New England Americana Association

Tag: Reviews

  • Regals – wallfly

    Listen on Spotify Single Regals is a five-piece alt-country band with members from New Hampshire and Maine. From their 2026 release “Regaltown, USA”, their song  “wallfly” blends gritty rock guitar with the cosmic whine of pedal steel, and surely makes my list of “Top 10 Songs to Pine To”. The track’s production has the depth…

  • Lily Talmers – It Is Cyclical, Missing You

    Listen on Bandcamp 13 TracksSerendipity smiled upon me when I happened upon Lily’s latest Tiny Desk entry, “What’s the Big Idea?”.  Securing her CD at a house concert in JP two days later, it’s been my commute companion the last two months! Lily is on the folk-edge of Americana, but like most great art, the…

  • Consuelo’s Revenge – Fools Paradise

    Listen on Spotify Single Consuelo’s Revenge is a seven-piece Americana band based in Providence, Rhode Island. From their 2025 LP “Bread and Circuses”, “Fool’s Paradise” expertly blends the band’s influences of Klezmer, bluegrass, and rock and roll to paint a story of doomed and desperate love. The track has haunting vocal harmonies and the instrumental…

  • Tad Overbaugh – Father from Near

    Listen on Bandcamp 7 song album Farther from Near, the 2025 release from Boston-area singer/songwriter Tad Overbaugh and his crack band, is a throwback to the CDs you listened to in your parents’ Saturn while driving to the Cape in the summer of 1993. The album mixes the kind of midtempo, glossy guitar earnestness usually…

  • Jennifer Tefft & The Strange – Strange Beginnings

    Listen on Spotify 8 song album Jennifer Tefft & The Strange may be a bit more alt-rock than alt-country, but good music is just good music; you just know when you hear it.  That being said, while this band is definitely on the indie rock side of the fence, there’s a lot that would cross-over…

  • Berm – Highway Through the Trees

    Listen on Spotify 10-song Album Out of Worcester, MA comes berm, an art-folk project captained by Dan Lambert. berm’s music occupies the strange space between remembering and inventing. Wistful, atmospheric jams like the title track “Highway through the Trees,” “Snowstorm” and “Epilogue” (which I got a kick of as it was the 3rd track on…

  • Damian & The Displayers, Three At Home at Medford Brewing Company

    Medford, MA 3/21/26 The lights are dim at Medford Brewing and the pints are flowing. Three at Home waste no time diving into their own blend of harmony-first, indie rock with soul and grit. They balance story telling with high energy performance, spurred on by the energetic drumming of Kari Paisley-Flango.  The band has a…

  • The Blue Ribbons, Detroit Angels at The Lizard Lounge

    Cambridge, MA 2/28/26 People are lined up to see tonight’s show at The Lizard Lounge, one of the premiere clubs for independent music in Cambridge.  Not only is it a great place to hear music, it’s a great place to rub elbows with some of the movers and shakers in the local music scene and…

  • Pokey Lafarge – Travelin’ with Pokey Lafarge: Voice and Guitar, Vol 1

    Listen on Spotify 6 song EP Pokey Lafarge has been calling  Central Maine home for the past few years. His latest release, Travelin’ With Pokey LaFarge: Voice and Guitar Vol. I, leads off with a version of the classic folk tune “Ain’t No Grave” done as a duet with Addie Hamilton. The album presents the songwriter…

  • New England Americana 2025 Year In Review

    Who rocked our world this year? 10. All the writers and folks who went out into the world, hunting for great Americana bands and came back with music reviews which then they submitted to New England Americana. 9. The New England Music Awards and Boston Music Awards for helping build community, bringing musicians from all…

  • Will Hatch And Co., Andrew Mason Mcintosh – at The Waterhouse

    Franklin, NH 1/31/26 While the Waterhorse is still a relatively new pub, it’s quickly gained renown as New Hampshire’s best Irish pub, winning the title by WMUR-TV’s Viewer poll. In addition to being the spot for a fine pour of Guinness, it’s also becoming known as one of the top music venues in the area, drawing…

  • 2024 New England Americana Songwriter Showcase

    Medford Brewing Company, Medford, MA  12/12/2025 The New England Americana Association really knows how to throw a party!  15 acts, 2 stages, 5+ hours of great music in 20-minute bites to keep the action flowin’ with great beer and great camaraderie for a great cause, raising money for Boston Children’s Hospital.  What’s not to like?!  …

  • Nate Ramos – Across the States

    Listen on Spotify 11 Song Album Nate Ramos is a singer/songwriter based in Plymouth, Massachusetts. In his debut LP Across the States, Ramos and his band craft a narrative embedded in visions of the endless American highway soundtracked by layers of gritty Western instrumentals and emotive vocals.  The album opens on a coupling of “Catching Up (Intro)”…

  • Hound and Handler – I Feel It All

    Listen on Spotify 7 Song Album Hound & Handler is a bluegrass trio based in Boston, MA made up of Sean Davis (Mandolin, Vocal Harmonies), Joe Everett (Bass, Vocal Harmonies) and Ross Kiah (Guitar, Lead Vocals). Their 2025 LP release I Feel It All, featuring banjo player Max Wareham, opens on a riff tinged with hope…

  • Nocturnal Adoration Society – Lie to Me

    Listen on Spotify 7 Song Album This New England Music Award nominated band features the husband wife duo of Jimmy Ryan and Donna Sartanowicz.  Jimmy is well known throughout the Northeast and beyond as a mandolin virtuoso.  Donna walks step in step, matching her spouse on bass and vocals. Taking the road of Woody Guthrie,…

  • Bradley Royds & Eric Reardon – at The Rhumbline

    Gloucester, MA 1/9/26 The Rhumbline in Gloucester is one of those hidden gems in New England. The beer here just tastes better too; as I think any beer tastes better with a kick ass band playing in a corner of the room. You can walk in The Rhumbline any night of the week and catch…

  • Spiller, Diablogato at Deep Cuts

    Medford, MA 2/14/26 I like Deep Cuts because they serve great food and beer and are one of the biggest supporters of local music around. Apparently, a lot of other folks like them too, as Deep Cuts recently won a Boston Music Award for being the “Best Music Venue” for venues under 250 person capacity.…

  • Various Artists – at Elmwood Songwriters Club

    Elmwood Lofts, Providence, RI 11/8/25 The Elmwood Songwriters Club is a magical, free to the public event held the 2nd Saturday of most months (breaks in the summer). Produced and curated by Bill Bartholemew (of Bartholemewtown), this event is held at an artists’ loft located on Elmwood Ave. in Providence, Rhode Island. The entrance to…

  • Adam Sherman Band – Sorrows and Smiles

    Listen on Spotify 8 song album Adam and his band have cultivated a strong blend of rock & Americana in his latest release. The tracks are packed to the brim with anthemic choruses, roots-infused guitar lines, sealed with an earnest vocal delivery.  It reminds me a bit of Dennis Brennan mixed with Dire Straights, if…

  • The Dropkick Murphys – For the People (extended edition)

    Listen on Spotify 17 song album The Dropkick Murphys’ latest album, For the People, feels less like a collection of songs and more like a rally staged inside a packed neighborhood bar. The band leans hard into what they do best: streetwise punk energy bolstered by Celtic flourishes that feel earned rather than ornamental. Bagpipes and…

  • Wayward Vine – The Fall

    Listen on Spotify 11 song album Led pianist/fiddler, Valerie Rachel and guitarist Greg Lawrence, their songs are full of harmony and emotion.  While the lyrics and the sentiment can be raw, the songs lean towards reflective contemplation rather than angst. It makes for a delightful soundtrack, whether you are out for drinks on a wild…

  • The Golden Years Of Dutch Pop – self-titled

    Listen on Spotify  7 Song Album Formed in Boston in 2018 by brothers Matt and Peter DeAngelis along with their long-time friend Alasdair MaKenzie, The Golden Years of Dutch Pop is the debut  self-titled album by this dynamic trio. Their mission statement says the goal of the band is to make “genre-blending rock-and-roll.” With this album, their…

  • Norma Dream – Mercy Drops

    Listen on Spotify 9 Song Album In their new LP “Mercy Drops”, released October 11th, 2025 with Worried Songs (based in New Brighton, UK), the six-piece ensemble Norma Dream imbues defiant tenderness and relentless hope into vignettes of sincere humanity. Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, Norma Dream consists of Norma Jean Haynes (songwriting, vocals, banjo), Will…

  • Autumn Hollow – at Square Root Cafe

    Jamaica Plain, MA 8/2/25 Much to my 13-year-old’s chagrin, I did not buy her a $600 ticket to see Megan Moroney at Roadrunner for her birthday.  I’m not sure where my moral code would cap off – maybe $100?  Who can afford, much less be willing, to pay these prices?!  I’m almost as flummoxed about…

  • Lisa Bastoni – No Kings in America

    Listen on Spotify Single Lisa Bastoni has received nominations from both Boston Music Awards and New England Music Awards over the years but the most important reason to celebrate her may be due to her latest single, “No Kings in America.”  It’s not just a catchy folk song, it channels Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and…

  • The 94s – Mercy

    Listen on Spotify 13 SONG ALBUM  Chances are if you’ve been to a porchfest, brewery or music festival in the Greater Boston area, you’ve seen the band The 94s at some point. Known for supporting local venues, The 94s have been a staple on the scene for years, playing an array of original and cover…

  • Nick Zaino – In a Daydream

    Listen on Spotify Single Nick Zaino’s recent single “In a Day Dream” is a folk song with a modern twist. The song structure plays with rhythm and melody, and the song’s multiple parts flow together with a laid back groove.  Nick’s acoustic guitar and powerful voice guide the song through verse and chorus  There are…

  • Baker Thomas Band – at Toad

    Cambridge, MA 5/28/25 Before it closed in September, 2024, Toad was known as a cozy little venue that made a reputation as a hub of the Americana scene. Under new ownership, Toad recently reopened with some minor renovations but with the same magical vibe.  One of the elements the new ownership brought back is the…

  • Sidebody – Full Time Job

    Listen on Spotify 7 song album My first exposure to sidebody was watching them perform “He’s Dead” online as part of the band’s Tiny Desk concert. I was immediately hooked.  That led me into a deep dive of their latest studio album, Full Time Job. I’m glad I did as I’ve really been enjoying the studio version…

  • Paul Simon – at Wang Theatre

    Boston, MA 6/10/25 At one time (a long, long time ago), he was a small-time singer/songwriter from the New York/New Jersey area making his name. These days, Paul Simon calls Connecticut home and sits on the Board of Trustees of Boston’s own Berklee College of Music.  His show tonight is at the Wang Theatre in…

  • Wayward Vine – End of May

    Listen on Spotify Single  The band Wayward Vine is categorized under the Folk genre, but their latest song “End of May” has a definite crossover feel, not quite pop but not quite folk in the literal sense. Beginning with a melodic piano opening,  Valeria Rachel breaks through with beautiful undertones of Joan Baez and Joanie…

  • The Muckers, The Gobshites – at O’Briens

    Allston, MA 8/4/25 The Muckers are a melting pot of musical influences, combining Celtic, Romani music, sea shanties, country, rockabilly, and anything else they can get their hands on. Front man and multi-instrumentalist, Jeff Shaw, used to call Boston home, playing in several prominent bands in town but now he and his band, The Muckers,…

  • 2025 Ossipee Valley Music Festival

    Festival website North Atlantic Arts Alliance, South Hiram, Maine 7/24/25 to 7/29/25 Ossipee is a lovely little 4-day music festival in Hiram, Maine, 2 ½ hours from Boston.  It used to have the name ‘Bluegrass’ in the title up until a few years ago, and there’s still a heavy bluegrass bent, along with an effort…

  • 2025 New England Americana Fest

    Bellforge Arts Center, Medfield, MA 6/29/25 I’ve just returned from my first New England Americana Fest, though it’s been going on since 2007.  The question is, ‘Where have I been?!’  I believe this was the first one at the Bellforge Arts Center in Medfield, and it was on the Great Lawn, a wonderful backdrop for…

  • Billy Dodge Moody – Meaning to Disaster

    Listen on Spotify Single Floating somewhere between Americana and indie rock is Billy Dodge Moody, soaring through the space like a meteor composed of the same elements that made Radiohead and Jason Isbell.  “Meaning to Disaster” is a somber, richly orchestrated ballad and the instrumentation and production are top notch, as are Hannah Foxman’s backup…

  • Homefried Valentines, Pyewackett

    The Square Root, Roslindale, MA 3/22/25 An eclectic but charming cafe in Rozzie, The Square Root has  built a reputation throughout the northeast for putting on some great nights of music.  The crowd goes quiet as the duo known as Pyewackett, takes the stage for their debut show.  The duo is composed of Julie Kantner…

  • 2024 New England Americana Fest (Nick A. Zaino III review)

    On a logistical level alone, the New England Americana Fest Winter Jubilee was an impressive feat. Nineteen performers [including myself, but I won’t review me here, I have too much pride] played on two stages at the Medford Brewing Company. One corner by the bar was designated the Acoustic Stage [which is where I played,…

  • Damian Israel, Nick Zaino, Replacing The DJ

    Medford Brewing Company, Medford, MA  12/19/24 The New England Americana Fest is back and better than ever. With beer flowing and a SRO crowd, local music fills two stages at The Medford Brewing Company, with little pause in between the 19 acts here tonight; as sound techs and organizers work hard to keep the tunes…

  • Sam Reid & The Riot Act

    Satellite – Remnant Brewing, Cambridge, MA 1/27/25 It’s “Bluegrass Mondays” at Remnant;’s Brewing’s Satellite (the old Atwood’s Tavern). Up on stage is Sam Reid & The Riot Act, known for Caribbean infused bluegrass polyrhythms and  witty banter between songs doused heavily with dueling solos between a fiddle, electric mandolin and acoustic guitar. Sam Reid, as…

  • Elisa Smith – I Shouldn’t Drive Around You

    Listen on Spotify  Single Listening to Elisa Smith’s single “I Shouldn’t Drink Around You,” brought me hope that the future of Country music is in good hands. On first listen, the tune has a bit more rock ‘n’ roll feel than a modern-pop-country vibe. The song is gritty and saucy, a little tongue-in-cheek and definitely…

  • The Velvet Dirtmunchers, Basically Good Puppet Theatre – The Dead of Winter 3 Festival

    The Rockwell, Somerville, MA 2/26/25 Due to other obligations, I only make the second half of the show, but as I walk in during intermission, I can immediately tell I have walked in on something special tonight at The Rockwell. The band hosting the night, The Velvet Dirtmunchers, or as I call them, my favorite…

  • Erin Bonnie – Roger

    Listen on Spotify Single From Big Sky to the Big Dig, Montana-born Erin Bonnie has been sharing her take on classic country, western swing, and acoustic tales of wayward characters and love gone wrong in the Boston area for over a decade. Bonnie’s songwriting and style somehow manages to be simultaneously fresh and timeless. She…

  • Nate Perry & Ragged Company – The Otherside of Everything

    Listen on Spotify 7 song EP Nate and his band, Ragged Company, are on a steady rise, and their five-song EP, “The Otherside of Everything”, is clear proof. A collection of tracks that feel both classic and fresh, the EP—recorded at Rare Signal Studios by the renowned Brian Charles—strikes a perfect balance between polish and…

  • Zion Rodman – The Lives I’ve Kept

    Listen on Spotify Single/3 tracks Boston-based (by way of Cape Cod and Chicago) artist Zion Rodman brings a refreshing authenticity to New England’s music scene. His soulful voice and melodic guitar work knit together a genre-bending repertoire of originals that include introspective acoustic ballads that wouldn’t be out of place in the closing minutes of…

  • Elisa Smith – At Plough and Stars

    Cambridge, MA 3/14/25 Got a late start tonight but fortunately for me, the Plough and Stars is one place that’s happening just about anytime of day or night. I’m lucky enough to catch the last set by Elisa Smith.  She cranks out a mix of originals and eclectic, fun covers like “Jambalaya (on the Bayou)”…

  • Comanchero – Darkness

    Listen on Spotify Single Seamlessly blending reggae, classic blues rock, Americana and a little funk, lies Comanchero’s latest single, “Darkness”. Strong vocals and well crafted, misty lyrics pull the listener in but it’s the soulful harmonica mixed with catchy lead guitar riffs that help put the song over the top.  The vocal delivery of the…

  • Mike Quinn – at Medford Brewing Company

    Medford, MA 3/19/25 There can’t be many places better than Medford Brewing to enjoy a cold American Pale ale, brewed by brewer/musician/poet, Max Heinegg, while taking in some good ole’ American rock n roll. Boston music veteran, Mike Quinn, has center stage, rocking the red strat and a sweet goatee. He’s dressed casually in a…

  • 2024 New England Americana Fest (Kier Byrnes review)

    Medford Brewing Company, Medford, MA  12/19/24 Its a cold December night that kicks off with a bang with Damian Israel Shiner of The Displayers. Diving right in, he strums away on his acoustic guitar and the crowd immediately gathers. Damian’s songs walk the line between folk and pop punk, leaving you with a positive feeling.…

  • Jimmy Ryan – Mandolin

    Listen on Spotify 7 song albumThis EP is about as bare bones as you can get. One man, one mandolin. Sure there is some over dub style layering here and there but overall its complete minimalism. Jimmy Ryan, one of the best mandolin players in the country, call Boston his home and is a regular…

  • Tigerman Woah! – Live at the Bridge Sound and Stage

    Listen on Spotify16 tracksThere is a certain thing Americana music does better than other genres. A defiance, a transcendence that acknowledges death and drink and all the worldly troubles people carry around on a daily basis. Gets in grief’s face and gives it the finger. Tigerman Whoa’s music embodies this, and on Live at The Bridge…

  • Chris Shelby (Featuring Mariah Rose) – Whiskey Dreamin’

    Listen on SpotifySingle“Oh, great!” you say. “Another country song with ‘whiskey’ in the title.” You can’t be blamed for being wary of the one more dude with a Jack Daniels fetish and a need to tell you about it. But take a breath and give this one a listen. There is considerable charm in this…

  • Other Brother Darryl – Single Series

    “Until I Do,” “Drive,” “Gypsy Girl,” “Sometimes,” “The Ballad of Joni and Graham” on Spotify Five singlesThis set of singles from Other Brother Darryl is an excellent introduction to the Boston-area Americana supergroup. The band counts The Jayhawks and Wilco among their musical touchstones, but the most recent singles feel like a drive through Laurel…

  • Andrew Mason McIntosh – Water Come Down

    Listen on Spotify8 tracksWater Come Down showcases eight stylistically diverse originals from Boston-based singer-songwriter Andrew Mason McIntosh. His high, keening tenor recalls a young Luka Bloom, especially on the earnest strummer “Responsibility.” McIntosh’s songwriting explores a broad musical palette – from the whimsical Spanglish of “Donde Esta el Baño” with its “too much cerveza, not enough…

  • Lily Fitts – Over Your Head

    Listen on SpotifySingleLyrics hit me first, and when I heard “We’ve been going under, but that’s over your head” I knew Lily had some solid lyrical chops. And that matters – you can squeeze all the production and fancy tricks you want into a 3 minute song, but if the hooks and the heart aren’t…

  • Jimmy Ryan – Readville

    Listen on Spotify8 Song AlbumIn his 30+ years of playing music, we have come to expect great things from this left hand mandolin genius.  On his 5th solo release, Jimmy Ryan does not disappoint once again. Aided by Ed Reimer and Dave Westner, Jimmy takes the listener through expertly crafted songs, laden with mandolin hooks…

  • Other Brother Darryl – The Ballad of Joni & Graham

    Listen on SpotifySingleFor those not in the know, Other Brother Darryl is, as they call themselves, a “Boston-based alt-country supergroup,” made up of players who have been part of the fabric of the local Americana scene for years – Dan Nicklin (vocals, harmonica, percussion), Nate Leavitt (vocals, acoustic guitar), Dan Cederholm (drums), Chad Raleigh (multi-instrumentalist),…

  • The Whiskey Boys – Time Machine

    Listen on Spotify10 Song AlbumCambridge has always been a stronghold for folk music; whether it’s the Harvard Square’s New England Folk Archives or legendary folk music venue Club Passim. One of the world’s biggest folk music record labels, Rounder Records used to call the area home as well. Today, this town is the home of…

  • Jeff Byrd & Dirth Finch – Draggin Bones

    Listen on Spotify12 Song AlbumThis Rhode Island based alt-country quartet have an impressive debut in Draggin Bones.  Their descriptive vocals, twangy sound and emotive performances remind me of a cross of Travelling Wilburys, Ryan Adams and NRBQ. Frontman, Jeff Byrd has a terrific line up with Dan Simpson, Steve Del Tufo and Shawn O’Brien. The…

  • The Magic City – Roadrunner vs. Your Mother

    Listen on SpotifySingleStarting with a short, grunge-sounding, guitar solo, the intro to this song sets up the mood to be somewhat ominous. It almost sounds as if they blended sound and texture ideas from the 90s and brought them to life in a new light, here in the 21st century. As the vocals come in,…