The Best I Could Do in 2024
The Mixtape's first year in review.
As we head toward 2025, here’s a roundup of the writing I’m most proud of this year.
For the Mixtape
"We Quit Doing Rock" - WQDR and the Death of Rock Radio
40 years ago, one of the premiere Album Rock stations in America flipped to Country, and I’m still not over it.
Truth'll Set You Free: Talking With Mother's Finest About 'Another Mother Further'
Co-founders Joyce 'Baby Jean' Kennedy and Glenn 'Doc' Murdock, along with producer Tom Werman, discuss the defining album of a multi-racial hard rock powerhouse.
A Second Helping of Southern Rock
A revival of veteran acts and an explosion of new blood in the '90s threatened to rival Southern Rock's golden era; a two-part series. (The link above is to part one, which covers the peaks of the ‘70s and the valleys of the ‘80s. You can access part two - the ‘90s - at the end of part one, or just by clicking here.) For a look at where Southern Rock is headed next, check out this great piece from
:
The Best of 1979
I made it a point to ride the nostalgia train in increments of five when possible this year (1984, 1959, etc.) This one and 1969 got a lotta love.
Country Musings: The Tractors
The most unlikely of country radio hits made momentary stars out of a ragtag bunch of rock veteran sidemen.
Mojo Nixon 1957-2024
One of the last true believers of rock'n'roll's power and glory left the building in 2024.
For No Depression
Warren Haynes Talks New Solo Album, Gov’t Mule’s 30th, and the Allman Brothers’ Final Show
The headline pretty much lays it out there. [By the way, the Soulshine Benefit at Madison Square Garden on November 24th was a huge success. You can watch it here.]
Viva Lone Justice Delivers First “New” Music from Cowpunk Legends in Decades
Spoke with the surviving members of Lone Justice - Maria McKee, Robin Hedgecock, and Marvin Etzioni - as they explained the long road to their first “new” material in almost forty years.
JOURNAL EXCERPT: Artists Celebrate Drivin N Cryin’s Kevn Kinney with 100-Song Tribute Project
Anna Kinney went above and beyond and gathered friends and colleagues from all over the roots music world to pay tribute to her husband, and Drivin’n’Cryin’s driving force, Kevn Kinney, as a belated birthday gift.
‘Truly Handmade’ Collects Guy Clark Demos From His Storied Workshop
One of the many bucket-list interviews that took place this year, I spoke with Rodney Crowell, along with Tamara Saviano and Guy’s grandson, Dylan, about a historic archival release straight from Guy’s workshop.
American Patchwork Quartet Weaves Together Wide Musical Experiences to Find Common Ground
I had a great time interviewing Falu and Clay Ross about their debut album back in February. The fact that they’ve since been nominated for a Grammy for that very album is just icing on the cake.
For PopMatters
Americana’s Shelby Lynne Writes Through the Pain
I spoke with Shelby Lynne about her acclaimed new album, Consequences of the Crown on the eve of her Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Honors Ceremony in September.
Slash’s Orgy of Destruction [or] ‘Blues Your Illusion’
![Slash’s Orgy of Destruction [or] ‘Blues Your Illusion’](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7bebdb3b-d009-42f5-87b8-cb7f3c717f91_720x380.jpeg "Slash’s Orgy of Destruction [or] ‘Blues Your Illusion’")
Orgy of the Damned finds Slash and his many guests bashing through the most over-played blues standards with the subtlety and grace of Axl Rose in a china shop.
The Wanting and Waiting Is Over as the Black Crowes Return
The Black Crowes’ Happiness Bastards gives us ten good reasons to believe that rock and roll is still a long way from the graveyard.
Thanks for coming along with me on this first year of The Mixtape! I hope you’ll stick around - and spread the word - for what’s in store for 2025. I’ve got a book to write, but I’ll randomly hit up your inbox throughout the year with occasional shenanigans.
Thanks for the great work, Michael, and the shout out!
Not only a year of quantity from Mr. Elliot, but also a year of quality. thank you for your work. Especially enjoyed the Warren Haynes piece. A true gentleman of the jam band/southern rock genre captured at his finest. on to 2025!!