June Podcast Picks

Margo Price’s third album, “That’s How Rumors Get Started,” is due July 10. Photo by Bobbi Rich.

Stream or download June Podcast Picks: June ’20 Podcast Picks

The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked the music world in a way we may never see again in our lifetimes. Nearly every band, venue, festival and fan — not to mention the millions whose livelihoods are connected the business — has been forced to take a time out of some sort. Cancelations. Rescheduling. And for some, the bad fortune of having their record releases and related tours put on hold.

Not too many can say they’ve had it with both barrels like Margo Price, the Tennessee-based alt-country singer who had planned to release her much anticipated third album, That’s How Rumors Get Started, in May. She also had a scheduled opening slot on the first leg of Chris Stapleton’s planned tour, which would have reached our corner of the world, the Pacific Northwest, this coming weekend.

Not only was all put on hold, but Price suffered a scare when her husband was stricken with the virus, which took a heavy toll on his health. Now he’s recovering, and Price has been leaking songs from the new record ahead of a rescheduled release date of July 10.

We kick off this month’s podcast picks with “Letting Me Down,” the most recently release track from Rumors. The new songs find Ms. Price and her rock solid band in excellent form (see the video below) and should have fans revved up and ready when she returns to touring in America later this year.

We also have great new songs for summer from Hellbound Glory, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Brent Cobb, Blackberry Smoke, Ashley McBryde and more.

New to our podcast ears is the talented Mickey Guyton, who shares her latest release, “Black Like Me,” among a bit of controversy. In a recent interview, the talented L.A.-based country singer said she was snubbed from participating in last year’s video for “Redesigning Women” by the Highwoman — the video featured not only members of the all-female fronted supergroup but also a number of other Nashville female singers still trying to get the recognition they deserve. Kudos to Highwoman Maren Morris for owning the mistake and expressing her regret, but maybe the talented Ms. Guyton will pick up some new fans as a result. Consider us in that mix.

We also feature a few more newcomers, including veteran country rocker Carla Olson from her new album of duets, and delightful songs from Tessy Lou Williams and Zach Aaron, two rising star of country.

Lots to chew on here, folks, so dig right in. Here’s the playlist for our June Podcast Picks:

Letting Me Down, Margo Price
Sweet Saint Me, Two Cow Garage
Mexicali Run, Left Arm Tan
Black Like Me, Mickey Guyton
Dreamsicle, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
River Town, The Harmed Brothers
Southern Child, Blackberry Smoke
Rattlesnake Girl, Jaime Wyatt
Hank Williams Lifestyle, Hellbound Glory
The World Is Ending, Brent Cobb
Smooth Shot of Whiskey, Mike and the Moonpies
Mockingbird, Quaker City Night Hawks
Why Do I Still Want You, Tessy Lou Williams
Voodoo Doll, Ashley McBryde
Proud Mary, Solomon Burke
Fill Dirt Wanted, Zach Aaron
Timber, I’m Falling In Love, Carla Olson with Stephen McCarthy
Babies In Cages, Drive-By Truckers
Before That Final Bell, Western Centuries

December Podcast Picks

Chris and Morgane Stapleton — a beautiful and formidable partnership.

Stream or download December Podcast Picks: December ’17 podcast picks

Howdy folks! We’re back! And so, for that matter, is Chris Stapleton, whose new album “From A Room, Volume 2” came out last Friday to the usual round of critical acclaim. We thought it appropriate to launch our December Podcast Picks with the song “Scarecrow In The Garden” because it shows off the beautifully matched voices of Chris and his secret weapon — his wife and musical partner Morgane Stapleton.

Whitney Rose’s new album, Rule 62, is creating a lot of buzz. She’ll be at Bunk Bar in Portland in February.

In fact, there’s an awful lot of wonderful singing on this collection of picks, which skews country in a major way. In the long while since we last put out a playlist, several of the artists included here have released great new records for you to discover and explore. And in the new year, several will be rolling into our town — Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. — and showing off their skills in the live setting.

So give it a spin, make some notes and support these acts when they come through your town. Here’s the playlist, enjoy:

Scarecrow In The Garden, Chris Stapleton
Wake Me In Wyoming, Whitney Rose
65 Days In L.A., Cody Jinks
A Little Pain, Margo Price
El Camino, Left Arm Tan
Highest Building, Anna Tivel
Mind Of Its Own, Miller & Sasser
Postcard, First Aid Kit
Thirteen Silver Dollars, Colter Wall
Troubled End, Jade Jackson
Oh, What A Bummer, Micah Schnabel
If I Could Make You My Own, Dori Freeman
Marfa Lights, Paul Cauthen
Fat And Famous, Ashley McBryde
Diggin’ Holes, Brent Cobb
Jackpot, Nikki Lane
Wannabe, Taylor Kingman
How Tall The Glass, Kristina Murray