The genre I like to call stomp-folk has blown up in recent years. At the same time, folkies and singer-songwriters have slowly come to realize that there’s good money to be made in sync licensing, or selling permission to use your tracks in films and television. Every so often–more and more often, I should say–a… Continue reading Video Premiere: DARIUSTX V. The Angels of Goliad
Fiddlefreak first became aware of Jimbo Mathus through his membership in the South Memphis String Band, an acoustic side project for members of the North Mississippi Allstars. Jimbo Mathus is perhaps best known for his leadership (with his ex-wife Katharine Whalen) of the now-defunct Squirrel Nut Zippers, who appeared at many prestigious events, including Prairie… Continue reading Jimbo Mathus and the Tri-State Coalition: Dark Night of the Soul
Many thanks to Devon at Hearth Music for turning me on to the third album from Calahen Morrison and Eli West. We heartily recommended their first two releases, and this one raises the bar. I’ll Swing My Hammer with Both Hands is the fruit of veteran guidance from producer Tim O’Brien and contributions from crack… Continue reading Cahalen Morrison and Eli West: Swing My Hammer
This week Fiddlefreak ponders the eternal question: can a music blogger have a favorite band? Or should he? As it happens, I lucked into an advance copy of Outshine the Sun from Foghorn Stringband last weekend at the annual CBA Father’s Day Festival in Grass Valley, California. The miles flew by as we burned up… Continue reading Foghorn Stringband: Outshine the Sun (MP3)
Here’s another sweet new record that has come to Fiddlefreak by way of Devon at Hearth Music. The Holy Coming of the Storm from Cahalen Morrison and Eli West hit the streets on January 30 and has been stuck in my CD player ever since. Their new old-time bluegrass songs strike just the right balance… Continue reading Cahalen Morrison and Eli West: The Holy Coming of the Storm (MP3)
Santa Cruz, California is the home of barefoot hemp-wearing earth-mamas, world-famous surf breaks, and mossy redwood forests of epic proportions. Down on Pacific Street you see everything from bass-thumping Chicano low riders to panhandler addicts with cats riding on their shoulders. And of course the Umbrella Man who walks the street wearing all pink and… Continue reading Luke Abbott: Take Me Home (MP3)
Today marks the release of Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band’s new record titled Legacy (COM 4543). Legacy is a satisfying ramble through 13 tracks of mellow retro-trad newgrass, most of them written and sung by Peter himself. His merry band of veteran pickers is composed of Jody Stecher on mandolin, Keith Little on banjo, Paul Knight… Continue reading Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band (MP3 Download)
