Elvis Presley Was No James Dean But ‘King Creole’ Proves That He Could Have Been
Watching the 1958 Elvis movie King Creole, one is confronted by a young actor with promise, delivering a performance on par with James Dean.
blues
Canadian Blues Artist Matt Andersen Finds His Softer Side On ‘House to House’
Matt Andersen’s House to House is the product of a talented blues musician who wants to express what’s in his heart and mind during these difficult times.
North Mississippi Allstars ‘Set Sail’ to Higher Ground in Sacramento
It’s a rare band whose newer material shines just as brightly in the live setting as their older classics, but North Mississippi Allstars are just such a group.
Driving Into Ry Cooder’s ‘Purple Valley’ 50 Years Later
Ry Cooder’s contributions to Americana are apparent in all of his albums. That’s particularly true of Into the Purple Valley, now celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Lee Oskar’s ‘Never Forget’ Tells a Holocaust Tale Without Words
War’s harmonica player Lee Oskar steps out with an eclectic set of instrumental songs on Never Forget that address his family’s experiences in the Holocaust.
Stax Legend William Bell and North Mississippi Allstars “Never Want to Be Kissed” (premiere)
North Mississippi Allstars have a new album on tap in Set Sail, and they team with Stax legend William Bell for their latest single, “Never Want to Be Kissed”.
Justin Adams and Mauro Durante Create the Bluesy ‘Still Moving’ and Recast Folk Music
Justin Adams and Mauro Durante create a mesmerizing blend of folk and blues to find common ground for a world locked down by Covid.
Samantha Fish Enjoys Living Life ‘Faster’ and Louder
On Faster, Samantha Fish ventures into new territory from country rock to hard rock, to pop and R&B to hip-hop, without sacrificing her essential toughness.
Buffalo Nichols Impresses Mightily with His Folk Blues on “How to Love”
Plucking chords with steel-tipped determination, Buffalo Nichols brandishes his songs with the worn sentimentality that has had many scarred souls in lonely bars crying into their beers.
Pokey LaFarge Happily Dwells ‘In the Blossom of Their Shade’
Pokey LaFarge’s mix of esoteric styles takes him all over the planet, from the doo-wop city streets of big cities to the tropical climate of the Caribbean.
Michael J. Sheehy Says “Everything That Rises Must Converge”
Michael J. Sheehy sings of transcendence and resolve and, driven by a poignancy that can only be of the preserve of songwriters everywhere.
The 2021 Roots N Blues Festival Celebrated Women in Roots Music
Fans reveled in the return of the 15-year-old Roots N Blues Festival and its celebration of roots music women amid a sun-drenched weekend in Missouri.