Bloggerhythms

It's time to belatedly introduce The Gospel Whiskey Runners (TGWR), from Visalia, California to music freaks everywhere. The quintet has been compared to Ryan Adams but to these ears a more valid comparison would be The Lumineers. The Runners' Jerrod Turner is a better lead singer than The Lumineers' Wesley Schulz and while they have not released anything as catchy as "Ho Hey" or "Ophelia" that is not a reason to ignore them. TGWR also have a fine female vocalist, just like Schulz's group, in Colette Boley who enhances their sound and is another reason for comparisons between the two bands. Please don't believe that TGWR are merely mimicking The Lumineers and that is because their nine song, debut album, Hold On , hit the streets in 2011, ahead of the better known group's debut. The latter may have had more commercial success but that does not make them a better outfit. The Gospel Whiskey Runners act is mostly acoustic but Ryan Stillw...

The Black Keys are on "extended hiatus," a state of being that is always regarded as an ominous sign regarding a band's future. However, it's good to know that Dan Auerbach has put his free time to good use by working on a side project for rock fans who appreciate the tuneful, pop side of the genre. Auerbach's retro-rocking album, Waiting On A Song , offers ten tracks that conjure up pleasant aural images of The Traveling Wilburys that are most obvious on the radio friendly "Shine On Me." Auerbach's sense of humor on the mostly upbeat set also contains a dose of vintage Nick Lowe. On "Stand By My Girl" he sings, "I'm gonna stand by my girl, Don't think I won't, I'm gonna stand by my girl, Because she'll kill me if I don't, I said she'll kill me if I don't." While not the album's strongest track it's fun stuff. Midway through the record things quiet down with the Sunday morning mello...