Deep Dive into American Roots Music
When radio threatened the young phonograph record industry in American cities in the 1920s, it sent out talent scouts to rural corners of the country, seeking to find local musicians…
Tommy Keene, Ivan Julian at Black Cat
A couple of D.C.-bred rockers returned to town Thursday for a show at the Black Cat's backstage, the culmination of a short duo tour in which they both traveled light…
Brian Wilson Keeps ‘Pet Sounds’ Going
What began last year as the 50th Anniversary World Tour of a masterpiece that never had a tour in its time is still on the road, out so long it’s…
Arto Lindsay at the Black Cat Saturday
One of the pillars of the New York’s no wave era, Arto Lindsay’s frantic guitar playing straddled punk, art rock and free jazz. He’s also been part of the Lounge…
Review: Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones
The guitarist and songwriter Dave Alvin morphed in his time from out-of-time rockabilly revivalist amid the L.A. punk heyday, to cowboy California troubadour. After reuniting on a couple of albums…
The Jayhawks at the Birchmere
The latest recordings from The Jayhawks come as backing band on the new Ray Davies album “Americana,” which came out the same weekend the venerable Twin Cities band played the…
Drive-By Truckers Split It Up at 9:30
The Drive-By Truckers tried something bold with their 10th studio album last fall, "American Band." Though the title makes it sound like a reprise of the Grand Funk hit, it…
Aimee Mann: Sad Songs in Hot Pants
Aimee Mann thinks her songs are sadder than they really are; that there’s so much psychosis on her latest album that she had to called it "Mental Illness." It was as…
Kennedy Center’s Tribute to Pete Seeger
There are so many rich stories to tell about Pete Seeger, the folk music standard bearer who died three years ago at 94, that a Kennedy Center tribute concert to…
The Many Sides of John Mayer
John Mayer is so talented, it’s almost stunted his career. He has such appeal to young women with his sticky love songs, he won’t ever be in danger of losing…