ponderosa's midnight revival

another big voice and great southern feel with that Hammond organ to put me in the mood. Kalen Bush leads Ponderosa's new album Moonlight Revival with some ass shaking big riffs. there's nothing new about them, just plain ol rock and some good times. look out for the big guitars in 'Devil On My Shoulder'.

mount moriah

another gem. Mount Moriah has debuted with their album of the same name. (Mount Moriah take their name from the mountain range in the Book of Genesis; there's something of that old dirge feel to some of their songs. very apt i'd say.) This two piece band, Heather McEntire and Jenks Miller, are rooted in Southern gospel folk tunes rich in organ and pensive guitar riffs. Heather's clear as water voice captures both the melancholy and optimism of the band's songs uncannily.

songs to look out for are the gorgeous 'Lament' and 'Only Way Out'

this is song writing at its best.

'Lament'


'The Letting Go'



'Only Way Out'

delta spirit's history from below

History from Below Delta Spirit's 2010 sophomore album is a dramatic vintagey collection of songs. americana done to perfection, this super Cali band seems to be only getting better. the eleven tracks are well crafted, reflective and have an underlying sense of the spiritual. 


songs to look out for are the opener '9/11', a cheeky political number, which is followed by a rush of electrics in 'Bushwick Blues'. 'White Table' is hymn-like with its percussion, while big drums keep its tempo. the airy open guitars of 'Ransom Man' had TIS hooked for weeks. and last but not the least, the howling electric ballad 'St. Francis' with its rambling harmonica and Matt Vasquez's boozy vocals is a near religious experience.   

'white table'





'bushwick blues'

the mynabirds

to start the year with a debut. Laura Burhenn's dusty and beautiful vocals have TIS captivated. What we lose in the fire we gain in the flood is a soulful, brooding country and soul album perfect to go with a teasing glass of whiskey. there's the feel of a great piano banging away to a church choir mixed with a pop song from the nineties and you cant help but replay till it sings itself hoarse in your head.

songs to listen to are 'Let the record go', the expansive 'Numbers don't lie' with its echoing organ, and the lovely 'We made a mountain'.

'numbers don't lie'


The Mynabirds - Numbers Don't Lie (Live at OPB) from opbmusic.org on Vimeo.

'let the record go'


The Mynabirds - Let The Record Go from Saddle Creek on Vimeo.

new album from 'the moondoggies'

it's out. the much-awaited honest-to-god Tidelands by The Moondoggies. and that indie sound's is giving it a ten (out of ten). they've shed their country infuences of the previous album Dont be a Stranger and have put out a better set of tunes. listen to their music not the critics for this muchly underrated band is coming into their own force. their easy americana harmonies fall into one another seamlessly and make for a great uninterrupted listen.


that indie sound loves the stupendous acoustic tunes of 'It's a Shame, It's a Pity', 'Empress of the North', 'A Lot of People on My Mind' and 'Cant be in the Middle.'


trust me on one thing: this is a band that's only going to get bigger with their music.




the sound:
Kevin Murphy: lead guitar, vocals
Caleb Quick: keyboards
Bobby Terreberry: bass
Carl Dahlen: drums


'it's a shame it's a pity'







'empress of the north'

a short post about a tall man

that indie sound is back with the tallest man on earth. he's what's been keeping me busy. sounds naughty neh. but not.


on a serious note, go, people, go, listen to this new-age bluesy bob dylan. he's the best alt-folk we have right now. multi-intrumentalist Kristian Matsson from Sewden has two fantastic albums - Shallow Grave and The Wild Hunt - under his tall hat, and another much-awaited - Sometimes the Blues is Just  a Passing Bird.


The Wild Hunt is a lovely treasure that makes you realise why you fell in love with music in the first place - lucid fingerpicking, to the beauty of the acoustic guitar; it's all there, washing your transgressions clean and just waiting to take you back in.


end of short post. let the tambourine man take over now.


 'King of Spain'





'Pistol Dreams'





'Where do My Bluebirds Fly'