Issue Articles — BackTalk
Yo La Tengo’s James McNew Talks Back
A shining, surviving example of 1980s indie-rock, the New Jersey-spawned Yo La Tengo is 40 years into its continuously creative existence—singer and guitarist Ira Kaplan and his wife, singer and drummer Georgia Hubley, co-founded their shared life’s work in 1984. Bassist James McNew joined the couple in 1991, coming aboard in time to record 1992’s May I Sing With Me and write as well as play for the album cited as the trio’s first masterpiece, 1993’s Pain.
Lucinda Williams Talks Back
Last year was one of accomplishment and resilience for Lucinda Williams. In June, the Louisiana-born singer whose songs drip with poetic Southern-laced realism released a new album, Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart. In April, Random House published her truth-telling memoir, Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You. Both projects received major media coverage and acclaim. The memoir debuted at number five among The New York Times bestsellers and the album appeared on year-end best lists.
Greg Barnhill Talks Back
The Ozone Songwriter Festival in Mandeville features more than one-hundred and fifty performances on four stages. In its sixth year, the festival begins November 3 with a showcase concert headlined by Jason Scheff, former lead singer with Chicago. A fundraising event for the festival, the Friday night showcase also features The Voice finalists Morgan Myles, Kim Cruse and Gabriel Broussard.
The Rumble talk back
The Treme Fall Festival, Saturday, October 21, 2023, welcomes the debut of the on-the-rise ensemble, The Rumble, at its fundraising event for St. Augustine Catholic Church that takes place in the grassy field next to the historic building.
Aaron Neville Talks Back
Even though he’s retired from performing, Aaron Neville is having a banner year. In February, the beloved singer from New Orleans won his fifth Grammy Award. His winning song, a collaboration with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band called “Stompin’ Ground,” appears in the music documentary Take Me to the River: New Orleans.
Yusa Talks Back
Yusa is a world citizen born in Havana, Cuba and now residing in New Orleans. She’s a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who has won and been nominated for international music awards. We sat down appropriately overlooking the Mississippi River to talk about her background, career, and what it means to be globally Cuban.
Nick Spitzer of American Routes Talks Back
Nick Spitzer of American Routes Talks Back. Nick Spitzer is rarely at a loss for words. His conversational ease and deep knowledge of music across a wide spectrum have been at the core of American Routes, the New Orleans-based and widely syndicated public radio show he’s produced and hosted since 1999, on which he’s talked with musical artists both obscure and famous from blues, country, folk and much more, eliciting stories and insights far beyond the common canon.
