Justin Townes Earle is a 27-year-old singer/songwriter who grew up in Nashville, and the son of Americana legend Steve Earle. Justin records for Bloodshot Records. His most recent album, his third, is the critically praised Midnight at the Movies.
After developing some bad habits when he was playing in bands (including his father’s) as a younger man, Justin cleaned up his act and began to focus on his career. “You don’t have to be fucked up or torture yourself to write songs,” explains Justin, “I used to write a lot, a whole lot, and half those songs I don’t even remember. Now, I sit there and I write it and I finish it and I keep it.”
I’ve had the opportunity to see Justin perform live twice. Once on a cold, rainy autumn day in Brooklyn, and more recently at SXSW. He is one of the most charismatic performers that I’ve seen in recent years. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this guy is going to be a very big star. He is also one of the smartest, most interesting, and outspoken people that I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing. Read on, you’ll see what I mean. (more…)
It’s nice to see Raul Malo back in the spotlight. The onetime Mavericks frontman hadn’t exactly gone quiet, but over the last several years his big voice has been muted somewhat by label difficulties and diffident promotion (not to mention an underwhelming reunion with his former band). Fortunately, that’s all changed with last week’s release of his new album, Lucky One, which is receiving a welcome reception from critics and a nice push from his new label, Fantasy. (Yes, that Fantasy Records, which is now part of the Concord Music Group and is building a nice little stable of Americana artists to go with prodigal — if not fortunate — son 