Recent posts: Breaking Bits

As 2025 kicks off, the natural year reset and hunt for new music begins yet again. Coming across legendary musical vet Ringo Starr’s new country, rock and bluegrass-tinged album ‘Look Up’, co-written and produced by fellow musical icon T Bone Burnett, this latest project arrived at the perfect time, featuring Nashville’s best and brightest. Assembling an all-star group of collaborators like Billy Strings, Allison Krauss, Larkin Poe, Molly Tuttle and Lucius, the 36 minutes of the album fly quickly by. Ringo’s solo record return to country after releasing ‘Beaucoup of Blues’ in 1970 adds another welcome chapter to a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s already storied career. To mark Look Up’s release, Ringo and T Bone recently gathered another Avenger type live concert special lineup featuring the likes of Jack White, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Brenda Lee and more.

If you’ve gone to a Halsey, Kehlani, Selena Gomez or Post Malone show recently, you’ve seen an unforgettably striking keyboardist rocking alongside these artists. Her name is Bonnie McIntosh and her synth sounds and talent matched with her rock punk signature style have steadily made her an in-demand touring musician over the past few years. Studying classical piano in childhood and college, you can slyly hear those influences on some of the biggest stages around the world.

Looking back at the highlights of 2024, one shining moment comes to mind. Reading the list of honorees for this year’s 12th annual She Rocks Awards, my excitement piqued as I read Debbie Gibson’s name, a woman who needs no introduction. For any little kid growing up in NY in the late 80’s, it was a given you’d hear one of her songs she’d written blasting out of backseat car speakers or see one of her unforgettable videos if you were lucky enough to have early MTV.

As I wrap up this musical year, I ponder my favorite moments of 2024, and one clear standout came during this year’s impressive annual NAMM Show. Perusing the list of performing acts, I knew I couldn’t miss Yamaha’s Grand Plaza Stage Night of Worship with Take 6. Hooked since I heard “Spread Love’ as a kid, the acapella legendary gospel and jazz sextet livened the crowd’s spirit and did not disappoint live.

Anyone who’s listened to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” featuring newcomer chart topper Shaboozey or recently watched the Christmas halftime show featuring Compton Cowboys and the first black rodeo queen, knows black country music hit the mainstream cultural zeitgeist in a big way in 2024. One person who knew its potential and always understood its cultural roots and significance is Black Opry founder Holly G. After not seeing herself being represented within the country music scene, she’s broken-down racial barriers since 2021 for black country artists in Nashville, a place with a documented history of racism and a storied rep for not being welcoming to those in the genre with brown skin.

As the world watched the events of the U.S. election unfold last week, reactions from Kamala Harris supporters ran the gamut from outrage to sorrow to shock and disgust. Within tumult throughout the decades, artists have always found the perfect way to capture sentiments of what we’re feeling just at the perfect time. One such primed album reaching our ears when we needed it most is Charlie Castell’s impassioned latest effort ‘Beautiful Apocalypse’.

As I bid farewell to Women’s History Month, I can’t help but reminisce about the inspiring group of trailblazing women assembled at this year’s She Rocks Awards. Held during NAMM Show week in Amaheim, CA, the 12th annual awards show featured co-hosts producer and performer AIJIA and The Bangles legend Susannah Hoffs kicking things off.

Throughout the 2010’s, nestled in North Carolina’s Bull City stood one of the premier jazz and R&B festivals. Assembling historic lineups with ease, where one could view legendary and rising talent favs at several venues across Durham, the Art of Cool Fest became a yearly highlight. During its second year, it drew bandleader, film and TV composer Kris Bowers. Connecting with him then in 2015, he spoke of working on Showtime’s Kobe Bryant ‘Muse’ documentary and the booked and busy musical road ahead of him.