Well, the weekend's officially caput. Here's what you've forgotten already (maybe). First, a couple videos from show that actually happened pretty early last week: Todd Snider......and Mando Saenz, wh... Continue reading "Weekend Roundup: Juan Gabriel & Rocio Durcal, Todd Snider, Mando Saenz, Professor D, Dancing With The Stars Tour, Iris Leu." >

Folks might recall that it was just this past February that No Depression magazine stopped the presses , closing down the revered alt-country/Americana publications after 13 years of keeping us all abreast concerning the ups and downs of rural music. But along with that news, co-founder Peter Blackstock sent out word that the No Depression website would be expanded and enhanced. Well, after several months, the upgrade has finally taken place. As of a week ago today, the new and improved NoDepression.com is in business and looking great. The [...]

Friday's a little bit tamer than Thursday's schedule - there are eleven showcases to choose from instead of fifteen, but the festival makes up for it with the first of two official after parties at City Hall. Friday's after party is sponsored by Red Bull and features The Dynamites , and I'm pretty sure everyone's going to end up there at the end of the night. But before that, you've got your work cut out for you deciding what to see. The Cannery has a great lineup - including Kindercastle , Cortney [...]

Following the success of his last album, Mando Saenz sounds far more confident.
Mando Saenz is a Mexican born and California bred but Nashville loving singer-songwriter whose new album was released Feb. 5. I wrote about the relatively unknown singer back in 2005 with the release of his debut Watertown here , and have been following his work ever since. The new record is a well-produced affair with some of the cream-of-the-crop Nashville players assisting including Kenny Vaughn, Will Kimbrough and David Grissom. Originally I had Mando pegged as an alt-country troubadour but with this new release I see him sliding into whatever space is left between [...]

As this so-called winter fades to spring, and it warms up in places, other than here - that need warming up, hippies everywhere start making road trip plans. Because from March thru August, outdoor music festivals are happening across the country from Newport to Galveston, Austin to Wilkesboro, Manchester to the Everglades. i'm not gonna try to act like i've been to any of these outside of Texas, but i will in due time. Here's a little info on some of the festivals that i wish i could go to: [...]