Free Magic. Isn’t that what jazz-fusion is? Using a launch pad of some familiar melody, rhythmic riff, or instrumentation, and building it forward and outward until it gets really weird. That’s what Miles Davis realized about jazz music in the late 60s, that it was the root of all American music, and with that in… Continue reading Medeski Martin & Wood | 'Free Magic' | New Music Review
The Nederland, Colorado based indie acoustic quintet, Elephant Revival releases the staggeringly beautiful It’s Alive EP. This seven song collection comes with an illustrated hardcover songbook that contains lyrics from their first two albums. The complete package contains bonus digital downloads and a full color book with chord charts, notations, arrangements, and artwork by all… Continue reading Elephant Revival | 'It's Alive' | New Music Review
Fifty years ago Preservation Hall opened its doors in New Orleans, Louisiana with a mission to preserve, honor, and protect New Orleans Jazz. In celebration of turning a half century Preservation Hall Jazz Band is releasing: The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Box Set. This ear bud time capsule consists of specific tracks from recordings released… Continue reading The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Box Set | Review
All genres of music must evolve – Electronic music evolved into house music – Rhythm and blues became rock-n-roll – And now bluegrass, one of the oldest and most revered genres of Americana music, has transitioned into a new era many are calling “newgrass”. With artists such as Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, Rumpke… Continue reading The Infamous Stringdusters' Silver Sky-Deluxe Edition | Review
Ahhh…the fall of 1997. It was an interesting time for America. Bill Clinton was still fresh into his second term, Steve Jobs had just returned to managing Apple after a “hiatus”, people were flocking to the theaters to watch the Titanic sink, a woman in Iowa gave birth to seven children, internet companies were booming,… Continue reading Phish | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 12/6/97 | Review
On the eve of their 20th anniversary as a band, southern jam rocker’s Widespread Panic had a difficult decision to make. The decision to dismiss their new lead guitar player George McConnell was most likely a mutual one. Their hardcore fan base was having a hard time accepting him as a replacement to the late… Continue reading Widespread Panic | 'Wood' | New Music Review
Trudging into the Independent on yet another cold, appropriately misty San Francisco night, I was quite honestly exhausted and wishing I was in my bed. While I had been wholly captivated by Father John Misty at Outside Lands last month…my bed was so warm. However, I made the adult decision to stay and enjoy the… Continue reading Father John Misty | Independent | San Francisco, CA | 9/26/12
I was beginning to worry about the health of rock and roll. I grew up on mid-late 70s rock. At that time rock was the music, [along with disco,] that was really the ‘pop’ of the day. A lack of Internet and MTV surely helped assist this reality. My reality, anyway. I lived in a… Continue reading The Congress Live @ The Clementine | Harrisonburg, VA | Review
Eight years is a long time to wait for a new helping of Cajun-infused bluegrass poly-funk, but it was definitely worth the wait. Aquatic Hitchhiker, Colorado jam legends Leftover Salmon‘s new studio release, delivers with an album that defies genres. Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt started the group with banjo master Mark Vann more than… Continue reading Leftover Salmon | 'Aquatic Hitchhiker' | New Music Review
It’s no surprise that John Lee Hooker Jr. has some big shoes to fill. The son of the incomparable bluesman John Lee Hooker Sr., Hooker Jr. has been out to make a name for himself as more than “the son of a blues great.” It’s hard to escape though, and in the end Hooker Jr.… Continue reading John Lee Hooker Jr. | All Hooked Up | New Music Review
