Articles written by: Brian Rock

Brian was raised gypsy style, moving every other year until well after college. As friendships proved to be temporary, Brian found a constant companion in music, wearing the grooves off Beatles and Dylan albums before moving on to Lyle Lovett and Dwight Yokam. Living so often in flux, he has come to value music and lyrics of lasting quality. Not moved by trends or fashion, he is drawn to timeless lyrics and soulful rhythms. Although now settled down, Brian still expresses his gypsy spirit through his writing. He has co-written songs with musician friends he’s met along the way, including several contributions to the 2012 ICMA Album of the Year, Family Album. Brian also writes children’s books and poems, including the Children’s Book Council featured title, The Deductive Detective.

Natalia M King’s Woman Mind of my Own

Natalia M King’s Woman Mind of my Own

By Brian Rock American expatriate and musical chameleon, Natalia M. King reinvents herself and reconnects with her homeland on her sixth release, Woman Mind Of My Own. Although currently living in Paris, King rediscovers her […]

Massy Ferguson’s Joe’s Meat & Grocery

Massy Ferguson’s Joe’s Meat & Grocery

By Brian Rock Seattle based americana rockers Massy Ferguson deliver the goods on their sixth album, Joe’s Meat & Grocery. Serving up thick cut slices of heartland rock and roll, Massy Ferguson recall the high […]

Lord Nelson’s Transmission

Lord Nelson’s Transmission

By Brian Rock Americana rockers, Lord Nelson, return with their third album, Transmission. Following the trail blazed by Old 97s and Uncle Tupelo, Lord Nelson plays hard rockin’ country. Or cowpunk. Or straight-ahead americana. Whatever […]

2021 TJ Stocking Stuffers with CJ Garton, Sue Foley, Howlin’ Rain, Paul Kelly and more

2021 TJ Stocking Stuffers with CJ Garton, Sue Foley, Howlin’ Rain, Paul Kelly and more

By Brian Rock It’s time to say goodbye to 2021. And if we won’t shed tears to see this one go, maybe we can give a few cheers for the music it left us. Here […]

Gov’t Mule’s Heavy Load Blues

Gov’t Mule’s Heavy Load Blues

By Brian Rock After flirting with the Blues for years, jam band stalwarts, Gov’t Mule finally commit with their new release, Heavy Load Blues. The combination of classic blues songs with Gov’t Mule originals is […]

Stash’s Walk The Walk

Stash’s Walk The Walk

By Brian Rock All-star session musicians and solo artists, Ted Russell Kamp, Rich McCulley and Joey Peters team up to form, Stash, and release their debut album, Walk The Walk. The trio have over twenty […]

Moot Davis’ Seven Cities of Gold

Moot Davis’ Seven Cities of Gold

By Brian Rock Moot Davis searches for riches on his fifth album, Seven Cities of Gold. Not so much combining his country and rock influences, as playing country and rock side by side; Moot flips […]

The Roomsounds’ Good Company

The Roomsounds’ Good Company

By Brian Rock Texas rockers, The Roomsounds, pay a visit with their third album, Good Company. Drawing on diverse influences ranging from the country rock of Poco, to the proto-punk of Gram Parsons; The Roomsounds […]

D.D. Verni and the Cadillac Band’s Let’s Rattle

D.D. Verni and the Cadillac Band’s Let’s Rattle

By Brian Rock Heavy metal bassist/songwriter D.D. Verni (of the band Overkill) is sure to rattle some cages with the release of his first swing album, Let’s Rattle. With the assistance of his backing unit, […]

James McMurtry’s The Horses and the Hounds

James McMurtry’s The Horses and the Hounds

By Brian Rock James McMurtry unleashes his literary prowess on his tenth studio album, The Horses and the Hounds. The ten musical novellas included on this album find McMurtry weaving tales of jealousy, faithlessness, murder […]

Willie Nile’s The Day the Earth Stood Still

Willie Nile’s The Day the Earth Stood Still

By Brian Rock New York indie maverick, Willie Nile tries to make sense of the new normal on his seventeenth studio release, The Day The Earth Stood Still. Teetering wildly from angst to hope to […]

Gabe Dixon’s Lay It On Me

Gabe Dixon’s Lay It On Me

By Brian Rock Pianist Gabe Dixon lays down some buoyant, soulful, tracks on his third release, Lay It On Me. Heavy Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder influences dance across the keys as Dixon sings jubilant […]