A great topic, and a lot of great nominees already mentioned. Some relatively obscure, and very hip: The Wondermints (I saw them live in L.A. a few times before they hooked up with Brian Wilson), NRBQ (one of the very best bands in R & R history. Terry Adams---a great, great live performer!---is the sole remaining original member), Jason Falkner (a member of Jellyfish at the time of their first album), Dave Alvin (I loved The Blasters, seeing them many times when Dave was in the band).
I won’t duplicate those above (Dylan, Ry Cooder, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Van Morrison, Randy Newman, etc.), and will list those currently making new music that I find essential and indispensable. You’ll notice they are mostly artists, not bands:
Iris Dement
Mary Gauthier
Patty Loveless
Emmylou Harris
Buddy Miller (with and without his wife Julie, a fabulous songwriter and singer)
Rodney Crowell
Jim Lauderdale
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives (imo currently the best band in the world)
Ricky Skaggs
The Del McCoury Band
Jerry Douglas (dobro master, Alison Krausses mate)
Albert Lee
John Hiatt
Nick Lowe
Loudon Wainwright III
Los Lobos
Steve Earle (with and without The Dukes)
Rosie Flores
There are plenty of others, but that’s enough outta me ;-) .
I won’t duplicate those above (Dylan, Ry Cooder, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Van Morrison, Randy Newman, etc.), and will list those currently making new music that I find essential and indispensable. You’ll notice they are mostly artists, not bands:
Iris Dement
Mary Gauthier
Patty Loveless
Emmylou Harris
Buddy Miller (with and without his wife Julie, a fabulous songwriter and singer)
Rodney Crowell
Jim Lauderdale
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives (imo currently the best band in the world)
Ricky Skaggs
The Del McCoury Band
Jerry Douglas (dobro master, Alison Krausses mate)
Albert Lee
John Hiatt
Nick Lowe
Loudon Wainwright III
Los Lobos
Steve Earle (with and without The Dukes)
Rosie Flores
There are plenty of others, but that’s enough outta me ;-) .