Craft Roast Soul

One of the great things about the internet is that through platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and others you can have access to artists you might not otherwise know about.  Whether it's a new artist or an established one still making great music, you can keep up with just about any artist anywhere in the world. One such established artist that has come across my radar recently is Ireland's 'Aslan'.  I was introduced to them via a cover of one of their big hits by fellow Irish band U2.  When I heard the song I had to check out this band 'Aslan'.  I was not disappointed!  They have been making music since the mid 80's and still perform today and put on incredible live shows.  Here is a video of Aslan performing their original version of 'This Is': Christy Dignam is one of the great rock n' roll front men of our time.  He has a great voice and is a phenomenal performer.  He's very animated and emotive onstage, remind...

I happened across this group when I was listening to the 'Unbelievable? With Justin Brierley' podcast.  One of the guests, Malcolm Guite, who was on the show to talk about C.S. Lewis is also a poet, songwriter and priest. I noticed in the show notes that he was part of a Cambridge-based group called 'Mystery Train'.  I checked them out and they are quite good! The group performs covers of roots rock, R&B, and blues tunes from the 60's and 70's, and also write original songs.  According to their website they are "like an amalgam of The Last Waltz and The Rolling Thunder Revue...".  I find this to be an apt description after hearing their album of originals. Check out the band's website here And then head on over to their Bandcamp page to listen to or purchase the album.

This week I've been drinking Deeper Roots Summer Punch blend.  Fruit punch isn't exactly a term I expect to describe coffee with, but it is very accurate.  The fruity, citrus-y notes in this coffee do indeed remind me of a fruit punch.  Yet the coffee isn't just a fruit bomb.  It has enough of that roast-y bold flavor to be an everyday coffee. I had mine hot both times, but I can imagine this would be very good as a cold brew or iced coffee as well.  Deeper Roots is a Cincinnati-based roaster that supplies coffee shops and some restaurants in the area.  They also operate a couple of cafes of their own.  They offer an excellent line of coffees and are committed to sustainability in each area of the supply chain.  Even their coffee bags are eco-friendly! Check out their page on sustainability here. I tried it at Trailhead Coffee in Newport, KY.  Trailhead is a newer addition to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati coffee scene.  They are...

I'm always on the lookout for great podcasts featuring artist interviews, and I recently came across Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon.  I've listened to a few episodes already and I really like his style. The series has been running for quite a while so there is an extensive back catalog of episodes to check out.  He has interviews with some of the biggest artists in rock, and the interviews are usually quite in-depth.  The episode that introduced me to this podcast was his interview with John Cooper of Skillet backstage at the Heavy Montreal Festival 2019.  I loved their chat.  John had some great things to say about the band's new album, life on the road, the role his faith plays in his work, whether or not he likes the label of 'Christian' band, and much more. Check it out below or wherever you get your podcasts.  John Cooper on Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon

One of my favorite new bands is a Dublin group named 'Inhaler'.  The band's singer is the son of U2's Bono, but they aren't leaning on that connection to make a name for themselves. They've become an accomplished band on their own, securing a record deal and touring on the strength of their first batch of songs. While singer Eli Hewson sounds very much like a twenty-year old Bono, the band have their own distinct sound.  It's reminiscent of early U2 and other 80's post-punk rock, but skillfully updated for the modern age.  Perhaps the best example of this is the band's latest single "My Honest Face". The B-side for this single is not to be missed either. It's a slow, crawling piece with a cool bass part best experienced with headphones or good speaker.  It kind of reminds me of Massive Attack or perhaps even Radiohead.  Titled "There's No Other Place", it can be found on  Spotify  or you can check it out on YouTube ...

I can't say enough good things about The Alarm's latest album "Sigma" . The Welsh band has been very busy lately, and is smack in the middle of one of the most prolific periods of their career. For the last few years it has seemed like every couple of months I read about a new project or tour they're embarking on. Their latest album "Sigma" comes hot on the heels of last year's (2018) "Equals" . From top to bottom the album is loaded with standout tracks. Both lyrically and musically these songs shine bright. Everything is polished to perfection. The raw emotion and passion singer Mike Peters and co. bring to each song is inspiring. The music is uplifting and joyous in the way that the best of U2, Bruce Springsteen, or Coldplay are. And like those artists there is an edge and rawness to the songs. They don't shy away from the dark, but there is always hope and light at the end of the tunnel. I've been following their 2019 to...

Hatchet Coffee out of Boone, North Carolina continues to impress. The latest I have tried is the "Origin of the World" Columbia, Cauca. It's a very well rounded Columbian coffee with the milk chocolate, nutty, and floral notes I love in Columbian coffees. This could easily be an everyday go-to coffee. It features more of Hatchet's distinctive, beautiful bag art. Their bags are some of the most eye-catching I've seen. Very colorful, interesting art style with every panel on the bag being decorated. This coffee rivals Hatchet's Blue Ridge Blend for my favorite from their offerings. The bag art for the Blue Ridge Blend still takes the top spot in my opinion though. Check out Blue Ridge Blend, Origin of the World, and other great coffees by visiting Hatchet Coffee's online store. Check out the bag for the Blue Ridge Blend: