Photos and Words by Courtney Sudbrink (except photo of Joe Ely's blue guitar - credit Matt Wright)

In Los Angeles, no venue is better fitted for the songs and stories of Texas Country Rock legend, Lubbock native, former Clash touring partner and Flatlander, Joe Ely (along with Joe Ely duo multi-instrumentalist, Jeff Plankenhorn) or the 1960s folk vibe of Chicago native singer/songwriter, Joe Pug, than The Mint - an intimate, dark lit club on Pico in the Miracle Mile district that brought in an attentive, chatter free crowd who clearly had the appropriate amount of respect for each verse the performers sang and shouted out only to request their favorite songs, to which Ely replied mid set, “Oh now, I appreciate it guys but you’re making me work… and I’m not here to work, I’m here to have fun.”

Opening the show, Pug proved that…

Dom Flemons:

At The Cross Roads of Sound

The Turnstyled Junkpiled Interview

By Courtney Sudbrink

Dom Flemons is a character. A refreshing burst of in-your-face, Old-Time tradition, his presence in today’s music is essential. Shaped by a diverse background and never-ending, intensive journey through the landscape of American music, he is a modern-day reminder of the true artistry that can be achieved by interpretation and performance.

Best known for his involvement in the Grammy Award winning, Durham, North Carolina based, all black string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Flemons has become a strong voice and leader in the Roots community. Possessing tremendous talent, remarkable scholastic aptitude and never-ending, energetic enthusiasm, his dedication to keeping history alive and forward moving…

Brian Wilson Turns 70: & The Beach Boys Reunion We Never Thought We'd See

By Courtney Sudbrink, Editor, Turnstyled Junkpiled

Brian Wilson turns 70 today. If someone would have told me, ten years ago, that on this day, he would be on tour with Mike Love, I wouldn’t have believed it. And I probably would have thrown up at the thought of it.

It was just over ten years ago, that I first saw Brian Wilson perform. I was a sophomore in high school, a full-fledged Brian Wilson fanatic and just lucky enough to catch him on the Pet Sounds Symphonic Tour, shortly after he’d gone back on the road after years of isolation.…

Turnstyled Junkpiled's

How To Write A Hit Country Song

Tractors, Trucks, Fishing, Beer and Jesus

by Courtney Sudbrink, Editor

Many of today’s young,up-and-coming Country 
songwriters may be scratching their heads, wondering why Nashville isn’t biting. Bobby Bare once sang of the “Sure Hit Songwriter's Pen,” but unless that pen bleeds Redneck stereotypes directed at the Wal-Mart crowd, consider it defective. Besides, now-a-days, Bobby Bare wouldn’t stand a chance in Nashville. And he wouldn’t even be considered Country.

There is a proper way to go about writing a hit Country song, a formula I call, “Tractors, Trucks, Fishing, Beer and Jesus.” To garner the attention of Nashville labels, simply use these hillbilly buzzwords as bait in the song title (the more, the merrier) then, reel…