Though Bob Dylan’s legacy hangs over modern songwriting in complex and incalculable ways, it’s possible that his most lasting contribution is the dichotomy his music established between the “serious” world of folk music and the comparably “frivolous” world of pop music. Of course, Dylan had little to do with this himself. He was an admittedly eager consumer of Little Richard and Chuck Berry records in the ‘50s, and he didn’t shy away from befriending the Beatles when they were the symbol of all that was anathema to the folk community. Still, the seriousness of his artistry and the sagacity of his writing soon made it very clear that his music wasn’t for screaming 14-year-old girls and teenybopper radio, and he brought into the mainstream a challenge to every self-respecting tunesmith who deemed themselves worthy of picking up a guitar and ...

There is something delightfully unlikely about the Dustbowl Cavaliers. Let’s face it, there aren’t a whole lot of homegrown L.A. bluegrass bands to begin with, but the Cavaliers have a totally authentic sound, whether they’re playing straight-up traditional old folk tunes, original compositions or even you-have-to-hear-it-to-believe-it covers of songs from other genres. The musical dexterity, speed and skill of the Cavaliers – bassist/vocalist Matt Stephen Young, mandolin/harmonica/vocalist Ryan Raddatz, guitarist/fiddler/vocalist Corey Rouse, banjo player John Rosen and snare drummer Dave Keeton (with additional drums supplied by Ken Beck) – is truly something to hear. This is the kind of music where the performers are so good, and so clearly having a blast with what they’re doing, that the mood is infectious. Interestingly, for the most part, the originals are more fun than the folk covers, and manage to sound pretty much as ...