Joe Firstman is a musical journeyman who’s taken an uncommon career path. In the early 2000s, he inked a deal with Atlantic Records and played piano-driven pop music that emphasized the soulful depth of his voice. Then he made an interesting pivot and became a late-night talk show bandleader, fronting the musical ensemble for “Last […]
Of the 12 songs on Erin Lunsford’s second solo album Rhinestones, the Americana singer-songwriter and frontwoman for Erin & the Wildfire says she cried while writing four of them, especially “Watch Out For Deer.” That one’s stuck with her. “I cry almost every time I play it if I’m with my family,” Lunsford says, “because […]
Adi Meyerson has studied with bassist Ron Carter and worked with pianist Monika Herzig, among others—and whether it’s been advice on touring or how to handle an instrument, the New York bassist has come away with important lessons. While Meyerson’s quartet Dark Matter—set to perform as part of the inaugural Charlottesville JazzFest, which runs from […]
Jason Pollock sits down for an interview in clothes that wouldn’t have looked out of place when he was the lead guitarist for ’90s rock band Seven Mary Three–gray graphic tee, layered with a worn black hoodie and a flannel. It’s easy to forget that Pollock left the spotlight of that platinum-selling quartet more than […]
Over more than 15 years, The Head and the Heart has produced dozens of relatable, sentimental songs, establishing itself as a folk-pop band full of choral harmonies, catchy songwriting, and inviting performances. The group’s sixth album Aperture came out in May 2025, and as part of a current anniversary tour the band is playing its […]