Robert Cray “Smoking Gun” (1986)
Robert Cray has been around the block a few times. He’s been recording, and touring, and playing live shows as a Blues/Soul stalwart for nearing 40 years now – back to when his first album, Who’s Been Talkin’, came out on Tomato Records in 1980. I’m sure he’s played some crazy gigs. Yet, I’d still...... Read More
Brian Setzer “Let’s Shake” (2014)
You know who’s one of the most incredible, underappreciated guitarists/musicians of our time? Brian Setzer, that’s who. Besides being able to flat-out jump, jive and wail on his now signature model series of Gretsch hollow-body guitars, he’s a revivalist of two distinct, forgotten and historically significant musical genres: In two decades, first resurrecting Rockabilly, with...... Read More
Starbuck “Moonlight Feels Right” (1976)
The making of a good song requires all kinds of choices, with lyrics, with instrumentation, with production, and more. The solo break generally presents fewer options, guitar, of course, filling the vast majority, with piano or saxophone likely being next in line. Some notable exceptions, though, do exist. Midway through ‘Pictures Of Lily,’ one of...... Read More
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real “Find Yourself” (2017)
I don’t get out to the movies much. That fact is not merely a matter of my laziness or the presence of Netflix. In truth, there are just very few occasions when a new movie comes out that excites or inspires me much, let alone motivates me to actually get to a theater. So the...... Read More
Phish “Kill Devil Falls” (2009)
I’m by no means a Phishhead. But over the years I have grown to respect the musical abilities of this unusual 4-piece out of Burlington, VT., and the incredible improvisation, range and versatility they exhibit as a band. Over last years “Baker’s Dozen” run of 13 shows at Madison Square Garden, they played a total...... Read More
Diner “Strip Joint Piano Scene” (1982)
Long before Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David created “A show about nothing,” a first-time director and seven utterly unknown actors made a movie about nothing. The year was 1982, and the film, without question my favorite one of all time, was Diner. It was directed by Barry Levinson, a resident of Baltimore, MD. where the...... Read More
Earth, Wind & Fire “Gratitude” (1975)
There have been plenty of songs over the years about giving thanks. The odd pairing of Led Zeppelin and Dido both had big songs named ‘Thank You,’ while ZZ Top and Bonnie Raitt personalized things with their versions of a tune entitled ‘I Thank You.’ Alanis Morissette left a couple letters off with her song...... Read More
Blackberry Smoke “Let It Burn” (2016)
They’re the keepers of the flame. For those like me, who basked in the glory days of Southern Rock music, who gobbled up as many southern rock jams as possible and maybe chased them with a little Southern Comfort, who consider the classic southern rock bands to be as much a part of our essential...... Read More
Hozier “Nina Cried Power” (2018)
“It’s not the waking, it’s the rising” With that softly delivered line, Hozier begins one of the hardest-hitting songs I’ve heard in a very long time. “It’s a song about protest songs,” he says, “It’s a thank you note to the spirit of protest.” Hozier vaulted from obscurity to international acclaim with the roof-raising, anthemic...... Read More
Fabulous Thunderbirds “My Babe” (1982)
There’s an accepted code among musicians: Don’t horn in on another band’s gig. This rule is pretty absolute, and even more so if the prospective offender is already a known douchebag. My friend Tom “Clump” Clifford has been in bands most of his life; He’s fronted The Thangs, The Mistreaters, and currently King Soul, playing...... Read More