Features
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Songs We Love: Lee Ann Womack's "The Way I'm Livin'"
A lot has been said (and written) about the bro-country trend of late. It\’s had a good run, to be sure, but trucks and beer and girls in too-short shorts can only get you so far. At some point, you need more than that. To borrow from Wade Bowen\’s \”Songs about Trucks\”: \”Whatever happened to…
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Kelly Does Her Best: Top 14 Albums of '14… and Then Some
In 2013, Jason Isbell\’s Southeastern was so stunningly fantastic, that it was impossible not to declare it as my favorite record of the year, even as Brandy Clark\’s 12 Stories, Ashley Monroe\’s Like a Rose, and Holly Williams\’ The Highway all tied for a very, very close second. This year, there were a bunch of records that I liked a whole…
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Video Premiere: Indigo Girls – "Elizabeth"
Over the past couple of months, the Indigo Girls have released the first seven videos in an eight-part series filmed backstage at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles this summer. Those pieces have found Amy Rayand Emily Saliers discussing their personal best songs (\”Share the Moon\” and \”She\’s Saving Me,\” respectively), performing with Joan Baez…
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Focus On: Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn
What happens when two greats join forces? Well, in the case of Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, a whole lot of banjo playing. For their eponymous duo album, Fleck says the main conceit was that “it would just be the two of us all the way” — and not just in the studio. They also…
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Jennifer Knapp Turns Love and Faith Inside Out
Jennifer Knapp\’s story is one that many in the LGBT community can relate to. Growing up in small-town Kansas as the sister of a twin and the daughter of divorced parents, she sought refuge in the pages of a journal that she wrote in code so no one could read her deepest secrets. But a…
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The Capaciousness of Butterfly Boucher
Australian singer/songwriter Butterfly Boucher is one of those rare talents who can play pretty much any instrument you put in front of her which is exactly what she did on Flutterby, her 2004 debut — she sang and played almost every note on the record, save drums and cello. One critic called the effort a…
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The Power of Linda Perry
Linda Perry doesn’t give a fuck. Actually, she does. She gives a fuck about a lot of things, but what other people think isn’t one of them. An artistic powerhouse and Renaissance woman, Perry exploded onto the scene 25 years ago as the front woman for 4 Non Blondes. Their iconic \”What\’s Up?\” would be…
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Generation R: How Roots Music Calls and Cultivates Young Artists
The first time artist manager Denise Stiff encountered a 15-year-old Alison Krauss singing at a bluegrass event, she knew she was witnessing something special. “I was floored,” Stiff recalls. Krauss\’ talent was immense, even back then; but there was something else about her — a wisdom, poise, and maturity that does not seem as prevalent…
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Bridging the Cultural Divide: Perla Batalla
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Perla Batalla has enjoyed an incredibly varied career. Not only has she performed on some of the world’s greatest stages, including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Kennedy Center, but Batalla has also performed with some of the world’s greatest artists, such as Lou Reed, Jackson Browne, Laurie Anderson and, perhaps…
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Katie Herzig Shows Her True (School) Colors in "Drug"
Despite the fact that her music is filled with deeply contemplative themes, Katie Herzig has a sneakily humorous side, as well. One view of her “Hey Na Na” video proves that, flat out. But, if further evidence is needed, her latest video for “Drug” should dispel any remaining doubts. In it, Herzig shows those true…