The Blessing and the Curse is Lance Canales' sophmore solo LP, his first studio album since These Hands, which was released all the way back in 2008. Canales brings all the bluesy, down-to-earth Americana sound one could ask for on the album, armed mostly with a simple yet well-utilized acoustic guitar and a deep, rusty voice that makes other Americana singers sound angelic by comparison. The themes on the album are very remeniscent of southwestern pioneer life, most notably on songs like the uptempo lead track "California or Bust," "The Farmer," and "Deportee," a song about a Mexican immigrants in America. Thematically, the album gets very dark at times--especially on "Death Got No Mercy," which is as depressing and downtrodden as it sounds--but ends on an energetic high note with the electrifying "Stomp it Out." Overall, this album is very good if not particularly ubpeat--a solid Americana album that uses strong lyrical imagery to get its ideas across about the troubles of life in the American West.

Everything goes better with gravy. We at KDRT and Listening Lyrics are thrilled to get these 3 very talented musicians in the studio. "Gravy Nation is creating a stir in the Northern California underground rock scene. Local artist Christopher Hunt is the mastermind behind this rock trio along with Ryan Shickman on guitar and Billy Thompson on drums. The music is a delicious mix of sound that combines 90s guitar-driven rock with 60s pop sensibility. Gravy Nation is a product of Davis, California, a town that runs through their art and their blood." Visit and listen to GRAVY NATION here https://gravynation.bandcamp.com/releases. Getting into the GRAVY? Check out their music video here produced by Davis Media Access Kids Camp graduates Alec Lesnick and his brother Ed!

Featuring the music of Miss Peggy Lee tonight. Songs composed by her, performed by others, and some of her classic performances as well. The Mills Brothers * Ella Fitzgerald * Gerry Mulligan * Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass * Stan Getz * Diana Krall & Stanley Turrentine * Count Basie & Joe Williams * Dianne Reeves * Kim Hoorweg & The Houdinis * Peggy Lee * Keith Jarrett

Dug Deep hosts singer-songwriter Bob Woodruff for KDRT's Live in the Loam on Friday, January 22nd, at 2:30 pm PT. Originally a member of the country-rock band The Fields, Bob has since released four studio albums as a solo artist: 1994's Dreams & Saturday Nights, 1997's Desire Road, 2011's The Lost Kerosene Tapes 1999, and the upcoming The Year We Tried to Kill the Pain.  His songs are anachronistic yet accessible, melodic yet gritty, intimate yet universal.