Named for the New Orleans neighborhood in which they recorded this, the latest album from Calexico once again has more of an indie, inward foundation of, say, Iron & Wine or Neko Case than the Crescent City or their hometown of Tucson, AZ. Still, you'll hear subtle influences of both regions in this strong new one from them.
As he enters his 40th year as a solo artist, John Hiatt sounds like he's still having an awful lot of fun writing songs and fronting a band.
Mystic Pinball is much more electric, lively, and rough around the edges than last year's Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns, though they share the same producer (Kevin Shirley). We'll play all the tunes from it throughout your Thursday night mix.
Recorded at shows in 2005 and 2006 at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, this live collection shows the friendship and collaborative spirit of two of WNCW's favorite modern Americana songwriters. You can also hear the warmth and passion of the cause that these shows were about: fundraisers for the Arthur Morgan School in Celo, where they each had a child enrolled. Don't let the name of this fool you -- it's outstanding!
In their 2nd album produced by Rick Rubin, the boys from Concord, NC pick up where they left off with "I And Love And You", though less piano-based, and more of a focus on Scott's banjo. They also focus on the concept of death here, with both foreboding and benediction. As music critic James Christopher Monger writes, "The Avett Brothers aren't rewriting the book, they're just translating it for a new generation."
It's "Hardcore Bluegrass in the Dawg House" on Thursday night when we feature this fine new release of 1990's recordings from Grisman's studio. Del & The Boys join Dawg for such bluegrass standards as "John Henry", "Hit Parade of Love", and "Save It! Save It!." McCoury and Grisman have known each other for 50 years now!
Goth girls to survivalists, bovines to bibles, antique pistols to vintage motorcycles: Alberta-born honky-tonker Curb Lund's song craft covers it all . Visit with the new album, "Cabin Fever", tonight, beginning at 8:00
I Draw Slow are an Irish five-piece who have conjured a brand of indie bluegrass that fits impeccably into the raditional American canon, while also bearing a stamp all their own. I Draw Slow play and sing with a real sense of Joy, never letting the virtuosity get in the way of delivering delicious performances.
Tune in Thursday night beginning at 8 pm as we feature this new one throughout the evening's mix.
Asheville/Weaverville's own Malcolm Holcombe is one of WNCW's favorite regional -- make that national -- songwriters. Darrell Scott spearheaded the musicianship on this release, and Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris take part as well. Tune in Thursday night as we feature this new one throughout the evening's mix.
The man behind the soundtrack for "The Harder They Come" is back with one of the strongest reggae releases of the year! We'll feature it throughout your Thursday night music mix.
It's not one but TWO new releases we feature for you this Thursday evening, as Los Angeles singer/songwriter Dan Bern has issued two new albums simultaneously. "Drifter" is his first studio release in 6 years, and "Doubleheader" is an 18-song tribute to the great American pastime and one of his greatest passions, baseball. Both feature the Brooklyn trio Common Rotation as his band.
