Lightnin’ Hopkins: The Herald Sessions
Are there fan clubs for dead blues guys? I should start one for Lightnin’ Hopkins. I never get tired of the signature guitar riffs he played over and over again throughout his 50-some years as a [...]
The Case of the Mysterious Banjo Player
Article first published as Music: The Case of the Mysterious Banjo Player on Blogcritics. In that crazy business called show, there are few pursuits offering less glamour than the life of a [...]
Duke Robillard and Roomful of Blues
In 1977, I’d just landed in Athens, Ohio, to begin my junior year of college at Ohio University. But more important, I started working at a record store uptown – a great opportunity to fill out [...]
It’s an RCR Video Extravaganza!
As you can tell from the title, I really didn’t feel like writing much this week. So I decided to take the easy way out by featuring some video clips that people have been kind enough to [...]
The Great American Blues Instrumental
Much has been said and written about the great blues singers – Muddy, B.B., Bessie, Wolf, Big Mama, Sonny Boy… But I think it’s time to praise one of the more overlooked subgenres of the [...]
Bring Back the Honky Tonks
What kind of town do you live in, musically speaking? Is it classic rock, country, jazz, polka, Tuvan throat-singing? I’m not referring to the kind of music you hear on the radio. I’m talking [...]