David Ramirez, Lauren Victoria at The EARL

CRITIC'S PICK:
Sat. May 17
David Ramirez, The EARL - Texas based indie singer/songwriter Ramirez has been creating emotionally powerful albums for over 20 years. He has been remarkably prolific too, releasing singles, EPs and full length discs - with even a few Christmas tunes - that incorporate subtle country with more meditative, even darker material. Immaculately crafted songs such as "Harder to Lie" (2023), his most streamed composition, have typically drifted towards a dreamier approach. But Ramirez's most recent project, All the Not So Gentle Reminders, released a year ago, featuring introspective songs titled "Maybe It Was All a Dream," "Waiting for the Dust to Settle, and "Do Not Disturb Me," is sparser, gloomier and more personal than much of his previous output. But it's all good. - Hal Horowitz