No. 255, March 2014

Just Be Croz
Folk-rock icon David Crosby releases his first solo album in 20 years
By David Knowles

On the Mystic Highway
How John Fogerty uses title phrases and guitar riffs as the spark for his songs
By Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

The Write Stuff
Ad copy writer Dave Adams is using ‘creative restriction’ to challenge and inspire songwriters through the global Acoustic Guitar Project
By Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Flying Solo
British folk master Martin Simpson spotlights chops—and his songwriting—on a stripped-down solo album
By Teja Gerken

SPECIAL FOCUS: PLAYING WITH THE BAND

Punk Unplugged
The Devil Makes Three’s Pete Bernhard brings a punk attitude to roots music 
By Kenny Berkowitz 

Occupy Colorado
Elephant Revival taps into mile-high chemistry on ‘These Changing Skies’ 
By Kenny Berkowitz 

Goth-Grass Heroes
The Builders and the Butchers blend Goth, Americana & folk for a sound that’s all their own 
By David Templeton 

DEPARTMENTS
From the Home Office
Opening Act 
Events
Great Acoustics 

The Beat
Parker Millsap taps his years in the Pentecostal church; John Prine undergoes cancer surgery; and more 

Letter from Saint Ouen
A day in the life of a Gypsy-jazz Mecca 

Acoustic Classic
Remembering the father of American music, Stephen Foster 

The Basics
Let your fingers do the walking on your favorite ballads, blues & acoustic-rock tunes 

Take It Easy
Songwriting inspiration is as close as your inner juke box

Weekly Workout
Learn to play chords built from pentatonic scales 

Here’s How
8 ways to improve the way you hold a guitar 

AG Trade
In the new documentary ‘Musicwood,’ Greenpeace & the big-three acoustic guitar makers face off with Native American loggers 

Makers & Shakers
Larrivee Guitars closes up shop in Canada (sort of) 

Guitar Guru
Dana Bourgeois on how build affects how long soft top wood lasts 

Kitbag
You wouldn’t let your lips get cracked and chapped. Don’t let your instrument 

Review: Martin CEO-7
Modeled after a vintage Gibson small-body, this guitar is a no-frills stunner 

Review: Taylor 814ce
Taylor’s popular 814ce grand auditorium gets a makeover & a brilliant new pickup 

Review: Peavey DW-3
A solid budget guitar for the beginner, the frugal professional, or the player who normally jams electric 

Review: Red-Eye Twin
Two-channel preamp is optimized for multiple instruments 

Mixed Media: Playlist
Neil Young’s fourth live acoustic set from his early solo years; and other recordings 

Mixed Media: Books
Buck 'Em: The Autobiography of Buck Owens