Paula Standing describes her new LP, The More I Give, as “a brief history of me.” Cut from the same tapestry as the likes of Dar Williams or Shawn Colvin, Standing’s folk is blended with subtle pop sensibilities and a…
Denise Dombrowski is an unsung hero. Throughout my conversations with singer-songwriters in the Berlin folk scene, the name of the violinist kept cropping up, together with the harmonica player Sebastian Hoch. Somehow, the two instrumentalists seemed to be ubiquitous –…
They’re based in Indiana, but their music is decidedly Southern Rock. The Crossroad Saints are purveyors of hearty roots rock meant for long hauls out on the highway. It recalls the Muscle Shoals sound with some Capricorn thrown in for…
George Gritzbach is an old-school cool. Inspired by vintage R&B greats and having grown up amidst blue-collar grit, Gritzbach translates a hard-earned life into soulful, powerful music. His latest release is Full Circle, invoking his forward-moving style as a frontman…
Mark Jowett is Plain Mister Smith. A purveyor of the consummately offbeat, Jowett’s “Smith” project has enabled him to develop no-holds-barred indie pop. Replete with crunching guitar tones, dithering percussion, and a collection of captivating vocal structures, ‘The Rat’ is…
When a band changes its name there’s always the feeling they’re desperate for a new start, yet nothing could be farther from the truth for Watchhouse. As Mandolin Orange they had managed to create a respected body of work, on that…