new release Archive
07 Apr 2021
Kirk Fletcher’s Pathway to (and Through) the Blues, Part Three
Continued from Part Two … When Fletcher was 13, an affiliated congregation invited him to play guitar with their youth choir. He recalls thinking, “Okay, someone wants me to come […]
06 Apr 2021
Kirk Fletcher’s Pathway to (and Through) the Blues, Part Two
Continued from Part One … Even as he grew to adulthood and launched a career as a professional musician, Fletcher would remain in California – not in Compton, though – […]
05 Apr 2021
Kirk Fletcher’s Pathway to (and Through) the Blues, Part One
An edited version of this feature was published previously in Living Blues. Frequent Blues Music Awards nominee Kirk “Eli” Fletcher is known as a lead guitarist, but he considers himself […]
03 Apr 2021
Album Review: Nora Jean Wallace – BluesWoman
Greenwood, Mississippi born and raised, Nora Jean Dawkins has been steeped in the blues and gospel. Her performing and recording career commenced in the ‘70s and includes a tenure in […]
29 Mar 2021
The Solitary Sounds of Snake
An edited version of this feature appeared previously in SF Weekly. For Snake – also known as Oakland musician Nic Barbeln – spontaneity is a key ingredient in the process […]
28 Mar 2021
Album Review: Elizabeth King — Living in the Last Days
It’s important that I admit this right up front: I’m not inclined toward the spiritual messages contained in gospel music. I’m not hostile toward them in any way; the whole […]
27 Mar 2021
Album Review: Lyle Workman — Uncommon Measures
Lyle Workman first came to my attention when he played on Yoyo, the Borgeois Tagg album produced by Todd Rundgren. But he’s done many other things since that have impressed […]
26 Mar 2021
Cool Ghouls Make Fuller Use of the Studio on ‘At George’s Zoo’
Launched in 2011, San Francisco band Cool Ghouls is celebrating its decade of rock and roll by releasing its fourth studio album, At George’s Zoo. The new record builds on […]
25 Mar 2021
Album Review: The Tummies — 9:30 Girl
I love beat groups. Cue up anything from early Beatles to obscure ‘60s acts like freakbeat combo the Renegades (you haven’t lived until you’ve heard their cover of Bill Haley […]
24 Mar 2021
Get Bach: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s ‘Bach Beat Symphonies’
Grammy-winning “kid-hop” musician Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is both prolific and adventurous. Since debuting with the 2008 album Easy, the Asheville- and New York City-based artist has carved out a […]