As the follow-up to 2008's Mockingbird, a collection of mostly cover songs, singer/songwriter Allison Moorer is set to release Crows, her first album for the Rykodisc label, on Feb. 9.

Moorer recently talked about how her craft has changed since recording Mockingbird, her working relationship with longtime collaborator R.S. Field (who produced the 13-track Crows) and the influence her husband, Steve Earle, has had on her guitar playing.

Continue reading "Q&A: ALLISON MOORER" »

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Sensible touring schedules matter to Barefoot Truth

The road can really make or break a band, no matter how long the act has been around or the length of the tour.

Just a few years after forming, Barefoot Truth embarked upon a weekend trip in spring 2007 that wasn't exactly a Spinal Tap adventure, but it did prompt everyone to think long and hard about future touring.

Continue reading "A LOGISTICAL THREAD" »

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Idol alum Katharine McPhee grows as a composer

When making their first albums, American Idol winners and high-placing runners-up tend to rely heavily on outside material, just like they did when competing on the Fox series.

Katharine McPhee finished second to Taylor Hicks on Idol in 2006, and she released her self-titled debut album the following year. True to form, it was dominated by songs written by others.

Unbroken (Verve/Forecast), released Jan. 5, is a different story: McPhee had a hand in writing half of the album's 12 official songs (a version of Melanie's "Brand New Key" is listed as a bonus track).

Continue reading "ON THE WRITE TRACK" »

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ELVIS AT 75 … AND BEYOND

Why Elvis Presley?

I mean, why should anybody, anywhere, care anymore?

Well, first of all, if it hadn’t been for Elvis, we simply wouldn't be sitting here reading this right now. Really!

Think about it: If you like, write or think about, and/or make rock 'n' roll music, Elvis – indirectly or not – is the reason why.

Continue reading "THE GARY PIG GOLD REPORT, Vol. 22" »

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