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...

Irish songwriter Eoin Shannon drops us into the deep end of the night with "Every Drunk's Gotta Story". The Cork native's latest release arrives hot on the heels of his January 2025 debut album, "Hello Forever", but this February 2026 concept record is an entirely different beast. Sitting here in Ghana, feeling the warm, humid 9 PM breeze roll through my window, I find...