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Articles by Alli Patton
ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Shaving A Dead Man,’ JP Harris Plays Intuitive Interpreter of an Old-Time Songbook
On JP Harris’s latest release, fans won’t encounter the tough-as-nails twang of albums past. They won’t hear the razor-edged, fork-tongued honky tonk that has soundtracked a decade of hard-ridden ballads and last-ditch elegies. Listeners will instead unearth something far more innate on Shaving A Dead Man.
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ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘Rent Money,’ Pokey LaFarge Ponies Up Another Familiar Classic
For two decades and across a dozen or so studio releases, Pokey LaFarge has carved out a niche for himself with his brand of old-timey-meets-newfangled boogie rock gospel blues. While at times a little hokey and hackneyed, the crooner’s modern-old sound has, for years, felt singular. Now, at a time when originality and creativity exists at the mercy of algorithms and artifice, that sound is a gift, with his latest album Rent Money one more present for the present.
ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Reel 2 Reel 4 Real' Is Ray Wylie Hubbard as He Was Meant to Be Heard
Ray Wylie Hubbard’s latest album is alive. While the Texas music icon says it may be his last, throughout Reel 2 Reel 4 Real, chords shift and reshape, like restless muscles; rhythms snap, like bones into place; steel slithers and slinks, something awakening, yawning, stretching under the meat of his grizzled Americana. Tracked directly to analog tape, Hubbard’s 20th album pulses with the weight and wear of the last 50 years.
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The best artists know what to keep and what to throw away.
ALBUM REVIEW: Andrew Sa Bares His Heart and Soul on Unflinching Debut, ‘American Rough’
From the start of Andrew Sa’s American Rough, it’s impossible not to be pulled in.
Staying Afloat - Good Grit
Words by Alli Patton Welcome to the Calm Luxury of Southern Waterways Picture it: You awaken to the gentle lap of water against hull. The bright rattle of morning cicadas swells to greet you. Somewhere in the distance, a bird calls excitedly, and a pillowy splash wets your waking mind. You rouse to this symphony just as you were tenderly rocked to sleep by it the night before. You rise knowing that just outside the window is your destination. All you have on your schedule today is relaxation.
Ever been so consumed by something it kept you up at night? For one Birmingham man, it was a guitar
John Shults is used to the hunt. The Birmingham-based vintage guitar dealer and appraiser travels the world to find rare and unique instruments. But sometimes the hunt can turn into something bigger – a mystery to be solved. For Shults, it started when he came face-to-screen with what he thought had the potential to be a one-of-a-kind six string. “I was blown away when I first saw it,” Shults said of the moment a picture of the guitar in question hit his inbox. It was a 1960 Fender Jazzmaster.
ALBUM REVIEW: Ben Chapman’s ‘Feet On Fire’ is a Powerful Gospel of Growing Up
Three days into 2025, Ben Chapman’s life changed. He and his partner, fellow singer-songwriter Meg McRee, discovered they were going to be parents. They married a few months later and welcomed their son that fall. In less than a year, the “Georgia Dreamin’” artist became a husband, a father, so much more than the alt-country oracle and road-tested troubadour fans have come to know over the last five years.
SPOTLIGHT: Emily Nenni Steps Out with Newfound Confidence on ‘Movin’ Shoes’
Editor's Note: Emily Nenni, whose new LP Movin' Shoes comes out today via New West, is No Depression's Spotlight Artist for May 2026. Read more about this up-and-coming singer-songwriter and stay tuned for more from her all month long. It took Emily Nenni four days to get from her home in Nashville, Tennessee to Austin, Texas where her rhythm section lives, and finally to Seattle, Washington for the first stop of their latest tour.
Birmingham-bred Mountain Grass Unit is taking the bluegrass world by storm
Before they were ever members of one of modern bluegrass’ most thrilling new acts, mandolinist Drury Anderson, guitarist Luke Black and bassist Sam Wilson caught what they call the “bluegrass bug.” “You just get this feeling when you're listening to bluegrass,” Anderson said. “It's a combination of all that, the melodies, the chords, the connection of the harmonies together is like this really powerful thing.
Benjamin Tod Balances 'Vengeance and Grace' On Road to Self-Fulfillment
It’s five miles from the Boyles Yard to downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Along that southbound route, the sky opens up like a greeting, the fathomless blue interrupted only by the crisscrossing of telephone wires. Bleached gravel litters the journey, and all around, locomotives hiss and howl on the sunbaked rails. Having train-hopped in and out of this railway complex more than any other in the country, singer-songwriter Benjamin Tod knows the trek well.
ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Blues For Dexter Linwood,’ Todd Albright Performs Straightforward Standards
Even more than they're played, the blues are felt. The music is born from within and manifests outward in the pull of melancholic strings, bone-chilling harmonics, and belly-aching words. Since the genre’s inception in the late 19th century, a handful of greats have mastered and molded this soul-deep sound. Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell – they often put to song tales of tumultuous relationships, socioeconomic hardships, and widespread racial injustice.
A small-town festival turns 25, celebrating arts, culture … and less traffic
In east Alabama sits a small, rural community called Waverly. Today, the town boasts charm and tranquility, a regular Mayberry positioned squarely between Dadeville and Opelika. That, however, wasn’t always the case. Hulking 18-wheelers and constant traffic once roared down Waverly’s two-lane road. “When I lived here, this was the main highway, and huge trucks would come through, and my whole house would shake,” Andrew Cost, a former resident and lifelong champion of Waverly, said.
Chilifest: Line-Up, Set Times, Dates and Tickets
Full name Chilifest 2026 Dates Apr 4 - 5, 2026 Location Snook, Texas Line up Parker McCollum, Sam Barber, Braxton Keith, more Tickets Get Tickets Accommodation Book Your Stay Chilifest may have just come and gone for 2025, but we're keeping hopes up for another round of the East Texas affair where good times and good tunes collide.
EXCLUSIVE: Corb Lund Premieres Bare-Bones Version of 'Out On a Win' as Part of Career-Spanning 'Dark Horses' Album
If you thought you couldn't love 'Out On a Win' even more, Corb Lund has brought his El Viejo brawler into a new light – or perhaps, one could say into the dark. As a part of the Canadian troubadour's upcoming Dark Horses release – set to arrive on Aug. 7, via New West Records – this bare-bones re-imagining offers a fresh hit from a song that already packed a punch when it was released in early 2024.
EXCLUSIVE: The Deslondes Premiere Intimate In-Studio Video for Swaggering New Song, 'Moving'
The Deslondes' upcoming album, Don’t Let It Die Vol. 1, finds the New Orleans-forged five-piece tipping their hats. The collection of covers acts as more than homage, though. The 12-track release – set to arrive on May 22, via New West Records, as the follow-up to Roll It Out from 2024 – celebrates their longtime friends and musical collaborators, such as Nick Woods, Pat Reedy, and the Kernel, just as much as it praises heroes, Swamp Dogg, Johnny Cash, and Clifton Chenier. Today (Mar.
"I Just Felt Unworthy:" Ella Langley Opens Up About Her Mental Health Struggles During Her Breakout Year
Ella Langley has been on top for the last couple of years. Her songs have crested the charts; her name has been up for many a category at almost every awards ceremony of late; and her lyrics have been on the tips of our tongues since 'you look like you love me' first graced our ears. Inside, though, the 'weren't for the wind' hitmaker recently struggled with such heights, her breakout year apparently leaving her feeling lower, at times, than any camera or stage light could show.
"What is Life?:" Ella Langley Details How a TikTok Cover and a Mutual Seamstress Led to a Duet with Jo Dee Messina
March 23, 2026 7:08 pm GMT Link copied It was by chance that Ella Langley and Jo Dee Messina performed the latter's 1998 hit, 'Lesson In Leavin',' together at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium last November. Well, chance ... and a viral TikTok cover ... and a seamstress to the stars. During a one-on-one conversation between the two stars at CRS 2026, the pair revealed how their surprise duet, that wowed fans at the legendary country venue this past Fall, actually came together.
"One of the Quickest Writes on the Record:" Ella Langley Describes the Mere Minutes It Took to Pen Her New Smash, 'Be Her'
March 20, 2026 7:56 pm GMT Link copied Some songs just write themselves. That seems to be the case with Ella Langley's recent smash, 'Be Her', which will be included on her upcoming album, Dandelion. In fact, in conversation with fellow country hitmaker Jo Dee Messina at CRS 2026, the artist revealed the song simply "fell out" and was a full-fledged tune within half an hour.
"They All Had Tears in Their Eyes:" Ella Langley Shares the Moment She Knew 'Loving Life Again' Would Be Her Next Single
March 20, 2026 2:45 pm GMT Link copied An artist's next single isn't always an obvious choice. Sometimes, a song has to reveal itself in a special way in order to be picked to showcase a musician's latest chapter. Ella Langley's newest offering, 'Loving Life Again', which arrived on Friday (Mar. 20), wasn't originally going to get a single release ahead of the arrival of her Dandelion album on April 10. However, one particular performance changed the trajectory of the project's roll-out.
Are Florida Georgia Line Back? The Duo Reunite Onstage for the First Time in Four Years
March 20, 2026 4:11 am GMT Link copied Are Florida Georgia Line back? That was likely the question on everyone's mind when Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley reunited onstage at CRS 2026. On the Thursday night (Mar. 19) of the country radio industry event, the duo came together for a surprise celebration of Jason Aldean's staggering 31 No. 1 singles. There, the pop-country pairing performed the hitmaker-of-honor's 2018 triumph, 'You Make It Easy'.
'Blame Texas' by Cody Johnson – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Blame Texas Lyrics If I chase my tequila with an ice cold beer, Blame Texas. If I swear there ain't no better place than here, Blame Texas. If you think I say a few words wrong,... If I chase my tequila with an ice cold beer, Blame Texas. If I swear there ain't no better place than here, Blame Texas. If you think I say a few words wrong, And find a way to put a fiddle in every song, If I take George Strait over Elvis, Blame Texas.
'Easy On The Eyes' by Willow Avalon – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Easy On The Eyes Lyrics He walked in the room with his ten-gallon hat And his God-given baby blues A six-foot tornado and I'm in his path, Tell me what's a girl to do? But drink all the lies as they pour from his mouth, ... He walked in the room with his ten-gallon hat And his God-given baby blues A six-foot tornado and I'm in his path, Tell me what's a girl to do?
'Man Downstairs' by Avery Anna – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Man Downstairs Lyrics I was a lovesick girl You were the perfect crime Innocence meets its death True love tied to a lie You knew how much it hurt You had your sights on me...
'Haunted' by Luke Grimes – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
February 27, 2026 6:01 am GMT Link copied Song Haunted Lyrics Every time that there’s a shadow Out the corner of my eye Every time that there’s a whisper In the middle of the night I don’t fear the darkness Like I did before...
'Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line' by Gavin Adcock – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line Lyrics Everybody knows you've been stepping on my toes And I'm getting pretty tired of it You keep a-stepping out of line and a-messing with my mind If you had any sense, you'd quit 'Cause ever since you were a little bitty teeny girl...
'Convincing' by Megan Moroney – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Convincing Lyrics I think someone cued the moon, the perfect view And put the breeze on the water You’re just someone I didn’t know, a day ago Shouldn’t this be more awkward? And hell, who just turned on this Etta James song? This feels way too lights, camera, action... I think someone cued the moon, the perfect view And put the breeze on the water You’re just someone I didn’t know, a day ago Shouldn’t this be more awkward? And hell, who just turned on this Etta James song?
'Stupid' by Megan Moroney – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Stupid Lyrics No way, no way, no way, no way No way, no way, no way, no way Maybe his phone died on a long drive Middle of nowhere Stuck on the side of the road, no service...
'Liars & Tigers & Bears' by Megan Moroney – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Liars & Tigers & Bears Lyrics Speak your mind, but not too loud Be sure of yourself, but never too proud Paint yourself pretty, but don’t do too much Be soft and not bitchy, but you better be tough Smile real big, be happy to lose Don’t have a bad day, there’s cameras on you...
ALBUM REVIEW: Clay Street Unit Debuts Ear Worm, Fearless Newgrass on ‘Sin & Squalor’
It’s likely difficult being a new string band today. The role comes retrofitted with some onerous responsibilities. There are certain tenets to uphold, time-tested musical traditions to follow, duty weighing on every roll and break. With the release of Sin & Squalor, however, it seems newcomers Clay Street Unit have taken all of that in stride, fearlessly showcasing their blend of bluegrass, folk, and Americana with an admirable confidence and grace.
The Preservation of American Beach
In the face of ever-present discrimination, the constant threat of legal action, and often violence, African Americans carved out spaces for themselves to find relaxation and opportunities for leisure. Along North Florida’s eastern coastline rose a handful of resort communities, such as St. Augustine’s Butler Beach and Mayport’s Manhattan Beach. American Beach, however, would come to offer an unparalleled oasis to beachgoers during Jim Crow.
'Time Goes On' by Koe Wetzel – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Time Goes On Lyrics It feels like yesterday when I first got laid And the cowboys were superbowl bound We could barely pay for the weed and drink And we thought that we ran this town Today I woke up...
'Colorblind' by Gavin Adcock – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Colorblind Lyrics My days feel about as dark, As that coffee that starts my morning It ain’t rained a drop, But somehow it’s still storming Used to be dirty blonde streaks...
Koe Wetzel to Drop New Song, 'Time Goes On', on February 6
January 29, 2026 4:21 pm GMT Link copied It feels like Koe Wetzel has had something brewing for a while now and the arrival of a new album from the East Texas hitmaker feels more and more promising with each new single release. The 'Casamigos' artist recently announced 'Time Goes On' as his latest offering. He's been teasing the reflective tune since the start of 2026, highlighting the song's contemplative chorus across social media.
Brad Paisley to Serve as Guest Mentor on 'American Idol' Season 24 | Holler
January 29, 2026 3:11 pm GMT Link copied Brad Paisley will be bringing his Grammy-winning musical talents to American Idol hopefuls in the next few weeks. The country crooner, alongside actress and pop vocalist Keke Palmer, has been tapped by this year's judges – Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie – to join the long-running singing competition show as a guest mentor. He and Palmer will help mold the next Season 24 star.
'String By' by Mack Geiger – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song String By Lyrics Laying awake in your bed Hiding myself from the things you did These past months I′ve tried To bury my head in the sand Last night I told you I'm out...
'Church Girl' by Carly Pearce – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Church Girl Lyrics Hey, church girl doin’ everything wrong Walking on eggshells with your high heels on Hey, church girl with the Jezebel dress Better take it off, you’re making all the boys think sex You got your questions but you’re too scared to ask I’m just a sinner who’s been where you’re at...
Norman Studios and Jacksonville’s Long-Lost Legacy as ‘Winter Film Capital of the World’
Florida offered them that balmy retreat. Soon, cities like St. Augustine, with its stone fortresses and towering palm trees, and Jacksonville, with its diverse landscape, its positioning on the rail line from New York City, and its reconstruction boom after the Great Fire of 1901, became filming destinations. The latter, especially, was known for a time as the “Winter Film Capital of the World,” with some 30 motion picture companies calling the city home by the late 1910s.
'Anyways' by Zach Bryan – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Anyways Lyrics You looked me in the eyes last summer Said you hate all the pain I'm under Told me to play your favorite cover Of "Between the Bars" Been feelin' fuckin' empty lately I wanna go and see the sea...
Song Drowning Lyrics Keep me under the water completely Never wanna learn to swim when you're the one holdin' me down Drown me deep in the rivers of the valley Lettin' my lungs succumb to sweet seductive sounds I ain't never been this deep before...
'Slicked Back' by Zach Bryan – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Slicked Back Lyrics Fell in love with the shotgun in my hands If you were saying, must've be contrarian But I've been working on myself all fall Six beers a week ain't bad, a little boring is all, huh You're so cool in my living room...
'Cannonball' by Zach Bryan – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Cannonball Lyrics We've come a long way since those drunk days on backroads You and your high hopes always stayed down You always saw the best in me High in Yosemite, we hide Now I'm driving through Reno, those goddamn casinos...
'South and Pine' by Zach Bryan – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
January 9, 2026 6:46 pm GMT Link copied Song South and Pine Lyrics The weather's hot, the sun is shinin' Used to call the love of mine That's why it is raining in my mind And love and loss and lightning strikes They all seem the same at night Short and quick and never the same twice...
'Santa Fe' by Zach Bryan – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Santa Fe Lyrics Call up your mother, tell her that you're all alone With some sky out by Santa Fe, New Mexico Think I'm going to Santa Fe, the type of place you'll know my name My grandma called just yesterday to say she loves the manor I was raised Grown so weary of all of this and every day is a precipice...
'Say Why' by Zach Bryan – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Say Why Lyrics I spent my last dollar on some courage I could buy Forty ounces of it at some truck stop in Ohio Spent forty days walking and another forty high Just for you to give me forty reasons for goodbye Spent forty days drying out and forty days sober...
'Aeroplane' by Zach Bryan – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Aeroplane Lyrics She got married on a porch last June She's got a new last name, she'll have a new home soon With her yellow-bandana gentleman from the South Them snowy city streets miss havin' her around And I'm watchin' snow fall from an aeroplane I've been to Oklahoma, I ain't never been to Spain...
"There’s Gonna Be a Billion People Saying It’s Over Produced:" Zach Bryan Readies an Acoustic Version of Upcoming Album
January 8, 2026 8:51 pm GMT Link copied As the release of Zach Bryan's sixth studio album, With Heaven On Top, nears, suddenly, one album has become two. The 'Something in the Orange' hitmaker recently revealed that he has already prepared an acoustic version of the upcoming collection, which is set to drop on Friday (Jan. 9). He says the acoustic album will arrive three days later. Come Monday (Jan.
'Thinking 'bout You' by Stella Lefty – Lyrics & Meaning | Holler
Song Thinking 'bout You Lyrics Everybody wants ya' and it makes me roll my eyes When we go out dancing, but just as friends, right? And you whisper in my ear after one or two Swear I'm not trying to, can't help but thinking 'bout you And your hands on my, my body says I want to... Everybody wants ya' and it makes me roll my eyes When we go out dancing, but just as friends, right?
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