Over the next few months, interspersed between normal Vodka mined musical posts, will be Vodka’s favorites of the Austin 100 (in no particular order), NPR’s tracks of musicians that performed at SXSW. This year, of course, the event was canceled, so these artists need a bit more publicity to reach a broader audience. Watch for the tagline Vodka Austin Favorite or if you search for these tracks later, simply put “vodka austin” in the search. Let’s begin! Devon Gilifillian takes soul music to a new level, allowing himself to touch the…
Read MoreAlexa Dirks (a.k.a. Begonia) makes pop music that seamlessly blends with electronica and old soul for a sound that is full, rich, and totally balanced. It is music meant for the dance floor but can be the stuff that helps you clean your house if you like. Hanging On A Line (seen/heard here) is from her debut fourth-coming (September 2019) long-player, Fear. Fear is preceded only by a double handful of singles and her first EP, 2017′s Lady In Mind, that has been met with great critical acclaim…
Read MoreI appear to be on a positive bent lately, which is never bad. With Big Little Lions, Jenie Thai, We Are Leif, Lydian Collective, and now Me And My Friends. Each of those previously mentioned positive vibes in music are completely different styles, from indie-pop to rhythm and blues to the vocal and instrumental elements of modern jazz. Enter Me And My Friends which takes folk music and puts it in an afrobeat envelope and mails it directly to your ears. It’s a completely…
Read MoreLike other blues, rhythm and blues, and soul artists before him, Charles Bradley defined his music with heart-felt and hard-won emotions that followed his hard life and eventual musical discovery. Those life experiences were the defining characteristic of music that demanded that the listener sit up and take notice. On what would have been Charles Bradley’s 70th birthday, Dunham Records (a division of Daptone) has released a collection of Bradley recordings made in the studio during the recording sessions of each of his three long players….
Read MoreI dare you-NO, double-dog dare you, to listen to Edmonton, Alberta’s Jenie Thai without moving! Night On Fire is the title track to Jenie’s September 2018, long-player, and it simply rocks! And that band!! Tight, full, absolute soul-blues masters here, while Jenie, hammers the keyboard into rockin’ blues submission! The LP itself is spot on in every aspect. Dreamers and Lovers was the first single released from the long-player back in June, and it simply oozes smooth. Track two, Sugar, is just right for your tea. I’m not…
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