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No Depression has been the foremost journalistic authority on roots music for well over a decade, publishing 75 issues from 1995 to 2008. No Depression ceased publishing magazines in 2008 and took to the web. We have made the contents of those issues accessible online via this extensive archive and also feature a robust community website with blogs, photos, videos, music, news, discussion and more.

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Artist: Michael Fracasso

Waxed - Record Review from Issue #70 July-August 2007

Michael Fracasso – Red Dog Blues

Whether he’s having fun or being deadly serious, on Red Dog Blues Michael Fracasso is the epitome of a wordsmith. Every song clicks lyrically and, funny or serious, the most obvious thing about them is that they all truly mean something to Fracasso; there’s never a feeling that these are half-drunk ideas written on a [...]

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Town and Country - Shorter Artist Feature from Issue #51 May-June 2004

Michael Fracasso – The Truth Shall Set You Free

If there’s a single principle that has guided Michael Fracasso throughout his career, it’s the notion of being true to yourself. Perhaps because he was slow to embrace the concept early on, the 52-year-old singer-songwriter today describes that imperative as “the thread that’s kept me going, that’s kept me sane.” While mainstream success has thus [...]

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Miked - Live Reviews from Issue #48 Nov-Dec 2003

Beaver Nelson / Jud Newcomb / Michael Fracasso / Adam Carroll – Six String Cafe (Cary, NC)

Shared connections in Central Texas brought these “Four Men From Now” (as they billed their tour) together, and their visit to the North Carolina Triangle’s premier listening room marked the end of a short southeastern US swing. These four songwriters are each very distinct in style and sound, but their combination is all the richer [...]

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Waxed - Record Review from Issue #36 Nov-Dec 2001

Michael Fracasso – Back To Oklahoma: Live At The Blue Door

On Back To Oklahoma, Austin’s Michael Fracasso introduces a tune titled “1950s” by saying he’s reluctant to explain his songwriting process since it’s “very personal.” He then begins quietly singing, almost as if to himself, slowly unwinding a flurry of vignettes that sound like they were transcribed from the pages of a family diary. The [...]

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The Long Way Around - Feature from Issue #14 March-April 1998

Michael Fracasso – Slow Turning

Michael Fracasso is reading Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina in a rustic little Austin coffee shop. He greets me warmly and introduces me to his dog, Fuji, who somehow manages to vanish until we’re through. Michael looks at me with his deep, dark eyes and a slight devilish grin creeps onto his face as he puts [...]

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From the Blogs

  • Hearth Music Guide to Northwest Folklife Festival 2013
    We're back again with our annual guide to the hugely humongous Northwest Folklife Festival, this Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-27, 2013. This is the largest community music festival in the nation, with (last I checked) 800+ bands, 25+ stages, and so much music and dance that it's physically impossible to see even a small fraction of the things you […]
  • CD Reissue Review: Swamp Dogg - Gag a Maggott (Stone Dogg/Alive, 1973/2013)
    Funky soul from 1973, with two bonus tracks After his innovative 1970 debut, Total Destruction to Your Mind, Swamp Dogg (born Jerry Williams, Jr.) continued to cut fine soul albums, despite a lack of big label distribution, chart action or major sales. His deep… […]
  • Americana Music Association Honors and Award Nominations-A Rundown
    There is a subtle difference in the nominating categories for the Americana Honors & Award Nominations from the rest of the awards in the music industry. Most give a ranking, which usually begins with ‘best.’  No where in the nominations… […]
  • CD Review - Stacie Collins and the Al-Mighty Band "Shinin' LIVE!"
    SHININ’ LIVE is the DVD and the ass-kickin', hip-grinding and smile making soundtrack CD of the concert at Bootleggers Bar in Kendal, England is included as a free Extra. I can remember the night, as if it was yesterday, when I was standing in front of a packed crowd who had come from all over the UK to see this special gig in a Bar that appeared to hav […]
  • Interview: Kurt Marschke of Deadstring Brothers on "Cannery Row"
    In the spring of 2012, two years since his move to Nashville from Detroit, Kurt Marschke connected with another Motor City transplant, JD Mack (formerly of Whitey Morgan & the 78s). After searching for new musical blood to make a new record with, Kurt and JD partnered up with Brad Pemberton (Ryan Adams & The Cardinals), Mike Webb (Poco), Pete Finney […]
  • Wakarusa 2013: Just a Week Away!
    As you can imagine, I am getting very excited for Wakarusa. I would like to say thank you again to No Depression for making this adventure possible. I cannot wait to share my experiences with all of you. As the final countdown begins, I am hard at work researching and preparing so I can bring you the best coverage of the event. Through this process, I have s […]

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