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.

Nocona’s Los Dos

Nocona’s Los Dos

By Brian Rock Nocona returns with their ironically named third album, Los Dos. This Los Angeles based band named after a small Texas town is a study in contradictions. Nocona has one foot firmly planted […]

Ted Russell Kamp’s Down In The Den

Ted Russell Kamp’s Down In The Den

By Brian Rock Ted Russell Kamp gets down on his twelfth release, Down In The Den. The Den, of course, is the name of Kamp’s home studio; and the album has a relaxed, down home […]

Corb Lund’s Agricultural Tragic

Corb Lund’s Agricultural Tragic

By Brian Rock Corb Lund reflects on the comedy and tragedy of rural living on his tenth release, Agricultural Tragic. Born and raised on a functioning ranch and doing a stint as a rodeo rider, […]

TJ’s Anthemic Pandemic Summer Mix with Jaime Wyatt, Jason Isbell, Andrea & Mud, The Harmed Brothers and Darlin’ Brando

TJ’s Anthemic Pandemic Summer Mix with Jaime Wyatt, Jason Isbell, Andrea & Mud, The Harmed Brothers and Darlin’ Brando

By Brian Rock Well, this is certainly the weirdest, wildest summer in recent memory. With some states open for business and some sealed tighter than a drum; with social distancing and ever-changing mask regulations; our […]

Reckless Kelly Releases American Jackpot & American Girls

Reckless Kelly Releases American Jackpot & American Girls

By Brian Rock Reckless Kelly pens a love letter to America in their simultaneously released new albums, American Jackpot and American Girls. Lead vocalist Willy Braun explains that, “I wanted to tell stories of everyday […]

Zach Aaron’s Fill Dirt Wanted

Zach Aaron’s Fill Dirt Wanted

By Brian Rock Texas troubadour Zach Aaron digs up some authentic Country Blues on his third release, Fill Dirt Wanted. With a voice as raw and real as a fresh bar fight scar, Aaron combines […]

Whitney Rose’s We Still Go To Rodeos

Whitney Rose’s We Still Go To Rodeos

By Brian Rock Whitney Rose saddles up for her fourth full length release, We Still Go To Rodeos. Cementing her place among the who’s who of women artists in Americana, she combines the fearlessness of […]

Surrender Hill’s A Whole Lot of Freedom

Surrender Hill’s A Whole Lot of Freedom

By Brian Rock Husband and wife duo, Surrender Hill, put a whole lot of work into their fourth album, A Whole Lot of Freedom. The album is an ambitious, eighteen song exploration of roots music […]

Mark Erelli’s Blindsided

Mark Erelli’s Blindsided

By Brian Rock Folk troubadour Mark Erelli wrestles with life’s unexpected twists and turns on his tenth release, Blindsided. On past projects the mercurial Erelli has explored Folk, Country, Singer/Songwriter and even some Western Swing. […]

Chicago Farmer’s Flyover Country

Chicago Farmer’s Flyover Country

By Brian Rock Midwestern Folk singer Chicago Farmer (aka Cody Diekhof) soars to new heights on his sixth album, Flyover Country. With a little help from Texas Country Rockers, Band of Heathens, he plugs in […]

Tami Neilson’s Chickaboom!

Tami Neilson’s Chickaboom!

By Brian Rock Spitfire songstress Tami Neilson detonates her 8th album, Chickaboom! In peak form, Neilson combines her explosive voice with her Rockabilly, Jazz, Soul and Country influences to create a consummate, combustible concoction. The […]

Marty Stuart’s The Pilgrim: A Wall to Wall Odyssey

Marty Stuart’s The Pilgrim: A Wall to Wall Odyssey

By Brian Rock Marty Stuart’s pivotal, critically acclaimed album The Pilgrim celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2019. To commemorate the occasion and to shed light into the creative process behind it, Stuart has written a […]