Tag Archives: roots

Album review: THE SLAMBOVIAN CIRCUS OF DREAMS – A Box Of Everything

Posted on June 10, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Red River [Release date 16.06.16] Who? And where the hell is Slambovia? Not another Eastern European bloc state looking to dig its snout into the EU feeding trough? No, it’s a state of mind of a New York indie outfit … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Box Of Everything, album, compilation, psych, psychedelic, review, rock, roots, The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MICHAEL McDERMOTT, ANNIE KEATING, MISS RABBIT

Posted on June 2, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

MICHAEL McDERMOTT Willow Springs Having only just reviewed The Westies – Six On The Out, a vehicle for singer songwriter Michael McDermott, it was something of a surprise to find his 10th solo album land a matter of only weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Annie Keating, country, glam rock, Michael McDermott, Miss Rabbit, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Tales From The Burrow, The Westies, Throws, Trick Star, Willow Springs | Leave a comment

Album review: JON KENZIE – From Wanderlust

Posted on June 2, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Membran [Release date 01.07.16] Way back in 2009 I reviewed the eponymous debut by Beggar Joe a promising Manchester quintet that fell into the blues jazz genre, tempered by a side salad of rock and soul. A ‘late night/early hours’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beggar Joe, blues, From Wanderlust, Jon Kenzie, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: CAIN RISING – s/t

Posted on June 2, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

That’ll Do Records [Release date out now] With a name like Southside Jimmy and the mix of country, folk and rock that borrows heavily on the likes of Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan that permeate this eponymous debut, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Cain Rising, review, rock, roots | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SOUTHERN COMPANION, RACKHOUSE PILFER, MATT WOOSEY

Posted on March 9, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

SOUTHERN COMPANION 1000 Days Of Rain [Release date 23.02.15] On first listen you’d be forgiven for thinking The Southern Companion were from across the pond with their soulful brand of blues / rock infused Americana / country. In fact, you … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 1000 Days Of Rain, album, ambient, Americana, Desiderata, Love And Havoc, Matt Woosey, Rackhouse Pilfer, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Southern Companion | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TIM HOCKENBERRY, JOSH HARTY

Posted on February 22, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

TIM HOCKENBERRY Tim Hockenberry [Release date 04.03.16] You know with an ex-America’s Got Talent performer (Hockenberry made the semi-finals in 2012) you’re going to get a decent vocal performance. And his debut release doesn’t disappoint in that respect – his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, America's Got Talent, Americana, country, Holding On, Josh Harty, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Tim Hockenberry | Leave a comment

Album review: JENNIFER WARNES – The Well

Posted on February 4, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

BMG [Release date 04.03.16] It comes to something when it takes a fifteen year old album – getting its first UK release – to highlight just how sterile and bland the singer songwriter scene has become. Warnes’ eighth studio album, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Jennifer Warnes, pop, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Well | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JULIA FORDHAM (1988 reissue), UNDERHILL ROSE

Posted on January 23, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Cherry Pop [Release date 29.01.16] Julia Fordham is one of those artists who could only really flourish in the 1980s when there were expansive label budgets, solid production values, and exposure on national radio. Her exquisite blend of self-penned pop … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged album, Americana, bonus tracks, folk, Julia Fordham, live, pop, reissue, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Great Tomorrow, Underhill Rose | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MY FAIR FIEND, ARI AND THE ALIBIS, LOCUST HONEY STRING BAND, EUREKA

Posted on December 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

MY FAIR FIEND Making Monsters ‘Quirky’ is an oft used description in the singer songwriter world, but it does describe the sophomore release from Utah-based My Fair Fiend a vehicle for the talents of singer songwriter Callie Crofts. Musically, the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Ari And The Alibis, Dirty Little Secret, Eliza Carthy, Eureka, fusion, Gret Escapes, Jenny Hill, Locust Honey String Band, Making Monsters, My Fair Fiend, Never Let Me Cross Your Mind, prog, progressive, review, rock, roots, RPWL, songs of separation, Yogi Lang | Leave a comment

Album review: BABAJACK – Babajack Live Summer 2015

Posted on December 3, 2015 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 10.1o.15] ‘Babajack Live’ starts out as a blues album – all wailing harp, rough-hewn slide and hypnotic rhythms on homemade instruments – but quickly develops organically into a body of music with more depth. The background … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Bertenshaw, album, Babajack, Babajack Live Summer 2015, Becky Tate, blues, Julia Palmer Price, Paul Long, rap, review, rock, roots, Tosh Murase, Trevor Steger | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GETAWAY DRIVERS – Bellatopia

Posted on November 18, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 04.07.15] Bellatopia, their fourth release, marks The Getaway Drivers’ 10 year anniversary, although only Wisconsin folk singer-songwriter Bob Manor (guitar, piano, vocals) and bassist Ken Keeley remain from the original line up. Essentially an Americana/rock outfit, the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Bellatopia, review, rock, roots, soft rock, The Getaway Driver | Leave a comment

Album review: CURLY WOLF – Calling Your Bluff

Posted on November 14, 2015 by petefeenstra

The Curly Wolf [Release date 07.08.15] ‘Our aim is to show that there is more to country music than radio pop lets you believe’. Curly Wolf hammers home their sense of purpose with a defining mission statement and from the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 16 Horse Power, album, alt country, Anders Osborne, Calling Your Bluff, Curly Wolf, Grant Benziger, mariachi, Matt Pliskin, Mike Bouchard, review, rock, roots, The Long Ryders | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE ZITO & THE WHEEL – Keep Coming Back

Posted on October 28, 2015 by petefeenstra

The Pete Feenstra Feature – Mike Zito (1 November 2015) by Get Ready To Rock! Radio on Mixcloud Ruf [Release date 06.11.15] And so after three albums with the award winning Royal Southern Brotherhood super group, Mike Zito returns to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Anders Osborne, blues, Bruce Springsteen, funk, interview, Jimmy carpenter, John Fogerty, Mike Zito, Mike Zito & The Wheel, review, rock, roots, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Sheryl Crow, soul, Suzi Simms, The Wheel, Trina Shoemaker | Leave a comment

Album review: AMY HELM – Didn’t It Rain

Posted on September 17, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Membran [Release date 02.10.15] Amy Helm reminds me of Joss Stone. An unquestionable vocal talent. But lacking in material to exploit it commercially. First a member of the post 9/11 alt-country collective Ollabelle, and subsequently working extensively with her late … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Amy Helm, Bill Payne, Didn't It Rain, Levon Helm, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: GEORGIA SOUND, BOB BRADSHAW

Posted on September 17, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

GEORGIA SOUND Love Can Change [Release date 20.02.15] If you like a decent soft rock singer/songwriter tune, look no further than self-released indie folk / pop debut from Georgia Sound – Ryan Roy and Shannon Magee, a duo from Calgary, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Bob Bradshaw, folk, Georgia Sound, Love Can Change, pop, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Whatever You Wanted | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN REEL – 7th

Posted on September 17, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 22.06.15] www.benreel.com With each new release Northern Ireland songsmith Ben Reel steps inexorably closer to becoming the home soil torchbearer of American heartland rock. That is, the mantle occupied across the pond by the likes of The Boss … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 7th, album, Americana, Ben Reel, blues, country, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: OFFICER, GILMORE & ROBERTS, HIP HATCHET, SAM LEWIS

Posted on July 20, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

OFFICER Myriads You’d think – in these digital days – if you were going to record under a pseudo name, you’d have the foresight to pick one that might be a little easier to find via Google. But unless you’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Conflict Tourism, country, folk, Gilmore & Roberts, Hip Hatchet, Hold You Like A Harness, Let It Be, Mark Brown, Myriads, Officer, pop, review, rock, roots, Sam Lewis, Simon Murphy, singer, Skin & Bone, songwriter, Waiting On You | Leave a comment

Album review: WATKINS FAMILY HOUR

Posted on July 8, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Family Hour Records [Release date 24.07.15] With Nickel Creek seemingly back on ice, Sara and Sean Watkins have gone back to one of their favourite live formats for their latest release. The Watkins Family Hour brings to record their long … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt country, Americana, bluegrass, country, Fiona Apple, folk, Nickel Creek, review, roots, Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins, Watkins Family Hour | Leave a comment

DVD review: LOST SONGS: THE BASEMENT TAPES CONTINUED

Posted on June 19, 2015 by petefeenstra

Eagle Vision [Release date 25.05.15] ‘The Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued’ is a publishers dream. Take a bunch of recently discovered and unrecorded Dylan songs from the legendary ‘Basement Tapes’ era, get a bunch of cross-generational roots artists and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Bragg, Bob Dylan, Bob Weir, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dawes, DVD, Elvis Costello, folk, Jerry Garcia, Jim James, Marcus Mumford, Mumford & Sons, review, Rhiannon Giddens, roots, T Bone Burnett, Taylor Goldsmith, The Band, The Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued, Woody Guthrie | Leave a comment

Album review: DELLA MAE – Della Mae

Posted on June 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Decca [Release date 10.07.15] There are obvious comparisons to be drawn here with the excellent Blame Sally – another multi-talented all female Americana combo, and in the case of Della Mae, featuring Celia Woodsmith on vocals and guitar, Kimber Ludiker … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, blues, Della Mae, review, rock, roots | Leave a comment

Album review: TIMOTHY CRAIG – 360 Degrees

Posted on April 16, 2015 by petefeenstra

Ball & Chain Entertainment [Release date 09.02.15] Timothy Craig’s ‘360 Degrees’ is aimed at the country tinged, heartland crossover rock market, populated by Stetson wearing dudes in blue jeans, bling and white t shirts. It’s music with a wide appeal, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 360 Degrees, album, Bruce Spingsteen, country, Donny Roberts, Lauren Saks, Rascal Flatts, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Timothy Craig, Webb Wilder | Leave a comment

Album review: ANNABELLE CHVOSTEK – Be The Media

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Those expecting a folk roots album from former Wailin’ Jenny singer songwriter Annabelle Chvostek can think again. After releasing two albums on Canada’s most foremost folk label Chvostek has gone back to her independent roots, picking up a 1957 Kay … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Annabelle Chvostek, Be The Media, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Wailin' Jennies | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TRISTAN MACKAY, THE KENNEDYS, VANESSA PETERS

Posted on March 6, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

TRISTAN MACKAY Wire & Wood The clue, as they say, is in the title – Wire & Wood is a pared back acoustic follow-up to singer songwriter Tiverton, Devon-born Tristan Mackay’s debut release Out Along The Wire (2012). Originally ‘discovered’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Chris Gray, Diamonds In Your Tree, folk, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, THE KENNEDYS, Tristan Mackay, Vanessa Peters, West, Wire & Wood, With The Sentimentals | Leave a comment

Quick plays: AWNA TEIXEIRA, KIMMIE RHODES, PAUL BIBBY, LYNRYD SKYNYRD

Posted on January 17, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

AWNA TEIXEIRA Wild One Like Po’ Girl Awna Teixeira’s solo debut – Where The Darkness Goes (2012) – her follow up Wild One is a sparse, plaintive set. For the most part written in Salt Lake City and reflecting on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Awna Teixeira, Bliss & Lullabies, country, Cowgirl Boudoir, Invocations, John The Baptist And The Second Coming, Kimmie Rhodes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Midwich Assembly, Nashville, Paul Bibby, Po' Girl, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Vinyl, Wild One | Leave a comment

Album review: DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS – Medicine

Posted on December 4, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Magnolia Music [Release date 26.01.15] With a Divinity Masters degree from St Andrews, and a dissertation on ‘Springsteen and American Redemptive Imagination’ under his belt, it’s clear where Southern singer songwriter Drew Holcomb’s heart lies. His 2005 debut Washed In … Continue reading →