In conjunction with our May/June issue, American Songwriter proudly presents The Muse, May 2013 Sampler, featuring 12 must-hear tracks from some of our favorite artists. And the best thing about it? It’s free! You can download the sampler here: http://americansongwriter2013.bandcamp.com/album/the-muse-may-2013-sampler The Features, “This Disorder” Walking a line between modern-day indie rock and revivalist new wave, [...]

We caught John McCauley at the Shindig early Wednesday, several miles past the interstate in East Austin, so far east in fact that we felt like we were halfway to Dallas. But it proved to be a nice sanctuary from the crowds and the hustle, and a perfect way to spend the afternoon. McCauley was [...]

Phosphorescent Muchacho (Dead Oceans) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Stream This Album “Song For Zula,” the second track on Phosphorescent’s sixth album Muchacho, begins with a line cribbed from the Man in Black: “Some say love is a burning thing/ and it makes a fiery ring.” For those paying attention to Matthew Houck’s output [...]

This year at South By Southwest, head on out to “Luck, Texas” for the second annual Heartbreaker Banquet at Willie Nelson’s ranch on March 14, 2013. This year’s event brings together a stunning roster of talent including rock and roll mystic Jim James, London soul phenom Michael Kiwanuka, Brooklyn country-psych guru Phosphorescent, and the only [...]

As the end of 2012 approaches we look back at the music that defined our year. But it’s also a time to look ahead with anticipation for the music discoveries that await us. While it’s hard to say how 2013 will stack up to this year’s releases, it’s shaping up to be another great year [...]

These United States’ self-titled fifth studio album is aptly named, not only for the band itself, but for the diverse collaborations featured on the album. With help from John McCauley of Deer Tick, Michael Nau of Cotton Jones, Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent, Laura Burhenn of The Mynabirds, Ben Sollee, David Moore of Langhorne Slim, Josh Read, [...]

Esteemed Southern clothier Billy Reid has been described as a “musician at heart.” So it’s no surprise that the designer is the perfect candidate to host the Shindig, a showcase during SXSW that featured some of the very artists that inspire Reid’s clothing line, including Brendan Benson, Delta Spirit (pictured above), Phosphorescent and Punch Brothers. [...]

Our favorite motorcycle-riding, ’70s country rock-vibin’ band is back with a live cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye,” off Cohen’s landmark debut album, Songs Of Leonard Cohen. Phos is no stranger to a good cover. We’ve seen the band take on a whole album of Willie Nelson tunes, and a [...]

The musician Matthew Houck, and his band, Phosphorescent, walks the line between mainstream country and indie rock. As the indie website, Pitchfork, wrote yesterday, “The Brooklyn-via-Alabama country-rock crew Phosphorescent have a style broad enough to play both [Stagecoach and Coachella festivals].” After a busy touring schedule last year, Phosphorescent will take a break before hitting [...]

“The Party’s Over” is the title track to a 1967 album Willie Nelson recorded in Nashville for RCA. The song comes from the interim period after Nelson had found success as a songwriter in Nashville with hits like “Crazy” and “Funny How Time Slips Away” but before the songwriter decamped to Austin to reestablish his [...]

It’s been a great year for music. Here are 50 staff favorites from 2010. Let us know your picks for the best albums of the year in the comments. 1.Black Keys – Brothers 2.Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More 3.Dylan LeBlanc – Pauper’s Field 4.Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song 5.Yeasayer – Odd Blood 6.Robert [...]

As part of their “Let It Be Revisited” issue, Mojo magazine released a compilation of cover songs including this version of “Across the Universe” by American Songwriter fave Phosphorescent. No stranger to covers, Phosphorescent released To Willie in 2009, a tribute album to Willie Nelson. Listen to the cover below, and check out Mojo’s website [...]