If the oft-employed term “influential” still has meaning in today’s musical universe, then a massive amount of its worth lives within the work of John Prine. A legend without being a household name, Prine’s songwriting is a force that’s turned many aimless youth into wonderful artists in their own right…
Local folk-rock artist Andrew Delaney, along with his band, The Horse You Rode In On, has steadily improved over three years and two studio albums. He’s created a catalog that isn’t easily defined, yet is easily accessible. In a live setting, he and his band are able to give even…
In 2011, “Big” Gus Samuelson was named the Best Radio DJ by the Observer, thanks to his role as host of the Lone Star Underground on KHYI 95.3 The Range. He also hosts other shows on the station, but he’s not just talented in the radio booth. As leader of…
Multi-instrumentalist Ian Hultquist, of electro-pop outfit Passion Pit, is the kind of guy that’s comfortable and secure in his role as a sideman that carries out the artistic vision of the band’s creator and public face, Michael Angelakos. Since 2007, when Angelakos asked him for help building something greater than…
In the current issue of Lone Star Music Magazine, The Departed’s primary lead singer, Cody Canada, described his band’s upcoming album, Adventis, as “the fastest moving project I’ve been a part of in a long time.” Given this album will be the first collection of original material for the band…
Denton’s Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward have proffered a couple of really interesting records in the past couple of years, such as their EP The Apology Part I, and last year’s excellently stripped down Live in the Living Room. In January, the band will release their next record (as…
Lyle Lovett is a modern legend. His laid-back vocal delivery offers a flirtatious wink at the listener and is as identifiable as his wild-ass hair has been, since he began performing in the early ’80s. The 54-year-old troubadour could sing the words to a Panda Express menu and it would…
As we noted a few months back, Dallas-based folk rocker Ronnie Fauss landed himself a pretty sweet record deal. The release of his album, I Am The Man You Know I’m Not on the New West imprint Normaltown Records is nigh upon us, and a few songs are starting to…
Over the course of the last few years, the Sunday before Labor Day has seen some really good times take place on the dusty plot of land next to Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth’s Stockyards district. Day-long festivals headlined by acts such as Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Black Crowes and…
Just over a year ago, we caught up with Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers as she was touring behind her excellent LP, Little Bird. That album not only showcased original material, but a return to the folk-rock form she used to become a ’90s country darling…
To call a place a honky-tonk is almost as nebulous as labeling a place a dive bar. Ask five different people what one is, and you’re more than likely to get six different answers. Of course, North Texas has dozens of places that complement any of them. The earliest published…
The modern landscape of Top 40 country music is littered — and for the most part, litter is an apt term — with fresh-faced fellas that boast an attitude that aims for bad-ass, but typically ends up closer to lame-ass. Current hit-makers and stadium fillers such as Brantley Gilbert, Jason…
When Dirty Projectors’ 2009 album Bitte Orca was released, it was treated as the second coming. Of course, there seems to be a new Album of the Decade crowned on a yearly basis. Even though I write about music on a regular basis for multiple outlets, I get annoyed with…
If it seems like we’ve been bringing you plenty of news about many of the fine regional country artists who are quick to lend their names and talents to causes whose worthiness can’t be questioned, well, that’s because there’s often a compelling story behind it. On Monday, July 23, treasured…
Last year, we detailed five fantastic post-rock bands that scoff at the term post-rock and, more or less, pissed on the very thought of being tagged as such. With Luna’s Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips conquering the grassy hill at the Belmont Hotel tonight as a part of KXT 91.7’s…
If you haven’t been following the path of Dallas’ Ronnie Fauss over the past couple of years, you have quite the treat ahead of you. Beginning with 2009’s New Songs for the Old Frontier and most recently in 2011’s tribute collection Any Lovin’ Way But Wrong, Fauss’ four EPs serve…
As we look upon the massive Texas country machine that’s been chugging along over the past several years, it’s easy to see 1997 as a pivotal one. In college towns and major metropolises alike, the masses were demanding more music from people that shared their pride, enthusiasm and thirst for…
It’s been a couple of years since Dallas’ Grant Jones & the Pistol Grip Lassos released their last album, a self-titled disc of supremely straight-forward country. For the new album, however, Jones chose to follow an inspired vision he’s harbored for the last few years. Saints, Sinners & Liars will…
New York by way of Texas husband-wife duo The Mastersons are too perfect of an idea to never happen. Chris Masterson has performed and produced for many others (Jack Ingram, Son Volt, Bobby Bare Jr.) while also releasing a bit of his own material in the past. Same for his…
As we look upon the massive machine Texas country has made chug along over the past several years, it’s easy to see 1997 as a pivotal time. In college towns and major metropolises alike, the masses were demanding more music from people that shared their pride, enthusiasm and thirst for…
I was fortunate enough to speak with legend Merle Haggard for this week’s print edition of the Observer. Aside from being in awe each time he mentioned Willie Nelson, Lake Shasta (his home for many years, which he refers to in multiple songs) or Johnny Cash, I was particularly struck…
At the age of 75, country music legend Merle Haggard is unafraid. Whether the topic is the environment, immigration concerns or the state of country music in the new millennium, Haggard hardly needs an invitation to share his opinions. During the course of a half hour or so, Haggard easily…
