Isaac Gibson reflects on how living in a small mountain town in Virginia helps shape 49 Winchester’s sound on the band’s new album, Fortune Favors the Bold and how to feel a sense of “home” when playing in big cities.

Following the release of his fifth solo album, The Social Animals, former Verbena bassist Duquette Johnston shares what it was like working with John Agnello, talks about balancing priorities, and shines the light on Birmingham, Alabama.

After drugs and alcohol nearly derailed Nashville’s Joshua Hedley’s career, the now-sober singer/songwriter is back with an album paying homage to the ’90s country music he grew up listening to.

Pat Graham of Philadelphia’s Big Nothing shares how the band approached writing and recording Dog Hours in the midst of the pandemic and the never-ending quest he’s on to write the perfect pop song.

What do you get when you mix the outlaw country songwriter/producer Shooter Jennings with a predominant name in the hip-hop world, Yelawolf? Probably not what you’d expect. Sometimes Y delivers a modern rock album with influences from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Jennings and Yelawolf share with us how they came together and why two opposites attract.

Racking up honors and accolades in the UK with their explosive brand of guitar-driven rock, The Mysterines now has its sights set on the U.S. Singer Lia Metcalfe and drummer Paul Crilly discuss making the debut album, Reeling, influences, festival lineups and “pinch me” moments.

Constant change has been the norm for Oh Hiroshima since their formation in 2017. Paired down to a duo in early 2021, brothers Jakob Hemström and Oskar Nilsson have challenged the post-rock stereotypes on their fourth album, Myriad and delivered a stunning cinematic masterpiece.

When Ben Bridwell says he never meant to be a musician, that it just happened, he sells it with conviction. Thankfully, things worked out the way they did as Band of Horses’ sixth album, Things Are Great, is as honest and unflinching as the band has ever been. Learn about the making of the album, life in South Carolina, and why Band of Horses tries to never phone in a live performance.

Known for their technical and complex death metal, Blood Incantation’s new, all-instrumental, ambient release, Timewave Zero, is a palate cleanser that owes a lot to ’60s and ’70s influences, according to singer/guitarist Paul Riedl.

Lo Moon is back with a new album, A Modern Life, on a new label, Thirty Tigers. We catch up with Matt Lowell who talks about influences, being in it for the long haul, and making low-budget videos,

Brothers Parker James and Caden Shea weren’t even a twinkle in their parents eyes during the ’90s grunge era, but hearing the music around the house while growing up was directly responsible for their band’s nostalgic sound.

Perhaps a surprise artist on a label known for its Americana and Roots Rock roster, Boulevards brings a lifetime of funk and cinematic soul to his New West Records debut, Electric Cowboy: Born in Carolina Mud and the results are as vibrant and colorful as the album cover.

With his sights on composing for TV and film, Ryan Key’s newest EP, Everything Except Desire, is a warm and complex calling card showcasing the songwriter’s ability to set a cinematic tone through the ebbs and flows of his electronic-based music.

Isaac Flynn’s talent of writing memorable hooks is on full display on Hembree’s new album, It’s a Dream! Flynn shares how he’s spent the last two years honing his craft not only in his new band but when collaborating with other songwriters.

Legendary guitarist Steve Stevens joined The String Revolution on a special cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” to honor guitar hero Randy Rhoads’ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Stevens talks about his involvement with the project, his early days in NYC, touring with Journey and more.

When he’s not palling around with Dale Earnhardt Jr, Bobby Markos is playing bass with the shoegazing power trio Cloakroom. A decade into their existence, Cloakroom has just released the stunning Dissolution Wave which will undoubtedly appeal to Hum, Failure, Swervedriver and Nothing fans.

The Dollyrots have cleared out their closet with the release of Down the Rabbit Hole featuring 20 years worth of unreleased tracks, demos, B-sides and covers. Kelly Ogden and Luis Cabezas share how the pandemic had some silver linings as they balance being in a punk-rock band with being parents.

Despite the ongoing global pandemic, German post-rock band There’s A Light managed to not only record a new album in 2021 but signed a deal with Napalm Records for worldwide distribution. Drummer Jan Lüftner talks about the album’s theme, shooting videos and the music that inspired him in 2021.

With the Spirit of the South tour, originally scheduled for 2020, postponed until 2021, The Wild Feathers used the down time to record it’s fourth full-length, Alvarado, and score a deal with New West Records. Singer/guitarist Ricky Young talks about recording the album and touring with big names.

While we all wish for new music from The Wrens, things are a bit complicated these days. But, half of the songs on Aeon Station’s new album, Observatory, were written by Kevin Whelan for The Wrens so fans should savor the moment that has been 18 years in the making.

After taking a 17-year-break, Failure returned in 2014 and with the release of Wild Type Droid, the third album since reuniting, the band has now equaled the output from the first part of their career. Drummer Kellii Scott checks in to talk about the new album, the songwriting process, and why saying “yes” is his guiding force in life.

Zakk Wylde talks about the ballads on the Black Label Society’s eleventh album, Doom Crew Inc., the artists that influenced his songwriting, having fun while shooting videos and who he wants to induct him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Earlier this month, Palm Ghosts released it’s second album of 2021, The Lost Frequency. Joseph Lekkas shares the story behind both albums, discusses the ’80s influence found in the band’s music, and reveals what it will take to feel like the band has “made it”.

Fresh off a late 2019 release, The Darkness return with more stadium-ready hard rock on Motorheart. Guitarist Dan Hawkins discusses what it’s like to return to playing shows, how the band has stayed relevant for 20 years, ’80s references that can be found throughout the album and 2022 tour plans.

Christian Glakas shares the journey he’s been on, with many regenerations, that ultimately resulted in his new EP, For Now, released under the Merciful Heavens name.

Justin Osborne of SUSTO believes that his band’s newest release, Time in the Sun, finds the band at the point that he always dreamed of in the early days. Though often lumped into the Americana category, SUSTO’s music is a reflection of Osborne’s upbringing in the coastal city of Charleston, South Carolina.

A year after releasing her fourth album, the critically-acclaimed Walking Proof, Lilly Hiatt is back with an all-new collection of songs for New West Records. Lately was released in October and Lilly’s finally able to get back on the road, something she really missed during the pandemic.

Always writing for the next album, Pokey LaFarge was ready to record once touring came to a halt in 2020. Incorporating worldly influences (rocksteady, Caribbean, etc), LaFarge’s 7th album, In the Blossom of Their Shade is a silver lining born out of the pandemic.

As has been the case with every Howlin Rain release, The Dharma Wheel is filled with groovy psychedelic jams that evoke everything from the Allman Brothers to ’70s conversion vans with shag carpeting to James Bond theme songs. Ethan Miller talks about how his musical upbringing brought him to where he is today.

After wowing the blues-rock world with her self-titled debut, Emily Wolfe sets to broaden her appeal by bringing elements of pop-rock to her latest album, Outlier.

With his fifth album, Be Here Instead, finally available, Parker Millsap can’t wait to play the new songs live in front of people. We talk about touring during a pandemic, trying new writing methods, and working with producer John Agnello.

What started off as a request for one song turned into an entire album’s worth of music for The Card Counter soundtrack by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club frontman/guitarist Robert Levon Been. The request came with some challenges as Levon Been explains in this conversation.

The Joy Formidable’s Rhydian Dafydd intended to spend a few months with his bandmate Ritzy Bryan in Utah to record new music. Eighteen months later, thanks to the pandemic, with Into the Blue written and recorded, Dafydd was able to return to the U.K. for a little break before jumping into the tour cycle.

Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball, The Baseball Project) checks in to report on his backyard and living room house tour covering 16 shows in 17 days.

The Wallflower’s first album in nearly a decade, Exit Wounds, finds Jakob Dylan returning to his Americana roots with a collection of songs produced by Butch Walker. Dylan talks about recording, lyrics and The Monkees in this conversation.

Quicksand’s second full-length release in the last four years now equals the output from the NYC post-hardcore band in the mid-90s. Singer/guitarist Walter Schreifels shares how grateful he is to be reunited with his friends after once saying that Quicksand would never reunite.

Los Lobos saxophonist Steve Berlin talks about the band’s new covers album, Native Sons, and shares how he got into playing in bands back when he was a teenager in Philadelphia.

Dot Allison has returned with her first album in over a decade, the hauntingly beautiful Heart-Shaped Scars. Dot shares why she took a break and how she’s been honing her songwriting skills.

The stigma surrounding mental health is something we often are afraid to talk about. Brett Newski has found a way to lighten the topic and share his experiences through not only his music, but also as the host of the Dirt from the Road podcast and as an author/illustrator.

After spending his teen years playing punk rock, Hunter Pinkston discovered Gram Parsons and the rest, as they say, is Americana history. With well-crafted songs, and a founding member of Drive-By Truckers as part of the lineup, The Pink Stones signed to Normaltown Records and released their critically-acclaimed debut earlier this year.

Director Matt Hinton’s documentary about the Georgia band Luxury, sometimes described as Morrissey-fronting-Fugazi, is full of twists and turns including a nearly-fatal auto accident and three band members becoming Eastern Orthodox priests. Hinton shares how the film came together and some of the challenges he’s faced in getting people to give it a chance.

Drummer William Goldsmith (Sunny Day Real Estate, The Fire Theft, Foo Fighters) opened up about where he’s been the last decade and how forming the band Assertion has reignited his passion for sitting behind a drum kit.

With some acting experience under his belt, Jesse Marchant’s music often takes on a cinematic quality, as do the videos he makes to accompany his singles. Marchant’s latest release, Antelope Running, paints beautiful pictures with rich and complex instrumentation and wistful vocals that are easy to get lost in.

Already four albums into her career, 23-year-old Faye Webster’s newest release, I Know I’m Funny haha, is a collection of real-life experiences from the lifelong Atlanta resident’s last two years set to a unique mix of pop, jazz, R&B and alt-country. And, it’s special enough to have caught the ear of a very important person who named “Better Distractions” one of his favorite songs of 2020.

T. Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate, Diamond Rugs) set aside an album he started recording in early 2020 and wrote a band new album, The Digital Age of Rome, influenced by the rapidly changing world we all found ourselves in last year. We talk about the album as well as take a walk through his back catalog.

Southern California’s Joe Bourdet is the first to acknowledge the critical role that mid-to-late ’70s singer/songwriters – whose music, these days, fills dollar bins at the local record store – played in the development and recording of his outstanding debut album, Meadow Rock.

Brooklyn’s Superbloom are bringing mid-90s grunge back with raspy vocals and fuzzy guitars. Learn how the members of the band first heard grunge, the names they tossed around before settling on Superbloom and what it was like working with Will Yip on their debut album, Pollen.

While the pandemic put a halt to any plans Jim Ward may have made for promoting and touring to support the new Sparta record, the singer/guitarist has kept busy by hosting an Instagram interview series and writing and recording a solo album which is out now.

Coming this month, The Allman Betts Band will be performing three unique livestream shows – one will be all acoustic, the second will be playing the 2020 release Bless Your Heart in full for the first time, and the third will be a set of Allman Brothers classics. Guitarist/vocalist Duane Betts talks about releasing two albums in two years, the summer Spirit of The South tour, and what it was like playing shows in 2020.

With a sound comparable to modern rock bands like Royal Blood, Muse and Death From Above 1979, the Canadian duo cleopatrick, made up of guitarist/vocalist Luke Gruntz and drummer Ian Fraser, have gone from basement shows to the Lollapalooza stage in a short amount of time. Learn more about the young band leading the “New Rock Mafia”.