You probably better know Marc Ford as the former lead guitarist of The Black Crowes — but he had his own career before his time with that band and he’s had one since, churning out six solo records including this year’s The Vulture.
Focusing on his own project has felt more productive. Continue reading
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Nashville’s Waker used to be known as Koa, but they felt like they needed to rebrand because the world wide web was confusing them for KOA Campgrounds. They also replaced a drummer (Dave Czuba is the new drummer) and added a keyboardist, David Crutcher.
The origins of the band can be traced to lead singer Chase Bader and guitarist Conor Kelly meeting in fifth grade in Denver, but Bader calls Birmingham home. Before finishing high school, Bader’s family relocated to Birmingham for a job, and he graduated from John Carroll High School. Continue reading
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Amanda Shires began her career performing with the Texas Playboys and since beginning her solo career, she has made appearances on records by American Aquarium, Justin Townes Earle, Todd Snider, Shovels & Rope, Cory Branan and on three by Jason Isbell (who happens to be her husband). Most recently, she showed up on John Prine’s For Better, Or Worse on the Texas-tinged “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, And Loud, Loud Music.” Continue reading
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Sarah Jarosz is like a lot of her bluegrass heroes and contemporaries — busy. She spent much of 2015 on the road with I’m With Her, a collaboration with Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins and Crooked Still’s Aoife O’Donovan. Jarosz also frequents A Prairie Home Companion, and in June, she released a new solo record, Undercurrent. Continue reading
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Write Me a Birmingham
I’m really happy to share that work on book two begins today. This time, I’m going to share the history of Birmingham music.
Tony Joe White experienced a major revival in 2014 when he accompanied Foo Fighters on the Nashville episode of their HBO documentary series Sonic Highways and subsequently joined them onstage for the documentary’s mini pop-up tour at The Ryman. But the author of “Polk Salad Annie” hasn’t stopped writing or recording since he debuted in 1967 and began a long relationship with the state of Alabama. Continue reading
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“Have you been to Nashville over the past decade, Birmingham?” Ketch Secor asks. “Don’t let it happen to you, Birmingham. Keep the peanut roasters in downtown Birmingham. Once you lose them, they’re gone forever. Nashville will never get back its peanut roasters. Never. We traded them in for yoga latte poses. With wifi.” Continue reading
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Chris Thile is a busy man. In 2012 he became a MacArthur Fellow. In 2014 he rejoined Sara and Sean Watkins for a tour and album with their groundbreaking trio Nickel Creek. In 2015 he recorded “The Phosphorescent Blues” with Punch Brothers, a record the band is still touring behind. He’s recorded with Yo Yo Ma and he’s working on a new project with Bela Fleck. And in 2016 it was announced that he will succeed Garrison Keillor as host of NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion.
Through his bands, collaborations and solo projects, he has released some 25 albums. He’s won four Grammy Awards. And the mandolin virtuoso just turned 35. Continue reading
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The Pollies released their Single Lock debut, Not Here, on Sept. 25. While the band did a handful of shows behind the release, it hits the road in earnest this month, with 12 dates in February and March that include a stop at The Nick on March 20. Continue reading
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Blake Ells 