That Honky Tonk Holiday Spirit
As a lifelong fan of hard-core honky tonk, I usually have to search far and wide to find kindred spirits who share the same affliction. Then a friend of mine reinvented himself as classic country [...]
That Voice We Like
A few of our favorite voices: Billie Holiday, Delbert McClinton, Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, Johnny Taylor, George Jones, Shelby Lynne...
A Brief History of American Roots Music
From W.C. Handy to The Black Keys: A quick look at how American roots music evolved in the 20th Century. Footnotes available upon request.
There Stands the Glass
This winter refuses to end. Time to drink (and revisit this post). I’m guessing the first drinking song was written not long after the first alcoholic beverage was served. Something about [...]
Random Playlist #17: Honky Tonk
OK, I’m done bitching about mainstream country. It’s like bitching about reality TV or big blockbuster movies or Applebee’s… things I can choose to ignore, thereby narrowing down the list of [...]
There Stands Another Glass
The election’s over, so it’s time to drink. Heavily. Which brings us to the second installment of our tribute to the Great American Drinking Song. And we’re using the same basic guidelines [...]
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 [...]
There Stands the Glass
I’m guessing the first drinking song was written not long after the first alcoholic beverage was served. Something about draggin’ stone for the pharaoh – and my baby left me too. In other words, [...]