A ballroom dance known as a Waltz, places an accented beat on the first of every 3 counts. ” ONE 2 3, ONE 2 3, ONE 2 3, etc…” The dancers tend to move more on these accented counts, using them as strong beats. The other two can sometimes be tho... more info

Many tips for songwriting seem too vague or unfocused. Do you have dreams of writing music and songs for Movies, Musicals, Games, Television, etc.? The following perspective might just help you develop the necessary skills and strategies for success ... more info

Triplets are fun! They have a relaxed & rollin-along sort of feel that is very different from all the other rhythms. Like rolling a ball instead of bouncing it. They are used in all genres. The “feel-good” music of early Jazz, Rock’n Roll, Bl... more info

It’s the summer and hard to get motivated to do blog posts with the sun shining here in Chicago. Nevertheless there are a couple of releases that should be on your radar but due to the state of music pr, the decline of radio, and the demise of musi... more info

This is the third record by Nashville singer-songwriter Mando Saenz and it’s the third time I’ve covered his music. To my ears he’s one of the best lyricist working in “americana” as well as a distinctive singer. The new record sees Mando c... more info

It’s been six years or more since I wrote about Gregory Alan Isakov’s debut record The Gambler (at the time I could only link to his MySpace page). In that time he’s gone from an undiscovered gem to an acclaimed critics darling with a small leg... more info

The Gallerist is basically Mike Collins production with a little help from some friends. The band is based out of Boston and this is their first ep. Titled A Falling Waltz the ep swings from straight-up folk to the more full band sounds of The Avet... more info

I’m a bit afraid for Amber Rubarth. I’m afraid of what the industry will do to her. The problem is she’s good, really good. Her songs are great (as evidence of her win at Mountain Stage NewSong competition) and the music is high quality (she... more info

If The Milk Carton Kids band name misleads you into thinking they are some sort of Green Day knock off, don’t worry. The band (actually a duo) play acoustic guitars and sing such great harmony vocals you’ll want to compare them to some of the gr... more info

Our next house concert is scheduled and it is with Austin singer-songwriter Danny Schmidt on Sunday, September 11. Danny has played our series once before and he is one of the few artists I would consider for a return engagement. I honestly can’t ... more info