Me and my Mom I haven’t been here in a while, but I can’t let the day go by without sharing music I am listening to. Wilco’s song, “On and On and On” is so lovely and perfectly resonates with my heart on this special day. Today is my Mother’s birthday. Sadly, she left this earth 26 years ago, and her death is a painful chapter in my life. In order to move forward after losing her to cancer, I had to place the sadness and loss at the back of a very high shelf in my brain and my heart. Each year on her birthday, I pull out my frayed dust-covered tender feelings and thoughtfully examine them with ..read more

It has been a skinny minute since I last posted, but I am still surviving on the music I listen to each day. Somehow it gets me through the highs and lows of living. I am a forever fan of multiple genres, old and new. This spring, I am seriously excited about the creativity which seems to be bubbling up from the strangeness of our times. Here’s to the sounds and artists that give me a reason to listen again and again. Good listening, right now. Boy Genius-Satanist Houses -Soak It Up The Mary Onettes-Easy Hands Luna Li-Afterglow The Moss-Insomnia Barrie-Races hey, nothing-Like a Brother ..read more

My mom January brings so much promise and hope for the future. Turning a calendar page of a new year generates an exciting expectation that might not happen on any other month of the year. 2023 will be better than the past three years and I feel certain because… it has to be. I am open for change, harmony, honesty, and a deep dive in personal growth. But as the days lead to January 4th, I become unnervingly shaken. It happens to me every year, roaring its ugly head of sadness and longing. I feel it. My mother’s birthday is today. She should be celebrating her 90th birthday today. She should be ..read more

We Are Back Baby! 2022 proved to be an incredible year of live shows. Despite the caution of surging covid here and there, I was able to find shows I felt comfortable enjoying. My bucket list of seeing Fleet Foxes came true this year and it was incredibly epic! I also saw Faye Webster at a small indie venue in a very cool, vibrant borough of London! Lastly, how could I not be excited to see my new favorite, Fontaine’s DC. Another stellar moment was breathing in and exhaling out the thoughtful lyrics of Julia Jacklin with my daughter. Standout moments never to be forgotten! How can I not also a ..read more

Nine years ago today, I began a musical journey through this WordPress blog, Immersed in Cool Music. People said blogs were on the way out, and I questioned my sanity, but I truly needed an outlet and a place to learn about music. I can honestly say it has been a blessing in my life. I have met so many amazing people along the way. I will always enjoy the deep dive of learning about a song, a band, and venues/festivals all over. I originally wrote for another blog site, 1146 miles. I am unable to find it now. I know he left it several years ago. I am so thankful that Ian gave me a chance and ..read more

Piccadilly Circus, London (photo credit-Carrie Grayson) I am awake at 5 am again. It has been 3 days since I returned home from abroad, but my body is still following a foreign time clock. I kind of like the change. I live in the city, but the birds sing loudly in my neighborhood and provide the most beautiful pre-dawn music. The summer sun arrives later than 5 o’clock, but the sky cascades with color as it eventually finds its way above the horizon. The only downfall I feel is when my eyes flutter closed around five in the afternoon. I struggle to keep them open even when I am busy trying to ..read more

I am so lucky that my in-box stays packed with music. Wading through it all, I also comb the internet for buzz worthy bands, and new artists around the globe. I do all of the music diving and discovery so you don’t have to. Therefore, you can just follow and add a new artist to your playlist, if you happen to dig their sound. As your music listening friend, I am also curious what new artists you are listening to? Comment below and please let me know! Here are just a few I am excited to share right now. Tomberlin Tomberlin has a new album coming out on April 29th, I don’t know who needs to hear ..read more

Only last week, I was immersed in one of the most exciting music days of my life! I was in Savannah to experience a music festival, Savannah Stopover, that brought multiple bands and genres to an historic Savannah site, The Georgia State Railroad Museum. Despite my tired legs from covering the Friday bands, I was determined to see as many bands on Saturday as I could humanly cover. The Saturday lineup boasted 26 bands in all. Could I do it? Well, I am pretty proud to say that I covered, 22 of them. Phew, I did it even with 5 stages, blustery winds, and freezing temperatures. It was a feat that ..read more

Well that’s a wrap, Savannah Stopover 2022 has officially ended. Sunday scaries are real. They are especially dark when you have truly enjoyed an epic weekend. I happen to be super lucky this time because I can take the week after and reminisce Savannah Stopover, while I go through hundreds of my photos. On a deeply difficult note, the entire drive home we caught up with all the fast breaking tragic news out of Ukraine. Witnessing this kind of bully aggression in my lifetime is devastating. I was able to tune it out over the past weekend, but now, the war in Ukraine dominates my mind and my h ..read more

Stopover 2020-Illiterate Light We are only a few days away from one of my favorite music festivals! Savannah Stopover 2022 is a festival which presents traveling musicians with a welcoming place to play en route to Austin’s prestigious SXSW Music Conference. This year, there will be five stages set up at The Georgia State Railway Museum. The festival is all about music discovery, and now it will be easier to pop in and experience it all! Now is the time to prepare for the onslaught of incredible music packed into a two day event. With over forty bands, Stopover is a satisfying musical meal of ..read more