We all remember our first loves, right? When it comes to music, my first love was grunge. My parents exposed me to great music: southern rock, classic rock, and 80s country for the most part. My older brothers—between four and eight years my elders—turned me on to heavy metal and hip-hop. On any given day…
Contemporary folk music seems to be right at home here at the Hangover Cafe and Gregory Alan Isakov’s “The Stable Song” is no exception. Naturally. As with most of the songs I’ve selected for this column, this song’s lyrics are introspective and poetic. I also contend that the vocals can evoke an emotional response from…
In 2020 Nathaniel Rateliff released his third studio album And It’s Still Alright. He wrote the album during a tough time in his life (his divorce and the death of a close friend) so it makes sense that the lyrics from this album would cut deep. The most emotionally charged song on the album is…
Tracy Chapman’s “Stand by Me” cover is a captivating interpretation of Ben E. King’s 1961 hit classic. With over 400 covers to its legacy—hell, even Muhammad Ali has a version, it’s a passable rendition, but forgettable—this is a song that really needs no introduction. I’m willing to bet anyone over 20 years of age can…
Joshua Radin’s “Three Little Birds” may be the most touching cover of Bob Marley’s classic. The original is excellent and technically doesn’t need a cover. That hasn’t stopped anyone though. Most aren’t worth mentioning and I won’t. But my second favorite cover features Baaba Maal and several others (including previous Hangover Cafe featured guest, Keb’…
Keb’ Mo’ might be straight outta Compton, but “I Remember You” proves that the man knows the blues intimately. Born in Compton in 1951, Keb’ Mo’ was making music a decade before six other guys from Compton would put gangsta rap in nearly every city in America. But instead of becoming a pioneer of any…
Many people know of Steve Earle. “Copperhead Road” is practically a classic. What fewer people know is that the elder Earle had a son named Justin Townes Earle and had an accidental overdose not taken him at just 388 years old, he might’ve become as popular as his father. Maybe even more popular. “Lone Pine…
I still remember the exact moment I discovered Joe Bonamassa. I was in the Army at Fort Bragg in 2002 and my roommate was fond of turning the TV to those music channels where there is no video, just music. That’s when I heard a familiar song, but it was clearly by a different artist.…
This is a song about somebody else. Or is it? Fink (Fin Greenall) has an entire portfolio of great date night songs. His lyrics are typically sexy while still being highbrow. “Looking Too Closely” is not a date night song, but its lyrics are brilliant nonetheless. At first blush, I thought he intended this song…