Steven Van Zandt was passing through Morgantown, West Virginia last month on tour with his band, the Disciples of Soul, when something went amiss. The singer-guitarist was staying at a Marriott hotel when, much to his dismay, his room service breakfast was delivered to him entirely in disposable plastic containers. …
Read More »Watch Alessia Cara Perform Emotional New Album Cut 'Out of Love' on 'Fallon'
Alessia Cara returned to the Fallon stage in her oversized men’s suit, sneakers and pink tie to perform her emotional ballad, “Out of Love.” Unlike previously released singles “Growing Pains” and “Trust My Lonely,” “Out of Love” is a deep cut from her new albumThe Pains of Growing. The performance …
Read More »10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Tucker Beathard, Dolly Parton
A potent new version of a country classic, an unearthed Eighties demo and the indie return of a promising young talent make up the songs you need to hear this week. Tucker Beathard, “Leave Me Alone” The son of hit songwriter Casey Beathard keeps the family business alive with “Leave …
Read More »See Jimmie Allen's Breezy 'Like You Do' on 'Today'
Singer Jimmie Allen was the guest on Wednesday’s episode of Today, where he performed “Like You Do.” Allen is currently enjoying a second week at Number One on the Country Airplay with “Best Shot,” the lead single from his debut album Mercury Lane. “Like You Do” comes with a danceable …
Read More »See Rodney Crowell's 'Christmas Everywhere' Video With Lera Lynn
Rodney Crowell‘s nutty-as-a-fruitcake video for “Christmas Everywhere,” the title cut from his wholly original holiday release, is chock full of seasonal nostalgia even as it plays out like a chaotic, curdled egg nog-induced fever dream. Co-written by Crowell with acclaimed gypsy jazz guitarist John Jorgenson the tune, which also features …
Read More »A Very Beach Boys Christmas: Mike Love and Brian Wilson Launch Separate Holiday Tours
More than fifty years after the Beach Boys sang “Little Saint Nick,” they’ve got separate Christmas tours. Brian Wilson and Mike Love have both announced they’re doing holiday concerts, yet another strange chapter in rock’s longest-running dysfunctional family saga. Back in April, Wilson announced a month-long Yuletide tour, where he’s …
Read More »This Week in Music: Kendrick, Pharrell, Betty Who, Eric Church
Listen to this week’s YouTube Music playlist here. Mike Will Made-It featuring Pharrell and Kendrick Lamar, “The Mantra” Sounds like: A great way to cap off an excellent year for film soundtracks Perfect for: Boxing the son of your father’s nemesis Kendrick Lamar is quickly becoming the king of blockbuster …
Read More »'Best Shot' Singer Jimmie Allen on Why More Black Artists Should Enter Country Music
When Jimmie Allen first began writing and singing songs after moving to Nashville, his main goal was to impress his peers. But a decade later, when it came to recording his debut album, Mercury Lane, Allen had a realization: “I used to be like, ‘Man, I wonder if this songwriter …
Read More »Farewell, Frank Mullen: Suffocation's Death-Metal Maestro Goes Out on Top
Frank Mullen didn’t want the moment to end. After several years of scaled-back commitments with his band Suffocation, retirement was finally in sight for the 48-year-old, who during the past three decades has garnered a reputation as not only one of the most ferocious vocalists in the death-metal subgenre but …
Read More »How Sadie Dupuis Got Back into Poetry
Speedy Ortiz singer-guitarist Sadie Dupuis has one of the most distinct lyrical voices in indie rock. Over the last seven years, she’s filled albums like 2015’s Foil Deer and this year’s Twerp Verse with sharp, funny, surprising words that are impossible to mistake for anyone else’s. In fact, Dupuis trained …
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