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Buffalo Nichols: An Introduction, and a Farewell
Carl Nichols’s soul-baring self-titled debut is out October 15th on Fat Possum (he’s the first solo blues act the label’s signed in 20 years, and, as we discussed, with great power comes great responsibility). I loved Nichols’s work as half of critical folk duo Nickel & Rose, and his tremendous vocals, powerful narrative lyricism, and outstanding playing shine through brighter than ever on this new album. I had a great conversation with Carl, who called from Nashville while on the road with Drive-By Truckers, about how he got into the blues and guitar, how his travels through Europe and West…
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Joe Harvey-Whyte on Flatland / Spaceland
Flatland / Spaceland by Joe Harvey-Whyte Joe is a producer, pedal steel player, composer, and visual artist whose work we came to love via his work with the Hanging Stars and on the 15th of October he’ll release his solo debut Flatland / Spaceland, an pair of sister soundscapes inspired by Edwin A. Abbott’s 1884 novel Flatland. Although Joe’s the latest pedal steel player to launch his pedal steel prowess from traditional to futurism, it’s unique and otherworldly and ultimately all his own. And oh my god what an undertaking – imagine trying to put 300 separate tracks together, like…
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Howlin Rain: An interview by Jiah Carron
Petal Motel is pleased to introduce Jiah Carron, a Canadian music journalist and label executive who’s a huge psych and private press junkie. I thought Jiah would be the perfect person to interview Ethan Miller of Howlin Rain and it turns out, I was right. Their conversation was deep, long, and literary. Thanks for reading! I had the privilege of conversing with the legendary Howlin Rain’s frontman, Ethan Miller. I’ve spent the last few weeks getting absolutely lost in their upcoming album The Dharma Wheel, a sprawling psychedelic folk-rock monument featuring the band at their most fluid and dynamic, carving…
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Sail Away with Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection
Spencer Cullum cut his teeth in Detroit playing with a rock and roll band before moving to Nashville and becoming an in-demand session player, playing with Miranda Lambert, Kesha, and Deer Tick. Eventually he began writing his own songs and invited Nashville luminaries like Caitlin Rose, Andrew Combs, Erin Rae, and Skyway Man to play on his record. Coin Collection is a timeless sounding blend of folk music, prog, and kraut rock, with breathy harmonies, dream-like (and intentionally obscure) lyricism, and of course, some killer musicianship. We talked about him learning pedal steel from the legendary fellow British steel player…
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Lou Turner: In conversation with poetry & music
Lou Turner is a native Texan and current Nashville resident. She plays with the band Styrofoam Winos and she released a solo album entitled Songs for John Venn last year on Spinster Sounds. She also published a book, Shape Note Singing, on Vegetarian Alcoholic Press. Songs for John Venn is truly a glowing masterwork, reflecting on themes of transformation and finding the good parts of non-secularism while leaving others behind. We talked about the inherent spiritualism of making music in community, her artistic development as both a poet and a songwriter, writing as a means of being part of a…
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Adeline Hotel announces The Cherries are Speaking, goes deep in Q&A on the album
Our friend Dan Knishkowy, known to the world as Adeline Hotel, is back at it with The Cherries Are Speaking—his second album of 2021 and a complete departure from February’s Good Timing, a collection of interwoven guitar wanderings. Featuring Macie Stewart from Ohmme on strings, and V.V. Lightbody, Caitlin Pasko and Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats on harmonies, Cherries is a totally fresh direction, understated yet profound and resonant with Dan’s piano playing coming to the forefront to enhance his intellectual lyricism. You can hear the title track today and read on to learn more about the new album,…
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Above and Beyond with Johanna Samuels
Johanna Samuels isn’t a person who loafs around when touring slows down. She had a busy ass year while staying at home, organizing, community building, and writing copious amounts of songs. As we began to see the light, she released her gorgeous album Excelsior!, a deeply personal album dealing with topics ranging from love, sexual assault, the state of the world, death and loss. The album was named for how her dearly missed late grandfather signed his letters, “Excelsior!” meaning ever upward. And moving onward and upward is what Johanna’s music does – it’s a processing mechanism, a gorgeously orchestrated…
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Ripley Johnson of Rose City Band
I remember the *day* the first Rose City Band record quietly dropped, and when I say quietly, I mean, well, quiet in that distinct way the project’s mastermind and (usually) sole member Ripley Johnson makes richly textured, vibrant psychedelic music without relying on noise or feedback alone. It took no time at all for the music internet to put together that the overlap in signature tones and licks from Ripley’s other projects and those heard on Rose City Band were one in the same. As a huge fan of his work with Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo, his artistic evolution…
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Joe Bourdet: from the Mountains to the Sea
Joe Bourdet has been a staple on the LA scene since the days of Josh Schwartz’s Painted Hills and bluesy-rock outfit Whispering Pines, and more recently he’s played GospelbeacH’s Let It Burn and the upcoming Ben Reddell Band EP. At long last, he’s releasing his solo debut, Meadow Rock, inspired by the rolling hills of California, the sounds of the canyon (this one a bit more Topanga than Laurel, but both are present), and the spirit of the folk pioneers and pristine engineers that went before him. The record serves as an aural tour of the Golden State – from…
