Chris Thomas King I’m still not sure what “river music” is exactly, or which musicians play it, but I know it when I hear it. Chris Thomas King, born in the Mississippi River city of Baton Rouge (Louisiana), plays it. King’s father, Tabby Thomas, was a well-known blues musician who opened a blues
Levon Helm passed away last Thursday at age 71.I have only become familiar with his music in the past few years. I'm sad that we've lost his musical gifts and regret that I never had a chance to see him perform. Others have already written eloquent tributes (such as this one), so let me just
If you've never listened to the show Radiolab, now is a good time to start. Most of their shows focus on emerging topics in science, which may sound dry, but they present their topics with very engaging storytelling. The most recent episode is a great example of this. Robert Johnson is a legendary, nearly mythical
Ellis talks about growing up next to the river and what river music is to him.
La Crosse, Wisconsin isn’t known for its vibrant music scene, marching bands at OctoberFest maybe; no one will ever confuse the city with Austin or Minneapolis. There are plenty of live bands and places to hear them play, but the scene is dominated by cover bands and party bands—decent musicians who are not
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three Are there musical styles that are timeless, whose appeal cuts across generations? The success of Pokey LaFarge seems to argue “yes.” LaFarge, influenced by the ragtime of early 20th century, breathes new life into a traditional form, creating music that is contemporary but with deep roots.
