FEATURES

Sidemen: Fans might not realize it, but any serious musician knows that good sidemen are worth their weight in gold records. Sideman and writer David Malachowski and his colleagues talk about why they stay out of the spotlight

Re-Pressed Music: Spencer Tricker on how reissue labels help save American music

DEPARTMENTS

Letter: Frequent contributor and even more frequent sideman Dave Keyes remembers going on TV cold, after practicing using—not playing—chopsticks. It all boils down to sharing the music the best you can

Kickin’ In Your Stall: Cadillacs, Beyoncé, Etta James and other sweet rides. Carl Gustafson’s opening salvo for a Truth in Music Amendment

Influences: From generation to generation and from A to Z, Arlo Guthrie and Dweezil Zappa reveal how they both came to record their father’s music. But why are their first names weird?

Pet Sounds: Some mushrooms aren’t wasted on pizza. A straight-ahead look at recent psychedelic music

Festivals: Memorable festivals, and a hint of what’s to come

On The Record: Jason Isbell takes another southbound spin without the Drive-By Truckers; The Boss’s CD weighs in somewhat lighter than we’ve come to expect. Ben Kweller is Changing Horses, walker Charlie Louvin takes the Steps To Heaven, while Rishell & Raines prefer to spend A Night in Woodstock.” Ride, Sally, Ride!

Ear Candy: Tom Clarke samples the sweet rockin’ blues of Derek Trucks

Re.Issues: Roy Harper’s entire catalogue finally makes it in one piece to the US. Dave Alvin, Tommy James, Jim Croce and Cheap Trick, too

What’d I Say: According to Jim Hynes, you don’t have to be decrepit—or American—to play the blues

Get A Grip: Steve Walbridge uses bad language, and describes his dreams. That’s all we’re going to say

Also Appearing: David Bennett Cohen’s how-to DVDs. Dave Thompson’s criticism of new music, David Johansen and Hubert Sumlin’s concert and Bob Gruen’s photo book of…David Johansen and the New York Dolls.

Collecting: Arnie Goodman’s advice on collecting Chess Records. First of all, if the label says “Cadillac Records,” take a pass