independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
“I’m Rick Barry, I’m on the cusp of Scorpio and Sagittarius, not that that matters,” laughs Asbury Park, New Jersey-based folk singer Rick Barry, who is on tour supporting the release of his latest album, Curses, Maledictions & Harsh Reiterations. Folk wasn’t always the focus for Barry, who grew up idolizing a fellow Asbury Park... Continue Reading →
The Music City was fortunate enough to witness yet another powerful performance from blog favorite alt-folk outfit The Ballroom Thieves recently; they set up camp at The Basement for a pre-celebration of their release of their new album, Deadeye--the cozy atmosphere of the iconic venue ensured an intimate and friendly experience. The songs on Deadeye were, admittedly, a product of... Continue Reading →
To support the recent release of their fabulous new album Blindfaller, Mandolin Orange has hit the road to share the new tunes with eager listeners—I’ve fallen in love with these new songs and have had their Nashville show date circled on my calendar for weeks. The pair took the stage at the crowded Exit/In with... Continue Reading →
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve all experienced all of these newsworthy events, and in the context of the upcoming election, it just feels like chaos swirling all around us,” laments Emily Frantz, one-half of North Carolina-based bluegrass-inspired folkicana outfit Mandolin Orange. “You can’t get away from it; it definitely informed the lyrical content of... Continue Reading →
Last time I spoke with Boston-based alt-folk outfit The Ballroom Thieves, the group had finished an EP collaboration with the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra, and were readying for a short tour with the MYRO’s 25 high school-aged members. “When you bring 25 kids on the road with five adult chaperones, it goes without saying that... Continue Reading →
Colorado-based Elephant Revival drew quite a crowd to the Mercy Lounge last week; blending their inspirations of Folk, Americana, and Celtic music, the band presents a resonant and relatable sound. Their rhythmic and intricate musicianship coupled with lyrical storytelling and pleasant melodies created an extremely entertaining experience for all listeners. The band's energy was contagious, proven by the... Continue Reading →
We've had so much fun getting to know Elephant Revival (Bonnie Paine-vocals, washboard, djembe, musical saw, stomp box/Daniel Rodriguez-vocals, guitar, banjo, bass/Dango Rose-upright bass, vocals, mandolin, claw-hammer banjo/Bridget Law-fiddle, vocals, octave violin/Charlie Rose-banjo, pedal steel, guitar, horns, cello, double bass) and celebrating their Nashville performance; today, we close out Elephant Revival Week with a specially-curated playlist... Continue Reading →
Elephant Revival Week continues! Every day this week, we are posting about our favorite Colorado-based eclectic alt-folk conglomerate to celebrate their upcoming show at Mercy Lounge in Nashville on October 6th, presented by East of 8th! In a recent chat with Elephant Revival vocalist/percussionist Bonnie Paine, we played a fun little round of word association,... Continue Reading →
Beauty inspires art, and the state of Colorado, with its majestic mountain-scape and verdant surroundings, has become a creative hub for the visual and performing arts. “Colorado’s got an amazing musical community” says Bonnie Paine of Colorado-based eclectic folk-grass outfit Elephant Revival. “It’s a great place to experience all kinds of music; there’s a lot... Continue Reading →
Woodstock, New York-based rootsy alt-folk outfit The Felice Brothers are currently on an extensive tour supporting the release of their latest album, Life In The Dark, which came out this June via Yep Roc Records. I recently chatted with James Felice, who filled me in on the details: Me: “I heard you recorded the album on... Continue Reading →
