The Lagniappe Sessions :: Cameron Knowler

Cameron Knowler is one of the latest young guns to distinguish himself in the ever evolving world of guitar soli, most readily apparent via his 2025 long-player, CRK, released earlier this year by the eveready Worried Songs. As we noted in our review, Knowler is indebted to his instrument’s history; his playing steadfast, concise, and open to the possibility of the unexpected. For this installment of the Lagniappe Sessions Knowler pays tribute to genre godhead John Fahey, Norman Blake, David Nape and Elizabeth Cotton.

Cameron Knowler :: CRK

For the past few years, Cameron Knowler has quietly worked his way into the epicenter of the Soli revival. Making a name for his playing with the excellent Anticipation collaboration with Eli Winter a few years back, Knowler has since become a familiar face in the realm of steel string. Indebted to his instrument’s history; his playing steadfast, concise, and open to the possibility of the unexpected. CRK is no exception to this rule.

Aquarium Drunkard :: 2025 Midyear Review

The clock never stops, but sometimes music manages the impossible: slowing time for a moment. It’s in those vibrational encounters with music that we find peace and we find ourselves. In the spirit of sharing the stuff that moved us, we’re back with our midyear review. As always, the list is unranked and unruly; there’s more than enough here to guide you into those rare encounters with deep time.

Yesternow: Editor’s Note Volume One

It’s hot. 91 degrees today as I type this listening to records in my office in northeast Los Angeles. Preemptive 4th of July explosions abound after dusk, echoing the cities ambient social temperature. Like every summer, it’s all lit up. So let’s get to it: I’ve been bouncing between various books, films and records, some good, some great and some, well, trashy.

Eli Winter :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview

Appearing here at Aquarium Drunkard in 2022 for a Lagniappe Session, Chicago guitarist Eli Winter described one of his cover selections as “Arabian Nightingale” as “arresting, cool, and strange.” The three words come to mind regarding his latest LP, A Trick of the Light. Another full-band outing following his self-titled 20202 LP, the recording drifts even deeper into jazz rock territory, pairing Winter’s snarling electric guitar lines with drifting pedal steel and sax. Aquarium Drunkard caught up with Winter to discuss the record’s genesis and what inspired him to spoof Hot Ones in a music video.

Bandcamping :: Spring 2025

We’re somehow barreling our way through 2025, time speeding up as spring’s renewal comes around again. The future is unknown, but music keeps us sane, humanity at its best. With another Bandcamp Friday hitting on May 2, check out a few recent recommendations below. Fill up your cart and keep on dreaming.

Radio Free Aquarium Drunkard :: April 2025

Freeform transmissions from Radio Free Aquarium Drunkard on dublab. Airing every third Sunday of the month, RFAD on dublab features the pairing of Tyler Wilcox’s Doom and Gloom from the Tomb and Chad DePasquale’s New Happy Gathering. For April, Tyler kicks it off with an hour’s worth of recent, semi-soothing instrumental zones, and Chad follows with a mix of dream pop, experimental rock and a splash of springtime bossa nova. Sunday, 4-6pm PT.

Radio Free Aquarium Drunkard On Dublab :: September 2022

Radio Free Aquarium Drunkard, every third Sunday on dublab. Up first on our four-hour broadcast, Chad DePasquale’s New Happy Gathering, drifting between the seasons with folk, country, ambient & rock. Then, Jason P. Woodbury takes over with Range and Basin, with comic book free jazz, avant-western and ecstatic gospels. Then, Tyler Wilcox pops in Doom and Gloom from the Tomb, with a bunch of solo acoustic Takoma School situations—mostly new-ish stuff, but some dips into the past. Then to close, Tom Scharpling of The Best Show presents The Best Drunk Aquarium Show. Tune in Sunday, September 18 from 4-8 PM PST on dublab.

Eli Winter :: Maroon

Chicago guitarist Eli Winter continues his musical metamorphosis on the gorgeous new album Unbecoming. Defying the advice of industry middlemen pushing artists towards instant pop gratification, it unfolds patiently through extended instrumental rambles. At age 23, Winter currently splits his time as a freelance writer, while developing his own six-string techniques drawing on the influences of contemporaries Steve Gunn, Ryley Walker, and the late Jack Rose.