Robert Francis | Before The Nightfall

There's a black and white photograph of Robert Francis on the cover of his new record "Before The Nightfall", showing him sleeping in bed with his hands folded across his heart, as if in prayer, but it's probably just the way they ended up. It captures the innocence of a private moment and it seems completely natural to be privy to it. His songs are just the same, an open invitation into a well-lived and deeply considered life, laid bare and delivered in a sometimes quivering, sometimes booming baritone. Francis is 21 and has been playing in bands in his native Los Angeles since he was in third grade. He lost interest in guitar playing at one point, only to be coaxed back with some guitar lessons from Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. I love this record, have listened once straight through, and I'm going to cue it up again.

Kristina Train | A New Voice from the American South

From the very first note on "Spilt Milk", Kristina Train's debut album on Blue Note Records, you know that you're in the presence of a strong and confident singer with a vulnerability that keeps the ears and heart open. The similarity in style and tone to Dusty Springfield, one of her idols, is uncanny. The old school arrangements with strings and well placed back up vocals recall a sound that few employ. Kristina is from Savannah, Georgia, and in a Dusty-story-in-reverse, she went to London to record with British producers/songwriters Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White who have worked with Adele, Duffy and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Uncharted Waters | New Music from Devandra Banhart

When Devandra Banhart started recording about a decade ago, the material was loose and the songs were half-finished. He worked on hand-me-down machines and never intended to do anything with the demos. He briefly attended the San Francisco Art Institute but left to wander and busk and traveled to Paris and eventually back to L.A. where he performed regularly. In 2002, his material was publicly released and was immediately critically recognized. Devandra was signed to Warner Brothers this year and the album What Will Be will be released October 27th. We got the song "Baby" in this week and it found it's way right into the cd player and onto the air on What's New For Lunch and Uncharted Waters.

Listen to Devandra's music here: http://www.myspace.com/devendrabanhart

Carol Brown Goldberg and Andy Chase | The Artistic Tradition

When I went to artist Carol Brown Goldberg's website and heard the music of her son Andy Chase's band Brookville play as the website loaded, I was struck by how sweet the gesture was AND how wonderfully the music complimented Carol's work. I knew that Carol painted to music, and mostly to Andy's various bands, Ivy, Paco, and Brookville, so it made sense that the music would be perfect. But hearing it in this way made me curious about Carol and Andy's relationtionship as mother and son, their individual and combined artistic processes, and how the artistic tradition is passed on in families. Both Andy and Carol spend considerable time on the Vineyard and I invited them to come in for a visit this past August. I wanted to share the conversation, which includes some of Andy's music, with you.

Listen to my interview with Carol and Andy

visit Carol's website www.carolbrowngoldberg.com
and Andy's www.andychase.com

Rodrigo y Gabriela | A Brilliant Journey

11:11 is the new album from this Mexican born guitar duo and there is not a false note to be found, only an absolutely brillant journey to be had in the listening of this record. The CD's eleven tracks are a tribute to musicians that they have either been inspired by or deeply respect. Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Michel Camilo, Paco de Lucia are among those chosen and Rodrigo and Gabriela not only express their gratitude and reverance by the composition and recording of these pieces, but also their desire that their fans be exposed to these legendary musicians.

They are very serious about their music making, with a big emphasis on technique, practice and creativity. They built a studio in Ixtapa, Mexico so they could record at home without the added stress of being on the road during the recording process. They will be out on tour supporting this new record and their live shows are quite stunning, with just the two of them on the stage with a screen behind them showing their intricate and exciting playing. The reason that they started doing this was so that their fans who play guitar could see what they were doing so they could try it themselves. Not so easy, but maybe with some practice...


Listen to "Hanuman" Rodrigo y Gabriela's tribute to Santana

Mary Steenburgen and Mike Benjamin| Just Say "Yes"

When Mike Benjamin told me a couple of years ago that he had been working with actress Mary Steenburgen on some songs that she had written, I was very curious to say the least, and couldn't wait to hear the music. Mike brought over a CD, and on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we played Mary's song "New Orleans, An Unbroken Heart" about post Katrina New Orleans. I hoped that one day Mike and Mary would come on the air to talk about their collaboration and that's exactly what happened a few weeks ago. It was the first time that Mary had publicly talked about her songwriting.

She started "hearing" music and said yes to a new phase, a new direction in her life and began writing lyrics and melodies. Mary was encouraged by her friends and family, and things accelerated when she met Mike at the party she hosted for President Bill Clinton's 60th birthday, and they started working together. The two are in the middle of pursuing this wonderful collaboration, both complimenting each others considerable talents.


Listen to the interview with Mary and Mike

The Band of Heathens | The Real Deal

The new album from this band from Austin, TX has found it's way onto the Uncharted Waters and What's New For Lunch playlist several times over the last month. "One Foot In The Ether" is a roots rock record with r&b, gospel, country, swamp influences mixing in, and the result is a very listenable CD that kept me interested all the way through. The band formed in the spring of 2006 after a long-time sharing of the Wednesday night bill at Austin's Momo's by the the three principle songwriters, Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist. They just started an extensive tour that takes them throughout the US and Europe. Maybe they'll come to your neighborhood!

Listen to "Shine a Light" by The Band Of Heathens

Rhythm & Roots | Music History in the Making

As one act followed the other at Rhythm & Roots '09, the talk in the trailer was about how completely unique this festival is. Chuck Wentworth, long-time Rhythm & Roots Chief, outdid himself again, booking artists and scheduling them in such a way that complimented each act, and each day became a journey through today's rich, vibrant and diverse roots music world. It felt like a music history lesson every time an artist took the stage; my mind started spinning like a dancer in the crowded dance tent and my heart filled with gratitude for the music. Check out all the performances, pictures and blog at www.mvyradio.com

Rhythm & Roots 2009 | mvyradio On The Road

We have traveled to Charlestown, RI for one of the best roots festivals in the country, and as Saturday morning turns into afternoon, we are enjoying the sunshine and a set from Southern Florida's Nouveaux Honkies. We have been on site recording and streaming performances for the last few years, and every year there are bands that we hear for the first time and many that we happily meet up with again. Rebecca Dawkins from Nouveaux Honkies and Tania Elizabeth from the Duhks, both great fiddle players in their respective bands, were chatting backstage and they gave us a smile.

There is a full slate of performances today and tomorrow and we are here to capture the music. Tonight (Saturday) we'll feature Asleep At The Wheel and Hot Tuna live! Listen at 7:30 for the live performances and all weekend long at www.mvyradio.com and 92.7 and 96.5 mvyradio.

It Might Get Loud | A New Power Trio

The Edge uttered the words that became the title of director Davis Guggenheim's new documentary "It Might Get Loud". U2's guitar player was about to demonstrate an element of his technique when he gave the warning, and this subsequent demonstration was just one of the many that revealed the unique artisty of three of rock's most legendary guitar players.

Guggenheim, the Oscar wining director of "An Inconvenient Truth" arranged a summit, where the guitarists would come together on a sound stage without ever meeting each other. When asked what he expected of the meeting, Jack White of The White Stripes and Raconteurs says "There will probably be a fist fight." The fact that the players not only didn't know each other but, also, had all in their own way and time rebelled against each other's music, provides a compelling story line that unfolds over the course of the movie. In the end they do come together, still at somewhat of a distance, and along the way we are all treated to insights into the music that these three created that will now, forever, be part of the experience of listening to their music.

Davis, a longtime Vineyard visitor and fan of mvyradio stopped by the station this week to talk about the film.

Hear my interview with Davis Guggenheim

Kate Taylor | Home On The Vineyard

In the new documentary about her life and music, Kate Taylor says that of all the places that she and her family have lived in, the Vineyard is "home". The Vineyard fits Kate like a glove and many of the songs on her new album "Fair Time" are about her experience as an Island girl. Kate is in fine voice and this is a total band record --a wonderful collaboration with guitarist, songwriter, producer and engineer Billy Derby, plus drummer Sam Zucchini and bass player Dave Anderson. The connectivity between all the players is ultimately what makes this album so sweet and vibrant. Check out information on Liz Witham and Ken Wentworth's documentary about Kate at www.docutunes.com

Hear Kate Taylor "Soap Opera Life"

A New Friend- Peter Mulvey

I have a new friend and his name is Uncle Peter. I never expected to make such an acquaintance on a record but that's exactly what happened. I met Uncle Peter while listening to Peter Mulvey's most enjoyable and engaging new CD "Letters from A Flying Machine". Uncle Peter is Peter Mulvey himself, appearing on the record as a character, a narrator of sorts, offering his worldly wisdom and stories to his actual (I think) nieces and nephews. He does this from his seat on an airplane in the form of several spoken word pieces that serve as the connective tissue between songs on the album. Mulvey's done this in his performances for years, but it's the first time he has presented such pieces on record. The effect is progressive; step by step you are granted wider entrance into a very personal and rich world made all the more substantive and compelling by Mulvey's folksy delivery and language. The songs are fantastic, too, and you forget just how good they are because of the strength of the spoken segments.

A good friend is hard to find --thanks Peter.

Hear Peter Mulvey "Letter From A Flying Machine" & "Windshield"