Blackie and The Rodeo Kings
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings originally formed in 1996 when Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson came together to record what was suppose to be a one- off tribute album to the great Canadian songwriter Willie P. Bennett.
At the time, all three members were deeply committed to burgeoning solo careers that they had no intentions of putting on hold, and had no plans to turn Blackie into an ongoing concern.
Now twenty years later, 8 albums , one Juno award and several Juno nominations under their belts, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings have organically evolved into one of the finest roots-oriented bands in North America. Blackie and the Rodeo Kings remains one of Canada’s greatest musical treasures.
Extra Video for their classic song STONED (click here to view)
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Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell stands as one of the most vital voices in modern American music, a songwriter’s songwriter who has transcended the boundaries of country and Americana to become a premier chronicler of the human condition. Born in Green Hill, Alabama, Isbell’s musical education was steeped in the rich traditions of the Muscle Shoals sound. He first rose to national prominence in 2001 as a member of the Drive-By Truckers, where his soulful voice and sharp-edged compositions provided a powerful counterpoint to the band’s southern rock grit. However, his tenure with the group was cut short by personal struggles, leading to a solo career that would eventually redefine his life and the landscape of roots music.The turning point for Isbell came with his sobriety and the release of the 2013 album Southeastern. Widely regarded as a masterpiece, the record stripped away the loud guitars to reveal a vulnerable, surgically precise lyricism. Songs like “Elephant” and “Cover Me Up” showcased an unflinching honesty, tackling subjects like terminal illness and the grueling road to redemption with a grace that few of his peers could match. Since then, alongside his powerhouse band, The 400 Unit, Isbell has released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including Something More Than Free, The Nashville Sound, and Weathervanes. These works have earned him multiple Grammy Awards and established him as a master of the southern gothic narrative, capable of writing about working-class struggles, racial tension, and the quiet complexities of fatherhood and marriage.Isbell’s impact extends beyond his discography; he is a vocal advocate for sobriety and social justice, often using his platform to challenge the gatekeepers of the Nashville establishment. His guitar playing, deeply rooted in the blues and soul of his Alabama upbringing, is as expressive as his singing, often punctuated by blistering slide work that serves the emotion of the song. Whether he is performing a delicate acoustic ballad or leading a feedback-drenched rock anthem, his work is consistently anchored by an obsession with craft. He avoids easy cliches, opting instead for specific, lived-in details that make his songs feel like short stories. Today, Jason Isbell is more than just a musician; he is a literary figure in the world of rock and roll, proving that the most specific stories are often the most universal.Jason Isbell was married to Amanda Shires. (Click to visit her site) They were part of each other’s bands and often appeared on record together.
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Joan Osborne
Joan Osborne
also see: Trigger Hippy
Joan Elizabeth Osborne is an American singer, songwriter, and interpreter of music, having recorded and performed in various popular American musical genres including pop, soul, R&B, blues, and country. She is best known for her recording of the Eric Bazilian song “One of Us”, from her debut album Relish. Wikipedia
Recent Video showing her heart and feeling....Great American Cities
News from her website:
Joan Osborne is back with Nobody Owns You, out today on Womanly Hips Records and produced by Ben Rice (Valerie June, Norah Jones). While the Grammy-nominated singer’s highly praised 2020 release Trouble and Strife took a frank and honest look at our socio-political landscape, Nobody Owns You finds Osborne in a very personal place, contemplating life’s major questions. The introspective collection highlights Osborne’s songwriting prowess, and offers inspiration, optimism and hope, surrounded by a rootsy and deeply soulful sound.
As the writer and co-writer on all twelve new songs, Osborne shares her profound personal beliefs but still has much to say regarding the current climate in the US. The first offering off the album is “Great American Cities,” a rebuttal of right wing TV pundits disparaging America’s urban centers.
Osborne shares, “I go to these cities all the time, and while they have issues like anywhere, they are full of life and energy and creativity and joy. This song came from my desire to celebrate America’s big cities and challenge the disinformation that’s being put out about them.” Listen to Nobody Owns You HERE.
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Tab Benoit
Tab Benoit
One of the most impressive guitarists to emerge from the rich Bayous of Southern Louisiana in recent years, Tab Benoit’s guitar tone can be recognized before his Otis-Redding-ish voice resonates from the speakers. He doesn’t rely on any effects and his set up is simple. It consists of a guitar, cord, and Category 5 Amplifier. The effects that you hear come from his fingers.
