Madison Cunningham live at Paste Studio on the Road: Moon River Music Festival

Recorded LIVE at Coolidge Park - Chattanooga, TN
Audio: Andrew Barkau
Video: Brad Wagner
More sessions and interviews here: www.pastemagazine.com/studio​

[@Haku_records]

Every time I hear Madison she is infinitely better at guitar than the last time I listened. Meanwhile she’s always been killin!

[@montysano]

Her playing is so unique, goes to such unexpected places. All without solos (in the traditional sense of the word). Very refreshing.

[@frankboyd.]

Could be because she has more professional sound people capturing her sound better now.

[@beachcomber4141]

She is fantastic. Just amazing.

[@dalerieger5927]

"Beauty Into Cliches" draws attention to the fact that her guitar playing is astonishingly free of cliches. It's fabulous that these phrases spring from her imagination and find their way into the fingerboard.

[@mchaggis622]

Absolutely! Entirely unique ideas and magical phrasing. I think we are listening to genius here.

[@mchaggis622]

Beautiful dissonance

[@deanroddey2881]

It's ridiculously tasteful and creative. She is one of those all too few who has created a sound and style of her own. You hear it and know it's her.

[@traubentaucher4035]

This woman is simply a gift, so unique, so much vibe and a wonderful sound 🌹☀️

[@louisantoine9576]

I feel like that little amp is sounding so good just because she's such a good guitarist

[@JPx000]

0:27 - Beauty Into Cliches 6:57 - Dry As San 14:04 - Broken Harvest

[@debmurray2734]

Love Madison and everything she has written but Broken Harvest is a very special and unique piece. The sound coming out of that guitar is AMAZING ... Wish we could have heard a bit more about that.

[@peterhughes614]

I discovered this from an instagram ad of all places. Truly one of the best musical discoveries I’ve made in maybe the last decade. Absolutely love everything about this. Instant classic stuff here.

[@GarrettBodman]

This is so unequivocally excellent!

[@danielsgrunge]

no words, shes that good

[@sm6jesse]

i just discovered her this year (2022) but definitely the most refreshing artist I've heard in a long time. Playing, Writing and Singing are all TOP NOTCH!

[@kwaailight]

For me she is of a 'Joni Mitchell' standard. Yes, I accept that is a very, very cheeky thought, but I really reckon she is that good. I am a huge fan.

[@amramin2134]

She does have that vocal expression and control thats flawless and doesnt seem to have any limits, brilliant utilization of alternate tunings and poetic lyrical ability. They are really different in many ways but also very similar

[@frankboyd.]

Been a Joni fan since her first album. No cheekiness to your comment just truthfulness. I hear a lot of Rufus blending through many songs.

[@thereforeayam]

John Lennon missed her, sad, he would've

[@jameswilkinson138]

@@frankboyd. and Richard Thompson

[@4316rodney]

Technically way better on guitar, exceptionally great singer too. But the songwriting isn’t in the same league as JM, not yet at least. Definitely possible though, have to keep up w her.

[@damianclarkson]

Dry as sand is amazing! wow, love her guitar tone

[@beanpeterjohn]

Ultimate talent, discipline and wisdom. I have been waiting a couple of decades for this depth of inspiration .

[@russellgrove7261]

Next level of superior brain power what she's playing on guitar while singing in perfect pitch is mind blowing all I can say is thank you God for another gift that's gonna change our thoughts about what to play on an instrument

[@TheBella2u]

Very nice! Love the lyrics.

[@beanpeterjohn]

Hats off to an absolutely tuned in and appropriate rhythm section. My new favorite drummer and bas player.

[@G0LD3NF1SH6]

I hate labels. She is her own woman . We all have influences. She’s great! Great band!

[@chaissacpierre3150]

Hooked. great musicians , great voice , amazing guitar playing, beautiful voice and at first , fantastic songs . what a lovely world. hugs from France

[@richsadowsky8580]

just outstanding. Thanks Rhett Shull for highlight Madison. She sounds like her own unique voice with shades of Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos and Ani DeFranco. Her band perfectly compliments her simple yet deliciously complex material.

[@PJmusica]

How could anyone have given this girl a thumbs down? She’s like one of the very best music artists I’ve heard in years. Damn, she’s good! Joni Mitchell meets Radiohead.

[@DelightfullyGrimm]

Love that comparison. She’s amazing.

[@warrenjoseph76]

With a sprinkling of Jeff Buckley to boot!

[@peterhughes614]

Jealousy

[@beachcomber4141]

I hear some Jeff Buckley in there as well! She is fantastic.

[@frankboyd.]

And Rufus Wainwright and Paul Simon and as she strives for unique soundscapes more will surely surface.

[@G0LD3NF1SH6]

So grateful to hear new fantastic music by a woman❣️❣️❣️ Great Band❣️☮️💟

[@grahams1097]

This came up the KZbin rabbit hole from TN to the island in Scotland. Just...wow!

[@JGlassy]

Sweet and dizzying good tone and nuance as always! 🙏

[@BrettAltmanMusic]

SO good. wow what a set. love it

[@christianjbauer]

This is so great!

[@FixNewsPlease]

Love this

[@ParhelionMedia]

Amazing performance, songwriting, and guitar work. Madison has such a distinct style and touch. She's getting steel-drum-like tones from that acoustic guitar with pickup. This band is very tight too. Love it.

[@warrenjoseph76]

Second song gave me CHILLS. Amazing stuff

[@charliejohnson7703]

So tremendous!!!!

[@windmillcancersurvivor2568]

Like a fine wine. So satisfying!!

[@jipes]

Such a magical music can flow so graciously from MAdison's fingers and her voice is just drivin you away so far it's a wonderful moment

[@MrBossei]

Wow! So much talent and great songs! 🤩🤩

[@ReverbAndBeer]

This one has the Magic. I got here from Andrew Bird, who I got to from - who else - the GOAT herder, Chris Thile.

[@stephenodell7253]

New fan and agree with all of the great reviews here . Me too !!!!!

[@bigtone667]

Marvelous voice ....

[@sonofsith8111]

Amazing artist ❤

[@bryanlewis9575]

Artistically amazing! "Enjoyable journey" is what I call my experience with Madison's music. I wish you the best, although, from your noticeable talent, you will certainly receive the kudos that you deserve. Thank you for your music!

[@LJanemusic]

holy shit this is so good!

[@Darrenowsley]

really cool !

[@bartpike441]

Hell yes is musical in the lyrics are brilliant what groove this has

[@ctuna2011]

So creative and unique in her sound. Killer Voice she is the real thing.

[@MonsterSound]

fabulous writer, player, singer

[@michaelgoodhand2313]

Great as always. I had that Silvertone guitar, but it didn't sound like that when I played it!

[@MikeO-dr7hn]

Except she is playing a Fender Jazzmaster.....;)

[@8teenOfficial]

amazing voice damn

[@cjm3122]

Amazing guitarist, beautiful singer. She's doing things that no one has ever done, that i can tell anyway.

[@11ellie7]

this version of broken harvest wow

[@beachcomber4141]

Holy shit she is fantastic!!!!!! 17:11 on OMG!!! Doesn't get much more beautiful than that.

[@jellofarce]

I truly believe any comparisons to other artists are patently absurd. MC is a commercial/popular anomaly. Genius...imho.

[@themfatale]

What a solid fucking rhythm section, wow.

[@irrefudiate]

Comparisons to Joni are not out of order at all, but Madison has expanded elements of that style into the beyond. She is so free of the mundane.

[@spartakick300]

DefDefinitely herd that mexican music influences Harry Dean Stanton turned her onto as a kid. When she hits that big note ".....real MUUUUUUUSIC..." followed by that little single notes run. 2:50 Spanish, Mexican style. Rad. Repping LA

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

Great guitar style - intelligent chording. This is a nice discovery for me.

[@patboudotlamot]

incroyable guitariste : talent colossal ¡ unique absolument unique

[@sylvainswift3234]

The drummer and bassist are so good too!

[@robcarter6599]

She is my new favorite! Great player, great voice, great performer, great writer (I’m assuming she writes her stuff. Correction welcome.)

[@williardpacarro7892]

Ethereal, soothing....

[@russellgrove7261]

If you think you discovered this then you underestimate this level of talent this found you there's no way she's staying underground

[@drieskeppens1569]

She has the creativity and vocal skills of Jeff Buckley.

[@gabrielabsouza4497]

yes!!!!!

[@martintodd7545]

I concur…

[@petekinne2702]

At points her guitar sounds like a Tabla-like drum. Really enjoying her uniqueness and her mastery of her own sounds!

[@digiwaves]

How does she make the tone on that acoustic? Just incredible! 😎🎸😊

[@barrywalker5264]

She evokes Joan Osborne, Susan Vega, Joni Mitchell, but ultimately she's just Madison! So original! Awesome!

[@ildiko1vt]

I think I may have said this before.....but Madison is the next Mitchell.....

[@chrisstratton987]

Damn. She is just crazy talented. Those chords..wtf?

[@jorgstehlin8966]

This is realy a mutation of Feist, she`s so great

[@mathenoo]

Dry as Sand is MEGA

[@spartakick300]

...and dig her Jaguar sound on those soap bar pickups

[@bullguit]

Kyle Crane on drums, Daniel Ryan on bass....did I get that right?

[@kevintrent2779]

She reminds me of Lera Lynn

[@tsopuaifa]

I knew she had to be connected to Margaret Glaspy somehow. This set is almost like a parallel universe to Glaspys 5 years ago. Cool!

[@timbrady6473]

Some really interesting guitar. Am I nuts or am I hearing a Hendrix styling in the first song ,a little “HEY BABY” NEW RISING SUN ?

[@jonunderscore]

I get little hints of Fiona Apple when listening to Madison's voice.

[@wintergirll]

Who Is the bass player? Recognise him from another band?

[@SeeSeeTV91]

Beautiful! She should do a cooperation project with Cory Hanson. They´d fit amazingly!

[@OccamsEraserhead]

I will never be OK with the fact that Taylor Swift is Taylor Swift-famous and Madison is not. It's not right.

[@cambium0]

impressed by the guitar and the compositions. Interesting that last tune started out like a sequencer ... music influences techno, techno influences music. And she's pretty busy on that guitar in general ... three variations on the same chord progression within one song (triplets, other patterns). The vocal part at the end on the *last* song was a little underwhelming ... vocals riffing on two major chords a whole step apart is somewhat less enchanting than the other stuff she was doing. Her voice isn't so great that it carries it. I can hear joni mitchell's influence in her singing ... and I have a pet theory that her singing is substantially better when she's doing covers. Maybe her next step is to back further away from her influences and develop her own voice.

[@tiredofsacred]

thanks for your critique