Written by James Killen Ruthie Foster, my goodness what a Texas treasure! I still remember the first time that I got a glimpse of her at an outdoor festival in Houston. I was amazed at her diversity of influence, her versatility in style and her ability to excel at whatever genre of music she chose…

Written by James Killen Kevin Russell has allied himself with the Tijuana Train Wreck Horns to produce a traditional Gulf Coast rock and roll revival. The style of this CD is that bluesy/ jazzy slow tempo rock and roll that inspired the dance style of “The Stroll”. The trumpet and saxophone with electric guitar and…

Written by James Killen The McMurtry legacy continues as James’ son (Larry’s grandson) puts out his second CD, “Hornet’s nest”. Curtis McMurtry has produced an interesting compilation of what I would call “Love? songs” in that they look at relationships more through the eyes of what goes wrong in them rather than how love is…

Written by James Killen McMurtry has created another enigmatically beautiful disc in that he has taken the ugliest part of who we are as Americans and romanticized it. James McMurtry is one of the most talented lyricists to write an Americana song, but he has a tendency toward expressing a negative attitude and never more…

Written by James Killen Ray Wylie Hubbard has been really coming into his own over the last couple of decades, still trying to move past the stigma of “Redneck Mother”. RWH never sought to ride the surge in Americana music, but rather allowed it to form a niche around him while he kept on being…

Written by James Killen The Threshold and the Hearth – The Ragbirds- CD review A friend of mine turned me on to a folk rock band from the upper Midwest called The Ragbirds and their new disc, “The Threshold and the Hearth”. They are Erin Zindle on vocals and strings, her husband, Randle Moore, on…

Written by James Killen Singer/ songwriter duo, Moors and McCumber, has been touring the folk music circuit, promoting their latest disc, “Pandemonium”. This effort represents a departure from the work on the last three albums in that the production has brought the music in from the campfire to the studio world of pop music. First…

Written by Mike Pittman Apr 02, 2015 at 08:00 AM How many long lost friends have you gotten back in touch with because of all the social media? Stepping way back in time to the high school years there were a bunch of us..and I mean a bunch that played together in bands.   This was…

Written by Michael Pittman Jul 31, 2014 at 03:00 PM Usually, if you’re anything like me, you have to listen to an entire CD before beginning to get into the point, but there are times those times when you just can’t wait. Maybe you listen for a theme..or a streak of inspiration that helps you…

Written by Samuel Barker Feb 08, 2014 at 08:00 AM For years, I held a pretty strong prejudice against the “married couple” bands. Normally, they were gimmicky groups filled with bad duets advertising the fact that they were a married couple. However, in recent years, those feelings have faded as more musicians have gravitated towards…