Rieth Recital Hall was intimately packed in, the audience listening attentively. The music started, and with the first three chords, I was drawn in by the depth of feeling. Cellist Natalia Khoma and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky presented a rich recital on March 23rd that was expansive and expressive, painting pictures of stories past and present. Khoma and Vynnytsky told stories of sorrow, displacement and resilience, which was deeply felt by the audience, myself included.  Both Khoma and Vynnytsky hail from Lviv, Ukraine, and studied at the Moscow Conservatory. They hold extensive musical accolades and have performed and recorded music worldwide. ...

By Ainslee Zou • March 25, 2022 • Arts

Currently sitting at number one on the Americana Radio Singles Chart, “Face Down in the Moment” comes from the album “The Future” from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.  For myself, this song definitely has that classic-country Americana vibe and is a perfect compliment to driving a beat up pickup on a county road at sunset. The simple piano and drum rhythm brings out a reflective tone in the song and serves as a parallel to the last few years in Nathaniel Rateliff’s career, from his solo album “And It’s Still Alright” released in 2020, to the follow-up “The Future”...

By Jeremiah Sherrill • February 11, 2022 • Arts

The lights dimmed and a scratchy recording began playing over the speakers in Sauder, the pops and crackles accompanying a woman singing with a piano. An organ crept in and began to mirror the gospel chords in the recording, almost compelling listeners to bow their heads in reverence. As the organ began to swell, Marc Cohn strode through the door on stage right, eliciting strong applause. Rather than walk immediately to his piano to begin playing, Cohn stepped to a microphone center-stage to provide some background for the evening. The songwriter explained that his visit to Sauder Concert Hall was...

By Andrew Pauls • October 6, 2016 • Arts

The Stray Birds, an Americana trio from Lancaster County, Pa., combine old-time and folk styles in their eponymous debut album. Noteworthy is the album’s recent recognition on NPR’s “Top 10 Folk & Americana Bands of the Year,” a list that includes renowned folk artists like The Lumineers and The Carolina Chocolate Drops. Also notable is the momentum the trio has gathered in only the last two years. Since the release of their EP, “Birds of the Borderland,” in 2010 and the release of “The Stray Birds” in 2012, the Stray Birds have played for venues ranging from concert halls in...

By Becca Kraybill • April 3, 2013 • Features

“Mockingbird Time” sees the Jayhawks return to their original line-up in style as Mark Olson returns to the fore. Olson was with the band from 1985-1995. The album represents the group’s first effort to produce in almost ten years. Before this, they had decided to take an indefinite break after their 2003 release, “Rainy Day Music.” Released in the United States on Sept. 20, 2011, “Mockingbird Time” lives up to all the fans’ expectations. The Jayhawks’ music is classified as alternative country or alternative rock, but simply put, their sound is a return to the past.  It is reminiscent of...

By Ian Shelly • October 12, 2011 • Arts

In the bluesy soul album “Don’t Explain,” Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart team up to cover some quintessential blues ballads. In the duo’s first album together, they cover a number of famous blues artists, ranging from Ray Charles to Etta James. Bonamassa, is a prolific blues and jazz guitarist who has been hot on the blues scene since 2009, when he was awarded the “Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award” at the U.K.’s prestigious “Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards.“ Beth Hart is a singer and songwriter who has been on the blues scene for some time as well. In...

By Jackson Beck • October 5, 2011 • Arts

After the Farewell Drifter’s  first album, “Yellow Tag Mondays”, was number 10 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts, and was highlighted as the “Best of What’s Next” by Paste Magazine, the band kept the momentum up with their second album. “Echo Boom” was released  in early June and has been playing on the Globe ever since. Peaking at number six on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts, it is the perfect mix of retro and contemporary, including upbeat and slower songs to keep you guessing about the next track. “Members of this generation are called Echo Boomers, due to the significant increase in...

By Kelsey Morris • September 28, 2011 • Arts

Trevor Hall, a 24-year-old indie artist, just released his ninth studio album entitled “Everything Everytime Everywhere.” I was unsure if he could continue his poetic and acoustic reggae-driven vibe on another album, but I was inspired after listening to his new album and am obsessed with Hall’s music all over again. The artist has taken multiple trips to India and it’s easy to see the inspiration, ideas and influence that the Indian culture and music has had in his recent work. His newest album echoes his 2007 album entitled “The Elephant’s Door” in how it catches these enchanting Indian tones....

By Angelica Lehman • September 14, 2011 • Arts

As General Manager of 91.1 The Globe I have the daunting task of reviewing several hundred albums a year for airplay on the radio station.  It takes a lot of work but the reward comes when I discover a project that just feels right–it’s the perfect fit, the essence of the station’s overall sound. The Milk Carton Kids’ second album Prologue is my latest reward. This California folk duo of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan are in many ways reminiscent of other artists we play on the station and yet have a sound all their own. Simon & Garfunkel, Gillian Welch...

By Jason Samuel • September 7, 2011 • Arts

Not every band that comes out of Detroit is rap, doo-wop, or rock and roll. In 2003, Mo-town produced a band that fits none of the previous genres: Frontier Ruckus. Hailing from metro Detroit, Matthew Milia and David Winston Jones decided to come together to create a lyrically driven, bluegrass, folk-rock band with the easily recognizable voice of lead vocalist Milia and the instrumentals of Jones. In 2009, the band departed from its former label and signed with Ramseur Records which holds clients such as the Avett Brothers and Samantha Crain. In 2010 the band produced its latest album, “Dead...

By Benjamin Kelly • April 7, 2011 • Arts

“Kiss Each Other Clean,” is the latest album from Iron & Wine, released Tuesday, Feb. 8. The album is a showcase of sound experimentation from an artist who is still shown to be evolving. The band’s earlier releases were a mix of soft- and folk- rock, but the new album adds more instruments and studio production that give the band a fuller sound. Iron & Wine is the stage and recording name of Sam Beam, who has reached a point in his career where his sound is evolving so much that some would consider it selling out.  But in reality,...

By Trisha Danielle Handrich • February 17, 2011 • Arts

A long-haired, tattooed 63-year-old man who has more accolades to his name than one can even fathom, Gregg Allman is still making great music. Better known for his work with his brother Duane Allman in the Hall of Fame group, The Allman Brothers, Gregg Allman just released his eighth solo studio album, and the first in 14 years, “Low Country Blues.” The Allman album displays the classic southern accent that put him at number 70 on The Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Singers list, the twang of the guitar, and the clinking of the ivory as Allman plucks away in the...

By Benjamin Kelly • February 10, 2011 • Arts

Barton Hollow is the full-length debut release from the independent band, The Civil Wars.  Produced by Nashville standard-bearer, Charlie Peacock, the band has created some early buzz. An appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and a featured song on “Grey’s Anatomy,” has lead to more than 500,000 views on YouTube and a number one slot on iTunes singer/songwriter chart – all before the albums official release this week. Upon first listen to The Civil Wars’ Barton Hollow don’t be surprised to find yourself drawn back to the Music City collaboration of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand. ...

By Jason Samuel • February 5, 2011 • Arts

The band Cake has finally released their long-anticipated 6th album entitled Showroom of Compassion, which came out at the beginning of the new year.  This album release is the band’s first in nearly seven years, since Pressure Chief, was released in 2004. The time away seems to be paying off for Cake, as the new album reached number one on the Billboard 200; a first in the band’s 20-year history. Though front-man John McCrea’s voice makes the music easily identifiable, Showroom of Compassion has a distinct sound that separates itself from its sister albums Fashion Nugget, Prolonging the Magic and...

By Summer Hasan • February 5, 2011 • Arts

Earlier this month I had the privilege of traveling to Detroit to see Jonsi perform live. Nov. 5 was the date I had been looking forward to since I bought the tickets in early August. I prepared myself for the concert by listening to his debut album Go constantly with the 10 others that planned on attending as well. We had heard that the show was going to be amazing and life changing, “the best show you’ll ever go to in your life,” some said. Our expectations were high, to say the least. However, expecting an amazing show was underestimating the...

By Trisha Danielle Handrich • December 2, 2010 • Arts