independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
As a Southern girl, a real breakfast (and sometimes dinner if there is shrimp involved) includes a big, buttery bowl of grits. Any self-respecting grits aficionado will tell you that while the five-minute kind will do if you’re in a pinch, there’s nothing like the stone-ground, long-cooking kind of grits. Those are a labor of... Continue Reading →
Carver Commodore represents not only the reincarnation and rebranding of roots rock outfit The Bear & The Bride, it signifies a complete metamorphosis. Situated in Florence, Alabama amidst the rich heritage of Southern rock and soul songwriting styles of Muscle Shoals, Carver Commodore blends those roots with shimmering guitar licks and pop sensibilities. The band... Continue Reading →
Holy buckets! Dallas rockers The Roomsounds recorded the video for their swag-tastic song "Elm St." at none other than legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama; the band's latest album was recorded at the iconic studio, and the "Elm St." video offers a behind-the scenes look. After studio owner Rodney Hall heard the outfit's debut album, he extended an invitation for the... Continue Reading →
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Andy Baxter, who, with Kyle Jahnke, comprises folkicana duo Penny and Sparrow. The pair released their delicious new album, Let A Lover Drown You, on March 11th via Single Lock Records, and were en route to a venue in Seattle: Andy: Social media has been kind, and people have... Continue Reading →
Alabama-born Nashville-based blue-eyed soul man Anderson East recently released his delicious debut LP, Delilah, via Low Country Sound/Elektra Records. Have mercy, y'all, it melts my butter.  He's been appearing all over the place as of late, from Late Night with Seth Meyers, to World Cafe on NPR, selling out shows, and melting the hearts of, well, everybody.  Needless... Continue Reading →
It's funny how things happen sometimes, you know? Â My friends had told me about this artist they had seen called Firekid, a.k.a. Muscle Shoals born and raised and Nashville-based Dillon Hodges, and sent me videos of his swampy guitar-picking dubstep-y magic during his opening slot at a Colony House/Knox Hamilton show in Nashville that I,... Continue Reading →
My most recent adventure? Traveling to Atlanta to see an Alex Clare show, as part of Skype's Ones To Watch tour series!  "So Susan, what exactly is this Ones To Watch series?" you may be asking; for six weeks only, Skype and the House of Blues have teamed up to give fans unprecedented access to six of... Continue Reading →
