The August Empire's Before the Hereafter

The August Empire
“Before the Hereafter”
(self-released)
2013

In the summer of 2013, Dante Marchi and Liz Constantine debuted their first album as The August Empire, titled “Before the Hereafter.” Their journey began years earlier during a TV commercial recording session, where they spent hours sharing a microphone. Their friendship blossomed into a relationship, paving the way for them to collaborate on songwriting.

Marchi grew up in Texas, immersed in country music, while Constantine enjoyed the Beatles and classical music in upstate New York, learning to play classical flute. Their excellent and diverse styles combine to create something beautiful and unique. The album gained attention when the song "There's a Rumor" was featured on the NBC TV series The Night Shift.

The duo wrote all the tracks on “Before the Hereafter,” except for a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” Crafted with acoustic guitar and piano, their compositions are beautifully complemented by light strings and mandolin, courtesy of Rich Hyland. The overall sound is genuinely organic, capturing the essence of Americana without lapsing into clichéd modern country music themes. Instead, we are treated to melodic pieces that reflect their understanding of love's peaks and valleys, self-doubt, and our deep longing for connection and acceptance.

Highlights from the album include “There's a Rumor,” “Letting Go,” and “October.”

Portland’s Sister Mercy Delivers Mix of Blues, Rock, and R&B

Sister Mercy
"Diamonds"
(self-released)
2018

April Brown, a native of Los Angeles, migrated to the lively Portland blues music scene in the Pacific Northwest, where she became the frontwoman and lead vocalist of Sister Mercy. Her potent and passionate vocal style, refined in Los Angeles clubs Whisky a Go Go and the Roxy, made her the ideal lead for this soulful group of blues rockers. 

Sister Mercy released three albums between 2014 and 2022. Their second album, “Diamonds,” stands out as the band reached its creative peak. April Brown’s continued development as a singer is evident on “Baby, I'm No Fool” and the traditional “Travelin’ Shoes.” Likewise, she excels on band originals “River of Tears” and “Beale Street,” which explore the powerful pull of destructive love and are deeply soulful and emotional. Of special note is her compelling performance of Etta James' “Tell Mama.”

The band features Scott Garcia on guitar, Roger Espinor on drums, John Webb on bass, and Debby Espinor on keyboards, with the entire group providing backing vocals, contributing to this album's rich, full sound.

Revisiting T Bone Burnett's Milestone in Americana Music from the 1980s

T Bone Burnett
“T Bone Burnett”
MCA/Dot
1986

By 1986, T Bone Burnett had achieved more in the music industry than most. In the mid-seventies, he was part of Bob Dylan’s traveling show, The Rolling Thunder Review. He had released three albums with the Alpha Band, three solo LPs, and two EPs. He held production credits for projects with Delbert McClinton, the BoDeans, Maria Muldaur, and Elvis Costello, and was just getting started. He was destined to become one of the industry's most sought-after producers in the years to come and would helm projects for B.B. King, Roy Orbison, The Wallflowers, Counting Crows, Brandi Carlile, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, to name just a few. However, in the mid-eighties, he was still working diligently to establish himself as a musician and performer in his own right.

Burnett has recorded blues, rockabilly, rock, new wave, and Americana. While loyal fans have embraced this eclectic ride, one wonders if it has negatively impacted his ability to attract a larger audience. His self-titled album, “T Bone Burnett,” is a memorable Americana collection recorded in just four days during the summer of 1986. Although worlds apart from his previous full-length rock outing, “Proof Through the Night,” it is a masterpiece in its class.

The album’s simple production, courtesy of David Miner, is open and inviting. There’s ample aural space to make you feel like you're in the room, soaking in each glorious sound. The uncluttered arrangements allow the listener to truly hear each instrument: every stellar note from Jerry Douglas's dobro and lap steel guitar, Byron Berline’s fiddle, Steve Duncan’s drums, David Hidalgo’s guitar, accordion, vocals, and 8-string bass, Jerry Scheff’s bass, and Billy Swan’s backing vocals are experienced with clarity and precision.

The album beautifully captures the rich melodic imagery of life’s joys and sorrows. Burnett’s vibrant cover of the 1951 breakthrough hit for Johnnie & Jack, “Poison Love,” soars with fiddle and dobro.

Hidalgo’s accordion breathes life into Bob Neuwirth's haunting, Poe-inspired "Annabel Lee," which is especially moving. Douglas’s steel guitar paired with Berline’s fiddle in the album’s heartfelt closer, “The Bird That I Held in My Hand,” is a sweet and touching love song that leaves a lasting impression.

The two least effective songs here are Burnett’s lyrically lazy “Oh No Darling” and a cover of Tom Waits’ “Time.” Neither seems to align well with standouts like “No Love at All,” “River of Love,” and "Annabel Lee." 

"I Remember” and “Little Daughter” are featured in vocal and instrumental versions, adding to the laid-back vibe of this outstanding album. Forty years later, I still appreciate this album, and with Burnett recording again, there’s hope for another minimalist project like this.

Skybound Blue Takes Flight on Born to Love You

Skybound Blue
"Born To Love You"
(self-released)
2025

Skybound Blue is a Sisters, Oregon-based duo that met in the jazz choir at Spokane Falls Community College, where they fell in love. Matthew and Jennifer Behnke married and began to pursue their shared dreams of adventure. They spent three summers on Guam, where Matt landed a gig diving for silver bullion on a 17th-century Spanish Galleon. In 2000, they sold everything and sailed around the Bahamas for a year filled with snorkeling, playing music, and making lifelong friends.

I’m indebted to the band’s website for this background information, as sources on the duo are scarce on the internet. Their lives changed forever when Jennifer was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Cancer remains a significant life challenge for the couple who’ve persevered as loving, supportive companions. From this experience comes a sense of urgency to write and play music, regardless of the circumstances; they have a deep-seated need to create. This led the couple to spend thirteen years in Nashville, working with some of the city’s finest writers and players. They have since returned home to the Pacific Northwest to raise a family and continue honing their craft.

Since 2011, Skybound Blue has released three albums and one EP, featuring some of the most enchanting and enjoyable Folk/Americana music I’ve heard. Their third album, “Born to Love You,” was released in January 2025. As with all their releases, it's an upbeat collection that celebrates the pair's love and is forward-looking, embracing every moment as it comes. Jennifer is featured on lead vocals throughout, and Matthew plays guitar and provides harmony on all songs.

“All My Days” opens the album with a celebration of motherhood, setting the tone for this collection of songs, which are filled with gratitude for every day. “Keep it Simple, Sweetheart” encourages us to relax and go with the flow. “Born to Love You” is about finding peace in the embrace of love.

“Another Song” and “At Last” are both love songs, with the latter being a cover of the Etta James classic, demonstrating Jennifer’s interpretive powers as a vocalist. This is a powerful standout that perfectly complements this collection of originals. “Could You” soulfully beckons to a companion during difficult times.

“We Only Have Today” addresses our human frailty and the loss of a childhood friend, while “Tripping Over Paradise” imagines being part of nature and locking in on those moments of peace and tranquility. “More Joy” is a declaration to reach for joy in this crazy, fast-paced world, delivered in a call-and-response style that pushes back against bad news.

Concluding with “Feather” and “Can’t Hold On,” these two songs explore our powerlessness in the face of mortality, leaving us with a peaceful image of floating on the breath of love. Here, they return to the theme of being grateful for today and finding peace in whatever one’s beliefs may be.

If one role of art is to delve into our inner selves—to explore our hopes, loves, dreams, and fears—then reflect on those we cherish and the world around us, and share what we’ve discovered, this album excels. Skybound Blue focuses on what they understand: life is transient, and it’s our task to reach out, love, and appreciate the love we have, while celebrating each heartbeat.

Since discovering these talented singer-songwriters, I’ve been listening to their entire catalog and continue to find nuance and meaning that I believe everyone can relate to. My deep dive into this group’s music has been very rewarding, and I'm sure yours will be too.