Seems like 4 out of every 5 new bands I discover these days are from Brooklyn, NY. Here’s another one: Tom Hamilton’s American Babies. This tune caught my ear recently, I think on Sirius. Influences range from Ryan Adams to Bright Eyes to Mr. Springsteen. But in this one, I hear Rodney Crowell.
Catchy, quality roots-rockin’ [...]

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What is it about the changing weather that has inspired musicians throughout the centuries? I’ll admit to not being too familiar with the folk-rock ensemble The Great Outdoors prior to receiving their new EP Spring, but that’s something that I hope to remedy soon. There is a simple, gentle yet urgent beauty to the three [...]

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Tom Petty and Bob Dylan-RS 478/479 (July 17, 1986) - photo by Aaron Rapoport
It would be most fitting to post this 4th of July show on Independence Day, but given that this is my first post on my new host (Hostmonster), and we’ve got a new theme and some new banners, I’m feeling free and [...]

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Full of sunny melodies, Beatles-esque harmonies, and of course more than a hint of his old man Neil, Liam Finn’s debut solo album has been getting some frequent plays over at El Casa de Ickmusic. I’ll Be Lightning was recorded in early 2007 at his dad’s studio in Auckland, New Zealand. It was released overseas [...]

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Any big Mekons fans out there? They’re another band I need to spend some quality time with. They were one of the bands that formed out of the 1977 British punk scene. Among the art students at the University of Leeds were Jon Langford, Kevin Lycett and Tom Greenhalgh. They formed the Mekons. Also [...]

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The closest I ever came to going through a country music phase was during the summer of 1992. I had just graduated from college, and my plan was to jump into a career in law enforcement. Since a high school internship with my local police department, I had my sights set on being a police [...]

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As the new, 21st century American Gladiators plays on television in the distance (on Mute), and I get sick to my stomach and lament the fact that society and popular culture seem to be on a downward spiral down the ol’ proverbial toilet… I hear this song.
I have been told before to listen to Martin [...]

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Photo by Henry Diltz
Pete’s Comments:
While I was never familiar with the Dan Fogelberg catalog, it was his biggest hit, “Same Old Lang Syne”, that always connected with me. Who can resist the storyline? Running into a former lover in a grocery store on Christmas Eve; grabbing a six-pack of beer and sitting in her car, [...]

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Dear Mr. A-Z,
One of life’s great joys is realizing when a song is grafting itself to a memory. And while you’ve managed to score many memory points within my noodle prior, you’ve scored the big one and managed to weave your magic into my fondest memory to date. I recently wed the kindest, loveliest and [...]

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Attention to you Californians, Oregonians and Tucsonians…. Matt the Electrician is coming to your area in the next couple of weeks, and you should go out and support this talented singer/songwriter from Austin. Matt kicked off his swing through the West here in Phoenix earlier this week. Derek (my buddy of 25 years) and I [...]

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