Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

A little bit punk country and a little bit rock and roll. Right up my alley. It has great music and vocals, and the right tempo. This North Carolina native knows how to properly fuse punk, alternative and country together to make really really good music. This definitely had an Old 97s vibe to it, being loose and tight at the same time. Also, meandering between punk and country like a formula one racer.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Lizzie’s voice is the first thing that you will notice on her debut album, Hard Won. It is a beautiful and memorable voice. She is also pitch perfect.  She grew up singing in her church choir and also plays the harp. She discovered Bob Dylan and her musical focus changed. She taught herself how to play Dylan songs on her harp. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Chris Shiflett has had a pretty good career. He plays with the Foo Fighters and Me First And The Gimme Gimmes. He was in the San Francisco punk band No Use For A Name. A pretty solid resume, thus far. The million dollar question is can he play convincing country music? The million dollar answer is yes. West Coast Town is Shiflett’s follow up to the 2013 release All Head And No Cattle by Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants. This album is not as honky tonk as the latter, but still plenty country and plenty good.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Wowsers! It’s the voice! Mr. Outlaw has one of those one in a million voices that will serve him well in what will be a long career. By the way, Outlaw is his mother’s maiden name. How convenient is that? It isn’t just a moniker, Outlaw is a family name! That’s all great, but does the music live up to the name? The answer is an unequivocal yes. It may even surpass it. Sam is not just a great voice, he wrote and arranged all 13 songs. So not only is he is a talented singer, but the guy can write his ass off. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

So what do you get when cross incredible musicians with punk rock, country music, and a little bit of that Replacements and Old 97s recklessness? You get Vandoliers from Dallas, Texas. Amazing harmonies and playing are the trademarks of this fine musical outfit. You have: Joshua “Fireball” Fleming on vocals and acoustic guitar; Dustin “Midnight” Fleming on electric guitar and pedal steel; Cory “Round Up” Graves on piano, trumpet, and vocals; Guyton “Dixieland” Sanders on drums; Travis “McFiddlesticks” Curry on fiddle; and last, but not least Mark “Crossroads” Moncrieff on bass. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Very nice juxtaposition of hard dirty rock and roll with some nice folk/country numbers. The Whiskey Charmers have the ability to float effortlessly through both styles. A credit to their professional playing and Carrie Shepard’s great vocal abilities. Lawrence DeVersa has really nice twangy guitar style that he varies on each song depending the feeling and vibe. He also has the ability to play that ambient Dick Dale surf style guitar which works extremely well on these songs. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Andrew Delaney hails from Dallas, Texas. He has the ability to craft songs that are mini stories and he is not afraid to write about the good, the bad, and the ugly. This release is Delaney’s sixth full length album. He has shared stages with the likes of Hayes Carll, Corb Lund, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. His live band, Andrew Delaney & The Horse You Rode In On, features Trevor Pulver on lead guitar and lap steel; Justin Whitehead on bass; and Jeff Munn on drums. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Very nice EP from Canyon Ride in Philly, just up north. The only issue I have with EPs is if they are really good, I am left wanting more. That is where I am with Canyon Ride. This five song offering is extremely well balanced. All of the songs are equally good. Just not enough music for me. I left the table eating only the appetizer and wanting the entree. Oh well. hopefully good things come to those who wait.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Oh boy! This Nashville band kicks major ass. They look like they are straight out of the mid 70s and sound more akin to the late 60s, early 70s British blues rock with a little garage thrown in. These guys are fantastic and play a brand of rock and roll that never goes out of style. The Rolling Stones became legends playing this type of noisy, irreverent music from 1968 through 1972. The Blackfoot Gypsies are carrying on that proud tradition, except over here in the states. And in 2017, not 1972. Any fan of Exile era Stones will absolutely love To The Top. Time will tell if it have the longevity of Exile, but it sounds pretty damn good right now.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Hell yeah! This is the real deal outlaw/honky tonk country. No bullshit, no oversinging, no singing about stupid stuff. Just some heartfelt country music that broaches subjects such as being down and out, bad relationships, too much drinking, and flirting with the devil. Jarrod Birmingham’s voice is the quintessential outlaw country voice. A little worn and scratchy, but still tuneful and harmonic. A hard mix to get right but Jarrod has it. He is an authentic Texas cowboy and bull rider. His bio states, “he has enough pins and plates in his body to make it difficult to get through an airport metal detector.” Legit! (more…)