First and foremost, Low Country Sound/Elektra recording artist Brandi Carlile earned six nominations, including “Record of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” “Best American Roots Performance,” “Best American Roots Song” for “The Joke” (Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters), as well as “Album of the Year” and “Best Americana Album”
The brainchild of legendary rock photographer, Robert Knight, and co-founder, Jim Evans, The Brotherhood of the Guitar led the way to his focus on young talented percussionists, including a young man who pounds the skins with the skill and intuition of many who are now legends. So, our lead on Knight’s cadre of drummers called Drummerhood is Logan Sheppard.
PRS Guitars has announced its first round of new models and updates for 2019. New electric guitars from PRS include a revamped “Paul’s Guitar” (Paul Reed Smith’s signature model), the CE 24 Semi-Hollow, and a new SE Custom 24 that sports an attractive ziricote veneer, while new acoustic models expand on an already robust line up.
Eva Cassidy, the versatile, much-missed vocalist praised for her emotional range and interpretive skills, receives a unique reimagining as her poignant vocal performance of the classic song “Autumn Leaves” is paired with the backing of the London Symphony Orchestra.
In part two of our exclusive conversation with The Struts, Guitar International dives into the process and pitfalls of producing an album while simultaneously touring like there’s now tomorrow. For those of you just now being introduced to the lads, they are: Luke Spiller (lead vocals), Adam Slack (guitar), Jed Elliott (bass) and on drums, Gethin Davies.
The Struts have already piled on a series of cool accomplishments that rival and surpass the likes of many a band significantly their senior
Indiana-based progressive metal unit The Contortionist have announced a leg of United States tour dates for fall 2018. The Contortionist are four studio albums and three EPs into their nine year career, yet already have developed a bold reputation for their unique atmospheric approach through extensive treks alongside such modern prog heavyweights as Animals As Leaders, Born of Osiris, and Nothing More. With their upcoming run, dubbed ‘The Reimagined’ tour
Guerra’s latest release, American Garden, is an eclectic mix that tracks well, without going off on some tangent. Guerra sticks to the knitting with solid and interesting riffs, adds some Tom Petty and Byrds jangle, grabbing influences and driving them home to make them his own. The production is excellent and serious….thoughtful.
Classic rock/Americana artist Debra Devi has a bluesy side that she’ll showcase at Northern NJ’s largest free blues festival – South Mountain International Blues Festival – on Sunday September 9 at 1:30 PM – 9 Cherry Lane, South Mountain Reservation, West Orange, New Jersey
Steve Vai has announced he will host and serve as the musical director for “The Big Mama Jama Jam-a-thon” — an open, improvisational music/art event where the music doesn’t stop for 52 hours — to be held Sept. 28-30, 2018 at Musicians Institute’s brand new venue, LiveHouse, in Los Angeles, California.
