“I try to take things I love and use them in a new way,” said triple Grammy-nominated singer-songwriterPeter Caseof his 16th solo albumDoctor Moan. Case brings his considerablesongwriting ability to an 11-song collection, largely performed on piano, including his firstsolo recorded instrumental. Released by Sunset Blvd Records on March 31, Case’s piano-based songs are emotionally, sonically and stylistically rich.

As a founding member of the early punk era trio The Nerves, in 1977 Case toured thenation sharing bills with the Ramones, Mink DeVille, Pere Ubu, and Devo. The Nervessingle “Hanging on the Telephone,” was covered by Blondie. In 1979, Case formed thePlimsouls, a record-breaking live act in California, recording albums for Planet/Elektraand Geffen. Their independent single, “A Million Miles Away,” entered the Billboard charts andremains a garage rock standard, performed by bands around the world. The band performed inthe cult classic filmValley Girland the Nerves and Plimsouls timeless teenage rock ‘n’ rollcontinues to appeal to fans of each new generation.

After the Plimsouls, Case rediscovered his musical roots on his self-titled solo debut,produced by T Bone Burnett. TheNew York TimesdeclaredPeter Casethe best albumof 1986. It earned a five-starRolling Stonereview and a Grammy nomination. As one ofthe first songwriters of his generation to turn from rock music toward an acoustic sound,Case also helped usher in what became known as Americana music.

Sid Griffin is best known for being the ringleader of the Long Ryders, one of the first Americana/alt-country acts on the scene. Starting out as a disciple of The Byrds 12-string Rickenbacker sound Griffin now features bluegrass mandolin and clawhammer banjo in his act.  

The Journey From Grape To Raisin, released last September, is Sid’s first solo album in a decade. Its eleven songs include ten Griffin originals and one campfire cover of, get ready, the Velvet Underground’s Femme Fatale. When asked about the sessions and the album as a whole Griffin smiles and calls The Journey From Grape To Raisin “my career highlight, the best work I am ever likely to do. Heaven forbid I should go but if I did I’d die happy”.

Sid Griffin has also written four books and curated and annotated Bob Dylan’s The Basement Tapes box set. Griffin compiled and annotated over forty CDs/LPs for various labels and is seen in over a dozen music documentaries as an authority on roots music. Kentucky born but living in London, England these days he is frequently seen and heard on the BBC.