by craig kusek | May 11, 2024
After nearly 30 years of playing shows, making records and writing songs, it’s fair to call Matthew Carlson a veteran. From his current work in the Stick Arounds and Harborcoat, to his previous stints in The Pantones and Third Uncle, Carlson has spent a lifetime writing songs filled with vivid characters, detailed worlds, and personal touches.
Carlson is a born storyteller in person, and in his songs. His solo acoustic shows are comprised of emotional, funny, and moving stories about the songs and his own life that support his songs and the hidden lives and places behind them. To see Matty C (as his friends call him) play solo is to see, feel, and hear these songs in a new, and perhaps more profound way.
Harmony, bombast, and distortion are removed from even the most boisterous of numbers, and a bare, more vulnerable version of the songs appear. The tunes take on new life as they are stripped to only the most essential of ingredients.
by craig kusek | May 5, 2024
John Byrne is a Dublin native and Philadelphia-based musician who performs as a solo act and with The John Byrne Band. Their debut album, After the Wake, was released to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic in 2011. With influences ranging from Tom Waits to Planxty, John’s songwriting honors and expands upon the musical and lyrical traditions of his native and adopted homes.
by craig kusek | Oct 9, 2023
Jessica Smucker is the kind of writer and performer who can lull a noisy room into a hush with a single line. Wrapped in catchy melodies, her lyrics appear simple and relatable on the surface, but each listen will uncover more hidden pockets of nuance. Based in Lancaster, PA, Jessica has toured nationwide and performs regularly throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. She has released two EPs and three full-length albums, with a fourth album planned for release in 2024.
by craig kusek | Oct 9, 2023
Goldpine returns, the duo has reimagined their “southern-soul,” “curious-grit” and emotionally honest lyrics. Now out with their new album, ‘Two’ Goldpine wastes no time showing what they stand for. Their lead single, “Do You Have Me,” showcases Kassie’s powerhouse of a voice. Starting out slow, the song cycles through a pattern of harmonious verses and a commanding chorus, ultimately building to an instrumental interlude of southern electric guitars and a rhythmic tambourine.
by craig kusek | Oct 9, 2023
This soulful rocker has had a passion for singing throughout her entire life. Her influences were widely varied from artists such as Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, The Pointer Sisters, Eva Cassidy, Etta James, Joss Stone, Jason Mraz, Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, and many more.
“Lauren has a strong voice with a touch of grit…” ~ Blues Blast Magazine
“With one foot planted in the territory of her influences and the other pointed in an unexplored direction, she straddles the border between blues, soul, and guitar-driven rock & roll, finding her own sound somewhere in the middle.” ~ Glide Magazine
“Lauren is a blues belter with finesse and rock power, drafting soul elements when it suits her on songs like Cake.” ~ Gonzookanagan
