Sound Obsession

Charles Wesley Godwin, Union Stage, Washington DC - 6/27/19 Mini Mansions, DC9, Washington DC - 5/30/19 GZA, Howard Theatre, Washington DC - 5/3/19 Whitey Morgan, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO - 4/20/19 Whitey Morgan, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO - 4/20/19 Whitey Morgan, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO - 4/20/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Baroness, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Zeal & Ardor, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/10/19 Jamey Johnson, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/4/19 Jamey Johnson, The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD - 4/4/19 Failure, 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 3/28/19 Failure, 9:30 Club, Washington DC - 3/28/19 Mike & The Moonpies, Pearl Street Warehouse, Washington DC - 3/27/1...

"Everything except country.” That was my unhesitant reply for many years when asked "what kind of music do you like?" Reinforced by the mental image of Garth Brooks flying over a stadium audience on a wire-rig in the early 90’s, the genre was incomprehensible to me, if not reprehensible. It just wasn’t my thing, and never would be. Lately, however, I'm never quite sure what genres and artists will inspire me year to year - only that I’ve tried to keep an open mind and am prone to odd musical obsessions. This year, it finally turned out to be country music. It shouldn't have come as a surprise. Chris Stapleton's soulful companion albums From A Room Vol. 1  and From A Room Vol.2  topped my favorites list last year and Sturgill Simpson's experimental A Sailor's Guide To Earth  made that list the year before. Maybe nostalgic childhood memories of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Waylon Jennings softened me up. More recently, perhaps it was blu...