard-stomping extrovert. ‘Making It Up’ takes a smoother and more wistful approach, soaked … Continue reading
Authentic, organic, humorous, old school dusty floor honky tonk sounds from Pinto Bennett, the Idaho musician who made his first recordings at age 16 in 1964 with a rock band called The Fates before being seduced by Wynn Stewart’s Bakersfield country sound. By the 2000s, his hard living caught up with him in the form … Continue reading
David Quinn (Chicago) has released two tracks this year and both of them hit our sweet spot with their authentic and in-the-pocket country sound. Not over-produced, simply great playing, a cool production sound (Andrija Tokic, known for his work with Alabama Shakes, Langhorne Slim, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Margo Price) and Quinn’s voice … Continue reading
“I’m going to quit, just not today.” Great sounds from Mr Samuel Herb, a 25 year old singer/songwriter who originally hails from Jacksonville, FL. ‘Someone Else’s Dream’ fuses a swingin’ honky tonk with soul vamps and a killer New Orleans trumpet sound to wonderful effect. We look forward to hearing where Herb goes next with … Continue reading
A new track from Pete Mancini, the second single from his forthcoming second solo LP due out early in 2019. ‘DUI Blues’ rides a classic country sound with a catchy hook of a chorus, touches of honky tonk and a tongue-in-cheek cautionary tale of driving after a night at the bar. Continue reading
Honky tonk, hard country and outlaw combine for this rippin’ new single from Gethen Jenkins. There’s some great playing right across it, from lead guitar to pedal steel, backed by a swinging freight train rhythm section on this shuffling drinking song. Hell of a voice too – gruff and deep, in the tradition of Waylon … Continue reading
BRASH OPTIMISM & SONGWRITING PROPHECY Striding the early morning Los Angeles pavement and scared about returning to his life in Melbourne, the musician had revelation. Maybe he could just disappear? Dissolve into the weird and wild world of LA. That thought was quickly tempered by reality but it did result in a song about just … Continue reading
American band Firemelon released their new album King Leisure recently and ‘Before Goodbye’ is one of the standout tracks from it. They cover a lot of ground on the record with soaring distorted guitars, country rock swagger and widescreen Southern Californian twang. It amounts to a varied and intriguing listen. ‘Before Goodbye’ connects with its … Continue reading
Here’s a really nice slice of hard country from Californian Jesse Daniel. It comes from his self-titled album that came out on Die True Records a few months back. The whole album is great. Shades of Waylon throughout but with an added rock ‘n’ roll streak, a wild spirit and a snarl in Daniel and the … Continue reading
SOBRIETY & SINCERITY So often artists are touted as the best new thing or re-inventors of a genre or style. There is of course a time and a place for all those things but there’s equally much to be said about an artist who captures the purity and authenticity of a style. An artist like … Continue reading
Ben Mastwyk is currently a busy gent with a run of interstate shows with Luke Elliot (USA) and today he’s sent the video clip for new single ‘This Country’ out into the world. It’s a great horn-led slice of honky tonk and country groove, matched by an equally fine video complete with gold satin jackets, … Continue reading
