Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

There are so many internal wrestling fights that they would make experienced boxers wince. Gospel singer Gerren Lavey from Texas knows this better than most, and his new song "Soul War" is both an admission and a call to arms. Lavey, who used to go by the name J The Producer, has been making music for over twenty years and brings that knowledge to this very...