There are thousands of new songs entering into the cybersphere each week.Radio Free MP3 is my attempt to sort through the masses and highlight a few songs that I find interesting.

Black Joe Lewis - "Sugarfoot"

Black Joe Lewis is a large, mostly white, horn heavy soul band from Austin, Texas.  If that makes any sense.  Its like how the Black Keys are two white guys that play guitar.  Joe Lewis, the front man, is the bastard step-child of James Brown and Otis Redding, with less voice but more then enough emotional soul to make up for it.  The band behind him squeals, howls and rocks long and hard enough to make the party last all night.  "Sugarfoot" rips everything from the James Brown bag to make them sound like a cover band, but one good enough that you don't mind the cover charge.

Find more about Black Joe Lewis at their  website, Myspace  page, and on NPR.

Gretchen Phillips - "To the Lady C"

Ms. Phillips is another Austin based singer/songwriter where she has been making music for twenty plus years.  She first made waves for including her lesbianism into her songs long before being gay was hip or cool or even popularly acceptable.  For most of her career Phillips made music with more of a punk bent, but on "To the Lady C" she shows how to be a softer, gentler lesbian.  The lyrics are sweet, and kind while the music gently rocks like a summer breeze through a wheat field.  Her new album, with the same name as the song just came out on Sea Sick Sailor records.

For more information on Gretchen Phillips please see her website, and Myspace page.

Article Author: Mat Brewster

Mat Brewster is a periodic ex-pat wondering if he'll ever find a home. You can find him musing on pop culture, and obsessing over concert bootlegs at The Midnight Cafe.

Visit Mat Brewster's author page — Mat Brewster's Blog