Sarah King (from the album When It All Goes Down available on Ringleader Records) (by Brian Rock) Blues newcomer Sarah King makes her powerful album debut on . Although from Vermont, her musical roots clearly lie in the Mississippi Delta. Combining the power and emotional depth of Bessie Smith and Etta James with the gritty realism of Janiva Magness and KT Tunstall, adding just a touch of ethereal with a Kate Bush tremolo, Sarah King’s voice is instantly captivating and compelling. “Always an Almost” opens the album with a Soul drenched Blues ballad of yearning for what is so near, yet always ..read more

Rick Monroe & The Hitmen (from the album Six Gun Soul available on Label Group Records) (by Lee Zimmerman) Rick Monroe & The Hitmen claim to have invented a new genre for themselves, one they refer to as ‘Blue Jean Rock’, a style spawned from their rural roots but not necessarily that of a strictly down-home variety. To be sure, there’s no qualification needed as far as their raucous, rollicking approach, but the fact that they also manage to keep a certain country credence makes that descriptive handle all the more incisive. A well-seasoned performer who’s taken the stage in every U.S ..read more

The Henry Girls (from the album A Time to Grow available as a self-release) There’s something to be said for sibling harmonies. The Beach Boys and the Everly Brothers are but two examples that provide proof of that point. So, leave it to the three Irish sisters that refer to themselves as The Henry Girls to do the same, weaving a tender tapestry of breathless balladry in the process. Although they tap into their rich Irish ancestry as found inspiration — the instrumental medley “Honeybee/Hard Border” and the fiddle-fueled “Not Your Fight” being the most obvious examples — they’re not bound to ..read more

Cruz Contreas InterviewFrontier Ruckus (from the album On the NorthlineGrackles (from the album GracklesJon Tyler Wiley & His Virgina Choir (from the album Picture in the DarkRon Houston (from the album R.O.A.M.Sugarcane Jane (from the album On a MissionThe Henry Girls (from the album A Time to GrowSlow Parade(from the album Maybe You’ll Come Around, AgainSarah King (from the album When It All Goes DownRick Monroe & The Hitmen (from the album Six Gun Soul available on Slow Jam Records) (by Danny McCloskey) Old school Rock’n’Roll is the soundtrack for . Less a melting pot and more a sou ..read more

Cruz Contreas InterviewFrontier Ruckus (from the album On the NorthlineGrackles (from the album GracklesJon Tyler Wiley & His Virgina Choir (from the album Picture in the DarkRon Houston (from the album R.O.A.M.Sugarcane Jane (from the album On a MissionThe Henry Girls (from the album A Time to GrowSlow Parade(from the album Maybe You’ll Come Around, AgainSarah King (from the album When It All Goes DownRick Monroe & The Hitmen (from the album Six Gun Soul (from the album On a Mission available on Admiral Bean Records) (by Bryant Liggett) The duo Sugarcane Jane are billed in some music ..read more

Ron Houston (from the album R.O.A.M. available as a self-release) (by Danny McCloskey) A gentle sway opens the doors of R.O.A.M., the latest release from Ron Houston, as the SoCal music man boards the “Whiskey Train”. The album title (R.O.A.M.) works as a business card tag line for Ron Houston and his songs…..Real Americana Outlaw Music. A dreamy beat plays low beneath “The Rain”, the drums matching to patter of the drops while the hint of a second line beat keeps pace while Ron Houston points fingers at “People Looking the Other Way” and a lonely banjo punches out notes to begin the outlaw ta ..read more

Grackles (from the album Grackles available on Yes Country for Old Men Records) (by Bryant Liggett) Grackles could score a tango dance, Surf video, or dark, noir-heavy film. On their self-titled release they drop a tittle twang, plenty of reverb-heavy guitar, and lots of music ripe for a dimly lit lounge. Loaded with subtle, Blues undertones with a  darkness amongst the down-trodden Roots vibe, darkness that equals greatness. There’s a tripped out, Jam Band-feel in the opener “It’s Coming To Ya” before they move into an experimental blues realm with the help of Charlie Musselwhite and his ..read more

Frontier Ruckus (from the album On the Northline available from Sitcom Universe) (by Danny McCloskey) Delivering Folk music that contains the fullness of a big production is a golden ring circling the wheel each time a tune is created. The secret is an unknown, the men and women behind the pen quiet about the process, if they themselves even know the answer. While the ‘how’ cannot be taught, it can be heard. , the recent release from Michigan-based Indie Folk outfit Frontier Ruckus, is an album of songs that go beyond the perceived notions of Folk music.  The use of melody and characters ..read more

Scott H Biram (from the album The One and Only Scott H Biram available on Bloodshot Records) (by Bryant Liggett) Scott H. Biram is a bad-ass. Any review of any of his albums should start with that sentence since he is a musician who, whether on stage or in studio, plays like it’s his last night on earth. As Biram throws down a hard hand of Heavy Metal and loud Rock into his spitting vocal, power-chord, and string-breaking brand of dirty Blues on his latest, The One and Only Scott H. Biram , he is also tossing out more proof-positive of the aforementioned bad-assness. A rough riff backed by pow ..read more

The Glass Hours (from the album The Glass Hours available on Cornelius Chapel Records) (by Bryant Liggett) As The Glass Hours, Megan Barbera and Brad Armstrong strike Folk duo gold. While the two have a past of solo ventures, it is their voices that were meant to support each other and ring out side by side. Which is what they do on their self-titled , a stellar showcase of harmony delivered in soft and hushed tones that are quiet and quaint. The opening track treads into twang territory thanks to guitar fills, with Armstrong taking the first verse, Barbera the next. It’s a narrative about two ..read more