Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley and other famous rock legends look down upon Brandon White as he picks on his Les Paul. There are other legend’s posters plastered on the wall as well, but not many – there’s only so much decorating that can be done to an in-home recording studio located in Fairhope, Ala. Los [...]

Back in May, I had the opportunity to connect with Tor Hyams who was producing Shaka Shaka Island, a mini kid’s festival within a festival, at the Hangout Music Fest. This was HMF’s first attempt at the kiddie-fest and, with the help of Tor, they succeeded with flying colors!  Headlining acts; Michael Franti, Keller Williams [...]

Of love, basketball, and survival: The Ray Johnston Band By Mark McDermott | July 28th, 2011 Ray Johnston was living the dream. In fact, he was living the very specific dream he’d had since he was 9-years-old growing up in Montgomery, Alabama. Always precocious, Johnston wrote a one-page autobiography at that age that his mother [...]

Entertainer Ryan Balthrop aims for uplift on solo album Lawrence F. Specker, Press-Register Posted:  07/07/2011 6:33 AM It’s been a long time coming, but one of the Mobile area’s most active entertainers, Ryan Balthrop, has finally released his first solo album. And a funny thing happened along the way: A guy generally known for good-time party [...]

I’ve got Roo lag. And it’s a pretty serious case. Trying to acclimate to normalcy again is no easy task, but like Destiny’s Child, I’m a survivor, I’m gunna make it! In 2005 I embarked on a journey to Manchester, Tenn., with three of my good friends. We spent one hot-ass weekend in June on [...]