-
1 week ago | 
americanahighways.org | John Apice |David Nowels |Jeff Burger
Tony Holiday – Keep Your Head Up
Several distinctive styles take shape & inhabit Keep Your Head Up (Drops April 18/Forty Below Records/29:13) as recorded by Eric Corne (bgv) at 3 studios — Archer Recording Studios in Memphis, TN, Love Street Sound, Glendale, CA & Forty Below Studios in Encino, CA. A journey from Memphis to Los Angeles through 8 decisive soul blues pieces.
-
4 weeks ago | 
americanahighways.org | David Nowels |Michael Bialas |Carl Beust
“There’s more vibrations on the coasts, for sure,” Bob Dylan explained when asked why his archive was located in Tulsa, “But I’m from Minnesota and I like the casual hum of the heartland.”This slideshow requires JavaScript.
-
1 month ago | 
americanahighways.org | John Apice |Jeff Burger |David Nowels
Iron City Houserockers – Blood On the Bricks – 2 CD Set
This is the Pittsburg-based band’s 3rd album & it was recorded in L.A. (1981). I always thought this group was an answer to Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band. I don’t know why. But there’s a touch of Bruce with a dash of the J. Geils Band. I liked them. They had guts & character. They weren’t a garage band; they were too accomplished. Nonetheless, they had that ingredient. The necessary chocolate with salted potato chips.
-
1 month ago | 
americanahighways.org | John Apice |David Nowels |Gary Schwind |Keith Smith
dASHDOWN – Jaguar EP
This Chicago band’s 4-song EP has inspiration that drips from the garage rock ethic of the ’60s. They wisely take a sharp, heavy plane to the grain of their musical wood & shave the rough edges by adding Americana varnish. “Rock & Roll Healer,” may be a little gruff but it has rootsy suggestions that spike the brew. All 4 cups of this distilled metric musical hooch were produced by the players Dave Ashdown (vocals/drums/bass/guitar) & Rich Ashdown (lead guitar).
-
1 month ago | 
americanahighways.org | Hannah Means Shannon |Melissa Clarke |David Nowels
Pianist and singer/songwriter Brendan James has released his sixth solo album, Chasing Light, in mid-January, and brought with it several more years of experience, observation, and expertise as a songwriter. Some of the themes on the album include relationships, mental health, and the perspective of older generations.
-
1 month ago | 
americanahighways.org | Mark J. Pelavin |Andrew Gulden |Glenn Cook |David Nowels
photos by Allison O’Brien / AOBThis slideshow requires JavaScript. Last Tuesday night, Donald Trump delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term. Two nights later, James McMurtry took the stage at The Ram’s Head in Annapolis and provided his own, far more unvarnished take on the state of the nation.
-
Nov 26, 2024 | 
americanahighways.org | David Nowels
Miles Davis Miles In France 1963 & 1964 Miles Davis Quintet The Bootleg Series Vol. 8Just released on November 8th from Sony/Legacy is Miles Davis Quintet Miles In France 1963 & 1964 The Bootleg Series Vol. 8. This newest edition highlights the beginnings of the legendary Second Great Quintet with five individual performances recorded in France, capturing the beginnings of what would be a pivotal period in Davis’ musical evolution.
-
Oct 22, 2024 | 
americanahighways.org | John Apice |David Nowels
Kelly Willis – What I Deserve – 25th Anniversary Edition
This is a generous set of music, clocking in at nearly 70 minutes. While this set celebrates its 25th Anniversary, none sounds dated. Lead-off track “Take Me Down” exemplifies a country groove that’s pristine & flawless. Of course, it helps that the voice belongs to Oklahoma-born Kelly Willis—an always dependable vocalist who knows how to bend a lyric with her intonation & phrasing—as mannered as a great jazz vocalist.
-
Oct 21, 2024 | 
americanahighways.org | David Nowels
Conny Ochs – TroubadourConny Ochs returns on October 25th with his newest effort Troubadour, the intimate new album via Exile on Mainstream Records. Nearly a year to the day following his previous album release for Wahn Und Sinn, an album sung completely in his native German, Ochs returns to the English language with Troubadour, an 11 track album that finds him revisiting the stark, primitive roots of his music.
-
Oct 10, 2024 | 
americanahighways.org | David Nowels
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Sturgill Simpson, aka Johnny Blue Skies, brought his 2024 Why Not? Tour to Oklahoma City’s The Criterion in the heart of the city’s Bricktown downtown area, touring in support of his brilliant new Passage du Desir album for a sold out, absolutely jam packed evening of music. This was Simpson’s first time back to OKC and The Criterion since his first visit at the same venue back in 2016 on his massive A Sailor’s Guide to Earth tour.
