Singled Out: “You Know What To Do,” by The Restoration Interviews Music Features by Ken Templeton - October 31, 2019October 31, 20190 Sometimes, you need a song that just gets going. No pretense, no messing around--let’s just play. Of course, we know the work that goes into making something sound so free and open, but let’s not get hung up on that, because if we do, we’ll miss the joy and exhilaration of giving yourself over to a song. Well, if you need a song to turn up the volume on, I recommend “You Know What To Do,” by the South Carolina group The Restoration. This is an ambitious musical group, working with a wide array of genres and sensibilities to create albums that truly tell stories. And even though I like Jason Isbell’s claim that “every album is a concept album,”
Singled Out: EG Vines ‘Drunkard’s Dream’ Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - October 22, 2019October 22, 20190 Sweeping waves and slow, plodding dancing lines. I fall into the cavernous depths of EG Vines "Drunkard's Dream". Sucked into the place that he is singing about. There is a special talent in that. Painting colors with a voice and echoing guitar notes mingling with bass root notes allowed to fade until the next line. There is a magic there, a space created in the air out of nothing. Melancholy, but sweet and poignant. Who: EG Vines From: Nashville, TN Song: 'Drunkard's Dream' Latest Record: Family Business What About It: "Everybody knows that guy that hammers beers at the end of the bar reminiscing and telling you how great things used to be. I think that was my mindset the day that I wrote ‘Drunkard’s
An Interview With Chad Cochran: I Didn’t Want To Tell You Interviews Music Features by Ken Templeton - October 22, 20190 If you enjoy seeing some of your favorite musicians captured beautifully, you should be following Chad Cochran on Instagram. His portrait, landscape, and live music photography are all inspiring and he does an amazing job capturing the nature of the subject in the frame. Recently, No Depression published six portraits and stories from his project “I Didn’t Want To Tell You: Normalizing the Conversation Around Mental Health” for its Wellness Issue. The series in the print edition featured John Paul White, Lydia Loveless, Sarah Shook, Steve Poltz, Jamie Harris, and Elizabeth Cook. Through his Instagram account, there are many more stories, all well worth reading. Perhaps at no other time in my memory, mental health for musicians is a common
Fresh Track: Evan Murphy “Sister McCarthy” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - October 21, 2019October 21, 20190 It isn't often you come across an artist who can excel to a certain level of one genre, nevermind entirely separate ones through different projects, but thats just what Evan Murphy has proven with his latest solo effort, Born Again Town (out on December 13th). The EP as a whole encompasses a style and vibe that may turn a few heads who have come to know Murphy through his work with bluegrass quintet Mile Twelve. A heaping helping of blue collar rock n' roll, influenced by writers both contemporary and from years past, the songwriter feeds the appetite of nostalgia, but its well balanced and intertwined with a progressive modernity that's glistening with personal touches and stories. The first single off
Singled Out: Driftwood Soldier “Marietta” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - October 21, 2019October 21, 20190 A "gutter folk duo" may elicit images or make you hear sounds of something, grim, dirty or perhaps the clang of trashcans in a back alley ... But you would be wrong. Sure there is grit and a dust caked vibe to the songs of Driftwood Solider. On Marietta in particular, Owen Lyman-Schmidt's voice is gruff and gristled. Deep and crackling like a raging fire inside a wood stove in the depths of January. On the inside, the combustion is all power, a bit of danger and turmoil, but there is a certain comfort in the deep, a warmth that finds its way out into the room and wraps itself around you. Something secretive and buried beneath. And with the
Singled Out: Bandits on the Run “Cowboy on the Run” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - October 17, 20190 I'm a sucker for music with a timeless quality. Bandits on the Run's single "Cowboy on the Run" kicks off with a vocalized wild-west movie, then on a dime it turns into a time I often romanticize about. That Buddy Holly, R&B, doo-wop buoyant brilliance that you can't help but fall in love with. Smiles creep across your face and your foot incessantly taps to the beat. The breadth of the sound here is huge...with just some percussion and perfectly layered harmonies over just an electric guitar. Its hard to believe this is 3 people in a room with minimal instrumentation. Get hooked on this trio today, it'll do you good friends. Who: Bandits on the Run From: Brooklyn, NY Song: "Cowboy on the
Singled Out: Eugene Tyler Band “Answers” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - October 16, 2019October 16, 20190 The Eugene Tyler Band wastes no time getting to the point on "Answers". A quick pick and battle between banjo guitar as Tyler's high and lonesome voice echoes "It's hard enough to be something worth hating / To build yourself up for the barbs / Who'd be stupid enough to be something worth loving? / To give it back and play the part?" Thats some heavy stuff to unload in the first line and right off the bat and the band fills out that vibe with the sound that its hard to believe only three members produce. Lets just say, we are f*cking digging what they are throwing down... Who: Eugene Tyler Band Song: "Answers" From: New York, New York Latest Record: baby dogs
An Interview with Charlie Parr: The Dependability of Broken Screen Doors Interviews Music Features by Ken Templeton - October 10, 2019October 10, 20190 Charlie Parr recently released his latest album, the eponymous Charlie Parr (Red House Records). It was recorded in one day with some amazing players and features both new songs and some of Charlie’s best-loved songs, reinterpreted for the new record. It includes “To A Scrapyard Bus Stop,” which was the song that my friend sent to me, introducing me to Charlie’s work more than ten years ago. I loved the song immediately and am so glad to have this new version to hear and enjoy. For what it’s worth, I love the timing on Charlie’s vocals in this new version--you can hear him struggling with the anxiety and proximity to this person he knew, but “can’t say how,” in a
Series You Should Know: Crossroads Music Series (North Andover, MA) Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - October 2, 20190 There should be more ongoing music series in the world...I mean we have a host of wonderful ones all over New England, but well curated regular events that you can even go in blindly to and know that it is going to be a heck of an evening of music and good times, those types of things are a treasure to behold. Entering it's 31st season, Crossroads Music Series is held in a 180-seat space in a beautiful “Cardboard Gothic” style Universalist Unitarian church in North Andover, MA. The folks behind the scenes hold one concert a month, second Saturdays of each month, October-June. Promoter David Kovner told us, "There are a number of things that set us apart from other venues.
Singled Out: Lisa Bastoni “Dogs of New Orleans” Interviews Music Features by Brian Carroll - September 24, 20190 Slow and steady wins and "Dogs of New Orleans" off of Bastoni's brand new release is a tried and true indicator of such. There is a slight twang in her voice as "New Orleans" rolls of her tongue. Acoustic guitar driving the rhythm. The song moves along in a whispy puff of audible smoke. There is a beautiful melancholia to her delivery. The tune aches, it yearns. Its real and human and as she utters the final verse 'Your tin roof trembles with the rain I know I can’t stay but I’m so glad I came' there is a resolution and just a hint of looking toward a bright future...and damn, that clarinet is a welcome woven texture that brings