Americana Archive
20 Dec 2019
Album Review: The Black Tones — Cobain & Cornbread
Ice-T (among many others) has long made the point that African Americans’ role in the creation of rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. While I agree, I […]
14 Dec 2019
Hundred-word Reviews for December 2019, #2
With the end of 2019 on the horizon, I figure now’s as good a time as any to bring things up to date with another batch of quick reviews. In […]
02 Nov 2019
Album Review: Zoe & Cloyd — I Am Your Neighbor
The student and feminism movements that came to prominence in the late 20th century both made use of the slogan, “the personal is political.” And whatever side of an issue […]
18 Sep 2019
Penny and Sparrow: Rosé Rock vs. Emo-country
The crystalline instrumentation and emotionally resonant vocal harmonies of Penny and Sparrow have earned the Austin, Texas folk duo both critical plaudits and a dedicated following. But Penny and Sparrow […]
15 Sep 2019
Alexa Rose: No Contest
Though she can attribute at least some of her success to doing well in songwriting contests, Asheville-based singer-songwriter Alexa Rose has mixed feelings about competition. But as she put the […]
08 Sep 2019
Backline’s Traditional Roots Meet a Modern Sound
Five-piece bluegrass band Backline came together in 2016, playing a style of the mountain music that bridges the gap between traditional and modern. The group’s rich vocal harmonies are a […]
29 Aug 2019
Hello Stranger: RiddleFest Celebrates Life and Work of Overlooked Musician and Song Collector
Lesley Riddle is an important yet mostly overlooked figure in the history of American music. A musician and folklorist, he collaborated with –and greatly influenced the Carter Family. As an […]
24 Aug 2019
For Nikki Talley, Home is Where the Muse Lives
Based since 1996 in Western North Carolina, singer-songwriter-guitarist Nikki Talley took to the road about six years ago. With husband and multi-instrumentalist Jason Sharp, she toured constantly, traveling across the […]
14 Jul 2019
Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters: Get What You Need
Amanda Anne Platt launched her recording career with 2009’s Irene. A decade later – after countless live shows and three more albums of original material – she’s ready to revisit […]
04 Jun 2019
What is Drunken Prayer? Leader Morgan Geer is Open to Suggestions
With one foot in honky-tonk and the other in straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll, Morgan Geer’s Drunken Prayer is Americana for people who don’t like Americana, rock for those who don’t […]