Heather Myles provides the heat on a cold night, Johnny D's, Somerville, Mass., Jan. 1, 1999.

Junior Brown, Allison Moorer shine in concert, Somerville, Mass., Nov. 21, 1998.

Billy Joe Shaver offers his spiritual, optimistic side, Somerville, Mass., Nov. 18, 1998.

Lyle Lovett gets mellow, Boston, Nov. 7, 1998.

Robbie Fulks shows it's not the clothes that make the man, it's the music, Somerville, Mass., Nov. 4, 1998.

Hot Club of Cowtown swings, while Sleepy LaBeef sizzles, Somerville, Mass., Oct. 30, 1998.

Martina McBride: pump down the volume!, Ventura, Cal., Oct. 31, 1998.

Dale Hawkins presents rockabilly as cabaret, Johnny D's, Somerville, Mass., Oct. 29, 1998.

Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, Richard Buckner defy tour name, Johnny D's, Somerville, Mass., Oct. 21, 1998.

Lucinda Williams gets better with age, Somerville, Mass., Oct. 20, 1998.

Dale Watson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore show strange bedfellows make strong music, Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 19, 1998.

Michael Martin Murphey's Westfest:puts western before country, Devore, Cal., Oct. 9-11, 1998.

Junior Brown: shows off numerous talents, San Juan Capistrano, Cal., Oct. 9, 1998.

Riders in the Sky: they don't come much more traditional than that, Somerville, Mass., Sept. 30, 1998.

Son Volt overcomes burden of unknown songs, Somerville, Mass., Sept. 30, 1998.

Los Super Seven live up to name, Hollywood, Cal., Sept. 14, 1998.

The BoDeans give intro to roots rock 101 at the House, Chris Knight opens, Hollywood, Cal., Sept. 10, 1998.

Add Vince Gill to life's certainties, at least when it comes to great concerts, Boston, Aug. 26, 1998.

Marty Stuart needs more music, less talk, Webster, Mass., Aug. 23, 1998.

Kim Lenz, Joy Lynn White team up for night of fine music, Somerville, Mass., Aug. 22, 1998.

The Hollisters don't disappoint, Somerville, Mass., Aug. 12, 1998.

David Kersh: if only the material matched his showmanship, Washington Country, R.I., Aug. 12, 1998.

Clint Black enagages crowd, while Michael Peterson shows his stuff, Warwick, R.I., July 26, 1998..

The number to call remains BR5-49, Boston, July 21, 1998.

Winterhawk offers lots for everyone, New York, July 16-19, 1998.

Iris Dement aims for the heart in concert, Pasadena, Cal., July 17, 1998.

Riders in the Sky make music fun, Santa Monica, Cal., July 19, 1998.

George Jones shows why he's a legend, Webster, Mass., July 19, 1998.

Leon Russell takes a magical flight, San Juan Capistrano, Cal., July 9, 1998.

Wayne Hancock remains on track.

Lucinda Williams great start raises expectations, New York, June 30, 1998.

Rosie Flores et al may be short on experience together, but no problem, Somerville, Mass., July 1, 1998.

Lee Ann Womack needs to show more stage presence to go with her country, Webster, Mass. June 28, 1998.

With Joe Ely on stage, there's no place you'd rather be.

Randy Travis brings tradition to concert of fine vocalists, Mansfield, Mass., June 21, 1998.

Big Al, Bobby Hebb, Barrence Whitfield (play out the soulful side of country, Somerville, Mass., June 18, 1998.

Jerry Jeff Walker goes through the motions.

Mary Chapin Carpenter presents a special evening.

Shania Twain: no fireworks musically.

Alan Jackson remains attached to roots, Richmond, Va., May 16, 1998.

Brooks & Dunn rock it up in country show, Roanoke, Va., May 14, 1998.

The Mavericks continue offering music for all occasions, Hollywood, Cal., May 8 1998.

Kim Lenz revs it up, Somerville, Mass., May 7, 1998.

Jason and the Scorchers burn it up, sometimes, New York, May 1, 1998.

Tritt puts drive in his country, Richmond, Va., April 25,1998.

Chris Knight's brand of country sounds good, but doesn't feel good, Somerville, Mass., April 29, 1998.

George Strait keeps it country, unlike others at day-long fest, Anaheim, Cal., April 25, 1998.

The Derailers ride the right track, Cambridge, Mass., April, 22, 1998.

Freakwater doesn't sing about the sunny side of life, Troubadour, Hollywood, Cal., April 18, 1998.

Monsters of folk are masters of stories too, McCabe's, Santa Monica, Cal., April 10, 1998.

Don Williams demonstrates good things never change, Crazy Horse Saloon, Santa Ana, Cal., April 6, 1998.

Bill Kirchen proves worth the time, Jack's Sugar Shack, Hollywood, Cal., April 4, 1998.

Six String Drag whets crowd's appetite, TT the Bears, Cambridge, Mass., March 20, 1998.

Steve Earle finally gets untracked, San Juan Capistrano, Cal., March 17, 1998.

Grisman, Watson make beautiful music together, Pasadena, Cal., March 14, 1998.

Austin Lounge Lizards prove to be the Lizard Kings of laughter, Pasadena, Cal., March 13, 1998.

Del McCoury Band fires on all fronts, Lexington, Mass., March 7, 1998.

Vince Gill flies high in concert, Houston, March 5, 1998.

Tammy Wynette struggles while Singletary is the real deal, Cerritos, Cal., Feb. 28, 1998.

Brooks & Dunn lose edge, Feb. 26, 1998.

Alabama entertains, Houston, Feb. 24, 1998.

Clint Black plays to hometown crowd, Houston, Feb. 21, 1998.

Trace Adkins opens, but is head and shoulders above Byrd, Houston, Feb. 21, 1998.

Alan Jackson smartly opens Rodeo, Houston, Feb. 20, 1998.

Thompson Brothers Band march on, while audience sits, Santa Ana, Cal., Feb. 20, 1998.

The Backsliders finally hit Beantown, Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 17, 1998.

Freddy Fender doesn't waste this night, Santa Ana, Cal., Feb. 14, 1998.

George Jones plays it well in show, Salem, Va., Feb. 13, 1998.

BR5-49 honky tonks with style, Santa Ana, Cal., Feb. 4, 1998.

Whiskeytown shows itself to be a tale of two styles, Hollywood, Feb. 3, 1998.

Mike Ireland and Holler bring road tested material to town, Boston, Dec. 4, 1997.

Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Jay Bennett make good music together, Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 25, 1997.

Steam Donkeys, Mount Pilot play their music well enough, it's the lack of charisma that hurts, Somerville, Mass., Nov. 20, 1997.

Robbie Fulks delivers, again, this time as the headliner, Somerville, Mass., Nov. 19, 1997.

Junior Brown sparks in Cambridge, Oct. 26, 1997.

The Hag rules in New York, Sept. 20, 1997.

Robbie Fulks, Dale Watson, Joy Lynn White could make listeners only like country music, Somerville, Mass., Sept. 18, 1997.

Tim O'Brien goes it alone alone, Somerville, Mass., Sept. 17, 1997.

Nanci Griffith combines country, Buddy and folk, Boston, Sept. 13, 1997.

The CD wait continues, but Lucinda Williams in concert makes you want it out already, Alexandria, Va., Sept. 11, 1997.

Alan Jackson shows he didn't go country, he is country, while Rimes's demonstrates vocal prowess, Worcester, Mass., Sept. 11, 1997.

Tritt effort bears fruit, while Hank Jr.'s doesn't, Aug. 24, 1997.

Wynonna proves powerful in Boston, July 9, 1997.

Lyle Lovett explains the meaning of life, Boston, July 2, 1997.

Pete Anderson, Lonesome Strangers aim to be the big dogs, Somerville, Mass., June 29, 1997.

Vince Gill powers stage despite outage, Mansfeld, Mass., June 22, 1997.

Twangfest showcases alt. country bands, St. Louis, June 13-14, 1997.

Guy Clark offers course at songwriting U, Somerville, Mass., May 18, 1997.

Robert Earl Keen offers concert feast, Cambridge, Mass., June 4, 1997.

BR5-49 once again show their magic, Boston, May 14, 1997

Garth Brooks talks his way through Beantown, Boston, April 17, 1997.

Dale Watson lights up House of Blues, Cambridge, Mass., April 12, 1997.

Marty Stuart honky tonks in honky tonk club, March 20, 1997, Cambridge, Mass. Mark Chesnutt,Terri Clark, show Dome crowd the essence of real country, February 1997, Houston.

Vince Gill needs more spark to ignite show, Feb. 23, 1997, Houston.

George Strait shows why he's the King of Texas, Feb. 17, 1997, Houston.

Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes show different sides of country, Feb. 14, 1997, Houston.

Carpenter, Loveless, Mattea showcase women of country, Feb. 18, 1997, Houston.

Brooks & Dunn ride rollercoaster, Feb. 19, 1997, Houston.

LeDoux outguns McGraw as McGraw shoots for imitation over emotion, Feb. 16, 1997, Houston.

Waco Brothers punk it up, Feb. 8, 1997, Cambridge, Mass.

IIIrd Tyme Out, Stevens Family create beautiful bluegrass, Feb. 1, 1997, Lexington, Mass.

Wilco returns to roots, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, St. Louis.

Freakwater ragged, but mainly right, Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 22, 1997, Cambridge, Mass.

BR5-49, has been hailed as the future of country music. Are they? Jan. 19, 1997, Somerville, Mass.

Son Volt, Big Sandy put across different brands of country, Nov. 23, 1996, St. Louis.

BR5-49 take time in winning over The Black Crowes' crowd, Oct. 1, 1996.

Junior Brown gets distracted, Oct. 7, 1996.

Reba McEntire puts her spin on the theatrical side of country.

Dale Watson, Texas honky tonker burns it up, Cambridge, Mass., Sept. 17, 1996.

George Strait, master singer shows he's not a master performer. Sept. 7, 1996

Wynonna proves wonderful in soulful outing. Boston, Aug. 27, 1996

Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Trisha Yearwood and Kim Richey make the hard way look easy, Warwick Musical Theatre, August 1996.

St. Louis-based country bands put on a show.

Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and Carlene Carter on the Kraft tour, Tinley Park, Ill., August 1996.

Kelly Willis, BR5-49 and Robert Earl Keen: hit Beantown. July 27, 1996.

Sourpatch plays t(w)angy blend or rock.

Dwight Yoakam: the enigma comes through.

Joe Ely: veteran proves triumphant in midwest return, St. Louis, Mo..

Ronnie Dawson: rockabilly legend leads trio of bands through hot evening.

Travis Tritt, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless and Diamond Rio: Double Trouble tour proves three times the trouble. June, 23 1996.

Rosanne Cash offers spare sound in making the grade.

Trisha Yearwood combines with Detroit Symphony for a different kind of country.

New talent, Gillian Welch, offers solid readings of poetic songs.