HELP - I desperately need some new music recommendations
 

I'm probably a lot older than many of you (or not, in some cases -- I've seen the poll!) -- but I'm realizing that I seriously need to expand my music world. There used to be a great radio station in my area that played lots of great new artists that I never heard anywhere else, or at least not until they got "famous." Among these that I really connected with were (my faves in bold) John Mayer, David Gray, KT Tunstall, the Jayhawks, Shawn Mullins, Freddy Jones, Crash Test Dummies, Keb Mo, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Neil Finn, Crowded House, the Palladins, the BoDeans, Southern Culture on the Skids, Blue Rodeo, the Wallflowers, Patty Griffin, Train, Counting Crows, Pete Yorn, Sarah Harmer, Toad the Wet Sprocket and more. But that station died after about a decade, unfortunately, and we've been left with Classic Rock and "new music" ever since. I know we're missing out on a world of good stuff.

Also a huge fan of the Beatles, McCartney, CCR, etc.

I definitely favor guitar-oriented stuff and acoustic pop/rock in particular, I guess. I like a beat and a groove; not usually too big on quiet introverted stuff (at least not for in my car, but yes at home) -- as evidenced by my likes list above. Any good recommendations from you musicians out there that you think fits this general genre would be MOST appreciated. Gotta get out of this rut -- thanks in advance!

just a couple of the top off my head

Martin Sexton
Jon Morland
Jason Isbel
Darrel Scott

Always looking for new music so look foward to all the responses

Honestly, consider getting a subscription to Pandora and check out the "radio channel" for some of these artists. They will throw in some additional artists that you may lie and use that as a jumping off point to new music. One of my favorite channels is the Americana channel on Pandora. It's got some great music on it!

I posted a thread about these guys when I saw them a couple months ago. They're from your part of the country so you may already know them. Give them a listen in the thread linked below.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

Andrew Bird



Iron and Wine



Wilco



The Staves



First Aid Kit:



Bon Iver:



St. Paul and the Broken Bones:



Danielle Ratcliffe and the Night Sweats:



Shakey Graves:



White Buffalo:



I have a ton more...

I find it hard to predict what music someone else might like, but based on your expressed preferences I think there's a chance you might like a couple of my favorite bands who have a bent toward the groove. Neither are "new" bands, but they tend to fly under most folk's musical radar.

The Gourds




Willy Sugarcapps

Just a couple for you...

Divina and the Vagabonds.

Excellent musicians. Very tight. Not so much guitar oriented but worth checking out.

Michael McDermot

Singer-songwriter. Hard to catagorize.

*New*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d5Hdqyjj5o

NRBQ in 1988. They have many great records.

Paul Brady is a treasure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v98CAKNAnPU

Best...H

Among many wonderful musical memories from my college days back in the late 60's - early 70's was an acoustic duo called Batdorf and Rodney. Can't remember a bad cut on any of the 3 vinyl albums I wore out on my turntable. Great guitar playing, tremendous vocal harmonies. One of the absolute best vocal groups nobody has ever heard of, but I still listen to them to this day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap7TeGx4o-g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT03VuWA-74

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz8OBTBdv-w

Plus one million on Jason Isbell. Milk Carton Kids (probably better at home than in the car). Local favorite, the Alternate Routes.

Toad the Wet Sprocket
REM

Fats Waller
King Oliver
Jelly Roll Morton

Think country rag guitar
Great stuff

I couldn't help myself

I’m drinking from a firehose, people! Thanks so much for all this. I do recognize (and concur with) many names mentioned here and others are all-new. REALLY appreciate all the suggestions, and I’ll keep checking in... :up:

I really like this stuff.

Thanks for asking the question. I need new music for my morning routine so this is helpful