In-Law Country: Geoffrey Himes Brands a Musical Movement

Reading Geoffrey Himes’s latest book, In-Law Country, brought to mind another of my favorite writers, Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell, known for The Tipping Point, Outliers, and other provocative takes on contemporary society, devoted an entire episode of his Revisionist History podcast to, of all things, country music. He posited that country music, more than any other genre, is best at conveying the profound vulnerability, heartache, grief, and regret that often accompany adulthood. In a kind of musical cage match of misery, Gladwell pitted two songs about the unexpected death of a loved one against each other to prove his point.

woodyman101August 11, 2025August 12, 20251 Comment

Silver Lining in Goodbye: The Honey Dewdrops Find a Home Here in the Mountains

The Honey Dewdrops’ latest album, Here in the Mountains, has an origin story that goes back to the summer of 1960 in the vast Arabian desert outside of the Saudi Arabian city of Dhahran.

That’s where a beautiful CIA operative met a dashing Air Force counterintelligence officer and the rest, as they say, makes for an incredible backstory for a wonderful collection of songs by one of my all-time favorite bands. Really.

woodyman101January 6, 2025August 31, 20255 Comments

Space Dogs & Lost Loves: Nick Sjostrom’s “1rregardle55” Shares Passwords in Story & Song

The typical American currently manages about 100 passwords for their various accounts. That’s not a typo. It’s really 100 and the number is growing. Last year, it was a mere 80 passwords, the most common of which was 123456. (“Password” is only the fourth most common password.)

Luckily, the protagonist of Nick Sjostrom’s latest album, 1rregardle55, has a much better imagination than most when it comes to cybersecurity. He uses his list of passwords as a jumping off point to share family recipes, lore, wisdom, and wistful reflections to his adult child as their roles in the family are becoming reversed. These parental musings introduce and provide context for the album’s eight songs, all skillfully penned and sung by Sjostrom.

woodyman101July 7, 2024July 14, 20244 Comments

Alive & Well Poets Society: Justin Baker’s “Ornamental Monsters” is Scary Good

Probably the fastest growing, but most under-the-radar genre of popular song today is the secular hymn. This may be because, although church attendance has been on a steady decline for the last forty years or so, society’s need for gospel-like songs has never been greater.

How else do you account for the popularity and prestige of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah?

woodyman101February 8, 2024February 8, 20242 Comments

From the Blue Ridge Mountains to Mars: Viv & Riley Get Real on “Imaginary People”

If I’m being completely honest here, as much as it pains me to admit this, had I been in the audience that fateful day in 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival when Bob Dylan first went electric, I probably would have joined the throngs booing him the loudest. Viv & Riley, I’m guessing, not so much.

woodyman101December 1, 2023December 3, 20232 Comments

Let It Shine: Golden Aster in Full Bloom on “Marcescence”

I bet you can name at least five male musical duos before you could come up with even a single all female one. Cue the Final Jeopardy music. I’ll wait.

Yes, I know there are female musical duos out there, but I can’t be the only person who needed Siri’s help to name one. Why is this? It doesn’t make sense. There’s something undeniably powerful about the sound of two skilled female singers harmonizing. Yet, it seems that traditionally these voices have been overshadowed by their male counterparts.

Maybe Golden Aster will change all that.

woodyman101November 9, 2023February 2, 20242 Comments

The Infinite in a Single Day: Maya de Vitry Highlights Baltimore’s Best Concert Series

Is being a touring musician really all that different from running a taco truck? Not according to Maya de Vitry.

De Vitry is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who’s bringing her band with her to Baltimore for a concert on November 10. If you haven’t heard of her, get ready to meet your new favorite roots musician. If you’re even the least bit familiar with de Vitry, then you probably already have your tickets for the show. This one’s going to be special.

woodyman101October 28, 2023December 3, 20232 Comments

Picking Up Paw Paws: Geraldine is Enjoying the Fruits of Its Labor

Years ago, I read somewhere that there is still debate in the scientific community regarding where all the water on Earth originated. One prominent theory is that it was carried here by comets that bombarded our planet in its early history. And for some strange reason, this idea has stuck with me. Whenever I turn the handle on my kitchen faucet, I can’t help thinking that this isn’t just ordinary tap water filling my glass; it’s four-billion-year-old extraplanetary space juice.

woodyman101July 18, 2023July 18, 20232 Comments

They Can Even Take Your Dog: Caleb Stine Delivers on “Outlaw in Your Mind”

Last summer, I went to see Caleb Stine and his band the Brakemen play a show at Star Bright Farm in White Hall. It had rained earlier that day and the sky was still overcast, so the late afternoon concert was moved from the lavender gardens into the barn. It was during his second set that Stine called out to the audience asking if there were any requests. And what happened next tells you everything you need to know about what kind of person Stine is.

woodyman101February 1, 2023February 2, 20232 Comments

Baltimore’s Roots Impresario: Alex Lacquement Brings Music to the Square

Imagine you’re a team captain charged with assembling a group of Maryland musicians for the ultimate “Battle of the Bands” competition. (First prize: ownership of the Orioles. Second prize: a set of steak knives.) All of the state’s best musicians are lined up in front of you and the other captains on the playground for the choosing of sides. There’s no doubt in my mind who I’m taking with my first pick: Alex Lacquement.

Continue reading “Baltimore’s Roots Impresario: Alex Lacquement Brings Music to the Square”

woodyman101December 20, 2022January 17, 20231 Comment

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Author: woodyman101