"From some long-forgotten source, I heard that June beetles made a sweet sound while flying around. I loved music, and the method to acquire this living music box was to fasten a long thread to one of the bug's hind legs."Now, June beetles are about half an inch across and three quarters of an inch long. The ones in the South are dark green on the back side and have an armor-like covering over thei...

Railroad EarthAmen Corner I first heard Railroad Earth a few years back, soon after the release of the band's quasi-demo, The Black Bear Sessions. Having no clue what to expect, I popped the disc in my car's CD player. It scarcely left that spot for an entire summer. Subsequent releases and relentless touring since then has earned Railroad Earth critical acclaim, endless comparisons to the Grateful...

The Earl BrothersMoonshineWhen the Earl Brothers released their first album in 2004, the superbly-titled Whiskey, Women and Death, it was a shot of antique-sounding bluegrass in decidedly dark tones, as the recording's name might suggest. Included on that debut disc were perhaps two of the finest original drinking songs ever recorded in the genre ("Been Sittin' Here Drinkin" and "Bender"), as well...

The latest episode of Podcast Appalachia is now available! It's a little known fact that Appalachians, both in the North and the South, played a major role in the early movement to abolish slavery. In this episode I look at this history and examine the role Appalachians played in expanding human liberty. You can listen here or view a transcript here. Save This Page...

A few pictures from a Memorial Day trek into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The rest of the set will be up at the Our Appalachia photo group at Flickr. Save This Page...