CD Reviews on projects by Country Rock artists
Frank Hannon’s solo album, Reflections, showcases his guitar skills and emotional depth. Influenced by his late father-in-law, Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band, Hannon blends blues, country, and Western styles in 13 instrumentals. The album captures profound emotions, including nostalgia, grief, and love, reflecting Hannon’s personal journey and tribute to Betts.
Ghost Hounds are revolutionizing modern rock by blending country, blues, and rock elements, led by vocalist SAVNT. Their albums, including 2023’s “First Last Time,” showcase strong songwriting and a distinctive sound. Touring with legends has sharpened their live performances, positioning them as key players in revitalizing rootsy rock music.
“Back On Track” marks Pure Prairie League’s return after nearly two decades, showcasing a blend of their classic and contemporary sound across twelve tracks. Featuring founding member John David Call and primarily original songs by current members, the album celebrates their musical roots while appealing to both old fans and new listeners alike.
Ron Houston Real Outlaw Americana Music Self released Ron Houston is a singer-songwriter based in San Diego but originally hailing from the Bakersfield area. The title, Real Outlaw Americana Music, may seem a bit hyperbolic but Houston has the goods, and then some. Like most outlaws, he has that baritone, weathered voice and comes across […]
Preacher Stone, founded by guitarist Marty Hill and lead vocalist Ronnie Riddle, gained recognition with their song “Not Today” featured in “Sons of Anarchy.” The band’s lineup includes Ben Robinson, Johnny Webb, Jim Bolt, and Wyatt. Known for their powerful, groove-driven live performances, Preacher Stone embodies southern rock with swagger.
Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes Self-titled Color Red Guitarist Eddie Roberts steps away from his The New Mastersounds and other jazz-funk related projects that typically appear on the label Color Red, to step into southern rock with a new group of musicians who are debuting on the label. Dubbed The Lucky Strokes, the band […]
Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels The Last Roundup: Live from the Bijou Café in Philadelphia March 16th, 1973 Amoeba Music Fifty years after Gram Parsons’ passing, Amoeba Music and Polly Parsons have unearthed the only live-to-an-audience recording of Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels – The Last Roundup: Live from the Bijou Café in […]
Chest Fever Music from Big Pink Blind Owl Let’s get the prerequisite qualifier down first; this writer has made an exception and is covering a cover band. It’s only happened three times before, and for the same reason – love and respect for the music of The Band. Two of these were with Jim Weider-led […]
The Shootouts Stampede Soundly Music The Shootouts never expected to engage in this level of glittering hoedown showdown, and certainly not so quickly following the success of their 2021 Top 10 Americana album, Bullseye. But they could not get out of the way of this Stampede, certainly not with Ray Benson driving it. The renowned […]
Skye Pollard Masquerade Hailing from the Ozark mountains in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is Skye Pollard, an artist who I just recently became aware of. His latest release, Masquerade is such a fine-crafted work, I took to it immediately. With song-writing chops that equally match his musicianship, his masterful lyrics beautifully flow along a country-roots-rock stream. With Pollard on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, […]
Drive-by Truckers Welcome 2 Club XIII ATO America’s preeminent rock band, The Drive-by Truckers, deliver a different, more personal, and nostalgic album with Welcome 2 Club XIII, a major departure from the politically charged The Unraveling and the New OK from 2020. The album takes its name from the Muscle Shoals honky-tonk where founding members […]
Christopher Lockett At the Station Gritbiscuit At the Station is the fourth album for rootsy-blues singer-songwriter Christopher Lockett. He’s a storyteller whose music lies somewhere between hard outlaw country and blues rock. He may be hard to categorize but is undoubtedly a gifted songwriter with insightful and provocative lyrics. Lockett has more than a few […]
The Pink Stones …Introducing. Normaltown/New West There’s a tendency to use the term ‘country’ albeit sparingly with the more famous Athens, GA-based bands, The Drive-by Truckers (DBTs), and to some extent Bloodkin, yet The Pink Stones are by far the most country of the three. They fall into the camp of Cosmic American Music, whose […]
Chris Hillman Bidin’ My Time Rounder Records Don Parmley was a 5 String banjo player who recorded a bluegrass instrumental album for GNP/Crescendo Records in 1964 and the mandolin player on the recording was Chris Hillman. Hillman switched to bass and joined Jim McGuinn, David Crosby, Gene Clark and Michael Clarke to form the Byrds. […]
“All Things Must Pass” The rise and fall of Tower Records (96 minute DVD) www.MVDb2b.com – MVDvisual The death of Tower Records was a major blow for many of us who grew up purchasing vinyl LP’s, seven inch forty-fives and CD’, laser discs, and DVD’s. This triumphant and reflective DVD “All Things Must Pass,” is […]
The Rides Pierced Arrow 429 Records The Rides a bonafide super group with youth, legendary hit making, and chops are comprised of: Thirty-five year old, five time Grammy nominated and two-time Blues Music Award winning, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd who has recorded with Hubert Sumlin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Two-time Rock and Roll Hall […]
Festival Express New Line Entertainment DVD In 1970 the following bands got on a train and rode across Canada stopping to play in Toronto, Winnepeg and Calgary. The film which shows footage of them both in Concert and “ridin that train”, sat in a garage for thirty years. Imagine being on a week long train […]
“Gone with the Wind: The Remarkable Rise and Tragic Fall of Lynyrd Skynyrd” – DVD www.ChromeDreams.co.uk – MVD Entertainment Group www.MusicVideoDistributors.com This documentary “Gone with the Wind: The Remarkable Rise and Tragic Fall of Lynyrd Skynyrd” chronologically examines the bands eventual rise to fame, doesn’t hold back about their severe bumps along the way. Needless […]
Jesse Winchester A Reasonable Amount of Trouble Appleseed Recordings In 1970 Jesse Winchester released his debut recording on the short lived Ampex Record label. He recorded a total of ten studio albums. This last recording was completed shortly before his death on April 11th, 2014. Winchester grew up in Memphis, Tennessee but as a conscientious […]
NRBQ “Brass Tacks” www.NRBQ.com Clang! Big Notes www.TerryAdams.com Terry Adams has been at the helm of NRBQ (New Rhythm & Blues Quartet) for forty-five years. But even though the Q has gone through several band-member revisions, this latest bunch has been with Adams for several albums now. What’s interesting is that these new members (while […]
The Charlie Daniels Band “Off The Grid ~ Doin’ It Dylan” www.BlueHatRecords.com I wasn’t certain about this new Charlie Daniels album of all cover songs authored by Bob Dylan? But I can report that I am quite impressed by many aspects of this recording. Mr. Daniels sounds great on vocals and fiddle, and his band […]
Jimbo Mathus, founder of the Squirrel Nut Zippers and member of the North Mississippi Allstars, has strong Southern roots and combines blues, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues to create great Southern rock in Dark Night of the Soul. These 12 original songs combine excellent songwriting with earnest and inspired vocal and musical performances […]
Most people who know Jonny Wickersham, better known as Jonny Two Bags, know him as a member of Social Distortion. Now Jonny Two Bags has his own solo recording and no, it does not sound like Social D. The sound is much more country-rock and Americana and there is much less anger. Two Bags proves […]